Secreto was hands down our favorite spot for drinks in Santa Fe. Tucked inside a beautiful hotel,…read morethe bar has an atmosphere that's both elegant and relaxed. The massive mirror behind the bar makes you feel like you've stepped into a classic Western movie, adding to the unique charm of the space. Their signature Sage Margarita is a must-try. The bar is filled with the subtle aroma of burning sage, which creates a memorable experience before you even take your first sip. The cocktail itself was delicious and unlike anything I've had before. My personal favorite, however, was the Mezcal Paloma. Our bartender, TJ, crafted it to perfection. Watching him work was like watching a magician at his craft, every drink was made with skill, attention to detail, and genuine passion. Between the beautiful setting, creative cocktails, and exceptional service, Secreto is a place I would gladly return to on my next trip to Santa Fe.

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.

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. :)

Nice hotel, good food, but service they failed on serving us. We seated first. 2 white ladies came…read moreand seated down. The waiter served them first before us. So I ask the other waiter who is going to serve us. The only problem with that server is doesn't trained well. He said sorry I'm not your server etc. So we waited again, but both of us are hungry. I ask the other girl waiter, but she sounds upset and irritated. They're not that busy, the problem is where is the manager. I work in the food service and I will not act like that to my customers. Then they keep messing our food. How many times they have to come ask us, what food we wanted. But luckily the front guy, decided to give us free food. I really hope they got trained for more. But kudos to that guy who wear pearls his amazing. Maybe they hire him as a food service manager.

After a full day of walking around Santa Fe, we decided to stop in for a quick drink. My bestie and…read moreI both ordered the Prickly Pear Margarita. It was very tasty. The bar was pretty crowded, but the servers were friendly and came by to check on us a couple of times. We didn't eat anything, so cannot comment on the food, but it was great for a cocktail.

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.

We enjoyed happy hour at the Agave lounge. We walked in five minutes before happy hour was over and…read morewe're still able to enjoy a few drinks. The staff were very kind and knowledgeable. We enjoyed speaking with Raschide, who was so kind and shared a map of the area, as well as hiking tips. Sky is the bartender who was very kind and attentive. Great happy hour prices, great service, kind folks who go above and beyond for customers. Lovely!

My wife and I went to the Agave Lounge as part of the Santa Fe Margarita Trail. The service was…read moreVERY slow and the bartender was out sick so some random was making the drinks. The margarita we ordered was not as described in the Margarita Trail website and the waitress was unaware of the $1 off promo for the Trail so we didn't get it, even though we showed it to her! The apps were quite good but overall we gave this 2 stars.

Although I recommend this place because it's so cute, the food good & the wait staff kind, I…read moreprobably won't be back. The atmosphere is adorable. We sat indoors which was nice but the patio looked amazing! The menu has almost no variety but is very gluten-free friendly. Oh & the red sauce is hot, heads up. The margaritas are great. All of the staff we encountered was kind & helpful & happy. On a Friday night at 6:45 there was a 1.5 hour wait so clearly a happening place.

There are very few things in this world that can withstand the test of time while managing to get…read moreundisputedly better, but The Shed in Santa Fe is an absolute masterclass in doing exactly that. I have been coming here for thirty-five years, and it blows my mind that after more than three decades, it keeps reaching new heights while fiercely retaining everything that made it legendary in the first place: the unbeatable high quality, the remarkably affordable prices, and those effortlessly cool, historic vibes. It is a rare, beautiful gem that refuses to compromise its soul, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. This visit was extra special because my fiancé was a first-timer, and he was instantly converted, falling just as madly in love with the magic of this place as I did decades ago. On this particular afternoon, the lines were wrapped around the courtyard and the energy was absolutely electric. It was hella busy, which is a testament to how beloved this institution remains. Rather than waiting for a table, we decided to grab our food to go--a move that turned out to be pure perfection. We took our feast over to the historic plaza square, found a spot to sit, and ate under the shade of the trees while listening to live music drift through the air. With a beautiful, cool mountain breeze rustling through the plaza, it was the most quintessential, magical Santa Fe experience you could ever ask for. As for the food, it remains an absolute revelation. I ordered my enchiladas "Christmas" style, split right down the middle with both their famous, deeply savory red chile and their bright, perfectly spiced green chile. The first bite instantly reminded me why no one else can touch what they do here. The blue corn tortillas were tender, the cheese was perfectly melted, and the chiles carried that robust, earthy, authentic New Mexico heat that warms you from the inside out. It is a flawless execution of culinary tradition. To be able to deliver that level of world-class, scratch-made perfection at a price point that still feels incredibly generous is nothing short of a miracle. Whether you sit in their enchanting, labyrinthine dining rooms or pack it up for a picnic on the square, The Shed is the absolute pinnacle of the Santa Fe spirit.

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.