Best Margaritas in Santa Fe
Ah the Margarita! That Mexican gift to us in the Southwest that goes downand tastes like lemonade, but makes you feel so much better!
The Margarita has some variations in the fruit flavor you want or on the rocks or frozen. But they are all great. Santa Fe does not have a shortage of choices on them either. I will give you a sampling of places and descriptions of their Margarita. I cannot honestly rate the best though because I think it is all a matter of preference.
The Ore House
On the Plaza
The Ore House has a few choices for you in their handmade Margaritas. The Margaritas are not frozen here. Here is a sampling from their list of 43 .The prices range from $7.50 to $35.They have the Ore House Margarita which is made with Jose Cuervo Gold Tequilla, The Chacharita is made with Jesus Reyes Blanco & Cointreau, The Grand Gold Margarita has José Cuervo Gold & Grand Marnier. (my favorite one at the Ore House) The Horny Toad is made with Hornitos Añejo & Grand Marnier. The Widow Rita has Vivda (meaning Widow) de Romero and Grand Marnier. This one just sounds dangerous. I think You can handle one.
The other s sound good too and contain various tequilas and ages of tequila. (More expensive when older) tequila names that are on the list can be in your Margarita combination are: Casta Gusano Reposado, José Cuervo Reserva de la Familia, El Tesoro Paradiso
They do have a non alcoholic version as well called the 7,000 footer (Santa Fe’s altitude-which you should consider when drinking. Your body is affected differently at higher altitudes)
Maria's New Mexican Kitchen
555 West Cordova Road
At Maria's, They have over 100 REAL Margaritas from which to choose! But, what is a "real" Margarita? Simple. It's one that's made with "REAL" tequila, "REAL" triple-sec and "REAL" lemon or lime juice (they use fresh-squeezed lemon juice instead of lime, because of its year-round consistency). I personally found their Margaritas very good and very strong. I could only handle one. Maria’s has gotten a name for itself when it comes to their margaritas THE SEATTLE TIMES called Maria's "THE MOTHERLODE OF AMERICAN MARGARITAS!" Maria's has been voted BEST MARGARITAS IN SANTA FE (Santa Fe Reporter Newspaper, 1998, 1999, 2000) and BEST MARGARITAS IN NEW MEXICO (Crosswinds Magazine, 1999 only year of poll)!
According to the bartenders at Maria’s the fruit concoction Margaritas that are frozen are good but not considered real Margaritas. When a blender is the ice dilutes the concoction.
Coyote Café
132 W Water
The margaritas here are served either frozen or on the rocks. The Rooftop cantina is a great place to try these margaritas. The ambiance and food here is a Santa Fe tradition and the Margaritas just add to that. They have the CLASSIC MARGARITA made with Sauza Gold Tequila, Triple Sec, and Fresh Lime Juice on the Rocks or Frozen (Lime or Strawberry) and the "LA ULTIMA" MARGARITA which has El Tesoro Gold Tequila, Cointreau, and Fresh Lime Juice.
Gardunos Of Mexico
130 Lincoln
This is a family style Mexican restaurant with choice of frozen or on the rocks margaritas. They claim over 350 combinations! I had a margarita or two here and enjoyed the clientele and food as well as the Margarita.
Pink Adobe Restaurant
The Dragon Room
406 Old Santa Fe Trail
(International Newsweek has named the Dragon Room Bar as one of the top 19 bars in the world), this hot spot continues to be THE place to see the real Santa Fe.
The atmosphere is true Santa Fe from the trees growing through the roof of the bar, to the tables painted by Rosalea Murphy, creator of the Pink Adobe. Specialty drinks in the Dragon Room are Rosalita or Silver Coin Margarita.
Santa Fe Bar and Grill
187 Paseo de Peralta
De Vargas Center
Santa Fe Bar and Grill has quite a selection of Margaritas frozen or on the rocks. They make the on the tart side, so if you want sweeter let them know. They have quite a selection of tequilas so there are all kinds of possibilities in the Margaritas. They have Margarita de CASA which is Sauza Silver, triple sec, fresh lime juice, Grand Gold which contains Jose Cuervo tequila, and Marnier, Raspberry Margarita with El Tesoro Silver, triple sec and raspberry liqueur, fresh lime juice, and the Blue Curacao Sauza silver tequila, Curacao, fresh lime just to name a few.
All of these locals are great to try the Margarita that is best in your mind in Santa Fe. Try them you’ll like them.
If all this talk about Margaritas gets you excited about making your own when you get back or if you can’t make it to Santa Fe anytime soon, try out the great little Margarita set offered here. The Libbey Cancun Margarita 7-Piece Set. It will make you feel you are serving your friends “Santa Fe Style”.
Eileen Richardson - from The Santa Fe Site
