Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos sights and dining

[thepiranha]

I will be in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos at the end of March and I would like some information about sights to see and dining. We're very adventurous about our dining, but we would also like to be able to sample the local cuisine. We don't need anything fancy; just good. Any recommendations? Thanks much!

Dave

[CMDAVILACLI]

Hi thepiranha,

We go to Santa Fe several times a year (visiting family) andthrough the years we find ourselves returning to:

The Shed (for lunch) with their killer burritos! - cheap, cheap cheap and right downtown in the plaza - the heart of things

La Casa Sena (for lunch or dinner) - the food is delish and the courtyard is lovely - somewhat pricey - plaza location

La Plazuela at LaFonda - On the plaza, I know, it's touristy, but the restaurant is so pretty to look at, the food is not bad at all, and they have the best soppapillos in town.



Try and go to one of the indian dances.. they are listed on the websites based on the specific reservations.

An absolute must is the Folk Art Museum... one of the best in the USA - not kidding about this!

Of course, wandering around the Plaza area, looking in all the shops etc...



On your way up to Taos, go through Chimayo (take the old high road if possible, it is so much prettier!) - stop at the Santuario and then for lunch at the inn in Chimayo for any kind of dish with green chilies!



Enjoy your trip!

cmdavilacli

[thepiranha]

Hey, you've answered both of my posts! Thanks much. I'll keep a list of all of the suggestions and see how many of them we can hit up. Have a good one.

[funtimes]

I'm in total agreement about the Shed in Santa Fe - Fabulous!~!! order blue corn tortilla enchiladas "Christmas style" - red and green sauce Yum and Rancho de Chimaya is amazing You must go there on your way between Santa Fe and Taos In Taos we suggest going to the ski valley - It is very small as far as shops and restaurants go so I'm sure you'll find the best New Mexican cuisine at ? the lost dog? - forgot the name but it will be easy to find - one of only a couple restaurants in ski valley and there is a dog leash outside the front door - ask anyone There you will enjoy wonderful chile verde! Another good one in the town of Taos is in a - used to be bowling alley - now restaurant called the Taosonians again -Fabulous New Mexican cusine At each of these I like to try "Christmas" style to get a sense of both red and green chile flavors Enjoy!!! I'm jealous ...Funtimes

[CMDAVILACLI]

Hi the piranha,

there's aone day only offertoday for the Inn at Loretto (or as we call it, the Loretta Lynn) in Santa Fe... This is a GREAT hotel right off the main plaza in Santa Fe (one block away). For what they are offering, the price is very good! You might want to snag this up if you can as it is in your time frame.

cmdavilacli

[thepiranha]

Thanks for the heads up. I took a look at the listing yesterday, and although it looks like a great place to stay, I already booked two nights each at bed and breakfasts in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos, and there's a cancellation fee if I cancel. Besides, my wife and will be traveling with my son and the Loretto package is good for only two people.

[judiadg]

Just wanted to add a few other places to eat to your list in Santa Fe. Maria's for mexican is also good. They also specialize in many different kinds of margueritas. Guadalupe Cafe is a terrific breakfast and lunch spot and near the center of town. Everything is homemade and delicious, even the salsas. Cafe Pasquales is an institution for breakfast. Outstanding food and also wonderful for dinner( very twinkly and pretty ambience in the evening). Be sure to pick up one of their cookbooks which have many of their recipes from the menu. After a stroll along Canyon Road, which is where many of the art galleries are, stop at El Farol for tapas and a drink. This is the oldest bar and restaurant in town and an lovely historic building. On a Sunday, go to Downtown Subscription for your newspapers and coffee(the best in town) with a homemade pastry. They've got the best magazine selection in town. Photo Eye Gallery which is 2 doors down is one of the most important galleries in America. One of the best museums anywhere in the US is the Folk Art Museum. The man who created it had collected folk art from all over the world. The collection is vast and enchanting - carved villages from China, entire miniature circuses from Mexico and much, much more. For more photography, don't miss the Monroe Gallery downtown which has many famous journalists' photos and well known art photographers works as well. Sid and Michelle Monroe are wonderful and knowledgeable and will take good care of you. The Taj Gallery at the railyard has a collection of handwoven baskets made by master basket weavers from Japan. These pieces are exquisite and well worth seeing. Santa Fe has many spas but the most unusual is Ten Thousand Waves which is on the road to the ski area. It has master masseuses who are trained in a wide variety of techniques and several beautiful hot tubs. You can also stay overnight in one of their beautiful rooms. Just a visit for the day is a little trip to heaven. I could go on as Santa Fe is my most favorite place in the US. I'd be happy to give more recommendations if you need them. Have a great time!

[thepiranha]

Muchas gracias for the tips about Santa Fe, but we're staying in a bed and breakfast and would like some recommendations for restaurants for lunch and dinner. Any suggestions? It sounds like you know the city well.

[judiadg]

Dinner: Definately Cafe Pasquales for lunch or dinner. The dinner menu offers wonderful organic meat and chicken dishes as well as vegetarian and meat Mexican dishes. Very good wines selected by their knowledgeable wine buyer. Aquasanta is small, elegant and reasonable. The chef used to have a restaurant with Deborah Madison, a well known vegetarian chef, though this restaurant beautiful meat dishes as well. This is one of the best and prettiest places to eat in town with terrific wines and service. Santacafe is also a lovely place for dinner. Geronimo is a splurge with elegant food served in an historic adobe house on Canyon Road. The bar is also fun for drinks and a meal if you can't get a reservation. Check out their cookbook, too. Beautiful. Mark Miller's Coyote Cafe is an international legend for Mexican cuisine. Very nice for lunch downtown. Another lovely place for lunch is the O'Keefe Cafe which is part of the O'Keefe Museum, a must see while downtown. All the places I wrote about in my previous note are great for lunch, though Downtown Subscription is best for snacks. La Posada Hotel has a lovely restaurant for lunch, dinner or brunch on Sunday. And by the way, Santa Fe also boasts the best and biggest Whole foods Market outside of Austin, Texas. You'll see things you didn't know you needed. Speaking of that, don't miss a store called Jackalope which also has things you didn't know you needed - furniture, home accessories and "whatnots". Great fun to explore this wacky place. Two lother places(for now...) are The ChocolateSmith which makes incredible chocolate barks with pistachios, almonds, red pepper spice and more. Decadant! nearby is Cloudcliff Bakery. Outstanding breakfast and lunch, beautiful breads and baked goods of all kinds. A must!I'd better stop as I could rave on and on about things to do. Have fun!

[thepiranha]

Great! Thank you so much for your prompt and informative response. I'm going to have a very difficult time deciding which of those great sounding restaurants we're going to eat at since we're going to be in Santa Fe for only two days. I ate at an offshoot of Mark Miller's Coyote Cafe in Washington, D.C. several years ago and it was very good, and of course we know about Deborah Madison, so we'll probably go the restaurant run by the chef who used to work with her. Thanks again for all the great tips.