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    El Rincon Cafe

    3.7 (189 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Wine Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 8:30 PM

    El Rincon Cafe Photos

    EL RINCON CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Classy
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Carrot and Cauliflower cream based soup (special)
    Joop V.

    I really like Estevan. The food was very fresh (albeit slightly higher price point) and is very much farm to table. I had a full course meal there and loved every single dish that I would go back again. The staff was nice, polite and helpful...and the ambiance is quiet, allowing for private conversation. Overall, I would love to go back and dine there again. Note: when I was there, they didn't have liquor license yet due to them in the middle of changing legal entity's name from the previous one. Hopefully, the restaurant with the new name (but very much the same menu selection) will have liquor license so they can get many more customers, soon.

    The calamari
    Jeanette W.

    We came across this after hearing it would be an hour-and-half wait at another restaurant. We weren't super hungry and opted for appetizers to ve our dinner. The server and bartender who greeted us were very pleasant and nice. We ordered the one tamale with anchor sauce -- delicious; the pastel de guacamole, calamari and organic goat-milk flan. This was definitely high-end nouveau food as you will see in enclosed appetizer menu. Presentation was very nice and the food was very good. We were visiting from out of town and heard the owner make small talk with other clientele as they were leaving. We didn't get that and that was a little off-putting. I mean we spent about $86 (including tip) and we weren't granted the niceties that the othe customers received? Come on now. As I said, the staff were really nice.

    Tres Leches
    Michael A.

    Was looking for a restaurant that was open on Thanksgiving. We were lucky enough to get an early table for the "Estevan Thanksgiving experience". It included a pre-fix 4 course meal with multiple choices for the salad, entree and dessert. Shawn our waiter was a great host and provided us a great review of the meal and recommended some wine pairings whether we were going to select a poultry or beef for our entree. First course was a scallop nacho in a roquefort cream sauce and homemade sopapilla bread. Delicious. Second course was a choice of salad or soup. The salad was perfectly dressed and felt hand picked that day from a farmers market. The red pepper and bean soup was amazing and the presentation that split the 2 flavors in half was a great way to taste one, the other or both together. We both had the pheasant which was cooked to perfection -- complex with rich and nuttier flavors. Tastes of shallots mixed in the meat made each bite the experience. For the last course, we tried the Tres Leches which is a staple on the yearly menu and the Chocolate Truffle. Both were amazing and perfect way to end the meal. We got to chat with the owner chef on a couple occasions and he was very friendly and thanked us over and over again for coming to his place. He loved hearing how much we enjoyed his meal and I wanted to ask what wine should have paired with the meals. Regardless, we loved the wine we chose.

    Glenn C.

    We had a good dinner tonight there not the best ever as others stated. Chef who is also the owner Estevan likes to visit patrons. Small restaurant above a bar that also serves pizza and salads. We believe it is part of the hotel. My ribeye steak was perfectly medium rare but very thin. For 40 dollars i expected more. Came with a few veggies and potatoes. My wife got the chicken with panko crumbs. It had a nice lemon flavor. Came with a small amout of rice and same veggies. Appertizer was a good argula salad and chili melana. It was decent not spicy. It was too hot in the restaurant to totally enjoy it. They only sell wine and beer no liquor license. Surprised that the had no white sweet wines except a Semi sweet Riesling from NY. 15 dollars a pour is high. Meal cost 155 which was high for what we got. No bread is served.

    Tres leches
    Christy C.

    I dined at Estevan for dinner on 12/29/21 while visiting Santa Fe, and must say it was probably the best dining experience of the trip! The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely, the service completely exceeded our expectations, and the food was amazing. I would highly recommend making a reservation at Estevan if you are planning a trip to the area - or if you already live here! Our server was Sean, and he took the time to learn our names and used them throughout the evening. When asking him about different bottles of wines, he offered to let us taste several before making a decision, even offering his own suggestions we had not considered. Toward the end of our meal, Chef Estevan came out and asked how everything was, which was nice. I noticed him chatting with lots of other guests as well. We opted for the specials for almost all of our food selections, so they may not be available when you dine here, but we had: *Arugula salad *Red cabbage salad (on regular menu) *Boar *Arctic char *Tres leches (on regular menu) We really enjoyed all of the food. I am gluten free and the server was knowledgeable in this and was able to communicate with the chef to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate.

    Fred E.

    This wad our best dining experience in Santa Fe. The food was so delicious and the service impeccable.

    Chef Estevan

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    Page 1 of 5

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    Hervé

    Hervé

    4.4
    (450 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Casual dining

    WOW. Wine here is AWESOMENESS!…read more Yelp friends ... Armando Rosales is the friendliest bartender I've met in a long while He's from Espanola so he's super down to Earth ! (Future manager I think) He let me sample some great wines 1) Signature Canyon Five ~ fruity. Unique 2) Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon ~ AMAZING ! I ordered number 2 to pair with my (incredible) FRENCH ONION SOUP If you have that on your menu I have to try it but this was truly exceptional ! Following that I had the New York Strip. Medium rare. GREAT but I did ask for a side of Green Chile. And Garlic Aioli for the potatoes Nicely cooked but I added some salt and chile to make it pop my taste buds. YES. I would order it again the same way The Pork Chop looked great as well Desert was also very good. Truffles and Port wine ...I love Port wine (Spicy chocolate truffles with lovely RED CHILE in them) I think I'd give these guys 6 stars of if I could because Armando was so cool toward me !

    This wine bar was just ok. When visiting Santa Fe in the summertime, we stopped in for some quick…read morebites and a bit of wine tasting. The wine was not cold. We ordered flights of white and none of them were cold enough. I understand if they had been reds, but on a hot summer day, one just craves a cold glass of wine and/or bubbly. Once we were done tasting our wines and the food arrived, we had to ask a couple of times/people to remove the large glasses and apparatus they rested in from our table since there wasn't room for everything. The hummus and pita with hot honey and feta was pretty good, and our son loved his pasta dish from the kids menu, but that was the extent of the magic here. The paninis the rest of our party ordered were again, just ok. When I went to the restroom I was appalled. There was some really gross stuff sticking to the wall next to the toilet; I couldn't tell if it was barf or poop, but it really turned me off. Good thing we were already on our way out. The atmosphere is kind of a New Orleans vibe with a high ceiling and covered terrace upstairs with plants that you can see from the downstairs area. That was nice. The day before when I was walking around the Plaza, they had a big carafe of fruit-infused ice water outside the restaurant with plastic cups for people to help themselves to, and it was super refreshing. That was the best thing about this place.

    Photos
    Bruschetta
    Bruschetta
    Bacon-Wrapped Dates
    Bacon-Wrapped Dates
    Hervé Board

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    Hervé Board
    Vara Winery & Distillery

    Vara Winery & Distillery

    4.8
    (30 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    Walk-ins welcome
    Outdoor seating

    * Came here for cocktails only and was not disappointed *…read moredelicious cocktails * Amazingly priced * The bartender puts time into his craft in making sure the drinks are awesome * Super friendly and attentive service * Cool space * Wine and spirit tasting options * Small plates menu available *Indoor and outdoor space

    This is such an awesome wine bar in the heart of Santa Fe on the corner of Guadalupe and San…read moreFrancisco St. Shout-out to Evan who served us both times we visited the shop around happy hour time. The first time we came, we had a delicious cheese & charcuterie plate with all the fixins, including a spicy jam I asked to take to-go when we were done. Evan thoughtfully topped it off and put it in a small container. Wines were delicious--the hubs and I each ordered a flight, he a "refreshing whites" flight and I a mix n match situation (also whites, but with bubbly selections as well). The grandparents got their drinks by the glass and the kiddo was happy to have water and snacks. The ambiance is cool, both literally and figuratively....it was so pleasant to come in from the summer heat into this stylish and AC'd spot featuring local artists' work on the walls, and the hand soap in the bathroom also felt artisan and special. Individual hand towels to dry off hands after washing as well. The second time we came in it was just my husband and myself, and Evan gave us the royal treatment once again. There were other patrons and he graced every party with the same attentiveness and expertise. We each ordered a flight, and when Evan was knowledgeably explaining the wines we selected, it made me crave and decide to ask for a glass of bubbly. He went above and beyond to bring us a sampling of bubbles on the house! What?! Definitely will be back if we are ever in the area again and we highly recommend this place. Thank you, Evan, and Vara tasting room!

    Photos
    Vara Winery & Distillery
    Vara Winery & Distillery
    Vara Winery & Distillery

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    Secreto Lounge

    Secreto Lounge

    3.5
    (220 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    The drinks here were solid. But the service started out terrible, so not sure I would return. I…read morewould more likely go to Tonic (reviewed separately) for cocktails. When I arrived, I originally wanted to visit the restaurant, which was closed for the week due to a family emergency. So I presented to the open seating bar. Was ignored a long time. Got up to go to the bar and someone else stole my table. Took a long time to be acknowledged by the bar tender and finally made an order. Took quite a while to get it. Things got better when a bar seat opened up and I moved to the bar. But keep in mind, a different bar tender pretty much took over and kept my drinks flowing. That first bar tender could not hang, demonstrating poor time management skills and appeared to be moving slowly. The second bar tender, I think his name is Hector, really turned things around for me. I visited Secreto (another hotel based outfit, in the Hotel St. Francis) because they are supposed to be a "cocktail experience," boasting "garden to glass" cocktails. Dark wood and southwestern palate for decor. I had: Smoked sage margarita: flagship drink, smoked washed premium margarita (super herbal) Ghost ranch reverie: Tequila with peach, apricot shrub, lemon, seltzer, smoked rosemary (light, not too sweet, an "homage to the passionate artists of the southwest) Madonna of the Mesa: tequila blanco, pomegranate, mouth herbs, lemon, rose water (soft and balanced) Secret garden: basil infused gin gimlet with lime and chomilre infused honey. "Botanical crispiness meets honeyed serenity." I liked the basil, but the honey wasn't my thing. But a good cocktail. Again, drinks were good. On a Thursday afternoon, it was initially crowded and the initial service was terrible. But Hector saved the day.

    We thoroughly enjoyed spending an hour here prior to dinner…read more 'The cocktails were inventive (lots of smoke and infusions) and the surroundings were pleasant. We sat on the veranda out front and it was the perfect spot for watching the world go by. Recommended cocktails; Smoked Sage Margarita, Secret Garden and the Secreto Old Fashioned.

    Photos
    Secreto Lounge
    Signage
    Signage
    Secreto Lounge

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    The Matador

    The Matador

    4.0
    (163 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $
    Full bar
    Locally owned & operated

    I was in Santa Fe for a ridiculously niche lawyers conference and wandered into El Matador on a…read morerandom Thursday night. Then I came back Friday. And Saturday. Not because of the drinks. Not because of the atmosphere. Not because of the location. Because of Katya. Katya is not my favorite bartender. She is my favorite human being. I've spent enough time in bars to know when someone is good at their job. Katya operates on an entirely different level. She can take what feels like sixteen orders at once, remember every single one, deliver them with absolute precision, keep the entire room moving, somehow do the math in her head, and still make every customer feel like they're the only person sitting at the bar. The basement bar itself is exactly what a great dive should be; a shithole. Heavy hobo stab vibes upon entry, including Katya. Smell: multiple buttholes farting at once. Climate control: sweaty patron dependent. Lighting: liability. TV: playing a rotation of trash 80s DVDs . If business schools were smart, they'd study her. If hospitality groups were smart, they'd clone her. If Santa Fe has any sense at all, they'll do whatever it takes to keep her exactly where she is. Cash only, so come prepared. And bring plenty of it, because she deserves every penny. Katya must be protected at all costs.

    Kind of a grungy, punk, divey vibe. Not exactly my thing, but where that feels unique to me this is…read morethe kind of place to remind yourself it takes all kinds. A busy setting and top candidate for beginning or ending your Santa Fe drunk parade. That is to say, it is fun. It is not refined. But it clearly does not want to be. :)

    Photos
    Bathroom wall
    Bathroom wall
    The Matador
    Entrance to the bar

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    Entrance to the bar

    El Rincon Cafe - mexican - Updated July 2026

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