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.

Charming Patio, Decent Food, Better for Drinks Than Dinner…read more The patio is lovely. Cool, shaded, and surrounded by greenery. It feels tucked away and cozy, with heaters for chillier evenings. This is definitely a mezcal focused bar, so keep that in mind. Margaritas lean smoky thanks to the mezcal preference, which might be unexpected if you're used to a more traditional flavor... The chips and guacamole were just okay. The guac was overly whipped, and the salsa lacked spice. I had the asada tacos. good, though a bit dry. Service was a bit hit or miss, took some effort to get the waitstaff's attention. If I came back, it would probably be for happy hour rather than a full dinner. The vibe is great for drinks and a light bite, but not a must-visit for the food.

Best bar person in Santa Fe this restaurant is a hidden diamond among restaurants…read more Great food great service and a bar that doesn't stop Marina is the one to know and Robert is The King

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. :)

Absolutely a must go when in Santa Fe. It's slightly off the downtown plaza area, so maybe it's…read moreslightly hidden? Worth the tiny bit of extra work. If you can snag a seat in the armchairs beside the real fireplace, consider yourself lucky.

The live music was amazing. We arrived at the hotel late and needed to grab a bite before bed. The…read moreatmosphere was great with the music and fireplace. Our service was excellent and when we stopped in a few days later our server recognized us. Highly recommend for some live entertainment and delicious snacks.

They advertise exclusivity, but my friend and I were able to get in without any membership or…read morepasses. This place is gorgeous! I LOVED the atmosphere. We walked in on a Saturday night. There wasn't a DJ, but rather someone playing music off an Apple computer. The music was on point and everyone there was grooving. It was an older crowd, but they were partying hard. There is plenty of space with multiples rooms that are great for talking and hanging out. The music from the dance floor area doesn't overpower the lounge areas. I'm guessing this place didn't get packed because Casa España advertises exclusivity which may deter people from trying to enter. We got in! We had a blast! This place has such amazing potential.

I love the space and all of the rooms. Every time I've been invited, the DJ has played mellow…read moremusic. This is not the place to go to dance... it's more of a place to just sit and talk. So if you're looking for somewhere to dance this is not the place.

I stumbled in on this place to get Santa Fe night life and I'm glad I came in! The bartender a very…read morechill gentlemen who is the definition of Santa Fe. The bar only accepts cash, so make sure it bring it in small bills if possible! I came in on a night where there is live music (there was a cover charge, so don't be surprised if you come on one of those nights.) If you are in Santa Fe looking for night life, this place is a blast!

Staple of Santa Fe everyone should stop in for a drink and enjoy the history. Service is prompt…read morebut not fancy, think of dive bar rather than cocktail lounge.

One of the locals recommended this place to us for drinks, and we enjoyed it so much! The décor was…read moreso cute, and it was so cozy inside. They have three different fireplaces and a lot of areas to hang out. There didn't seem to be any table service when we were there on a Saturday night. My boyfriend went up to the bar to get us drinks, and he mentioned the bartender didn't seem to be that experienced, having to check the book frequently to know what went in each drink. She just poured all the ice from the shaker into the glass for my margarita mocktail, for example. They have a very fun drink list, and I enjoyed the mocktails, but they didn't blow me away. We would definitely come back for the vibes and we'd love to stay at the hotel next time. They also have a lot of cute and fun items in their little gift shop that's next to the front desk. So glad we found out about this gem!

La Reina is the epitome of coziness, especially when stopping by on a cold winter night. Multiple…read morefireplaces (one by the bar and others in the main room/seating area) add the perfect touch. They host live music and different venues/events. A lovely experience for the local and/or traveler. 5/5 stars.

Meow Wolf Santa Fe is definitely shows its age a bit - but in a way that feels more like wear from…read morebeing loved than anything else. You can tell it's the OG location. There's this scrappier, slightly rough-around-the-edges feel compared to the newer installations, and I think that's part of its charm. We actually went out of our way to visit New Mexico just for this, which says a lot - and I'll say it was worth it. However it did leave wishing for a bit more, especially knowing how expansive and polished the newer Meow Wolf locations have become. But in a weird way, it made me appreciate the evolution of the experience even more. You can really see how much the artists and teams have grown across locations, and how much love and intention is going into what they're building now. This location certainly helps you understand the whole Meow Wolf story a little better!

The OG Meow Wolf location is such an interesting immersive art exhibit that will both wow your…read moreeyeballs and make you think to try to connect the storyline of the whole place. I always love seeing art, interpreting meanings, and putting the storylines together. Overall, this place is very well done and I enjoyed my visit. Thank you! My only complaint was that tickets online seemed priced different than tickets in person and seemed to change price depending on the day/time. We came about 3 hours prior to closing and this was more than enough time for us to fully enjoy the place and see everything. They do have a bar out front to the side before you enter as well and a gift shop. I have attended their other location in Las Vegas, so it was fun to compare it to this location and see how different they are all around. This location definitely is smaller in size and very different in theme, but still cool to see.