On your road trip to New Mexico, reserving a few days for Santa Fe is a must. The capital city of New Mexico offers incredible experiences for intellectuals, art lovers, and history lovers alike. Truly, you cannot have a complete road trip of the state without exploring Santa Fe. The wonders of Santa Fe do not slow down when the night creeps in. The city’s nightlife has a lot to offer, from vibrant bars to toe-tapping music and more. So don’t think twice; head out at night and explore!
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Best Nightlife in Santa Fe: Sangria, Tapas and Tango!
The lively nightlife in Santa Fe welcomes everyone. Old and young alike can dance their hearts out to the diverse genres of music available here. If you love Latin American dancing and culture, brush up on your Flamenco and Tango. If you love to gamble, you can head to the nearest casino. While you are in Santa Fe, use this curated sampling of the best nightlife in the city to have a great time.
1. Gambling in Santa Fe
While enjoying the nightlife in Santa Fe, you might make some money! The city offers several gambling options where you can try your luck.
One of the best places to try your luck is the Santa Fe Casino at Buffalo Thunder Casino Resort. The largest casino in Northern Mexico, the Santa Fe Casino allows guests to gamble until 2am on most days and still later on other days. You can enjoy your favorite slot games; they have the best selection available with 1,200 machines. If you are a card strategist, a large variety of table games are available for you to try.
Further, the resort has in-house dining, drinking, and a spa where you can relax after a long day. If you want to experience an all-in-one nightlife package, don’t think twice before booking yourself a room at this resort. But if you would rather save money on lodging so you can splurge on nightlife activities, you can check our platform Rental Trader for some great deals and offers.
2. Live Music & Entertainment in Santa Fe
If you love to enjoy amazing music and dancing the night away, Sante Fe is the place for you. Live music is woven into the very fabric of nightlife in Santa Fe. Wherever you go, you will be drawn towards the faint tunes of jazz and blues. In this city, you can find many small and intimate bars where you can enjoy the music in peace.
One of the best places to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and some R&B, salsa and pop music, is La Fiesta Lounge. Here, you can enjoy music on six nights of the week, dine on delicious New Mexican cuisine, and find your favorite craft cocktails in their wide selection. One of the best things about this place is that it welcomes people of all ages; in fact, it has a burgeoning following of people over fifty. No matter your age, you can enjoy the nightlife in Santa Fe.
When you are in a Latin American city, you cannot waste your chance to experience some flamenco. The best place to do so is El Farol, the oldest restaurant and bar in Santa Fe that has been entertaining visitors since 1835. The dinner shows feature seasoned musicians and skilled artists from the National Institute of Flamenco.
El Farol offers live performances on every night of the week. During the performances, snack on some mouth-watering Mexican tapas and sip delicious sangrias, cocktails, and margaritas. This experience is as authentic as it gets in Santa Fe, so don’t pass up on it!
Finally, as Santa Fe embraces artistic culture, it draws intellectuals from all over the world. As a result, you can choose from several classical music and opera venues to enjoy. One of the best venues to visit is The Lensic Performing Arts Center. This venue hosts more than 200 annual events including theater, comedy, dance, opera, music, and so much more.
You will find everything here from Broadway’s classic tales and Theater Royal, London’s incredible musical productions. You can even encounter some environmental celebrations such as the Kodo on Sado Island, a Japanese earth celebration performance.
There is no limit to your options for live entertainment in Santa Fe. You might run out of time, but you will never run out of options.
3. Best Bars & Breweries in Santa Fe
The nightlife in Santa Fe is abundant with a selection of delicious beverages. When you are in the city, you will be blown away by the must-try cocktails and fresh brews here. If you love a good fresh brew, you should look no further than the Second Street Brewery, where they have been brewing the city’s favorite brews since 1996.
At the Second Street Brewery, you can sample the delicious American-style brown ale that is served at the Beer Festival in Denver. From stout to lager to Dunkenweizen, you will find everything here. They have two more locations, the Railyard and the Rufina Taproom, which offer outdoor seating and fresh beer from the tap.
If you love mixology, then we will let you in on the worst-kept secret of the city. The Secreto Lounge is one of the most popular bars in the city for a reason. Located in the Hotel St. Francis, the Secreto Lounge is a place with unimaginable beverage variety. If you only have time to stop in for one drink, make sure you try the Smoked Sage Margarita; this signature libation is sure to impress you. During the summer, enjoy the outdoor patio seating as you sip your favorite cocktail.
4. Best Restaurants in Santa Fe
A nightlife experience in Santa Fe can never be complete without a sampling of the city’s best restaurants to tempt your palate. If you want to experience historic dining, you should visit The Palace.
The Palace has served up authentic and delicious dishes since 1877. They offer several scrumptious seafood preparations, including the “Sheriff’s Shrimp Basket”, grilled prawns prosciutto, and salmon dinners. Further, you can enjoy classic dishes like fajitas, tacos, steak, and sausages. The Palace offers a great variety, so you are sure to find something you will enjoy.
If you have a taste for Italian food, you should certainly add the Vanessie Santa Fe to your itinerary. From customizable pizzas to vegetarian burgers to small shared specialties, this restaurant has an excellent variety. The onion loaf is one of the can’t-miss dishes that you should not pass up on if you visit the Vanessie.
You can dine on these delicious dishes all while enjoying some excellent piano music and live entertainment. The Vanessie is graced by some great musicians such as Doug Montgomery and Al Rogers, among others. The place boasts a truly unique experience that you must try at least for one night while you are in Santa Fe.
5. Dancing & Nightclubs in Santa Fe
If you want to experience the real nightlife in Santa Fe, you must try some Latin American dancing. Salsa, rumba, or tango– take your pick and head to a Latin dance club.
If it’s a Tuesday, it is tango time at El Meson. On all other nights, you can enjoy live music, Flamenco dancing, fine-dining, or tapas, but on Tuesdays, you dance. The tango night is something you should never miss while in Santa Fe; it is a vibrant experience with wines overflowing and authentic flavor as you sway to the music with your friends and loved ones.
Another fantastic place for hanging out, having some fresh cocktails, and dancing all night long is the Dragon Room. This place embodies the cultural heritage of New Mexico, with its architecture constructed in the style of an Adobe building and painted pink. Also known as the Pink Adobe, the Dragon Room provides an excellent atmosphere where you can enjoy a fun night with your friends and dance to the regional tunes.
Wrapping Up the Best Nightlife in Santa Fe
Nightlife in Santa Fe has something for everyone. From gambling to craft cocktails, the city offers almost anything you could desire when the sun sets. You can enjoy a flamenco dinner show or do the tango as you eat the authentic tapas. The variety that the Santa Fe nightlife offers allows you to pick and choose the experiences of your choice. So while you are in Santa Fe, make sure you have enough time on hand to explore and experience all it has to offer.
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