22 Best Cocktail Bars in Santa Fe

“So unique! Very delicious !“

“What better way to spend the evening…?“

“There is nothing we don’t love about this restaurant. The food is “real” New Mexican with some excellent special touches by the chef. The ambiance is wonderful, and the decor is authentic. Even the music is well selected and at a volume that enables pleasant conversation during the meal. The staff is helpful, responsive and friendly. A special shout out to Daniel, who is appropriately attentive and professional, always with a smile. Already looking forward to our next visit!“

“A friend who frequents Santa Fe recommended we visit the rooftop cantina. Loved dining outside and enjoying the late afternoon breeze.
We were hungry, so an early dinner made sense. We opted for the generous plate of pulled pork nachos. Talk about delicious! The red sauce and toppings worked really well together.
Of course we treated ourselves to the smooth and flavorful foam topped margarita. Another winner on our fun New Mexico outing!“

“We opted not to sit at the bar because heat, but the side room was very comfortable with open windows and fans. The place has a very relaxed vibe, complemented by the excellent jazz music selection, and fun flipboards that alternate between menu items and quotes.

But the star here is the cocktails, expertly crafted by Weston. When asked about his favorites, he kind of chickened out (they're all great), but followed up with an invitation to describe what you want in adjectives so that he can steer you in the right direction. This worked very well. We're excited to come back the next time we're in Santa Fe!“

“We visited here to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary and it was the highlight of our evening.

Aesthetics- This is an amazingly beautiful place. They took the idea of a glamorous speakeasy and executed it to perfection. The piano player contributed to the mood, playing at the perfect volume to allow us to enjoy both the music and our conversations. Even the staff’s dress alluded to the theme.

Food and Drinks - Though some menu items were pricey, others were much more reasonable. The portion sizes were generous enough that we felt sated (not like some other fancy Santa Fe restaurants where we needed to get fast food later to fill up 😉) The drink selection was varied and the cocktails were inspired. The cocktails which my husband and I ordered were artfully done, and tasted like the descriptions in the menus, while still providing a nice buzz. (I hate when I order a drink based on the description but then can only taste the alcohol!) We ate the Fritto Misto, Truffle Gouda Pasta with shrimp, and Chicken Tikka Masala. Each was impressive and delicious. We ordered the pomme d’oro for dessert; it was delightful in both presentation and flavor.

Service - Extremely thoughtful and attentive. I asked for water and they offered “sparkling, still or tap”. I asked for still; and though they left the bottle at the table, we never once had to refill our own glasses, they ensured the glasses were never empty. The waitress helped me select a cocktail, and graciously allowed us to finish our appetizer and cleared the plate before our entrees were brought to us. (This is not always our experience when dining out.) Later, our remaining food was taken to the back to be boxed and bagged before being returned to us. We dine out frequently, and lament that good service is so rare in Santa Fe, our hometown. But the service at Gatsby’s was impeccable!

Final Thoughts - I love having a reason to get all dolled up, and am so glad to have a place like Gatsby’s which is worthy of my best efforts! 😘. My husband prefers to dress casually but did wear a collared button up shirt with his jeans. There is no dress code for Gatsby’s, they welcome you as you are. But putting on something nice (and forcing my husband to do it) contributed to our enjoyment of this fabulous place. After such an exquisite experience, we plan to return.“

“Had a great time at Vara. Specifically, the team that make it all happen are super knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. I'm talking about Becca and Sean, would gladly go to Vara just to see them.
Dont even get me started on the drinks...
Sean made me some sort of matcha foam thingy, mind blowing.“

“Definitely the best meal we have had in Santa Fe so far! And one of the best Thai meals we’ve had anywhere! Right up there with Fish cheeks and zaab zaab In NYC. Trust them when they say it’s spicy!!! Can’t wait to come back.“

“I signed up for a Fathers Day event here, the least to say it didn’t disappoint!
The tour was informative, tasting the whiskey after was a great moment to bring it all together, the finishing touch was the old fashion making class and snacks included! Dad loved every minute, myself and the mother in law had a great time too! Friendly staff who accommodated us having a baby in tow! Can’t recommend this place enough!“

“Our first time at the Ranch House was less than an exceptional experience. Our waitress, Peggy Lee was the most professional, courteous and friendly person I have met at a resturante. She made us feel like we were old friends . The food was absolutely the best flavored I have experienced. The prime rib plate was to die for and I wouldnt have known it was being served except our waitress, Peggy recommended it. Very heads up resturante. I wish we had a Ranch House in Wichita Falls Tx.“

“San Fran was a very nice place and we had great service. I had the ribs which were a little overdone for me. However, we had a party of six and all other members tried other dishes. All were appealing and nobody had complaints. I would go back again and try something else without hesitstion.“

“I always enjoy coming here to dance when DJ Oona is spinning!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️“

“A very rural but stylish place for breakfast/brunch !“

“This place is pure magic! From the moment I stepped inside, I felt like I was transported to the heart of Mexico City. The food, the ambiance, everything was simply divine. It's a must-try for anyone who appreciates authentic Mexican cuisine and a touch of elegance“

“Lovely evening: delish cocktails, tasty appetizers, terrific dinner & dessert. Wonderful service -- attentive & friendly.“

“Very beautiful theme, great big drinks and the queso fundido is delicious.“

“Love love this motel vintage vibes!! Service was excellent,food drinks were amazing and the Shiner club jazz band was amazing!! Loved the mystic vibes though out the motel!! Recommend 10 out of 10!!“

“Awesome dining experience in Santa Fe!“

“Food and cocktails were superb. Can’t wait to go back!!!“

“We had a fantastic tour and amazing cocktails tonight!“

“Excellent service and food in a lovely setting. Superb wine list too!“

“Best bar in Santa Fe, hands down. The live music is always swinging and the basement has a chill vibe for playing pool and chit chatting. Cash only, but they have an ATM (for a charge). But seriously, always packed with folks dancing and having a good time!“