One of the best things about warmer weather is getting to spend time outdoors. Of course, Santa Fe offers plenty of glorious parks and other places for picnics, walks, and just relaxing on a bench. But when you’re looking for something more — conviviality, ambiance, great food, and live music — the city’s got lots of spots for that, too. From rooftop bars with stunning sunset views to ground-level patios perfect for people watching and catching live music as you sip cocktails and nosh on great food, Santa Fe’s patio scene is about to heat up, which is just the way we like it for summer. Here’s a look at some of Santa Fe’s most exciting patio destinations. Once you’re done, check out our Santa Fe Restaurant Guide for more dining options.
The Best Dining Patios in Santa Fe
Coyote Cantina
The Coyote Cantina sits atop one of Santa Fe’s storied restaurants, the Coyote Cafe, in the heart of downtown. Perched on high in this rooftop restaurant, you can swill craft cocktails and dine on famous Southwest fare while the sunset splashes vivid colors on buildings that surround you. The cantina underwent a recent renovation and is now enclosed in glass, but windows resembling garage doors slide open in warm weather, bringing the outside in. The menu offers snazzy bar snacks and appetizers as well as excellent entrées including the signature BBQ duck quesadilla, Frito Pie, a variety of tacos, green chile cheeseburgers and the Cantina Cobb. You’ll never leave here hungry and the views of the sky and the street below will entrance you.
Bell Tower Bar
Perched high atop La Fonda on the Plaza, the historic hotel’s beloved Bell Tower Bar offers stunning views of the city and its famous sunsets. You might feel as if you’re in an aerie, as you take in scenic mountain views and identify city landmarks spread out below you. As you relax and admire the scenery, savor Southwest Sliders, a summery combo of brioche filled with pork carnitas, jicama slaw and avocado; or braised lamb with red onion escabeche and feta.Or try the quesadillas filled with borrego, spice pulled chicken or pork carnitas with New Mexico green chile and asadero. Whatever dis you choose to eat, pair your fare with the signature Bell Ringer margarita.
Luminaria Restaurant
For an upscale patio experience, dine on the Luminaria Restaurant’s patio at the Inn and Spa at Loretto. Tucked away from any streetside action, but still in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, this romantic, rustic patio will whisk you away from life’s business, as you relax at a table beneath a veranda swatched in fabrics and vines. Hanging lanterns beneath a starlit sky only deepen the idyllic ambiance, creating the perfect place to share a meal with the one you love. Start with a strawberry-jalapeño margarita, created for the Santa Fe Margarita Trail followed by a shared plate of mussels and chorizo. Then try Parisian gnocchi, with baby squash, English peas, heirloom tomatoes and brown butter; and tomato water-braised halibut, with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, edamame and lemon pepper risotto. Be sure to linger after dinner so you can gaze at the moon. If you’d rather dine by daylight, go for the weekend brunch and try the Corn Flake French Toast with cinnamon and sugar and cream cheese frosting, or Pappardelle Verde, a combo of green chile pappardelle pasta with jumbo shrimp, charred corn, heirloom cherry tomatoes and parmesan poblano cream sauce.
Vinaigrette
Vinaigrette’s savory salads, sandwiches and soups are always delicious, but there’s something special about enjoying them outside, on the restaurant’s charming patio. Dotted with bistro-style umbrellas offering plenty of shade, the brick terrace features handsome wood plank tables and cherry red chairs, along with plenty of green foliage. It’s a lovely setting for Vinaigrette’s garden salad, a toss of tomatoes, baby greens, cucumbers, shaved carrots and pickled fennel dressed with Romesco; or the Cherry Tart salad with Swiss chard, baby arugula, dried cherries, feta and toasted pecans with champagne vinaigrette. The duck tacos are another great choice, a combo of duck confit, hoisin and hot sauce with peanuts, cabbage, scallions and carrots , all served in crisp jicama shells. Much of Vinaigrette’s produce comes from the 10-acre farm of restaurant owner Erin Wade. You couldn’t find better ingredients for al fresco dining than food that’s grown in the great outdoors.
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
