Del Charro

While Santa Fe is known for high-end "fine dining" prices, Del Charro (located at the Inn of the Governors) is a beloved exception. Known as the city’s favorite "watering hole," it offers a rare combination of authentic Southwest charm, award-winning food, and some of the best value you’ll find in the downtown area. The Food: Award-Winning Comfort Del Charro consistently wins local polls for "Best Burger" and "Best Cheap Eats," and for good reason. The menu focuses on hearty, unpretentious New Mexican and American fare. The Stuffed Green Chile Cheeseburger: This is their claim to fame. Unlike most places that just top the burger with chile, Del Charro offers a version where the patty is stuffed with roasted green chile and cheese. It’s smoky, spicy, and widely considered a "must-eat" in Santa Fe. Green Chile Chicken Chowder: A former "Souper Bowl" winner, this is creamy, comforting, and has just enough kick to keep it interesting. Daily $10 Lunch Specials: One of the best deals in the city. Depending on the day, you can get massive plates like a Stuffed Beef Sopapilla or a Stuffed Poblano for just $10. Late Night Bites: In a city where many kitchens close early, Del Charro stays open until midnight (Monday–Saturday), making it the go-to spot for a post-event meal. The Atmosphere: Rustic Saloon Vibes The vibe is "Western Saloon" without being cheesy. It’s warm, lived-in, and welcoming to both muddy hikers and Plaza tourists. The Fireplace: There are four coveted leather chairs right in front of a roaring kiva fireplace. If you can snag one on a snowy Santa Fe evening, you’ve won the night. The Patio: Their outdoor patio is covered and heated, allowing you to enjoy the fresh New Mexico air almost year-round. The "Beehive" Shakers: When you order their house margarita, it’s served in a signature beehive-shaped cocktail shaker, which gives you about a drink and a half for a very reasonable price. Why It’s Favorable Accessibility: It’s just two blocks from the Plaza, making it an easy walk from any downtown hotel. Price Point: You can easily have a full meal and a drink for under $25, which is increasingly rare in Santa Fe’s historic district. The Verdict Go if: You want a casual, lively atmosphere where the food is consistently good and the margaritas are strong. It is the perfect place to decompress after a day of gallery-hopping. Skip if: You are looking for a white-tablecloth experience or a quiet place for a business meeting. It gets loud, crowded, and energetic.

Awesome atmosphere, we are in the room with the bar, it was dimly lit, had sparkly lights everywhere, very nice vibe. The host was probably the worst part. He sat everyone until he got to me and my GF, then told us it would be a 20 minute wait. He also turned away a few other parties pd 2 behind us, but when we came back 20 minutes later he saw us and proceeded to sit the other parties of 2 that were in line behind us, when I pointed this out to him he did finally find us a spot in the corner... Something is broken in that process or he was purposely skipping over us. The waitress was decent, but had to ask for some things multiple times and took a very long time to bring the check, so we were stuck just sitting that after we were done eating. French fries came out cold. The cowboy burger was good though. My GF got the stuffed soapapillas and it looked pretty good. Worth checking out, but I don't think we will be going back. 20 minute wait to seat 2 people at 6pm on a Tuesday. People showing up after us had a longer wait, but they mostly chose to go somewhere else.

We weren’t familiar with Mexican food before visiting this restaurant, but the staff kindly explained the menu and helped us choose what we might like. The food came out really fast, and the service was excellent. I especially loved the queso with chips—it was rich, creamy, and absolutely addictive. My wife ordered a plate of three different tacos, and they were completely different from any tacos we’ve had before. The flavors were bold, spicy, and surprisingly reminded us of Korean food in the best way. It was a deliciously fiery experience! This restaurant completely changed the way we think about Mexican food. Now I genuinely wish we had a traditional Mexican restaurant like this near the city where we live. I’ll definitely visit again if I ever come back to Santa Fe, NM!

The food was excellent. We had the Adovada and the green chili chowder. Both were delicious. By far, the service was outstanding. Our drinks were full before we even asked. The atmosphere was one you could find in any type of pub setting. (It was fine) I would highly recommend El Charro.

This place is a go to spot. It never fails or gets old, it's always a great experience. The staff is always nice they have great food, drinks, and cocktails etc

One of my go to places in Santa Fe and was worried that they were closed when I walked by the front, but fortunately it's just under renovation and it's still open though the atmosphere wasn't quite the same as in the main room .. service was excellent, Bartender was friendly and efficient and food was good, large portion for very reasonable price and same goes for the beer during Happy Hour. Look forward to returning when renovations are completed.

Absolutely loved this place. Went for dinner and back for a late lunch the next day. Met my fellow brit from Rotherham on the wait staff(Rule Brittania✌🏽) The service was absolutely spot on and the food and drinks were incredible. Whenever I'm back in town, definitely the first stop I'm going to make for the BLT. The bread, bacon hmmmmm, chefs kiss. The cold soup, out of this world and the fennel and apple salad, just right. Wonderful place🥰

I ordered a hamburger with green chile and fries. The burger was good, but the fries were not. I think they fry their fries in the oil they use for other food. Next time I visited, I had the carne asada tacos, which were very good. Even the Spanish rice was good, which I'm not normally a fan of anywhere I go. I recommend visiting Del Charro for gppd food at a reasonable price.