Plaza Cafe Downtown

Holiday Warmth and Authentic Flavors in the Heart of Santa Fe 🎄✨ Every time we visit Santa Fe, we make sure to stop at Plaza Café Downtown, right by the historic Plaza. This legendary spot, established in 1905, never disappoints it’s one of those rare places where tradition, taste, and atmosphere all come together perfectly. This time we decided to try something new: the Sopaipillas (fresh, warm, and perfectly puffed!) and the Posole soup hearty, flavorful, and full of that signature New Mexican comfort. The broth was rich and aromatic, with tender hominy and just the right amount of spice. The garnish plate with cabbage, cilantro, red onion, and lemon made it easy to customize every spoonful. Paired with the crisp sopaipillas and a bit of butter, it was simply outstanding. The café was beautifully decorated for the holidays twinkling lights, a white Christmas tree with red ornaments, and festive desserts displayed like artwork in the glass case. The atmosphere felt joyful yet cozy, with friendly staff and the smell of authentic New Mexican cooking in the air. To finish, I enjoyed a Santa Fe Sunset tea (chamomile, hibiscus, and Navajo cota), the perfect way to relax on a chilly evening. Plaza Café Downtown remains a must-visit for anyone exploring Santa Fe Plaza warm service, history in every corner, and flavors that truly represent New Mexico. 🌶️❤️🇺🇸

There was a line when we arrived, but we were seated pretty soon after that. Everybody enjoyed their food. I love supporting local, family-owned restaurants, and the Plaza Cafe is no different. It's right on the town square and it felt authentically Santa Fe. The service and the other guests were nice. Everybody was in a good mood. Would love to come back some day.

It’s a great location directly at the Plaza in historical Santa Fe. The food was very good Authentic Mexican cuisine, the home made Guacamole was fabulous! It was a busy Sunday afternoon. The service was okay, but a bit hectic. In addition what I didn’t like was the way the story finished: Our server came with the card machine - and there you have the pre-calculated tip of 20, 25 or 30%. In addition: These tips were calculated on the final amount, so: Including tax! I don’t give tip on tax! He stood next to me waiting to press one of the pre-set buttons, but I wanted my time to calculate the appropriate tip myself - and you could tell: He didn’t like that. There was also no “thank you” at the end or so. And that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Service should always be friendly and with a smile, which he didn’t have for us. So: Location & food: Really good! Service can be improved.

Typical Southwest diner vibe and menu. It was quite busy on a late Friday afternoon, but service was fast and courteous. My dish was a kind of large empanada with beef filling. Nothing special. With so short a menu, they could do better.

The Governor's Palace has a room dedicated to old school New Mexico eateries and the recommendation of the venerable Plaza Cafe wound up being the perfect end to my day in Santa Fe. Being a fan of old school diners with stool seats, I reconsidered my choice to eat al fresco, but the perfect weather and the Native American buskers in the Plaza confirmed my choice. The blue corn enchiladas with Christmas were amazing and my sopapia was amazing.

Ate here multiple times during our week stay in Santa Fe and everything was fabulous. Yummy drinks, great breakfast - probably the best bacon I can remember having - wonderful cocktails. Will definitely be back next time we are in town!

Whenever I’m in Santa Fe I try a new restaurant. This trip was the Plaza Cafe. It was PACKED! We were a party of 3 with 2 dogs so we waited 10-15 minutes to be seated outside with the perros. The hostess was multi-tasking & helping everyone all at once. The Mexican Mocha was a treat. We got the fish tacos & the avocado tacos. Both were great! Fantastic atmosphere; amazing food!

We went here for lunch on a Sunday so had a slight wait. They had both indoor and outdoor seating. We were seated in a booth by the kitchen so could see how hard the kitchen and wait staff was working and it was impressive how many plates the expediters could carry. We shared a salad and ordered the pork posole soup, breakfast burrito, stuffed sopapilla & a side sopapillla. The portions were generous and tasty especially the quinoa salad. The posole almost had too much pork in it as we couldn't finish it between 4 of us and it had a nice spicy kick to it.our waitress was fantastic, getting our order to us in a decent amount of time, checking in on us and also giving us some biscochetti(sp?) Cookies at the end to try as we were too full for any dessert. This place is one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Fe according and it's got a large menu so would recommend as a nice place if you're in the Plaza area.

In Santa Fe for a conference an grabbed breakfast at the Plaza Cafe. This is an old school diner - and Santa Fe's oldest restaurant. Think classic vinyl booths, subway tiles, Art Deco lighting, and southwest touches. Regulars and tourists. Good basic diner food and great nostalgia.

Oh my oh my! The restaurant was amazing. Loved the old diner vibe. The waiters were so friendly and gave us good recommendations - Santa Fe must-haves! The blue corn enchiladas were amazing. We also ordered a green chile burger and it was probably the best burger I have ever had. It was so unique and I just loved the little spiciness in it. Also- Can't leave Santa Fe without the signature biscochito! It was a new flavor in my taste bud and I loved it. A little anise and cinnamon and not overwhelming. I truly enjoyed it.

This has got to be our most favorite breakfast place of all time!! The food is so amazing!! The staff is super friendly. And the location...well you can't beat it, downtown Santa Fe, come on!! My absolute favorite is the blue corn piñon pancake. This speaks "New Mexican". They serve it with cinnamon syrup and butter. But you have to ask them to give you their homemade hibiscus marmalade. OMG! It is so good. We also ordered their mint tea and we got a surprise when it was mint with blue pea tea. It was a nice surprise! And you can't forget the biscochitos at the end. If you don't know, NM has a state cookie, biscochitos. They are like a sugar cookie with anise. In this case, they are tiny hence the name bischiquitos!! We came back in the evening and ordered their Mexican hot chocolate and enjoyed the wonderful Sant Fe plaza. Right now with all the Christmas lights, it's a must see!! Please make this a must see spot in your visit to Santa Fe. It is amazing!

4.5 stars Finally got to try the seasonal pumpkin posole here! I like the vibe of this place- outdoor seating for perfect viewing of events on the plaza and the indoor seating represented an old diner. We didn't have to wait long to get seated or to be served. Food came out quickly (though the posole was a little cold). I'm not sure it really tasted like pumpkin, but the crunch of the pepita was a good blend with the creaminess of the broth and sour cream and the heat of the green chile. It had a good flavor to it and came with a fluffy tortilla (16.95). There was a variety on the menu from burgers and boozy milkshakes to enchiladas. We got served two mini biscochitos with our check and it came with two stickers and a postcard. Overall, an enjoyable visit. 2024 #69

Kathy's service was exceptional! The ambiance is very inviting & retro inside! Last time we visited we said we would return again to this specific spot! Love their red chili has a nice kick!! We enjoyed our meals & service was great!

So many options to choose from on the menu. The club sandwhich was great and a large portion. The outdoor seating was a perfect way to enjoy the weather. Would love to go back and try more things on the menu.

With this restaurant being as iconic as it is, I was worried the quality of food would be meh. Boy, I was wrong! I literally dream about the food here. I cannot wait to return to get breakfast again. On the first morning, I had the Blue Corn Enchiladas, Christmas style. They were delicious, although wayyyy too cheesy. The next day I had the Juevos Rancheros, Christmas style again. Oh my gosh, they were so good! The sopapillas were served piping hot and were good. My companions had the french toast and the acai bowl, both of which they loved. We visited in the fall and took advantage of sitting outside one day and inside the next. The service in both areas was great. If you are in Santa Fe, this restaurant is a must.

While visiting Santa Fe my wife developed a carving for homemade Sopapillas, not knowing where to go she asked a clerk in a gift shop and was told go to the Plaza Cafe at the Santa Fe Plaza. When we arrived there was a good crowd both inside and dining outside. We were immediately seated and ordered our Sopapillas . The restaurant was clean and the service was great. When our Sopapillas arrived they looked and tasted great. We were glad we came to Plaza Cafe and would return if given a chance.

Convenient place to get a variety of good food choices near the Plaza. Our party of 3 went in around 6:30pm on a Sunday in October and were seated immediately. The waitress was very friendly and service was great. I had a bowl of the green chili stew from the appetizer menu as my entree. It's a very large bowl of more what I'd call a soup than stew. It had a lot more broth than I'd normally expect. There was a lot of pork, carrots, potatoes and onions but could have had more chile, to may taste. It was still very good. It came with their chile cheese toast and i also got a large flour tortilla. My wife got the posole, which was also in a very large bowl chock full of very good posole. It had lots of pork and came with cabbage, oregano and red chile toppings on the side. It also came with the chile cheese toasts. Our 3rd member got a simple breakfast platter of eggs, hash browns and toast. She said it was good. My wife and I shared a piece of key lime pie for dessert. It was a big slice of very mild and fluffy pie. I would have liked it a bit more limey but it was still very good. Prices were in the $10-17 range, which was reasonable for the good food. Our waitress was great . Very friendly, made good suggestions and was very attentive. All good at Plaza Cafe!

I was in Santa Fe for work and enjoyed dinner at this spot. Their info says that they are Santa Fe's oldest restaurant. It's an elevated diner experience. They have an extensive menu to include New Mexican dishes. I went with the Frito Pie (Upside Down) and it was delicious. I also enjoyed a margarita. I always make sure to have Frito Pie when I'm in town and this is now one of my favorites. Service is excellent, my server was friendly and checked on me as needed. I ate on the patio, which has views of the plaza. The inside has a diner theme, with a beautiful counter area. They give you a biscochitos which is a type of butter cookie, at the end of your meal, which is a nice touch.

Incredible. I chose this place because not only do they have New Mexican classics but they have VEGETARIAN VERSIONS of the New Mexican classics. it's located in the heart of Santa Fe and just steps away from our hotel. The (thankfully short) walk was through a really lovely park. They have both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Eating in the lovely weather adjacent to the park just added to the experience. The service was great. We were seated immediately and our server arrived shortly thereafter to take our orders. They have a wonderful drink menu. I ordered the mango jalapeño margarita, GF (I presume in retrospect had not adequately perused the menu) sprang for a standard marg. Both drinks came out almost before the words even left our mouth. I was dying to try the frito pie and although I was tempted to order the impossible meat version, I also really wanted to sample the calabacitas and that is another option with options. GF ordered the stuffed sopaipillas with calabacitas and beans as well. The mango and jalapeño marg was good but more sweet than spicy. The frito pie was FANTASTIC. 10/10. It couldn't have been better. The flavors were absolutely delicious but the Fritos added a really nice texture. When I first heard about it, I thought this was just nachos with Fritos but this is something different and something amazing. Regarding the sopaipilla "I thought it was very good, it wasn't too heavy even though it was fried, you know what I mean?" I was really excited when I saw boozie shakes on their menu. I attempted to order this but I was told that their machine wasn't working which was a huge bummer. Everything came out INSANELY quickly. Literally from the moment we walked in to when we received our food was less than 10 minutes.

Classic diner vibes, a vast Mexican-influenced menu, great local beers, and excellent service. My group of 5 adults and 4 kids were seated right away at weekday brunch time. We ordered a mix of American and traditional and new Mexican dishes and beer which left us all satisfied and happy. My Huevos Rancheros was a party on a plate with 2 eggs (over easy as my choice) on a corn tortilla with salsa verde (or rojo), cheese, and beans, hash browns, and another tortilla. It was so good, I finished all of it. ¡Viva New Mexico! NOTES/TIPS: **Though this diner is in the middle of Santa Fe Plaza and attracts plenty of tourists, prices are very fair. **Parking a block away at 100 E Water St in a lot that uses the Parkmobile app or cash, credit, and debit.

We came to the Plaza Cafe as a party of 5 at 5:45 on a Thursday. I loved the vibe of this cafe! It was lively and in the center of the plaza. Very easy to get to. Their menu has a good range of options of dishes, and they have indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the New Mexican chopped salad for some freshness. This was simple, nutritious and refreshing. I loved the vinaigrette that they used for this salad. We were in and out of the Plaza Cafe within a half hour without feeling rushed. We had an excellent meal and service!

Such a cute place with all of the Christmas decorations and retro vibes! The mole sauce was great - the chocolate hits you right on the spot and then fades out with the smokey flavors at the end. Would recommend upside down frito pie with green chile. I tried both but the red was way too spicy for my tongue. They were very busy when we came but still great service!

A cute historic restaurant on the Plaza, it was a busy Sunday morning, but the service was attentive and the food arrived quickly. I tried the chile relleno omelette, Christmas style, and it was excellent. Both the red and green sauces were outstanding. It's always a delightful spot to visit.

Ordered the pork green chile stew along with a club sandwich. The food was delicious, however the service was lacking. My husband received his sandwich before I got my soup. Think they forgot.

Awesome service outside today! Food was fresh and hot, drinks were delicious! Margaritas were perfect! Would def go again!

This cafe must be part of your Sante fe downtown experience. Waiters are multi-tasked handling food as well as beverage/liquor orders

It's a spot I haven't been to in many years. This morning we stopped into Plaza Cafe and it was pretty good. They had some great outdoor seating but they had counter service so we went with that. It was a good spot, not great. Dim lighting in that area but quick service for sure. I got the spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate to start. A nice kick in the pants to start the brunch. We got some waters too as we had just come from a hike. The mix of customers felt almost half and half locals and tourists. It's right on the square so plenty of tourists, but locals know its a good diner to stop in. We both got egg combos. They came out quick and were plenty good. The check was quick to come too. It was a little higher than you might think, but again they are right on the Santa Fe Plaza so to be expected. Overall a solid diner after a hike.

My container and I decided to stop at the Plaza Café downtown after walking around Santa Fe. I was a little concerned that it might be touristy, but it was not. The hostess asked if we wanted to eat inside or out and we took inside. We were immediately seated and the waiter took our drink order. I ordered the mango margarita while my companion ordered the legacy margarita. They were both delicious. We ordered the Frito pie, the stuffed sopapilla and the appetizer trio. The Frito pie hit the table almost immediately. My complaining and I dug in, and it was very fresh and tasty. Unfortunately, the waiter must have been new because the rest of our items were delayed, but when we caught his attention, we canceled the appetizer trio because the Frito pie was so filling. The stuff sopapilla hit the table shortly after we reminded him, and it was crazy good. The meat had a wonderful flavor and the sopapilla was lightly fried. For looking as heavy as it did it white and we demolished it. Despite the hiccups in the service, this restaurant is definitely worth a second visit. You can't beat the location and the staff was very friendly. Five stars for the food, four stars due to the hiccup in service.

Best french toast and bacon I've ever had!!!! So crispy and flavorful! Such a cute little cafe with tables, booths, and 50's style diner seats! Service was fast and efficient, definitely coming back to try more menu items!

The bright colorful Plaza Cafe is located in the center of Santa Fe Plaza. We were seated immediately & our waitress was so accommodating & efficient. She patiently explained the various menu items to us. I had the local Blue-corn pancakes, must admit its an acquired taste. My husband had the blue corn breakfast burrito, which was delicious. Highly recommend the Plaza Cafe.

Great little diner in the Santa Fe plaza. The outdoor seating was perfect for soaking in some sun and people-watching. The huevos rancheros were tasty and plentiful, and service was friendly. Make sure to get your name in early on the weekend - we passed the time checking out the shops around the plaza.

We come to Santa Fe every year and this is a must stop for breakfast. Food is cooked with live. You will not be disappointed. Cozy. Friendly. Yummy !

Cold day when we ate here for lunch and it was packed! Didn't have to wait for a table but it was right near the door and since it is so popular, it was a bit cold inside because of the occasional line out the door. But not to worry, I ordered Mexican hot chocolate to warm my hands and delight my tongue! And the line out the door quickly ended and I warmed right up! Had a green chile burger and it was great! My son got a mango shake and it was fantastic too! Fast & SUPER FRIENDLY service to boot

Last dinner in Santa Fe. Came by several times during the days, and this place always had a line. Outdoor dining amid flower beds right on the Plaza. Came back at 5pm and no line, but too chilly to eat outdoors. Service was leisurely. Wife's $18.50 blue corn enchiladas came with two chicken enchiladas, covered with cheese and green chile with pinto beans, Mexican rice and a small salad on the side. Met my wife's high standards for New Mexican food, with food spicy enough. Checked Yelp reviews and the most ordered item was the $17.50 green chile cheeseburger. So be it. Ordered mine medium, along with unsalted fries. The burger came with a thin slice of melted cheddar cheese, a half dozen pickles, and a dozen raw onion rings. Right portions for me, as can't get enough of the pickles and onions. Scooped up a portion of the thick layer of green chile for my wife's meal. The pickles and onions complimented the spicy green chile over the hamburger, perfectly cooked. Liked the crisp fries. Asked my wife whether she could tell the difference between the blue corn and yellow corn enchiladas. Not when they are smothered with cheese and spicy hot green chile. No French Kissing tonight!

- cool cafe at park level - because of its central location, it can get crowded - old school ice cream parlor/diner feel - simple but good margarita - friendly staff - super large portions

Very good food, service was good too. Food was too spicy for me so I wished I asked for the sauce on the side. Outdoor seating was very nice. It looked very clean inside. Prices were reasonable for a Californian but maybe high for some.

Plaza Café is a quaint, friendly and well established restaurant in Santa Fe. My husband ordered the chille relleno omelet with a side of sausage and I had the traditional pozole. The service was attentive, the food was delicious and the feel for the place put us right at Christmas- from the music to the decor and seasonal dishes. My husband even said we could come back for dinner.

An Update: This is our favorite place for breakfast in Santa Fe. I've never had a bad meal Here and today was no exception. I had the traditional my husband had a burrito. Oh the bacon!!!! Today I had a hot chocolate- it's was divine and served in a glass! Go here! We've had lunch too, everything is great. Service friendly and professional.

What a pleasant experience! We stopped here on our last night in town and it did not disappoint. From the outside seating to our amazing server and the tasty food we enjoyed our time! We do wish the sauces would've had a bit more flavor in addition to the spice level, but other than that we enjoyed our portions and the flavor of our dishes. Our server was attentive, had great recommendations and eating outside created a relaxing experience, fully allowing us to enjoy all that was around us.

Our first family dinner in New Mexico! We ate here on a chilly Thursday evening in October. Pork stew with green chili, posole, blue corn enchiladas with chicken and cheese, sopaipilla stuffed with beef. Quattro leches. The biscochitos were served in a to go box. All good! Our daughter loved her first sopaipilla, so fluffy. It would be good if we could ask for more chili or less chili, as you can do in Indian restaurants.

Yall!!! Yall!! Texan or not u gotta..gotta eat here! The food is off the chain if I could give it a 10 I would. But the service was 100% a 5!!! Maria was fabulous she had great attitude, attention to detail, checked in all the time with us. Even the food runner guy who spoke Spanish to me which I loved was fantastic! Now the food...the chicken enchiladas on the blue corn Jesus take the wheel. I wanted another one. The 2 tacos with ground beef. Yall I wanted a bowl of just the beef. It was so juicy and tender and literally tasted like meat and not chemicals. The sopapilla's were life!!! They give u 2 but guess what we ordered more to go. The butter is homemade with honey mixed in. Overall the experience was wonderful, the service top notch; Maria and the food was amazing. Ohhhhh and we got a Mexican mocha to go and a Mexican hot chocolate was life! For me in general service is very important since alot of places r literally losing the best of the best due to customers being rude. Please don't ruin this place they r all very nice

Advertised as the oldest cafe downtown. Seated outside on the patio which was enough shade so we didn't get overly warm. Nice breakfast menu with plenty of choices. I'd had plenty of chilis so decided on a regular American breakfast but my friend got the breakfast burrito. Big enough for two we thought and came with hash browns and beans. The filling was eggs, cheese and choice of protein. One of the better breakfasts we've had here. Service was very efficient and the prices reasonable.

Fresh tasting food that comes out quickly. Their salsa that comes with chips is much better and fresher tasting than most restaurants. Service is pleasant and efficient. They are helpful and known of the menu. This is a classic spot on the Plaza, great for a casual meal.

I was in town visiting and stopped here for lunch. It was very busy but I was able to get a nice table inside. It got very cold overnight so it was too cold to sit outside. They had a nice patio section right on the plaza which would be nice on a warmer day. I started with one server who got me my soda but then they switched to a different server who took my order. I had NORTEÑO TACOS: Hard shells, NM ground beef, cheese, sour cream, salsa + beans & rice. These were delicious. Lots of meat and toppings. Good flavor. A bit messy but tasty. Overall a nice lunch. Food was good, service was good. Seemed like a local's spot which I liked.

What a great place with historic beginnings and the service from Esther was excellent. We had the blue corn pancakes with pinion nuts and cinnamon syrup and wow they were incredibly delicious and unlike anything we have ever eaten. They also had some very unique orange flavored butter on them. The coffee was also super. Great place!

Nice sized portions of good home made food are serviced med here. NOTE: if you don't like spicy food ask for the sauce on the side -- otherwise it will burn a hole in the roof of your mouth. I had the chicken Enchiladas with blue tortillas. I was glad my sister warned me about the sauce on the side or I wouldn't have been able to eat it. My sisters split a quesadilla plate that had chicken and cheese along with sauce and guacamole. They really liked it. The restaurant had seating inside and out. We sat outside under the cute Santa Fe colored umbrellas and with flowers all around the exterior of the outside seating area. It was very colorful and uplifting. While the restaurant was packed outside, the service was pretty prompt. Second Note: the outside seating area was dog friendly with 6 or 7 dogs at the tables with owners. Also, this place is on the main square, so you could people watch while eating if you want. Hope you enjoy!

After passing this restaurant many times we finally went there for lunch. It is a nice old fashioned diner located right on the Plaza. They do offer outdoor dining year round due to heaters, but we opted to eat inside. The service was excellent. We stated with chips and guacamole which was very good. I had the Double Black Bean Burger special and it was very good. I also had Mexican Hot Chocolate which was nice on a cool fall day. My wife had a regular burger and hers was outstanding. We definitely recommend this diner and we will be back.

The Huevos Rancheros was amazing! Everything had such great flavor and the Christmas chili on the side topped it off. Very filling so go hungry. The chicken fried steak was huge but my husband managed to eat it all - said it was one of the best he's had. Exceptional service! The patio area was really nice but a little too chilly for us.

Friendly service and classic diner atmosphere. After a day of heavy eats, I opted for a chopped chicken salad. What a treat: tender seasoned chicken, delicious green chile, fresh avocado and veggies, crunch from toasted seeds and legumes. Truly a standout salad! The stuffed sopaipillas my friends ordered looked delicious too. Convenient location by the Plaza.

The oldest restaurant in Santa Fe definitely deserves a visit. In fact, if you head back towards the bathrooms, there's a plexiglass window where you can see the original mud and grass structure still supporting the walls. The food is spot on, with all of the traditional plates you would expect to find in a New Mexican restaurant. Inside seating is comfortable and on warmer days, there's an outdoor patio as well. For breakfast, I highly recommend trying the blue corn pancakes- the orange butter and cinnamon syrup really add to the flavor. The service is very attentive and eager to make your visit a pleasant one. Definitely add this to your Santa Fe visits for an easy and tasty meal.

Sort of institution in this town. Love that its located at the plaza. Food is mediocre but it is a diner. Service is neurotic- staff is constantly running somewhere, except to you.

This restaurant is located right on the Plaza and is open early - a great place to wait for the shops to open. The breakfast foods were typical American fare, they offer homemade breads and pancakes. The service was good and they offer outside seating as well. This is a good option for an early morning meal, but it might be better to wait for the other restaurants to open.

Great location by downtown square, outdoor seating with heaters that worked great even with 30F temperatures during our Christmas visit. The lights decoration added to a great dinner experience. Local new mexico cuisine, tried the cheese enchiladas with steak, and posole. Great, friendly service at a historic and successful restaurant, established 80 plus years ago.

The food was amazing I had the avocado tacos they were excellent, and the margarita was delicious made fresh with fresh lime juice, triple sec and simple syrup shaken with a lovely lemon garnish rimmed with salt of course Noe was wonderful his suggestion were perfect We are only spending the night on our way to Colorado but we will be back for breakfast

A great option on the plaza any time b of day Solid dinner food and decent service. Outdoor seating is great people watching. Almost always a line but wait times are not excessive

Came in on a Wednesday afternoon to find the cafe PACKED! We managed to find seating at the diner/bar which offered full service. This review is specifically for their crispy avocado tacos and sopapillas. The tacos delivered on the consistency (crispy) but lacked seasoning and the overall flavor fell flat. They came with a side of tomato flavored rice and beans. Highly recommend trying their sopapillas - light, fluffy, airy and delicious!

Great food & service! Fresh perfectly prepared, had the enchiladas w/ Christmas some of the best I've had! Service was perfect.