Booked show and dinner and it was fantastic, highly recommend! The menu for the show is not the full menu, which was fine with me. I got the paella, which was better than the paella I had in Spain. Slightly charred, amazing flavor, lots of seafood and a huge portion. The performers were very talented and I was happy that I booked it. read more

Excellent food and service in beautiful back patio. Staff was very attentive, and happy to light the heat lamps nearest our table. Paella was especially good. Only thing that could have been better: We were group of 4 couples, celebrating milestone birthdays of 3 of our group, and noted this on RESY reservation as well as by telephone. Not looking for anything free, but none of staff even wished us a happy birthday. Who knows, maybe it never got communicated to staff that served us? read more

Food is excellent, will not disappoint. Atmosphere is lovely along Canyon Road. But, as with many restaurant experiences since Covid, they simply do not have enough staff. We waited quite some time for our waitress, and our food was slow to appear. Once it was served, it came without serving utensils or tapas plates and you can't seem to flag anyone down. I had to take place settings from the empty table across and behind us on two occasions during the dinner. Hard to leave an adequate tip on an expensive meal, when you feel like you were part of the staff. read more

We shared a great pear/pine nut salad and some fairly good little plates. Sangria was really good. The calamari was chewy, rice balls bland, enchiladas so so. Disappointed as they were out of the churros that we all we expecting to get as we had looked at the menu a few days before hand. Parking was a sh$t show. This place did not live up to the high recommendations I had been given for it. read more

Wonderful setting. Very cozy and comfortable. Happy hour was great. Menu was a nice combination of Spanish and New Mexican.

Local secret I think. Good food and atmosphere. To top it off, usually good music and dancing after dinner. Highly recommend.

The Mary Hatch (it is MARY with a Y, not H (that is a typo on their website) is a unique drink by Chris Renaldo - their bartender. He has a good story about it, so make sure you ask him. It is not just a bloody mary, it has REAL HATCH GREEN CHILE in the bottom! AND it is not overdone like some Bloody Marys are like MEALS. The rim has red chile pepper that gives the drink a nice bite! El Farol is known for hosting live Flamenco while you eat Tapas or order a full course meal. It's location on the famous Canyon Road offers that romantic, classic Santa Fe ambience that people from all over the world come to enjoy. Make your reservations early for the Flamenco show, it always fills up fast! ¡Buen provecho! y ¡Ole! read more

See all

I live in Santa Fe. El Farol was renovated after it changed hands and it was ruined. Back in the 1990's and early 2000's is was a fantastic bar with great live music. That's when the New York Times deemed it as the best bar in Santa Fe. No more. I used to go there for the Tuesday Blues Jams in raging snow storms. That El Farol is long gone. The soul was renovated out of it. The restaurant needs to quit promoting itself as the best bar in town on local radio. It's wrong and a sacrilege. Be honest. It's no longer a bar. El Farol is a tourist restaurant at the top of Canyon Road. read more

Recommended by a friend. It was more than just a restaurant... lots of Heritage and Flamenco performances on Friday/Saturday. The performance was the highlight.... 3 dancers and talented singer/guitarist. Food was edible... Not much to say for or against it. It was ok. Enjoyed the overall atmosphere/performance and would recommend for anyone looking for an authentic & unique experience. read more

El Farol Restaurant - Flamenco dancer - Spanish Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Good food, lovely ambience. My husband's margarita had almost no tequila in it. We heard a woman at the bar ask for a whiskey recommendation, and the bartender said, "You're asking the wrong person! I haven't had a drink in over 15 years!" Oh boy. read more

Paella El Farol is the best I've had; personal sized, and comes out fairly quick and not garlicky, perfect for date night & masks ;'D While dining at the bar I realized the source of their mild attitude problem: this is the place from the El Farol Bar problem in game theory. If you can't get a reservation for the Flamenco Dinner Show, I recommend to come earlier and just enjoy their great Paella. read more

Our first and favorite dining experience in Santa Fe. I helped my parents move into a condo near Canyon Road. After a 10 hour drive and unpacking we were tired and hungry. We walked up to El Farol and ordered 3/4 of the menu to go. We had a drink at the bar and realized we didn't now where the silverware was! The staff let us borrow some flatware for the night. We had arguably the best "fine dining" experience on cardboard boxes and randomly placed furniture anywhere! As non-native New Mexicans El Farol quickly became our family tradition, our home away from home, and our go to for any out of town guests to visit. read more

I honestly thought the service was terrible. We ordered small plates and paella. No one cleared our plates before serving paella and there was no spoon or clean plates. The wait staff couldn't be bothered to clean the table between courses and we were an afterthought. There are plenty of other great places in Santa Fe. I won't be back. read more

Food was decent but tiny portions, service was bad. Couldn't get wine for like 45 minutes and the wine came long into the meal so it was useless to complement the dishes, waiter was usually nowhere to be found throughout the meal. He gave us last call for the kitchen at 8:45 and then sat another party next to us and waited attentively on them after we could barely get service. Quail is advertised as a whole quail but comes as two tiny drumsticks for $30 and that's it. Flavors are good but being ignored most of the night when we planned to drop some money for a good eating experience - it was kind of a downer. read more

This five star review is for the rousing bar at El Farol when a rock and roll band is playing. Filled with locals, tourists, men, women, young, old, Anglo, Latin; it doesn't matter. Everybody rocks out, with a non judgmental New Mexican vibe. I went two nights in a row, after dinner, and burned off a bunch of calories. Fortunately, my place was a half a block away on Canyon Road, and I staggered off at closing time with a big grin on my face, feeling 20 years younger. read more

Venue: I never went inside, so I can't comment on the interior, but the patio was nice and the servers and other wait staff were extremely friendly and hospitable. They checked in frequently and made sure to keep the waters full and the cocktails coming. There is a pay lot across the street and some very limited parking on Canyon Road. Vittles: Everything our table has was amazing, which included the Branzino and chicken entrees and the brussel sprouts, fritters, avocado, and potato tapas. Everything was fresh and flavorful and the servings were ample. They also have a decent wine list and a few local beers. Dessert looked good but we passed as we were all full from the main course. Verdict: I am not sure when I'll be back in Santa Fe. If I am, I would be likely to return. read more

Always enjoy El Farol. Prices are fairly reasonable for Santa Fe. The food always seems to be good. Atmosphere is good. Nice bar to hang out. I have sat outside before to eat and that's wonderful as well. Can't beat the location on Canyon Road. Drinks were great as well. read more

Went this evening. Lovely bar area where we had drinks. Then we're seated outside in a lovely area. Food was delicious. I had chicken tacos, one had cauliflower tacos and third person vegetarian pizza. We shared a chocolate cake which was very rich and good. Only suggestion I would have is to serve cake warmed up or let sit before bringing to the table. A tad on the cold side. From refrigerator to table. Other than that, the outside seating was a delight. The air had cooled to mid 70's and was just right. read more

Overpriced and undersized portions: $15 individual salad was a non chopped wedge of lettuce which appeared to use white colored, bottled Cesar dressing. Paella is traditionally served for two or more people on a large warm, wide traditional pan. El Farol's paella came in a small diameter bowl. What is advertised as key lime pie is actually a small tart and not a pie slice ... deceptive advertising. We were highly disappointed at our celebratory meal. read more

We had an amazing experience here for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. We went with some friends for the Wednesday night flamenco dinner show and enjoyed it much more than we expected. The entertainment wasn't over the top but the dancers and singer put on a nice performance. For dinner we ordered several tapas for the table and we tried several of the desserts as well. My favorite dessert was the churros with drinking chocolate! The staff was knowledgeable and attentive. We highly recommend the dinner/show combo and will definitely be taking more friends and family to enjoy this experience. read more

El Farol Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

See all

Good "true" tapas restaurant in Santa Fe. Love the atmosphere and the location is perfect on Canyon Road. The entertainment was pretty cool, too. If you're not into the Flamenco music that evening, but still want to dine, try the patio or the room in the back. On the flip - the area where the entertainment is can be quite lively and downright fun! OUTSTANDING selection of tapas. So my mother and I shared a few ... Lanza de Carne - Steak with Chimichurri sauce Puerco Adasa - pork with cheese and figs and my favorite ... Aguacate - the fried avocado with a salsa We both ordered an entree and quickly realized we should have stuck with some of the other tapas that we couldn't decide between. Not impressed with the pollo del cielo (chicken over spinach, tomatoes, potatoes and asparagus - no potatoes and one small stem of asparagus), and the callos de acha (scallops over polenta - better than the chicken, but still not all that great). Had the cheese plate for dessert (I know ... "really, Chris?!?"). Definitely consider this place for an evening out in Santa Fe (just not your ONLY evening out) - plan to sit in the main area, listen to some great music and share the tapas with your good friends! read more

El Farol Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

See all

After walking Canyon Road & visiting several galleries, we were glad to find this cafe. We sat outside, which was great. The service was great! The Cesaer salads were minuscule for $9. I had salmon with mine for an additional $5. My salmon was 1" wide, yes I did say 1"! The length was 5". My husband had his with shrimp which were overcooked. I've tried this place once, but there are far too many cafes in Santa Fe that I won't return. read more

See all

Okay, so sometimes I'm a hick. About fifteen years ago I went into this quaint, charming restaurant after one of my marathon art tours of Canyon Drive, totally exhausted, and looking for an early dinner. They patiently explained that all they had at that time were little tiny plates of a variety of appetizers that they called, "Tapas." Now I speak Spanish, but had never heard the word before. We ordered 6-7 plates, since there were three of us, and some glasses of rioja (red wine) for the boys, and champagne for me, and proceeded to learn to enjoy life. Each dish is meant to be savored, European style. We settled in on the brick patio under an umbrella, and enjoyed the sun. Sipping the hearty wine, we worked up a slight appetite. The first plate of olive arrived, and we nibbled.....delicious..the tartness inspiring another sip. Then the tuna and jamon.. We ate and mellowed out a bit. Then our main event boquerones, shrimp, and salmon plates. As each dish proceeded to the next, so our moods were buoyed by the cripsness of pastry, the tang of the ham, and the sweetness of the shrimp. At the end of the meal, I realized that this was my favorite way to eat, and have sought out wine bars ever since, for the sociability, the delicacy of the selections, and especially the authenticity of a European experience in the good old USA. I have returned many times to El Farol, and been truly enlightened by each experience. And by the way, the bar is the most fun on off nights, when they take out all the furniture, and everybody dances! read more

I do not believe that the three star rating reflects the current El Farol restaurant that I experienced in late June, 2018. This is a really nice option on Canyon Road. As others have mentioned, it was significantly cleaned up and dramatically remodeled and the beautiful frescos/murals were cleaned from decades of soot so you can see the lovely art (some by Alfred Morang), there is a new owner and new chef. I had not visited this restaurant on my many prior visits as no one thought it was a good spot. Who, after all, wants to visit a three star ratings restaurant on vacation? That has all changed and the new cleaned up restaurant has a nice ambiance, a terrific menu and a really nice vibe. They have music and Flamenco dinners but we were not there during one of those evenings so I cannot comment on that experience. We ate there on a Wednesday evening, inside not on the deck, since it was still pretty hot outside. We split a lovely Ensalada Citronage which was a lovely combination of fresh and tart with just the right amount of simple dressing. I had the Gazpacho Verde and Brussel Sprouts. My husband had the Paella el Farol which was large enough to take half of it home to our adult son. We had a scoop of the sorbet for dessert. The server was professional and knowledgeable. The location was quite lovely. The food was fresh and well prepared. All of that, in the terrific Canyon Road Arts District location which is always in walking distance of the vacation homes we rent. I would recommend and I will be back on a future trip. The prices were less expensive than I would have expected for a Canyon Road historical gem. read more

See all

Not sure why this place isn't rated higher on Yelp. What a fantastic Spanish tapas restaurant right along Canyon Road. Tapas was terrific, we had the boquerones, tabla de queso, patatas bravas, pan con tomate, and calamares frito... every bite was tasty! Plus, we sat outside on the front patio along Canyon Road. Service was fast and attentive. This is now one of my favorite places in Santa Fe! read more

El Farol is one of our favorite spots. Not only is it a historic landmark in Santa Fe the food is amazing and so is the staff. We are hosting a welcome dinner for our sons wedding here in September. Freda the owner is amazing and so helpful! You must try it! read more

When you walk past, it looks very low key and humble. This is probably one of the best restaurant in the whole state of New Mexico. We have gone back many times, and have tried everything on the menu at least once and it is all amazing. This place is always consistent and I cannot explain how good the food is. All of the flavors are incredible and some simple, some more complex. If that isn't enough, the service is amazing even when it's packed. Would highly recommend. If you're going to Santa Fe, this is a must stop. read more

I'm thoroughly disappointed with this restaurant. It is located in a beautiful part of Santa Fe, the restaurant itself is gorgeous. The food was delicious; however, the disappointment is in the way the staff treated us. It took a really long time to get a drink order going and the server ignored us throughout our visit. If we wanted service we had to ask. Meanwhile the table next to us was being offered fantastic service. Our server had to pass our table to get to them and NEVER asked how we were doing or if we needed anything else. She had mislabeled us because we had gone in there ready to enjoy the food and atmosphere but the minute we were ignored, we were ready to leave. I had wanted to go to El Meson but unfortunately it appears they are no longer in business. This had seemingly good reviews but definitely should have listened to the negative reviews. The waitress saw a better money making opportunity and was not shy about ignoring us to wait on the table next to us and offer them free stuff. Just a terrible experience. The food is very good but the service really made the experience a negative one. read more

We went with friends and even though we just had pizza and salad it was an excellent experience. The house salad is delicious, as were the pizzas. Our waiter was awesome and suggested a great wine. read more

had a recent excellent meal at El Farol. they have found their groove again. all the happy hour menu items were excellent. and those pizzas....they have a wood fired pizza oven out back. both pizzas we had were perfect. cocktails and service both excellent, as well. but that pizza! give those cooks a raise!! read more

I went to El Farol for the first time last night. The food, atmosphere and service were all outstanding. We ordered several tapas...everything was delicious. This restaurant also has a really nice bar area that we sat at and had a drink prior to being seated for dinner. read more

What a restaurant! The food was fantastic - a great variety of options, and the atmosphere is second to none. Warm, inviting, spacious, yet homey. The owner is a noteworthy presence. He is friendly and appreciative. You won't be disappointed dining here! read more

Well, I tried to explain to the manager exactly what was was wrong but he wasn't in the listening business. Now my 8 year old has a stunning stomach upset due to the fishy, powdery mussels that he assured us "everyone is eating!" Good luck and god speed to their internal organs. Revolting food and dreadful management. Complained about the quality and was presented, unapologetically, with the bill of fare in full, though my son was the only person unfortunate enough to put a morsel in his little mouth. Paid the $108 grateful to not have to eat the food they serve. Avoid at all costs. UPDATED: Poor little kid has the merciless squits from the dodgy mussels he ate. No joke. We told them they were bad and their response was utterly supercilious. I've now got a pukey poopy 8 year old. read more

Excellent alternative to the traditional thanksgiving. We are staying at an upscale hotel for our anniversary, and they had a traditional thanksgiving meal, which we had a reservation for, but my wife wanted something different and found El Farol on Open Table. We walked down Canyon Road, which can be tricky at times, but walked in and were greeted with warmth and smiles. We made a reservation online, and they had the table waiting for us. The servers were friendly and attentive. Water was always filled by someone smiling. The patrons were lively and engaged. It was a good ambiance. We made a tapas table of our own: Pimento peppers, a salad, seasoned olives, and Chicharonnes, and we split two scoops of ice cream. The house picked up our desserts as an anniversary honor. We really enjoyed the experience. read more

This is a jewel of a restaurant. The tapas are off the chart tasting. The grilled artichoke with balsamic reduction is a show stopper. The back patio is charming and the service excellent. read more

I began my meal with a delicious and refreshing mojito. It was a suggestion my server, Josa, made as I sat down. After glancing at the menu for a few moments, I decided to start my dining experience with three tapas: mussels, shrimp in garlic sauce, and fried avocado. All three were phenomenal. The shrimp sauce was so yummy that I had to soak up every last bit of it with the super soft rolls of bread served with every meal. The mussels weren't quite what I was expecting, as they were served in a very rich creamy sauce, but they were tasty all the same. Unfortunately, my entree, shrimp fajitas, came out before I finished my tapas. That's a real pet peeve of mine because the entree sits getting cold while I finish all the food I already have in front of me. However, the fajitas were scrumptious. I was a little disappointed to receive a single tortilla and a spoon full of guacamole to accompany the massive pile of shrimps, onions, and bell peppers that make up the fajita plate. Luckily, my attentive server inquired about my happiness with the meal, and he brought me another tortilla and a small bowl of guacamole upon request. Sadly, both items cost me an additional $4. A little unreasonable considering the fact that no one can enjoy their fajitas, notice the plural, with a single tortilla and spoonful of guacamole. Overall, my experiences at El Farol have been excellent. The servers are always attentive, and the food is always tasty. Combine that with the fact that they regularly run deals through Restaurants.com and give educator discounts. I find that I am hard pressed to find a better moderately priced fine dining experience in town. read more

El Farol Restaurant - Dining in the bar area at El Farol. - Spanish Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We love El Farol! It is the oldest bar in Santa Fe. Each food dish we have ever had there is delightful! Plus, the music is amazing! Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights (during the season we were there) they have live music. We loved it! Parker is phenomenal! Go to El Farol to experience the history, great food, great drink, great service and fun! read more

El Farol Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Very good food, recommend the Aguacate, the cauliflower and pork belly tacos. Service was attentive and accommodating. Started during their happy hour which made it more affordable, though the prices off the dinner menu were reasonable. read more

Several of my friends from Hollywood who are now retired haha . Actors dont retire we went in late in the night put us at a table not to cause to much interference great place. read more

It was a couple of years ago we went to the Flamenco dinner show. The food was incredible and the Flamenco dancers were simply spectacular. What talented, amazing athletes they are, we were mesmerized by their performance, an emotional experience. I doubt one could find better in Spain! If you have any interest in this style of music and dance, by all means do not miss this rare opportunity! The experience will stay with you forever. read more