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. :)

If you're looking for a moody, elevated cocktail experience in Santa Fe, As Above, So Below…read moreDistillery absolutely delivers. The moment you walk in, the atmosphere pulls you in--an almost mystical aesthetic with curated decor (think mounted skulls, vintage accents, and cozy lounge seating). This makes it perfect for a date night or a unique night out. The space is intentionally designed to feel immersive, and it works. I ordered a gin cocktail with a tajín-style rim and fresh cucumber garnish, and it was incredible. Crisp, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice. Service matched the vibe--friendly and knowledgeable about what they're serving. It was easy to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. This is one of those places that feels like a hidden gem--unique, a little edgy, and far from your typical bar scene. Whether you're into craft cocktails, cool aesthetics, or just want somewhere different to hang out, this spot is 100% worth checking out.

Since I don't indulge, this rating is based on viewing my colleague's exclamations and expressed…read moresatisfaction...and her purchases! Service from the bartender was thoughtful, knowledgeable, flexible, and engaging. My colleague initially wanted to taste one item based on another vendor's recommendation to visit this venue. A wise one! The bartender noted in the flight menu that the beverage in question could be added to the flight. Very nice of him, he didn't delete a flight to fit it in, either! Another colleague asked if she purchased, would the flight be free? Answer: yes! Two bottles, minimum. She loved them all, but selected three of the flights to purchase; two full bottles and one half bottle. (Business traveler/ International colleague with a travel liquor limit). Bottles were very well priced, and she'd can't wait to introduce them to colleagues in Taiwan! The decor and spacious area set a casual, respectful vibe which lends to a great venue for small groups, solo visitors, and couples on a date. There was a solo reading customer comfortably seated in a couch set up like a living room. There was a couple in another seating area and some friends at the bar. Didn't look much further in though. My colleague was very well pleased with her tastings and purchase, and I'm sure you'll receive the same great service from the bartender!

Amazing bar and one of the highlights of our time in Santa Fe. The service was great from start to…read morefinish, and watching our bartender skillfully craft each drink by hand was a treat in itself. The attention to detail was impressive. The cocktails are excellently crafted. We had the Night Fever, which was bright and layered without being too sweet, and the High Noon which was rich, balanced, and unlike anything we've had elsewhere. We'll be back next time we're in town.

Definitely the best bar we visited in Santa Fe…read more When we arrived there was still seating at the bar so we promptly sat ourselves there. We ordered a charcuterie and cheese board which was much larger than expected and had plenty of local options. I started with a See You At Dusk, which was a combo of Melleti, souchu, balasmic, ginger and walnut. I found it to be a very flavorful drink that paired well with the board. I next tried a Bywater which was rum, falernum, genepy and Averna. It was a very deep and rich cocktail which I also enjoyed. The bartender was very friendly and offered us small samples of a few unusual items they stock. Overall a very fun experience.

We had good drinks while visiting Santa Fe. The only bar that open till 2 am. Piper awesome…read morebartender. To dark to picture with but love the unique drink and art deco feel

I had two cocktail bars on my "must visit" list for Santa Fe. One was Secreto, the other was…read moreTonic. I reviewed Secreto separately. And while their cocktails were good, the service was lackluster and it was loud and crowded. Granted I visited Tonic a little later in the evening, but it was low lit, quiet, not crowded, and playing jazz. The bartender was SUPER attentive, but in a positive way. He really seemed to care that we were comfortable. In fact, most of the negative reviews complain that it was low lit and quiet and only one bartender. I found these things the most attractive. They focus on craft cocktails with seasonal ingredients. I visited late in the night after other stops at Secreto and Coyote Cafe, so I was flagging a bit. I can't even remember what I ordered, but both cocktails were great. Very herbal and complex. They have herbal cocktails, savory cocktails, spicy too. I also love how some of their cocktails have little romance novels or stories to go along with them as a way to describe their flavors/mood.

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!

worst bar tenders so rude they need to hire new bartenders in the downstairs bar plus they need a…read morenew bouncer in the front .

Another great meal at Boxcar, again with the Santa Fe Foodies. All nine of us enjoyed the meals. We…read morewent for Taco Tuesday; you can get $2 beef tacos, which many members did and said were very good. However, I decided to go with an appetizer I've never tried, the Bang Bang Shrimp, which was dynamite! You get four very large, crispy shrimp in a sweet-and-spicy sauce, though I didn't find it spicy, if that's a concern for some. The sauce was very tasty; the shrimp had great flavor, were plump and tender, and they were indeed crispy. This went very well with the arugula under the shrimp. I'd order this again in a second. I then had two tacos à la carte: Baja Fish beer-battered cod and Carnitas. Both were very large and excellent. The pork on the Carnitas was indeed crispy as it should be, and the cod was perfectly fried and delicious. My wife had the Asian Tuna Noodle Crunch Bowl: seared tuna, lo mein noodles. The dressing was superb; the Tuna was perfectly seared raw, and all the items that came with the salad (mango, red cabbage, daikon radish sprouts, kale crunch, edamame, cilantro, peanuts, toasted sesame) made for a lovely and delicious meal. Our server, Tony, did a fantastic job of keeping us all happy. My only 'complaint' was that Boxcar doesn't serve their amazing Brussels sprouts, or at least not all the time. Not on the menu. I told Tony and the manager how much I love them and was told it may come back as a special from time to time. Man, the Boxcar Brussels sprouts are amazing! Boxcar has very, very good food, and I would usually avoid what appears to be a 'sports bar,' but James Beard Foundation-recognized Chef Eric Stumpf will please the foodies every time. What is nice is that Boxcar has several seating areas, so if you're into food and not the 'bar scene,' they can seat you in an area that is quiet.

They do not offer fried pickle as a side and cannot order it in half order. Ordered the burger and…read moreI had to put the burger together myself,not sure if this is a Mountain West thing. Also the bacon was sticking out. Have to pay for ranch dressing, was told after the food was served. Waited for the dressing to come and the Orion rings got cold. Wasn't that busy but still took a while for the food to arrive. Out of tacos for Taco Tuesday by 10 pm, but they still offer the tacos at the regular price. After I asked for the check, the waiter offered drinks from the happy hour menu, dessert and asked me if I wanted to place an order of vegetable "something healthy" for the next day? First time that I been offer that. Would not go back again.

Great environment and outdoor seating. All beer options were great tasting and staff is friendly.read more

One of our favorite stops of the weekend. Friendly servers and patrons. Plenty of seating indoors…read moreand outdoors. Outside does have heaters if you choose to sit outside. They had a food truck out back the day we went. We will go back if ever in Santa Fe again!

Santa Fe has a distinct night life & there is no lack of events and dance parties. Mostly this…read moreplace has packed in the weekend. Bar tenders are friendly. Well drink is $ 15 that reasonable compare to Brklyn or LA. Even this is the American South, they won't easily you to welcome in. Hey you know what, you show your swaggering, everyone gonna down to have fun. I have stayed at El Rey Court for a couple days and found out this gem. Strangely enough, a lot of bars/ lives music and events are in the hotels. Don't be shy to go in. A little lack of diversity. I was brought up by the white culture that I would like to see more spice thing up. Date night would be great. What I love about is intimate dance floor that inhibit the flow of the night with one others. Regardless of you into opposite gender or prefer same gender. Loving & Charming, Courtesy & Consideration for others. Thanks DJ Christina for inviting me. "Hey Kiddo" was a funs twist, swing & disco party. The next day - Sept 25 was Queer party. This could be the closet clubbing in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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!

What a cool spot! Super chill vibe, laid back music, food truck and of course, incredible craft…read morebeer! You'll love the courtyard and happy hour!

I didn't even think of taking pictures of this place…read more The place is super tiny, like in the backyard of a small house. The parking is large with street parkings if lot is filled. The vibe is backyard brewery. There is live music or projected music where after sunset, a movie is aired in a small projected screen All the beer we had weren't really good. My friend felt sick to his stomach. And the one another had was like bad barley beer.

We've been twice. Excellent margaritas with house made ingredients. Smooth, subtle, delicious…read more Some of us had chicken enchiladas and loved them. I had the chile relleno (so good, so fresh) and so did my sister who also loved hers. Excellent service, can't say enough! Would recommend to anyone. Oh and they played great 80s music. ;-)

The food was good, but the pickup experience was unbelievably frustrating. My order had been ready…read morefor quite some time, yet nobody brought it to me--even though I was literally sitting five feet away and had already told multiple staff members I was waiting. Because of this, I missed two buses and my entire schedule for the afternoon was disrupted. Completely avoidable and very disappointing.