Good coffee, great lever espresso machine, the service varies depending on who is at the register. However it is such a Santa Fe scene that it is worth visiting just to get a flavor of the culture. read more

This little shoppe rocks! The service was excellent, the baristas were very friendly and quick to help. We had the quiche Lorraine and a breakfast burrito, both awesome, as was the latte. As a Texan the iced tea can't be beat. For a leisurely morning breakfast with good atmosphere and a relaxed pace, this is the place!! read more

Make sure to get a slice of pie with your coffee, they're delicious. I also love the selection of magazines they have for sale here, makes for a perfect place to kill an hour or three. Great place! read more

Bustling morning vibe, consistently smooth & delicious latte's (in a glass!), and an open feel to the simple, high-ceiling space. Barista's are helpful and friendly though I understand if they may not spend 5 minutes chatting with each person as there is often a line to the door! The focus seems to be on serving the daily regulars, and on quality and efficiency. This is the place where locals go.....and maybe a lost tourist or two :) read more

As a frequent seasonal visitor to Santa Fe, Downtown Subscription has become a trusted part of my home away from home rituals. I'm always confident in introducing DS to my accompanied quest and or fellow designer encourage. It is the experienced, personable staff, super espresso, and of course the massive selection of creative international magazines that always guarantees my return. read more

I brought my own magazine to read with my latte. The latte was delicious but as I sat peacefully enjoying it, the barristo walks up and startles me..."Did you pay for that?!" he said loudly in an unkind tone of voice. If they are trying to create a hostile environment they have succeeded. When I asked to speak with the owner the barristo said he was told to do that. Apparently, they have a problem with patrons who break their rules and read their magazines without buying them. I check out headlines, editorial titles, and tables of contents, but I have never read even one sentence of content from their publications without buying it first. For a cup of angry undeserved accusations, by all means try Downtown subscription! read more

One of my favorite hangouts, early morning a big creamy latte on the patio reading the paper. Pure Heaven.! They have let the food offering slack, but you go for the lattes and the awesome location (not mentioned parking!). If you are looking for cheery chatty cashiers, go to starbucks, but you will have to drink their burnt lousy coffee. Frankly I love that I do not have to think up some inane cheery things to say - I just want a perfect latte and that is what I always get. read more

Great in some ways. Lovely patio. Staff is usually friendly - sometimes it hit or miss. But it really irks me that the owner apparently thinks stocking HONEY is too much of a luxury. Too expensive. Really? A coffee shop that sells lots of teas? read more

I will back up Peter C. on his assessment of Downtown Subscription. I've been going there since we bought our Santa Fe house in 1995. For many years I would wait on line for up to 20 minutes on a Sunday to buy the local paper and "The New York Times". One weekday I said something to the cashier, who told me if I was only buying the papers I didn't need to wait on the line with the people buying coffee and pastries, but I could go right to the register. Not long after, they even put up a sign to that effect. The sign came down well over a year ago. Lately I have started to buy a coffee along with the papers. In the early years there were so many magazines on sale here, as well as newspapers. As magazines have closed, there are less on sale here. I figure I would be supporting a local business if I started buying a coffee there. In the times I have been in over the last month I always place my order and then wait to pick up my coffee. I usually say "good morning", or "how are you doing today" to the barista. Not once have any of them even acknowledged I have spoken to them. Last Sunday I was in a hurry, so I just grabbed my papers and went to the front of the line. The cashier looked at me and asked if I had exact change. He could see I had a $10 bill in my hand. I told him I didn't. "Well," he said in a loud voice, "if you are going to cut in line you need to have exact change." I told him if I was buying the papers I wasn't "cutting in line". I don't live in Santa Fe all year round, and I know a lot of famous people. Why should I be chastised by a cashier, or ignored by the barista? Those people have made as good an argument as any for reading newspapers online. And, by the way, there are other good coffee houses in Santa Fe, where the people who are there to serve you are friendly. You won't see me in Downtown Subscription again. And one more thing. For years the magazine "THE" would describe Downtown Subscription as the place "locals go to discuss their latest screenplay." Like, no, they don't. Real locals are trying to figure out how to pay the rent or if they can even afford heat in the winter, let alone $4. lattes. read more

This is the local coffee place I always go to when I'm back in town visiting family. They really take care in making their drinks, and offer a variety of other fare- sweets and baked goods. It is in what I think of as the nicest neighborhood in Santa Fe, very typical of the former town's character, and not a place you would expect to happen upon. They have a pretty good collection of magazines to boot, and a great patio to sit out on in the warmer months. Two good, nearby bookstores add to character of the place. read more

This could be such a great place if only the snooty baristas understood that they have a public facing job, smile a bit, and do not be so stuck up -- I actually was interested in getting a coffee and muffin -- instead of being "impressed" that you are a barista at Downtown Subscription. read more

My new favorite coffee shop in SF. Quiet, neighborhood setting. The art work isn't exactly my 'thing', but the atmosphere is excellent, and the lattes are even better. Friendly read more

Great coffee drinks, but the cashiers are not friendly at all. They always make me feel like I'm inconveniencing them by purchasing a drink from their shop. When you walk up to order, you generally expect the cashier to say "hi" or "how may I help you" - not just to stare at you. And when you thank them for taking your money, a "thank you" in return would be a good customer service move. It's too bad because their mochas are fantastic. read more

This is the coffee watering hole of artists, the occasional poet, a few hiding Hollywood types and tourists staying in the grossly overpriced casita rental homes nearby. It is in a quiet, residential neighborhood, situated with a book store and its tiny calamitous parking lot. The coffee is excellent. Their assortment of eats is a mixed bag from okay to not so okay. Pastries only last as long as the herd stays away from them, so early birds get the better picks. The true charm of the place is in sitting in its patios and enjoying the warm Santa Fe mornings with a cup of coffee and your iPad, or one of the magazines that they sell from their ever-shrinking catalog on the racks inside. It is a meeting place. A place of convivial discussions and dogs sleeping under plastic patio chairs. In the winter, it is cozy and warm inside, and the company turns to mostly the locals, artists, and art brokers of Canyon Road. Service can be wonderful or quite incivil, depending upon which tattooed, pierced missed-the-hippie generation Gen X Y or Zer you have serving you. This place has had several owners, but it endures because of its location, its tranquility, and the good vibe that its patrons bring to it. read more

It's the best coffee "space" in town and love that they also have the newsstand in there. But the whole place is denigrated by bad to mediocre coffee. They serve Allegro, which probably had some cache in the early 90's. It's the Whole Foods blend, but go to the supermarket if you want a cup of their coffee, they have two stores here in town. A place of this stature should be serving coffee to make the town proud. Cool staff, but often surly and unfriendly....probably because even they realize it's a shitty cup of coffee. Cant a place of this stature do their own roast or import something respectable? read more

This review is only for the newsstand part of the cafe. As a print media junkie, I have been mourning the loss of newsstands for many years now, as online media has taken over. This is the only place in Santa Fe or ABQ where you can pick up a copy of Le Monde (two weeks old); UK or Italian or French or Australian Vogue (current month or one month old); or McSweeney's Believer literary magazine. They seem to carry a magazine for everyone, from Cowgirl magazine to Foreign Affairs to Hola! Wide range of design mags (Surface, wallpaper) and several photog mags. The literary mag selection is spotty- I saw one or two copies of Indiana Review, Glimmertrain, Granta, The Normal School, but no Ploughshares or Tin House. Several French pubs, including Le Nouvel Observateur, but Hola! was the only Spanish language one I noticed. Also some international newspapers. There's also a bookstore next door- hooray for print! read more

bought a Capp, asked for a little regular coffee to finish froth at the bottom. Rude owner, said no! I could pay for a cup. Not good, arrogant. Coffee mediocur, service strange and awkward. read more

I have to hand it to the person behind the counter of downtown subscription, you tried your best to give the customer exactly what she wanted in a congenial way, which could not have been more confusing! Not to mention my mocha had just the right amount of chocolate and the milk was perfect.... I will be returning for sure. read more

Awesome iced chai, food is not that great. Love the patio/outdoor seating area. Great magazine selection.

This was my second time here and I love the place. It's far enough off the square and on a side street, that it's really just locals seeking great coffee and tea, a little sweet if you wish and a solid selection of papers and magazines. It's within walking distance for most, a reasonable size parking lot, an outside garden in better weather and a book store next door! What else do you want? Well worth the time and effort and a solid local alternative to Star$! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Star$, but this is different! Do it! read more

Downtown Subscription is perfect in its location and can't be beat for authentic Santa Fe ambiance, but that's the only reason I'm giving it two stars. Was there recently, and had possibly the rudest customer service I've ever had from the tall barista with long hair. I never would've tipped her if I'd known how she would act...I think she might deliberately have made the drink she made so full so that I would run the risk of spilling it on myself. The owners should know about this...remember the McDonald's lady? The coffee isn't that great, either. read more

Wow! What a cool place. Besides being in an awesome neighborhood - walking distance to galleries, bookstores, restaurants - this place is a wonderful bohemian hangout. The patio is beautiful, the inside is chock full of endless things to look at - art on the walls, endless racks of urbane magazines, and an eclectic variety of patrons having artistic, political, juicy discussions. The coffee and espresso drinks are excellent. The waitstaff are hip and have always been friendly. This place has a great buzz and is a good place to meet people. read more

I've never had a better chocolate croissant. Nice crowded-good-for-socializing-but-providing-privacy seating. Of their drip coffee, there's always two roasts on offer, and one is always a dark roast. Need I say more? read more

I thought it worth trying and I agree: this place has a strange vibe. The counter staff either show now emotion or seem angry at the universe that you are even there. The people of Santa Fe are cool and down-to-earth and the clientele here seem to be in that spirit. However, the décor looks like someone's garage with uncomfortable wooden chairs. If you are going to spend $5 for a cup of coffee, don't you want great service, nice/pleasant attitudes, and a comfortable place to sit? This is not the place. Also, I've read other reviews of this place and if the attitudes have been consistently rotten for years, it's not a fluke; it's a tradition or a choice on part of the management. Staff is always changing in these places, but it seems that the atmosphere is consistently negative. That's not what you are looking for in Santa Fe. Try someplace else. read more

Wish I could love this place. I want to come more often but the food is often cold, there is NO wifi and the chairs are super uncomfortable. It could have a lot more mojo but nothing much is done with the place. Other than the coffee, which is good. but I can make coffee at home, no? read more

Wonderful shop. Coffee top of the line. Interesting art works on the walls. The courtyard is one of a kind in Santa Fe.

i have been going to the downtown subscription for 3-4 years every saturday at 12 noon for coffee and sandwichs with my friend bob. well ,i get the sandwich bob gets the carrot cake most of the time. i always order the same coffee drink, a large cafe americano iced, to go. usually my coffee is ready before i can order it. the energetic gray haired guy knows what i want when i walk in. if it's the young surly skinny kid with the scrufty beard making my brew well he makes my coffe to stay, and i hate that . when i say thank you to him he most all the time never says your welcome. no big deal but it dosen't take much to utter that courtesy. i must say i beleave that they serve the best coffee drinks in santa fe. i have lived here 16 years and i've been to all the coffee spots in town. i love my saturdays at the downtown sub with bob. the only thing i would change would be the sandwichs. they are not poisonous but there pretty close. thats my review. by kevin hart read more