New Mexico · best-of list
The 10 Best Restaurants in New Mexico
All 10 restaurants our route editors picked in New Mexico, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. 6 come with an insider tip.
Our curated picks
10 restaurants in New Mexico, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Abiquiú 2 picks
Bode's General Store
Abiquiú · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Long-running general store and deli serving breakfast burritos and green chile.
Photo: Bode's General Store · Google
Café Abiquiú
Abiquiú · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Restaurant at the Abiquiu Inn with New Mexican dishes and river views.
Photo: Steve Fury · Google
Nob Hill 2 picks
Artichoke Cafe
Nob Hill · On our Albuquerque New Year's Eve route
A long-running special-occasion restaurant in East Downtown, known for steamed artichokes and seasonal New American plates.
Tip: Reserve early for Dec 31; it is a short ride west of Nob Hill.
Campo at Los Poblanos
Nob Hill · On our Albuquerque New Year's Eve route
The farm-to-table restaurant at Los Poblanos, a historic inn and lavender farm in the North Valley, with seasonal New Mexican menus.
Tip: Book weeks ahead for Dec 30 or 31; it is a 20-minute drive from Nob Hill.
Santa Fe 2 picks
The Shed
Santa Fe · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route + 1 more
New Mexican restaurant since 1953 in a 1692 adobe off the Plaza.
Tip: Order 'Christmas' (red and green chile); garlic bread is a must-order.
Photo: Flickr user: Jeremy Noble https://www.flickr.com/photos/uberculture/ · CC BY 2.0
La Choza
Santa Fe · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
The Shed's sister restaurant near the Railyard, with the same chile and blue corn enchiladas.
Photo: David Torres · Google
Taos 2 picks
Michael's Kitchen
Taos · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Diner and bakery known for big New Mexican breakfasts.
Photo: Sarah Smile · Google
Orlando's New Mexican Cafe
Taos · On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route
Popular local New Mexican spot north of town with a fire-pit patio.
Tip: Expect a wait; the carne adovada is a standout.
Photo: Jason Bennett · Google
Albuquerque 1 pick
Frontier Restaurant
Albuquerque · On our Santa Fe & Albuquerque route
Busy diner across from the university since 1971, known for breakfast burritos and sweet rolls.
Tip: Order at the counter and add green chile to everything.
Photo: Chitrapa · CC BY-SA 4.0
Old Town Albuquerque 1 pick
Church Street Cafe
Old Town Albuquerque · On our Albuquerque New Year's Eve route
New Mexican breakfasts and red or green chile in Casa de Ruiz, one of the oldest houses in Albuquerque.
Tip: Check New Year's Day hours before you go; it is closed on Mondays.
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in New Mexico?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 10 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of New Mexico has the most restaurants on this list?
Abiquiú, Nob Hill, Santa Fe and Taos lead with 2 each; the other picks are spread across 2 more destinations.
More lists for New Mexico
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- Abiquiú 2 on this list
- Nob Hill 2 on this list
- Santa Fe 2 on this list
- Taos 2 on this list
- Albuquerque 1 on this list
- Old Town Albuquerque 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.