Skip the Kitchen: 6 Exceptional Santa Fe Restaurants for Thanksgiving
Discover a wealth of reasons to leave the kitchen behind this Thanksgiving in Santa Fe. Let our world-renowned chefs transform your holiday into an epicurean celebration—without the cleanup. Many beloved restaurants are crafting special holiday menus to delight every guest at your table.
In 1621, the Pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving, while Santa Fe had already served as the provincial capital of New Mexico for over a decade. This rich history sets the stage for the extraordinary feasts awaiting you in the City Different.
Luminaria
At Luminaria in The Inn and Spa at Loretto (a Destination Hotels & Resorts property), Chef Marc Quinones presents a Plated Prix Fixe menu on Thanksgiving Day from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., plus an elaborate Brunch Buffet in the stunning Zuni Ballroom from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Menus showcase fresh produce from the award-winning Santa Fe Farmers Market, with dinner highlights including Agave & Red Chile Basted Free Range Turkey and Pumpkin Flan.
Luminaria embodies Santa Fe's essence, blending casual sophistication, simple elegance, and timeless authenticity. Photo courtesy of Inn and Spa at Loretto, a Destination Hotel.
Anasazi Restaurant
The Anasazi Restaurant at Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi offers a new three-course Prix Fixe Thanksgiving menu by Executive Chef Juan Bochenski. Infused with Southwestern flair, it starts with Smoky Pumpkin Bisque featuring parmesan foam and bacon jam, followed by Organic Roast Turkey with green chile stuffing. End with Pecan Pie alongside pumpkin custard and cinnamon Chantilly.
Rooted in traditional Southwestern cuisine, the menu shines in the intimate 40-seat dining room with leather and linen chairs complementing natural wood tables.
Photo courtesy of Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi.
The Compound Restaurant
James Beard Award winner Chef Mark Kiffin at The Compound Restaurant on iconic Canyon Road serves a three-course Prix Fixe menu beginning at 3:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Expect traditional and innovative dishes, including brined Embudo Farm turkey with stuffing (400 pounds sourced locally), Alaskan King Crab salad with truffle vinaigrette, scallops with potato leek puree and roasted Brussels sprouts, beef tenderloin with creamed horseradish potato au gratin, wild mushroom ragu, and haricot verts.
Alexander Girard designed the distinctive interior; he's renowned locally for restaurant design and donating over 106,000 pieces to Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk Art. Photo courtesy of The Compound Restaurant.
Terra at Four Seasons Rancho Encantado
Chef Andrew Cooper at Terra crafts an indulgent Thanksgiving feast: Caja China slow-roasted turkey, jalapeño chorizo dressing, fall vegetables, potato puree, giblet gravy, whole roasted tenderloin, grilled lamb T-bones, lump crab with chile de árbol béarnaise. Sides include traditional stuffing, cranberry chutney, roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta, and sweet potatoes au gratin.
Using the freshest local ingredients, Terra blends contemporary American cuisine with New Mexican influences. Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado.
Coyote Café
World-famous Coyote Café Chef Eric DiStefano designs a Santa Fe Thanksgiving menu with classics like Tellicherry Elk Tenderloin, mesquite-grilled Lobster Tails, and roasted squab with chestnuts. The star is his Amish-style turkey, inspired by his Pennsylvania roots. Enjoy in the elegant dining room with a copper-clad open kitchen and roaring kiva fireplace—ideal for family gatherings.
Chef Eric DiStefano is internationally acclaimed as one of the Southwest's top chefs. Photo courtesy of Coyote Café.
Julia
This new Santa Fe gem at La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa evokes 19th-century Staab mansion elegance. Chef Todd Hall's menus honor the original resident with refined, perfectly plated dishes. Highlights: roasted pumpkin soup, roast turkey with sausage pecan dressing, and Tularosa pecan pie.
Chef Todd Hall fuses meticulous detail with Southwestern flavors for exciting courses. Photo courtesy of La Posada de Santa Fe.
Combine your Thanksgiving with a stay and dinner at one of Santa Fe's premier spots. Check the calendar here. Whether visiting this November or planning ahead, request a free travel guide at SantaFe.org for your ideal getaway.
