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. :)

The Process is a small group of artists and musicians who, in their own words, take their "cue from…read moreGertrude Stein's "Salons" in the 1930's and 40's. Gertrude would basically force/ask her amazing friends to perform for each other in her living room". Putting on only a few shows a year, maybe 8 or so, the quality of these shows is where the Devil lies. With past performers like Carla Bozulich, Sunburned Hand of the Man and the legendary Michael Hurley, The Process brings an astounding array of performers into a VERY intimate setting to do what they do best. The performers are actually immersed in their listeners, and this brings a sincere quality to every minute. You can see live music, art, film, spoken word and performance art at a Process event. You have to work a bit to keep up on what is happening there (ie- check the website above) but if you are in town and they are putting on an event, check it out. It can be cramped with 60-100 people trying to fill the very small space, so get there early to find some room! All events are DONATION ONLY, B.Y.O.B. and ALL AGES .

Looking for a fun interactive art exhibit to explore? Meowwolf will keep you immersed with its…read moreeccentric art and quirky rooms. This is the 4th Meowwolf location I've been to. While they eventually give the same effect overtime, I still wanted to visit this location because it's the OG. It's still very unique in its own way. Some highlights include, a spooky house to explore, a telephone booth that connects you virtually to Oklahoma, many portals, etc. So fun! Tip: purchase tickets online in advance for cheaper prices. They go up if you purchase the day of. There's a food court where you can purchase some drinks and snacks. However, I just came for the art.

This place is wild, weird and wonderful. Disclaimer that I didn't know much about Meow Wolf before…read moregoing, just that its an immersive art exhibit and one of the most popular attractions in Santa Fe. I went on a random Tuesday in early afternoon thinking it wouldn't be busy but it still was! If you plan ahead, you can save yourself some money by buying less coveted time slots online. There is a big, free parking lot with a few cool instillations outside. Love that it's in an old bowling alley and they kept the carpet vibe in the lobby. They also have a cafe but I didn't partake. Since it's a self-guided experience, you can spend as little or as much time as you want exploring. I feel like I stopped to investigate things (e.g., opened cupboards, flipped through albums) and still got through all the rooms in a little over an hour. Meow Wolf was unlike anything I've seen before - when you think about how many artists came together to create all the details that amassed into such a monumental exhibit, it's really incredible. Definitely worth checking out!

NICHOLAS, lost a great customer and a lot of respect from my family and troops that fought and die…read morefor a country to have free speech the reason I'm not allowed to go there no more because I wore a short shirt given it to me by one of my followed troops the night of the one year anniversary for the pool tournaments I was not allowed to enter because I wore Trump shirt the night before with my beautiful army pants given by my family members! Respect with all respect fuck that and fuck that place now I love the workers except for a few of them. God bless them, and God bless our troops hurt in sick people and hurt and sick animals

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!

Fabulous ambiance and acoustics in a fantastic setting that is extremely comfortable. We had VIP…read moreseating but preferred the first 2 rows instead . I am trying to go once a month as food is excellent ... carrot soup and chocolate cake are my favorites . Great drinks and just surprising terrific atmosphere. Excellent service . I am taking all my out of town guests here for Flamenco or whatever else happens to be going on ...

Lovely venue. We have been to two concerts and enjoyed them both. Haven't dined here yet. Have…read moreheard mixed reviews on food from friends. Drink service was friendly and attentive.

What a lovely spot! Came here for drinks and this place was beautiful and every detail was well…read morethought out and executed. Such a charming setting with prompt friendly service and yummy drinks. Drinks were on the pricier side but were good and worth it. Ambiance is a must!

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.

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.

We decided to stop in for a quick beer before dinner but quick it was not! We almost left after…read moresitting at a table for awhile because we weren't sure we had a server - they seemed very short staffed. But the seating options were good - they had both patio and indoor tables, plus a bar to sit up at. There was a stage in the corner so I'm assuming it's a lot more fun and lively when they have a music night. I ended up getting a flight to be able to taste a few of their beers but unfortunately didn't love any of them. I probably liked their brown ale the best. They do have a pretty wide selection, and also have cocktails and wine, so there's a little something for everyone.

Love this theater. Small enough that every seat is amazing. Love the Symphony here. It feels like…read moremy own private show. You can get drinks during intermission too.

We are at the Lensic to see Tanya Tucker. The theater is…read morebeautiful. My 1st time here at the lensic.

Fantastic gem! We just wanted a late night light drink, a coffee or something. This place is so…read moreawesome: - DJ Spinning ethereal, non-lame music - Great coffee and tea drinks, tonics, mixes. They have non-alcoholic (NA) beers and elixirs too. - Genuinely some of the best onigiri I've ever had, period. These were vegan, it does not matter, anyone can enjoy since they were mushroom. - Games and nice seating and choose a record to request from their vast vinyl collection! Wonderful conversation spot, reasonably priced especially for what you get. Service is very attentive and gracious. Pictured here, Dark Side of the Moon and Eye of the Tiger

This place is really cool. Good music, great coffee, fantastic service. The owner and staff are…read moresuper friendly and collaborative on drinks. Come out for a great time!