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. :)

Yelp says 5 stars = "Woohoo! "As good as it gets!" and that is true for Chili Rojo Tavern…read more.. because, in Chimayo, this is *all* you get! And, it is GOOD. Well, good if you enjoy dive bars. And who in their right mind doesn't?! First off, you will probably be greeted by the owner tending his bar -- Wilford Ortiz, an old Army vet with centuries-old roots in New Mexico. Wilford grew up in the Chimayo area and after serving in the military at Ft Bliss in El Paso, he bought the bar (I think from his father) and has made it a local "institution." Be prepared -- he will greet you with a big smile and what a smile it is!! He is quite a charming chap, and I think when he was younger, he may have had a talent for opening bottles with his bare teeth! It's a must-see. Hey -- You're traveling the backroads of NM... you're staying in Santa Fe, drive north to hit lunch at the Chimayo restaurant with all the tourists... you owe it to yourself (and definitely to Wilford, who's tryin' to run a business in this sleepy little town!) to visit Chili Rojo Tavern. Just a little further north of the restaurant, and then west on 76. He might charge you $2.50 for a can of Bud Light, the wood floor may be sagging a foot into the crawlspace below, but it will be the best roadside bar you visited in Northern NM... because frankly, I couldn't find any others. And, this is as "backroads" as it gets! This place made memories for us, and they are good ones. SALUD!

For a town oozing with local flavor, this establishment takes top honor.. Wilfred serves a steady…read morestream of local take out business and the afternoon I was there, some nice cold Mexican beer and great conversation. The theme is a David Lynchian Havana paladare without the rice and beans.

The Dragon Room Bar was truly memorable. Although there's no reservation for an impromptu birthday…read moregathering of 8, we found a large round table not long after we arrived. We had been few years back for our anniversary and ever since then we had wanted to go back. The waiter did his best to gather extra chairs and we were able to all fit at the round table. To my amazement, we had found a spot for the night to celebrate my birthday. The waiter asked what we had wanted to start with besides water for everyone. We got a bottle of red wine started and some margaritas along with a manhattan. Then afterwards couple of fish tacos and some carne asada arrived. We had great drinks and tasty food. Everything is delicious and so much great fun vibes. A definite memorable birthday to remember at this small but fantastic bar. Here's to coming back to the Dragon Room bar sooner.

What a lovely hidden gem in Santa Fe! My boyfriend and I checked this place out on a quiet Sunday…read morenight & loved the ambience and decor. Every touch is well thought-out and beautiful! We were surprised to learn the bar has been closed a few months for renovations, and we are some of the first to wander in before their soft re-opening Tuesday (5/5). Our bartender was very kind & attentive, and the cocktails were wonderful! Will definitely be coming back next time we're in town!

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.

The Chicken Cobb was one of the best cobb salads I've ever had. It paired well with their 2920…read moreIPA. In fact, we took a 6-pack of the 2920 back with up to San Antonio. On other visits to Second Street, we were amazed by the Northern NM Style Enchiladas, Rueben sandwich and fish -n-chips. This became our go-to when not sampling the fare at Tune-Up Cafe or Counter Culture for breakfast/brunch.

The Alien Burger is THE BEST burger I've ever had!!!! OMG wow, it's packed with amazingness: a big…read morecheese-stuffed roasted green chile, crunchy bacon, chopped hatch chiles, guacamole, queso sauce, perfectly cooked burger patty, and toasted bun. I'll be dreaming of this burger! My husband and I each got one. The tater tots side was a huge amount and they were seasoned to perfection, super crispy. The coleslaw had a delicious flavor and cut through the heartiness of the burger. 5 stars for Second Street Brewery just for the Alien Burger!! Eat it, right now! The beers were a range of great to OK. The brown ale was our favorite! The bitter was very good. The two hazy IPAs were not great... When we arrived, the service experience was pretty confusing. We were told to order from different people, our server was overwhelmed with a big table, so we ordered from the bar. But the server excused himself and was really cool in the end. There's tons of seating inside, and an outdoor patio, so this is a great spot for groups. And we got to meet the Chef, he was so nice!! Gave him massive compliments on the burger ;) We will 100% be back to Second Street Brewery when in Santa Fe, I'll be fantasizing about their Alien Burger until then!! Support local and do yourself a favor, check them out today!

I was checking it at the double tree by Hilton hotel and the front desk mentioned they have a…read morerestaurant in sight, he also happened to have a menu. Though he also gave me a list of restaurants in walking distance . However, the whole Santa Fe was kind dark for me even finding the hotel entrance was a bit challenging. So once arrived,I did not feel want to go out again ! The restaurant and lounge sit on other side of the lobby, it has a bar and most people choose to sit there, the dining room was completely empty,I ordered steak salad, medium rare with ranch on the side. The bartender occasionally came to dining room checking on me. The food was delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare.salad was fresh! And for $18 it seems much cheaper than eating in LA. I'm glad I finally didn't have to go to bed hungry...

What a fantastic crew of people. The bartenders, food runner, cooks are all genuinely great people…read more Kind, attentive, fast and efficient. Creative cocktails, and I love that the menu is not ridiculously, overwhelming big. Strip steak, salmon, chicken wings, tacos, enchiladas and a handful of other items are all absolutely delicious. Quaint space, very hole-in-the-wall feel. They can get busy and it's just the bartender taking orders so have patience. It'll be worth it!!!

The Enchanted Loungers visited this establishment yesterday afternoon with the intention of only…read morevisiting Low Bar. The bar itself was very crowded and could not accommodate us, so we sat outside. Some of the loungers used the opportunity to visit Nuckolls (upstairs) and order beer. We arrived via Rail Runner at 5.00 p.m. The overall place was very active and crowded. There were 16 loungers. Sitting outside was delightful. I only wish I wore a hat. The weather was great! This is one reason you go to Santa Fe. The Low Bar has a different beer menu that offered at Nuckolls. The brewery beer was very good. The Low Bar is very cool. I was under the impression that it is a distillery. It is not. The bar has a good but not great selection of alcohol. There was only one bar tendresse, but she seemed to have most things under control. The Low Bar does not offer food. You must order at Nuckolls. Neither place offered reservations. Service was good. Patron had to order from either bar by actually going to the bar. By 6 p.m., Nuckolls had a long line to get beer. After cocktail hour, we ate at Tomasita's. Still a terrific place. Super convenient if you take the train. Service was prompt. A great margherita. I gave it 4 stars. I was hoping for more of a cocktail lounge feel and it was not. Maybe if we sat inside, we would have experienced the cocktail vibe. Drink on!

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.