Savor the Flavors of Santa Fe
A Guide to Food Tours, Local Cuisine & Culinary Experiences After Your Morning CME Sessions
One of the many advantages of attending a Continuing Education Company conference in Santa Fe is having your afternoons free to explore one of the country's most distinctive culinary destinations. Recognized by UNESCO as the first U.S. Creative City of Gastronomy, Santa Fe is celebrated for its remarkable blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo culinary traditions — a food culture unlike anywhere else in the United States.
Whether you're sampling authentic New Mexican cuisine on a guided walking tour, learning regional specialties in a cooking class, or simply enjoying dinner in a historic neighborhood, Santa Fe offers memorable experiences for every type of traveler.
Discover Santa Fe on a Guided Food Tour
Guided food tours combine exceptional local flavors with stories about the city's history, architecture, and cultural influences.
Wander New Mexico – Sip & Savor Plaza Tour — One of Santa Fe's most highly regarded culinary experiences, Wander New Mexico combines guided walks through the Historic Plaza with tastings at locally owned restaurants and insights into Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo influences.
Conference Tip: Reserve well in advance, as spring tours often sell out.
Food Tour New Mexico – Historic Plaza Food Tour — One of the city's longest-running culinary tour companies, Food Tour New Mexico offers leisurely guided walks through downtown featuring locally owned restaurants, artisan food shops, and historic landmarks, with stories along the way.
Santa Fe School of Cooking
A short walk from the Historic Plaza, the Santa Fe School of Cooking has introduced visitors to the flavors of the Southwest for decades. Demonstration and hands-on classes led by accomplished chefs teach traditional New Mexican recipes, regional ingredients, and techniques you can recreate at home — from the perfect chile sauce to blue corn specialties.
Insider Tip — "Red, Green… or Christmas?": When ordering many New Mexican dishes, your server may ask "Red or green?" — meaning which chile sauce? Green chile, harvested earlier, is fresh and bright; red chile, made from ripened, dried peppers, is rich and earthy. Can't decide? Order "Christmas" style to get both. If you're unsure about heat, ask — most restaurants are happy to explain how spicy the chile is that day.
Signature Dishes Worth Trying
No visit is complete without sampling New Mexico's iconic specialties: blue corn enchiladas, carne adovada, green chile cheeseburgers, posole, tamales, chile rellenos, sopapillas with local honey, and biscochitos (New Mexico's official state cookie). Many restaurants also feature seasonal dishes with locally grown chiles, fresh produce, and grass-fed beef from nearby farms and ranches.
Santa Fe Restaurants Worth Experiencing
The dining scene ranges from casual neighborhood cafés to nationally acclaimed fine dining. A few longtime favorites:
The Shed — In a historic adobe compound steps from the Plaza, The Shed has served traditional New Mexican cuisine for generations, famous for red chile enchiladas, blue corn specialties, and a welcoming courtyard.
Café Pasqual's — A short walk from the conference hotel, Café Pasqual's is celebrated for its colorful atmosphere and creative Southwestern cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are especially popular.
Tomasita's — Near the Railyard District, Tomasita's has a loyal following for classic New Mexican comfort food, generous portions, and homemade tortillas.
Geronimo — For a special evening, Geronimo offers premier fine dining in a restored historic adobe on Canyon Road, known for exceptional service and innovative, locally inspired cuisine.
Conference Tip: Dinner reservations are strongly recommended, particularly during spring travel season and weekends.
Visit the Santa Fe Farmers' Market
In the Railyard Arts District, the Santa Fe Farmers' Market is one of the country's largest and most respected. Depending on the season, browse fresh produce, artisan breads, locally roasted piñon coffee, Hatch and northern New Mexico chile products, honey, handmade chocolates, cheeses, spices, and specialty foods. Even if you're not shopping, it's a wonderful place to experience the local food culture and meet the farmers and artisans who supply many of the city's restaurants.
Family-Friendly Culinary Experiences
Santa Fe offers dining for every generation. Families can enjoy casual restaurants around the Historic Plaza, browse bakeries and chocolate shops, sample locally made ice cream, or relax on outdoor patios with live music. The compact downtown makes it easy to combine lunch, shopping, and sightseeing before dinner.
Helpful Dining Tips
Make restaurant reservations in advance, book food tours early, stay hydrated at Santa Fe's 7,000-foot elevation, wear comfortable walking shoes, and ask about dietary accommodations when booking tours.
Discover Santa Fe One Bite at a Time
Santa Fe's culinary traditions reflect centuries of cultural exchange, creating flavors and dining experiences that are uniquely New Mexican. Whether you spend an afternoon on a guided food tour, learn to prepare regional dishes in a cooking class, or enjoy your first meal "Christmas style," you'll discover why the city is internationally recognized as one of America's great food destinations.
Come hungry, leave inspired: See CEC's upcoming Santa Fe CME conference →, or browse more Santa Fe travel guides.
This original guide was prepared for the Continuing Education Company. General visitor information was informed by publicly available resources from Tourism Santa Fe, UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, and the official websites of the featured tours, schools, markets, and restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What food is Santa Fe known for? New Mexican cuisine built on red and green chile — blue corn enchiladas, carne adovada, green chile cheeseburgers, posole, chile rellenos, sopapillas, and biscochitos. Santa Fe is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
What does "red or green" mean in Santa Fe? It's the state question — which chile sauce you'd like on your dish. Green is fresh and bright; red is rich and earthy. Order "Christmas" to get both.
Are there guided food tours in Santa Fe? Yes — Wander New Mexico and Food Tour New Mexico both run walking tours of the Historic Plaza with tastings at local restaurants. Book early, as spring tours sell out.
Where can I take a cooking class in Santa Fe? The Santa Fe School of Cooking, a short walk from the Plaza, offers demonstration and hands-on classes in traditional New Mexican cuisine.
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