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    Silva's Saloon

    4.6 (15 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars
    Closed Closed

    Silva's Saloon Photos

    SILVA'S SALOON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Quiet
    Good for groups

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    W B.

    I love this bar, no frills and nothing but straight forward beers and shots type of saloon. Great history and scenery, cash only.

    Silva's Saloon was listed in Esquire Magazine as one of the top five bars in the United States.
    John S.

    This bar is the New Mexico "Cheers". My wife and I visited here for our third wedding anniversary. We arrived at 6:45 pm, and ordered two Coors Lights from Felix Silva, Jr., the són of the original owner. He decided to give us a tour of the bar, and I am happy he did. Felix Junior is 83 and still talkative and energetic. He told us Esquire Magazine picked the bar as one if the top five in the nation in the 80s. Lots of visitors from other countries visit the bar as it sits on Route 66. There are dollar bills with messages written on them littering the walls. He showed us a metal still in the corner that his father used to make moonshine during Prohibition. There were many bottles of liquor and cans of beer from the 1930s that he has preserved in wax behind the bar. He showed us countless celebrity photos on the walls (Danny Trejo) and reminisced about the movies that were shot in the bar, including 50 to 1. There is a pool table in an adjacent room and the walls are covered with black and white nude photos and posters. He told us that people from everywhere give him these to hang up, and he happily obliges. A cutout of "the most interesting man in the world" stands in the corner. He says bikers visit his bar and are welcome as long as they are courteous, unarmed, and not wearing colors. He had three other customers in the bar who he knew by first name and introduced us to. They shook our hands and were friendly. He told us he considers his regulars as part of his extended family. Silva's Saloon is much more than a "biker" bar. It is an historic place filled with memories of New Mexico's past and its patrons are New Mexico's present. Fèlix Silva, Jr. is more than an old man. He is part of the "Silent Generation" and a true Native New Mexican, genuine, tough, kind, and willing to tell some of the most interesting stories. I am happy we visited here for our anniversary and look forward to talking to Felix again.

    RunAway B.

    Bernalillo, New Mexico - pre-1937 Route 66 bar "Silva's Saloon" (RAB bar 547 of 2017) with bartender Denise is a "Run-A-Way Bill" Favorite. Since 1933, "Silva's Saloon" has been a 1-family owned business. "Silva's Saloon" customers drank beers & watched the historic Route 66 road created right in front of the bar. Today the walls are covered with 100's of memories, including the hats of customers who have "moved to the cemetery" over the years. Today 85 year young Felix & his daughter keep the bar running. Several movies have used "Silva's Saloon" for their bar scenes. #RunAwayBill #DUSA2017 #WorldsLongestBarCrawl #666BarsUSA #Route66RunAwayBill #Route66 11.15.17

    D A P.

    The husband Kevin & I were doing touristy things when we decided to visit the oldest bar in ABQ. Kevin googled the question on his IPhone and Silvia's Saloon popped up. We were on our way. We love Silvia's! It was about 3 in the afternoon on a weekday so there were not many patrons at that time, but the place is cool. It's dark and covered with postcards, pictures & photos all over the walls. Lots of naked women from the 70s. So covered, that I couldn't see the bathroom door located directly behind me. Packed with bottles of booze. I could only see Coors & Bud on draft and this isn't the kind of place to have a beer menu. So when the extremely nice bartender named Denise asked me what I wanted, I took a guess: "Sam Adams?" I asked. "I think I have one left" Denise said. Next to us on the bar was a bunch of homemade food laid out buffet style. "Help yourself to some food" Denise said. Wait a minute, your giving us cheep booze & delicious free food? I had some of the local dessert which is a custard type pudding that I do not know the name of- but I will find out because I wanted to marry it. I don't know if the free lunch was a special occasion or an everyday occurrence. Silvia's is a great place to stop for a drink on your way to or from Santa Fe.

    Candice B.

    So much history and good times If your lucky enough to catch Felix (my future ex husband) he'll give you stories to take home

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    9 years ago

    Great bar. And I do mean bar. Don't expect fancy appetizers or any food. The beer is super cold and the bartender is super friendly

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    Ask the Community - Silva's Saloon

    Review Highlights - Silva's Saloon

    We arrived at 6:45 pm, and ordered two Coors Lights from Felix Silva, Jr., the són of the original owner.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Mary's Bar - Mary's Bar

    Mary's Bar

    3.0(8 reviews)
    25.7 mi

    Good lord, can't believe this gem has not been reviewed! Unless I missed it...!!!…read more If you are in the Santa Fe area, Mary's Bar is a MUST SEE. My motorcycle buddy took me here for an afternoon beer. We pulled up to the wooden, deserted-looking bar and I was like, uh, really?? But the sign said "ABIERTO", so my friend smiled, pushed the door open for me, and thus the adventure began. The bar is basically a large room full of stuff. Crap. Boxes. A covered pool table. Covered with cats. The actual bar was a small thing on the right side of the room. Also covered with cats. I love cats, so I was okay with this. :) A woman ambled out from the back, eyeing us warily (we were the only ones there), then got us our beer and water and sat behind the tiny bar to keep tabs on us. Once she started talking, man, we got some local stories that were pretty amazing. She turned out to be Mary's granddaughter; Mary (who just turned 95!!!) was in back taking a nap. My friend was disappointed Mary was not around, as apparently she is a real firecracker. It was Mary's parents who started the bar in the late 1800's (although I read it started as a general store) and it's still going... not strong, as the town of Cerrillos is pretty much a ghost town, but it's going. A must see if in the area. You won't be disappointed!

    One review and I my because we found it. Place looked abandoned and so did the town. It was…read moreliterally a ghost town and would creep you out at night. Not sure why it doesn't say "permanently closed".

    Photos
    Mary's Bar - And there is Mary, August 20, 2009.  See more on my Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/en321/

    And there is Mary, August 20, 2009. See more on my Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/en321/

    Mary's Bar - Me, my host, his bike, and Mary's Bar.

    Me, my host, his bike, and Mary's Bar.

    Mary's Bar

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    The Matador - Santa Fe Swamp Water

    The Matador

    4.0(163 reviews)
    43.4 mi
    $
    Full bar
    Locally owned & operated

    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. :)

    Photos
    The Matador - Bathroom wall

    Bathroom wall

    The Matador
    The Matador - Entrance to the bar

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    Entrance to the bar

    Chimayo Chili Red Tavern - Chili Rojo Tavern regular ;)

    Chimayo Chili Red Tavern

    5.0(3 reviews)
    59.6 mi

    One of the few remaining Northern New Mexico roadside bars, always for real with live music from…read moretime to time. FeastyKat E. nailed it. Now will be then later so best drink it before it's gone.

    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!

    Photos
    Chimayo Chili Red Tavern - The finest Bud Light money can buy

    The finest Bud Light money can buy

    Chimayo Chili Red Tavern - A very heavy pool table.. must see

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    A very heavy pool table.. must see

    Perea's Tijuana Bar - Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    Perea's Tijuana Bar

    4.3(54 reviews)
    6.3 miNorth Valley/Los Ranchos
    $$

    Amazing place. Not many left here in Corrales. Sopapillas and green chile here!…read more Talk to people here. If you're looking for food, go here and talk. Dont be weird -- we are here. If you're grey and rude go to Hannah and Nate's.

    Me and my sister wanted to try something new close to Rio Rancho so we headed out to Perea's in…read moreCorrales. Driving into Corrales is so peaceful by the way. Right when we arrived we were greeted by 2 lovely ladies who asked us if we wanted to sit indoors or out in the patio. Since it was relatively hot that day we opted to sit inside. My sister ordered the Posole that day but was told later that they were out so she ended up only having a coffee and some Biscochitos which she said were good. For me the choice was a little tougher since I'm way more picky with my food. The menu didn't have too much that was appealing to me so I went with the Chicken Enchilada Casserole. While we waited they brought out some chips with a mild tomato based salsa that was OK but the real winner was another salsa that one of the gals brought me on the side. That green salsa was hot and delicious just needed a tad more salt. I finally got my entree. The plate was super small - smaller than any plate I have ever gotten at any restaurant ever. Probably a little bigger than the plate you get your toast on at a breakfast restaurant but I digress. The Enchiladas were OK but what was really delicious were the calabacitas with corn and the side of beans. So much good flavor. The sopaipillas were OK too. Not the best I've had but definitely not the worse. Overall it was an interesting lunch spot and the staff was super friendly

    Photos
    Perea's Tijuana Bar - Peek into one of the rooms!

    Peek into one of the rooms!

    Perea's Tijuana Bar - Stuffed Sopapilla

    Stuffed Sopapilla

    Perea's Tijuana Bar - ...our personal "coveted" home Fortaleza stash, with the Winter Blend still sealed ... hmmmmm

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    ...our personal "coveted" home Fortaleza stash, with the Winter Blend still sealed ... hmmmmm

    Silva's Saloon - divebars - Updated September 2026

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