Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to Main Content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New Mexico
  4. Santa Fe / Mountains
  5. Santa Fe

El Farol

4.1
4.1
1137 Reviews
$31 to $50
Spanish
Hailed as Santa Fe's most historic and iconic restaurant and bar, El Farol has provided locals and visitors over a century of memorable experiences. The El Farol experience combines classic tastes of Spain with a unique blend of art, dance, flavor and aroma. You will be able to choose some of the finest wines and authentic Spanish food that are big on flavors, such as traditional Spanish tapas as well as paella!
Take in the rustic 1835 adobe walls that tell stories of artists, poets, lovers, local history and beauty. Patrons enjoy our dinner shows featuring the musicians and dancers of the renowned National Institute of Flamenco. Meanwhile, our bar serves up classic margaritas, sangria, signature cocktails, and live music.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Spanish

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (505) 983-9912

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Executive chef

    Shane Alexander

  • Catering

    El Farol will bring great food and excitement to your office or home; menus can be customized for the event.

  • Private party facilities

    Private Room and Outdoor Patio available.

  • Private party contact

    Freda K. Scott: (505) 983-9912

  • Neighborhood

    Santa Fe

  • Cross street

    Camino del Monte Sel

  • Parking details

    The 24-Hour City Parking Pay Lot is located directly across the street from El Farol.

  • Public transit

    Public transit is available on Canyon Road. Call or visit Santa Fe Trails for current schedules.

  • Entertainment

    Known as, "One of the best bars on earth!" by The New York Times, "This is the place to head for local ambiance and flavors of Spain, Santa Fe and Mexico."El Farol is proud to present entertainment seven night a week. Whether it's the Canyon Road Blues Jam featuring the best local and national touring musicians, one of our hot Latin dance nights, R&B/Soul/Funk or, our intimate Sunday evenings of Spanish guitar, you can dance the night away on the dance floor after enjoying the award winning food in the restaurant and cantina.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,137 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.1
4.1 based on all time ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Sort by

Filters

  1. Rainey

    New York Area

    22 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    22 reviews

    Reviewed on January 10, 2020

    overall4foodserviceambience
    were accomodating of my Emotional support Dog- Waiter extremely helpful and very pleasant- did not push us on time or choices of food. Very wholesome meal
  2. Sandra

    New Mexico

    25 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    25 reviews

    Reviewed on December 22, 2019

    overall4foodserviceambience
    Well-prepared food, good service, interesting cocktails. This place is a favorite.
  3. NjeriN

    New Mexico

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Reviewed on December 18, 2019

    overall5foodserviceambience
    Took family of 7 (incl 2 children) to the dinner show over Thanksgiving holiday. Good food, service and entertainment. Enjoyed by all.
  4. CharleenT

    New Mexico

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Reviewed on November 18, 2019

    overall4foodserviceambience
    Good food and ambience. A local favorite. The porch is a lovely place to dine and view the doings on Canyon Road.
  5. SpringsJeff

    Denver

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Reviewed on September 28, 2019

    overall4foodserviceambience
    We have eaten here several times, usually for lunch. Good place for some out-of-the-ordinary tapas. I think they have the best paella in town (dinner only).
  6. StephanieR

    New Mexico

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Reviewed on September 23, 2019

    overall4foodserviceambience
    The Tapas are always delicious! The drinks are mixed well. The wait staff is, usually, very nice. It's a great atmosphere! It gets loud by the Flamenco room... so ask to be seated elsewhere if you want a quiet meal.
  7. Cjohns

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Reviewed on September 12, 2019

    overall5foodserviceambience
    We specifically came here to listen to a guitarist we thought would be good. We had already eaten so we ordered desert. It was delicious. Key lime pie is thr best and an almond cake. The prices are small but Definately worth trying.
  8. PatriciaD

    Dallas

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Reviewed on August 23, 2019

    overall5foodserviceambience
    Love the craft cocktails. Excellent restoration of an old building. Popular with locals. Wide ranging menu, not just tapas (which are very good).
  9. BarbaraG

    New York Area

    44 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    44 reviews

    Reviewed on August 11, 2019

    overall4foodserviceambience
    Delicious selection of tapas and great music--a very fun and memorable place!
  10. VickiH

    Pittsburgh

    26 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    26 reviews

    Reviewed on August 8, 2019

    overall4foodserviceambience
    a lovely evening in a casual atmosphere with flamenco guitar. The food was delicious, especially the seafood paella, the small plate artichoke. The ceviche was really spicy. Worth repeating the experience.
  11. BruceM

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Reviewed on June 27, 2019

    overall5foodserviceambience
    The individual paellas were outstanding, and the service on a busy Friday evening was excellent. Highly recommended.
  12. MaryO

    Denver

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Reviewed on June 1, 2019

    overall2foodserviceambience
    When we first started eating at the newly renovated El Farol we loved it, but the food has gone steadily downhill and the noise level just makes for a shouting dinner...not comfortable dining at all.
  13. tennistipo

    New Mexico

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding Spanish cuisine in a quiet, but culturally and decoratively vocal atmosphere. Service is impeccable as is the Iberian cuisine, served up in the appropriate sized portions. Will definitely return soon.
  14. ChrisS

    Denver

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on March 3, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Greta food, and incredible dancers that rival professional flamenco dancers in Spain.
  15. Triedittwice

    Houston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 24, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Staff did everything to accommodate us Flamenco show exceptional Live band and dancing late night Perfect
  16. PaulG

    New Mexico

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful valentines dinner appetizers were delicious! And they don’t skimp on the portions! Plenty of food..
  17. ALRE

    Houston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding service, incredible food preparation and great cultural atmosphere. A real treasure.
  18. TaRaB

    New Mexico

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Enjoyed Lisa Keating Love Songs and the service and food was great. The noise level was upsetting. We were at the table by the open doorway. I was sitting next to the open doorway. I could here all of the talking in the room next door in my left ear and barely hear the performance with my right ear. It was very difficult to hear the performance. Should not seat a table where we sat.
  19. WarrenK

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Live entertainment by Cords and Strings in the back room was outstanding. House margaritas were delicious. I had an Ensalada El Farol, which was refreshing and had a lot of satisfying flavor. I also had an order of the Patatas Bravas, which had two sauces that I enjoyed enough to alternate them. It felt almost too decadent, but I felt fine afterward.
  20. JodyM

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2019

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    For appetizers and drinks it was wonderful. A little pricey for the quality of the food. We were there when Chords and Strings played which made it a lovely Valentine's Day experience .
  21. DannyBoy

    Denver

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    My experience at El Farol has to be one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. The staff is very attentive to each customer, and they genuinely love their jobs. My girlfriend has celiacs and they brought her gluten free bread, and the menu has many gluten free options. The chicarrones (pork belly) was the best I’ve had, and their paella was so good, we ate there again a day later. My only gripe if it even is one, was that some patrons were overly loud at the bar and it kind of ruined the ambiance. Make reservations, this place is great.
  22. Sunniek

    Denver

    23 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2019

    overall3food2service4ambience2
    It had been about 8 years since I have eaten here and it was not nearly as good as before! Although the service was excellent and we had a nice table near the window it was not an outstanding meal! Being a Monday night it was quite empty and quiet so that was nice!
  23. Carlos

    Wilmington

    81 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    81 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience3
    Not really a tapas bar, more a regular restaurant with floor entertainment (free jazz on Sunday night, flamenco on Wednesdays for an extra $25pp). The tapas side of the menu looks more like starters and then a regular full entree menu on the opposite side. We liked the flash fried avocado and the beef skewers.
  24. BarbaraL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Everything we ordered was superb. Especially the sea bass!!
  25. MaryC

    New Mexico

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 10, 2019

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Totally enjoyed the flamenco dinner performance! The dancing was intense and energetic. Our food was delicious. Recommend the artisanal cheese plate, calamari appetizer and paella. Service was attentive. Ordering and dinner service was arranged so service did not interrupt the show. Tables were arranged so everyone could see the stage and performance. A classy evening!
  26. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 4, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Ordered a variety of tapas and beer - tapas all delicious and local beer just fine.
  27. tpflyers

    New Mexico

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2019

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    El Farol is a great spot for a date. The old, remodeled adobe building and art has great ambience and charm. The live music (JJ & The Hooligans were playing fun, roots R&R) was fun. The service was good (attentive but never suffocating). The food was good but the tapas menu is a bit limited for a place that markets itself as a tapas restaurant. (I still fondly remember El Farol's more complete tapas menu back when David Salazar owned it). It's a good enough selection for two diners (figuring on 6 tapas), but if you brought 4+ people the 16+/- choices would be limited. The chicharrones tapas (pork belly) was crispy and generously portioned - more than enough for two people. The paella, served in a flat-bottomed steel pan, was tasty although it could have used more saffron and the rice was slightly overdone. The zarzuella de pescado (seafood stew with fish, mussels, squid, and shrimp) was flavorful. Overall, the food was good but not 5 star great. Still, El Farol is still one of the best places in Santa Fe for live music, dinner, and after dinner entertainment.
  28. Newmexdex

    New England

    93 reviews

    5.0

    93 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very nice Tapas. Food quality was excellent. Preparation was expertly done without fanfare. Flaminco show was outstanding. Worth the extra $25pp cover charge.
  29. MargoG

    New Mexico

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 31, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My favorite restaurant in Santa Fe, have been eating there every time we go to Santa Fe and always have a great meal and service!
  30. PriscillaW

    New Mexico

    15 reviews

    2.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on January 30, 2019

    overall2food5service1ambience3
    We Love the food, LOVE the live bands-eep Tues Blues Jam, however we were extremely disappointed/bothered in how we were treated. We would and are there on every Tues evening and other nights to enjoy the atmosphere, excellent food, service and MUSIC. However, this last Tues, as soon as the band stopped-we were very rudely told to leave, hurry and pushed out the door? We were already getting our coats on and etc-but this was extremely poor customer friendly actions. I understand the owner is not interested in the music/bands, however it def is a main attraction to his restaurant. With the cover charge, dinner and drinks, they should not need to hustle/herd cust out at 11:00 rudely. As much as I LOVE the food, MUSIC and atmosphere-it will be awhile before I go back there. Very disappointed! I would be very interested with talking with the owner regarding this.
  31. MichaelM

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 27, 2019

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Decided to go for Flamenco Dinner on a Saturday evening. Very nice setting, decent food, excellent service, and superior performance by Flamenco group - 3 dancers, 1 vocalist, and 1 guitar player. Better than average value for a Saturday eve date night with spouse!
  32. JennyG

    Houston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 21, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was so neat to eat at such an old establishment in Santa Fe! The food and setting were both amazing. We loved the live music! I only wish they had a better "by-the-glass" wine selection - but other than that we had a great time and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a unique dining experience!
  33. Objective

    New Mexico

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 19, 2019

    overall5food2service3ambience3
    The show is a conflict especially when just dining. Paiella was just a lot of starchy rice , two at table purchased. Steak and sea bass good.
  34. JoanH

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 13, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We thoroughly enjoyed both the amazing food and the amazing flamenco dancers. Do not miss it!
  35. Penguin

    Washington DC

    106 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    106 reviews

    Dined on January 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Chef gets better and better // Modern twist on classic Spanish cuisine // Very comfortable and reasonably priced restaurant //
  36. Nanny

    New Mexico

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 9, 2019

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    Have been there several times and like that the menu changes frequently.
  37. SheilaGalvan

    New Mexico

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on January 6, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our evening meal was delicious and then the entertainment began. What a great intimate flamenco dance experience! World class and we could interact with the performers. Can’t wait to do this again!
  38. BrucePAndrea

    New Mexico

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    There was a lot to like about this restaurant, ambience, great people but the food stole the show, best paella, extraordinary mussels, even the chili cheese rolls served with butter, sofrito sauce and roasted garlic cloves was way better than usual.
  39. MCmc

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and service. The flamenco show was thrilling.
  40. JosephH

    Western KY

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2018

    overall5food4service4ambience4
    Great meal and flamenco show.

FAQs

El Farol is rated 4.1 stars by 1137 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Camino del Monte Sel

  • Neighborhood

    Santa Fe

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Spanish

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking details

    The 24-Hour City Parking Pay Lot is located directly across the street from El Farol.

  • Public transit

    Public transit is available on Canyon Road. Call or visit Santa Fe Trails for current schedules.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Shane Alexander

  • Entertainment

    Known as, "One of the best bars on earth!" by The New York Times, "This is the place to head for local ambiance and flavors of Spain, Santa Fe and Mexico."El Farol is proud to present entertainment seven night a week. Whether it's the Canyon Road Blues Jam featuring the best local and national touring musicians, one of our hot Latin dance nights, R&B/Soul/Funk or, our intimate Sunday evenings of Spanish guitar, you can dance the night away on the dance floor after enjoying the award winning food in the restaurant and cantina.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (505) 983-9912

  • Catering

    El Farol will bring great food and excitement to your office or home; menus can be customized for the event.

  • Private party facilities

    Private Room and Outdoor Patio available.

  • Private party contact

    Freda K. Scott: (505) 983-9912

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2023 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 700, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking LogoPriceline LogoKAYAK LogoAgoda LogoRentalcars LogoOpenTable Logo