Breakfast & Lunch
Taos
Tomorrow and Tomorrow ⭐ $$
Naturally leavened sourdough bakery and minimalist café. Features a wood-fired French bread oven. We love the bagel sandwiches — especially with heirloom tomatoes. Enough for two.
Manzanita Market ⭐ $$
Farm-to-table cafe from Love Apple owner. Fresh local ingredients, homemade ice cream, organic marketplace.
Aly's A La Cart $
New Zealand owner serves handmade meat pies, Mediterranean gyros with house-made balsamic glaze, falafel wraps, fish and chips, salads, soups.
Bread Club Taos $$
Bakery with organic breads from freshly milled grains. Green chile cheddar, sourdough, milk bread, seasonal rotating loaves. Pastries, breakfast, lunch, and charcuterie boards. Drive there.
The Farmhouse Cafe $$
Serves brunch and lunch with New Mexican influences. Gluten-free options available.
Taos Cow $$
We like the breakfast burritos.
La Cueva Cafe $$
Excellent New Mexican breakfast and lunch. A hit among the gluten-free crowd. Annie loves the ceviche.
Guadalajara Grill — Northside $
Mexican with extensive menu. We like the Azteca quesadilla and they have great chips.
Guadalajara Grill — Southside $
Same menu as the northside location.
Arroyo Seco / El Prado
Taos Cow ⭐ $$
Known for ice cream and treats, but we think it has the best breakfast burrito! Hot tip: they will cut it in half if you ask… they are huge.
The Farmhouse Cafe $$
Serves brunch and lunch with New Mexican influences. Gluten-free options available.
Sol Food Organic Market & Cafe
Farm-to-table specializing in fresh espresso, juice bar, smoothies, and organic goods. The market has lots of drinks, grab-and-go food, and staples if you need anything and don't want to run to town.
Coffee
Taos
The Coffee Apothecary $
In-house small-batch roasted, ethically sourced coffee. Specialty lattes with natural syrups. House-made chai and golden milk. Local pastries from Sweet Sol Baking. Outdoor patio. Drive there — it's worth it.
The World Cup Café $$
Iconic local coffee shop on the plaza. Excellent espresso and specialty drinks. Cash/Venmo only.
Elevation Coffee $$
Local specialty coffee with pastries and burritos. Popular morning stop.
Dinner
Taos
The Love Apple $$$
Northern New Mexican fine dining in a converted 1800s chapel. Seasonal menu with local ingredients. Reservations recommended. Cash only!
Juliette ⭐ $$$
Located at Hotel Willa — this is where we're having the Friday welcome party! Farm-to-table by Chef Johnny Ortiz, emphasizing seasonal local ingredients from nearby farmers and ranchers. One of our favorites for a meal out on the town.
Corner Office $$
Low-key natural wine bar with small bites. Cozy evening hangout.
Lambert's of Taos $$$
Fine dining in a historic adobe with contemporary American cuisine. We like going to Treehouse Bar & Lounge upstairs. Get a martini!
Taos Mesa Brewing Taos Tap Room $$
Wood-fired pizza and craft beer in downtown. Daily 12–9pm.
Jackalope Burgers $$
The former Burger Stand at Taos Ale House is now Jackalope Burgers — a Norteño pub blending smash burgers with pub classics like shepherd's pie, fish & chips, and bangers and mash. Casual, lively, and still great for a burger and a beer.
Guadalajara Grill — Northside $
Mexican with extensive menu. We like the Azteca quesadilla and they have great chips.
Guadalajara Grill — Southside $
Same menu as the northside location.
Arroyo Seco / El Prado
Medley ⭐ $$$
Modern American with seasonal small plates, great service, and happy hour specials. We love sitting at the bar or the bistro area. Tell the bartender you're here to see Marcus get hitched!
Pizanos $$
New York-style pizza from Utica natives. Patio with mountain views.
Taos Ski Valley
The Bavarian ⭐ $$
German alpine lodge at the base of Kachina Peak. Sauerbraten, wienerschnitzel, käsespätzle. Imported Bavarian beers. Sunny deck with an incredible view. Does require driving on a dirt road, but it is totally doable in a rental car.
The Lounge by Rolling Still Distillery $$
At the lower plaza across from the ice rink. Handcrafted cocktails with local ingredients, vodka flights (green chile, red chile, lavender, pecan).
192 at The Blake $$
Eclectic European cuisine with New Mexican design. Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza, share plates, local ingredients. Full bar with wine and craft cocktails.
On the Way to Taos
Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo)
El Parasol ⭐ $
Gas station tacos on the Pueblo — and genuinely our favorite part of the drive. Get the shredded beef with avocado. Truly, don't skip this. Fair warning: we order green chile everywhere without hesitation — but El Parasol's is on another level of heat. Order red or salsa if you have any doubts.
The High Road
Rancho de Chimayo $$
A New Mexico institution in a historic hacienda, steps from El Santuario de Chimayo. The red chile here is legendary — the sopapillas are excellent too. A natural stop if you take the High Road.
Sugar Nymph Bistro $$
A beloved little bistro tucked into the mountain village of Truchas. Hearty, creative food and excellent pie in one of the most scenic spots on the High Road.
Santa Fe
Cafes & Bakeries
Cafe Pasqual's
A beloved Santa Fe institution since 1979, famous for its hand-painted murals and New Mexican breakfast. The huevos motuleños are legendary. Be prepared to wait — it's always worth it.
Kakawa Chocolate House
Artisan drinking chocolates based on historic Mesoamerican and colonial recipes. If you've never had a properly made drinking chocolate, this is the place. The chile and honey varieties are especially good.
Dolina Bakery & Cafe ⭐
Eastern European-influenced pastries and coffee in a warmly lit, unpretentious space. The babka and croissants are excellent — a genuinely good morning stop.
Bread Shop
Excellent artisan breads and pastries. A neighborhood favorite for good reason.
Tesuque Village Market ⭐
A charming village market just north of Santa Fe with great breakfast burritos, coffee, and homemade deli items. Worth the short drive into the village.
Chainé Specialty Cookie Shop
Perfectly crafted specialty cookies in unexpected flavor combinations. Small, focused, and very good.
Restaurants
The Shed $$
A Santa Fe institution since 1953, tucked into a 17th-century hacienda. The red chile is some of the best you'll have — simple, direct, and deeply satisfying. Order it on everything.
Joseph's Culinary Pub ⭐ $$
A lively, well-executed pub with an ambitious kitchen — creative cocktails, good green chile burgers, and a room that makes you want to stay longer than you planned.
Paper Dosa $$
South Indian street food and dosas made with tremendous care. One of the most distinctive restaurants in Santa Fe — the menu rotates and the flavors are genuinely wonderful.
Paloma $$
Lively modern Mexican in a colorful, casual space. Strong margarita program and a kitchen that does the classics right.
La Boca $$$
Spanish-inspired small plates in a cozy, convivial setting. Great wine list, excellent charcuterie, and a kitchen that rewards adventurous ordering.
Izanami $$$
Japanese restaurant at Ten Thousand Waves spa above Santa Fe. Izakaya-style small plates and an excellent sake selection. Worth the drive up the hill even if you're not visiting the spa.
Gruet $$
Santa Fe tasting room of New Mexico's celebrated sparkling wine producer. A great stop for a glass of local bubbly — the brut and blanc de blancs are consistently excellent.
Tonic $$
Neighborhood bar and restaurant with a solid cocktail program and casual, well-made food. A reliable spot for a low-key evening.
La Mama $$
Cozy Italian spot with handmade pasta and warm service. A welcome change of pace from the New Mexican food circuit — simple, comforting, and good.
Tender Fire Kitchen $$
Sourdough wood-fired pizza made with local New Mexico ingredients. Born as a beloved pop-up, now in a permanent spot at the old Santa Fe Arts College. The elote pizza is a standout. Gluten-free crust available.