El Farol (808 Canyon Rd, near the corner of Camino del Monte Sol)
El Farol has been a favorite nightspot since Bob Young opened it in 1968. The current owner of some fifteen years, David Salazar, has maintained the sophisticated but down-home watering hole culture: local cowboys, artists, intellectuals, urbanites, and students mix with out-of-town visitors. The New York Times recently praised El Farol as being “one of the best bars on earth!” Nestled between the plethora of galleries on Santa Fe’s historic Canyon Road, you can dance to live music most nights, including blues, folk, and Latin jams. Warning: Some bands are better than others, but most patrons have a good time no matter what. David’s restaurant next door, also called El Farol, features a tapas menu, and was one of the first in the southwest to promote “grazing” before it was hip. A loyal clientele as well as visitors make both the bar and restaurant a staple of culinary magazines.
El Farol is open daily 11:30am - 3pm and 5:30pm - 10pm (bar is open until 2am Mon-Sat and until midnight Sundays). AE, DC, DISC, MC, V, are accepted. Reservations recommended. Cover charges are levied at the bar on some weekends and if there’s live music. 505-983-9912.
Cowgirl (319 S Guadalupe St)
Known for its killer barbeque, live music, an ample selection of beers (including Hardcore Cider) and hard drinks (plus a recent addition of a billiards room), the Cowgirl has something for everyone, even children. The Cowgirl’s “kid corral” offers plenty of fun and amusement for children ten and younger. Spring and summer and early fall, people flock to the Cowgirl’s gigantic patio, an ideal place for people watching. Reservations are recommended during evening hours and a cover charge is required on nights with live music.
The Cowgirl is open daily for breakfast from 8:30 - 12pm, Lunch 11am - 4:30pm, and dinner 4:30pm - 12am. AE, DISC, DC, MC,V are accepted. 505-982-2565.
Willie’s (401 S Guadalupe)
Although it’s sometimes criticized for its awkward layout and inconsistent service, Willie’s has become a favorite for anyone who loves dancing to live Salsa music and catching great blues performances. Superb pizzas and hamburgers (courtesy of Fatso’s), and a stellar drink selection, please most patrons. If you’re single, this is reputedly a great spot to meet other socially-minded individuals. A cover is charged when there is live music.
Willie's is open Monday - Saturday 12pm - 2am, and Sunday 12pm - midnight. All major credit cards are accepted. 505-982-0117.
Catamount (125 E Water St)
Known as the town’s premier sports bar, this nightspot has something for everyone: quality food at a reasonable price, a wide selection of beers and drinks, televisions, and pool tables. If you’re hungry and low on cash, Tuesday nights for just $2 you can dine on a dozen scrumptious chicken wings. With up to a dozen televisions throughout, it’s also the perfect spot for catching your favorite team. Be advised, when there's a major game, the upstairs bar can be as rowdy as a frat house. But that’s why this clientele comes.
The Catamount is open Monday - Saturday 11:00am - 2:00am, Sunday 1:00pm - midnight. All major credit cards are accepted. 505-988-7222.
Tin Star Saloon (411 B W Water St.)
Having only opened its doors a few years ago, Tin Star Saloon has quickly become a favorite for country-music loving folk. Looking at the outside, you might think you're on the set of “3:10 to Yuma.” In addition to country, town favs Don Curry and Pete Springer play classic rock songs here at least once a week. The trendy and esoteric Vanilla Pop play on occasion and every Wednesday you can catch Ben Lucero. If you're looking for a quiet romantic setting, Tin Star is not it. However, if you want to get buck wild without worrying about making a fool of yourself, it's your dream come true. Cover charge applies with live music.
Tin Star Saloon is open Monday 4:00pm - midnight, Tuesday - Sunday 4:00pm - 2:00am. All major credit cards accepted. 505-984-5050.
El Paseo (208 Galisteo St.)
If you covet a nightspot with great live music, El Paseo showcases some of the country’s top traveling jazz musicians as well as great local talent. Throw in very decent bar food, drinks, and enough plasma televisions to make any sports fan happy. On Tuesday nights, if you’re convinced you were born with musical talent, enjoy the open mike. There is a live music cover charge.
El Paseo is open Monday - Saturday 11:30am - 2:00am, Sunday 11:30am - 11:30pm. V & MC accepted. 505-992-2848.
Del Charro (101 W Alameda, next to the Inn of the Governors)
Yummy food at low prices (most menu items are no more then $5 to $7), along with a great bar and a smiling, chatty wait staff, make Del Charro the meeting spot and watering hole of Santa Fe. The patio’s beautifully painted fireplace and whimsical greenery add interest, but basically it’s the eclectic clientele—visitors, shop owners, legislators, Realtors—that provide the atmosphere. Don’t forget to try the burger and signature house margarita.
Del Charro is open daily 11:30am - midnight. AE, MC, V, DISC, DC, and personal checks accepted. 505-954-0332.
The Dragon Room at the Pink Adobe (406 Old Santa Fe Trail)
What other nightspot can you name that’s located in a 300-year-old building and has a rooted tree that continues to grow through an opening in the building’s roof? Even though the new owners got rid of fun things, like the popcorn machine, the monkey hanging from the ceiling, and the portrait of Rosalea Murphy (founder of the Pink Adobe just after World War Two), the Dragon Room is still a favorite nightspot for long-time locals and repeat visitors. Highlights include live music (generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), specialty house drinks like the Silver Coin Margarita, and the famous Gypsy Stew, which can be ordered from a special bar menu.
The Dragon Room is open Monday - Friday 5:30pm - midnight, Saturday 5:30pm - 1:00am, Sunday 5:30 - 11:00pm. AE, MC, V accepted. 505-983-7712.
El Meson (213 Washington Ave)
One of Santa Fe’s best kept secrets, El Meson is both a restaurant and, in a spacious additional room, a night spot offering a variety of music, including flamenco guitar. The authentic Spanish ambience makes El Meson the perfect place for a romantic evening. The bar menu offers mouth watering tapas, and the wine selection here and in the restaurant is superb, as are the calamari, bouillabaisse (when it’s served) and the fried artichoke. Other favorites include the steamed mussels in herbs and the blue-crab cakes with a garlic-caper aioli. No bar cover charge.
El Meson is open Monday - Sunday 11:00am - 2:30pm and 5:00pm - 9:00pm. AE, MC, V, DISC, DC accepted. 505-983-6756.
The Artist Pub at the Saint Francis Hotel (210 Don Gaspar Ave)
The Artist Pub has quickly become one of the city’s more popular nightspots. Friday and Saturday, people cram inside the cozy bar to see and be seen. Not sure how many artists show up, but you’re guaranteed a rich mix of locals. With windows and a patio looking out at some of the most traveled sidewalks in Santa Fe, it’s great for people watching. Tantalizing drinks, a selection of domestic and foreign beers, plus one of the best bar menu’s in town, make the pub an indispensable stop.
The Artist Pub is open Monday - Thursday 11:00 am - midnight, Friday & Saturday 11:00am - 1:45am, Sunday 11:00am - midnight. MC, DISC, V, AE, DC accepted. 505-983-5700.
