Guidebook for El Rito
Food Scene
New Mexican comfort food at its finest. They made the Green Chile Cheeseburger trail list. It's small. Lunch is roughly 11-1 and dinner is roughly 5-7. BYOB. Two miles down the road.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Farolito
New Mexico 554New Mexican comfort food at its finest. They made the Green Chile Cheeseburger trail list. It's small. Lunch is roughly 11-1 and dinner is roughly 5-7. BYOB. Two miles down the road.
The spa has one of our favorite restaurants and bars, with a decent wine list. We recommend a reservation on weekends. About 15 minutes away. Also free wifi.
173 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
50 Los Banos DriveThe spa has one of our favorite restaurants and bars, with a decent wine list. We recommend a reservation on weekends. About 15 minutes away. Also free wifi.
If you're up for a longer trip, this restaurant in Espanola is a gem. There is a tree growing in the middle of the bar. About a 40 minute drive.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Paragua Restaurant
603 Santa Cruz RdIf you're up for a longer trip, this restaurant in Espanola is a gem. There is a tree growing in the middle of the bar. About a 40 minute drive.
Nicest place in Los Alamos with occasional live music. About an hour's drive.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Blue Window Bistro
1789 Central AveNicest place in Los Alamos with occasional live music. About an hour's drive.
Easily our favorite restaurant in Taos. Even better than Ojo Caliente. It has a great view of Taos Mountain, but somewhat expensive, and you need a reservation. An hour's drive.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Meze
1017 Paseo Del Pueblo NorteEasily our favorite restaurant in Taos. Even better than Ojo Caliente. It has a great view of Taos Mountain, but somewhat expensive, and you need a reservation. An hour's drive.
New Mexican comfort food and always crowded. About an hour's drive.
123 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Orlando's
1114 Don Juan Valdez LnNew Mexican comfort food and always crowded. About an hour's drive.
Not as wonderful as El Meze, but the attached Adobe Bar is terrific with live music every night. It feels like you're relaxing in someone's living room. Music from 7-10.
91 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Historic Taos Inn
125 Paseo Del Pueblo NorteNot as wonderful as El Meze, but the attached Adobe Bar is terrific with live music every night. It feels like you're relaxing in someone's living room. Music from 7-10.
This is the original. For us, it's a close 2nd to Santa Fe Bite.
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
5 Star Burgers
1032 Paseo Del Pueblo SurThis is the original. For us, it's a close 2nd to Santa Fe Bite.
New Mexican comfort food, but among the best in Santa Fe.
160 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Shed Restaurant
113 1/2 E Palace AveNew Mexican comfort food, but among the best in Santa Fe.
Cowgirl Hall of Fame
319 S Guadalupe StBBQ and live music.
Best Green Chile Cheeseburger. It will change your life. No kidding.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Santa Fe Culinary Academy
Best Green Chile Cheeseburger. It will change your life. No kidding.
Another nice northern New Mexico restaurant. Terrific menu, plenty of room (including outside seating weather permitting), and table-side guacamole preparation.
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Gabriel's
4 Banana LnAnother nice northern New Mexico restaurant. Terrific menu, plenty of room (including outside seating weather permitting), and table-side guacamole preparation.
Shopping
An Abiquiu institution. Yet more New Mexican comfort food in the back of the convenience store. Oh, and you can buy gas and ice cream. About 15 minutes away. M-F 6:30 - 6, Sat 7-7, Sun 7-6.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bode's General Store
21196 US-84An Abiquiu institution. Yet more New Mexican comfort food in the back of the convenience store. Oh, and you can buy gas and ice cream. About 15 minutes away. M-F 6:30 - 6, Sat 7-7, Sun 7-6.
Yeah, I know. But it has a pretty complete grocery store. About a 40 minute drive.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Walmart Supercenter
1610 N Riverside DrYeah, I know. But it has a pretty complete grocery store. About a 40 minute drive.
Allsup's Convenience Store
444 N Riverside DrAmong the lowest priced gas stations. About 40 minute drive.
This place looks pretty sleazy from the outside, but do go in. Wonderful selection of beer, liquor, and wine. If you are especially nice, they might even let you see their wine collection upstairs.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kokoman Fine Wines & Liquor
34 Cities of Gold RdThis place looks pretty sleazy from the outside, but do go in. Wonderful selection of beer, liquor, and wine. If you are especially nice, they might even let you see their wine collection upstairs.
Essentials
A small-scale grocery store, with an outstanding spice and condiment selection. An alternative to Walmart. About 40 minutes drive.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Center Market
745 N Riverside DrA small-scale grocery store, with an outstanding spice and condiment selection. An alternative to Walmart. About 40 minutes drive.
Northern New Mexico Clg
1190 NM-554Occasional events of interest. Also a source of free wifi.
Northern New Mexico College Library
921 N Paseo De OnateInteresting collection esp for local interest. Also free wifi.
Romero's Fruit & Veggie Stand
19543 U.S. 84-285All things chile, including roasted green chiles and chile ristras
Drinks & Nightlife
Where to go after the music stops at the Adobe Bar. Plus pool, shuffle board, and pub food.
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Alley Cantina
121 Teresina LnWhere to go after the music stops at the Adobe Bar. Plus pool, shuffle board, and pub food.
The world famous solar-powered radio station (101.9), with live music. BTW also available online at ktao.com
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The KTAOS Solar Center
9 NM-150The world famous solar-powered radio station (101.9), with live music. BTW also available online at ktao.com
There are several wineries on the road from Espanola to Taos. We like this one the best. In fact we still subscribe to their wine-of-the-month club.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Vivác Winery
2075 NM-68There are several wineries on the road from Espanola to Taos. We like this one the best. In fact we still subscribe to their wine-of-the-month club.
Sightseeing
There is a camp ground a few miles up Route 110, which is a nice place for a hike or picnic.
El Rito Campground
There is a camp ground a few miles up Route 110, which is a nice place for a hike or picnic.
There is more camping up at Canjilon Lake, but don't try this unless you have a truck as the road becomes quite rough (we have a lot of roads like this in New Mexico).
Canjilon Lakes
There is more camping up at Canjilon Lake, but don't try this unless you have a truck as the road becomes quite rough (we have a lot of roads like this in New Mexico).
Despite Cowboys and Aliens being filmed here, it's a beautiful spot for an easy walk. It's about 15 miles away on CR 155 near Abiquiu. Look for the sign for Dar Al Islam.
Plaza Blanca Road
Plaza Blanca RoadDespite Cowboys and Aliens being filmed here, it's a beautiful spot for an easy walk. It's about 15 miles away on CR 155 near Abiquiu. Look for the sign for Dar Al Islam.
Abiquiu's most famous resident, Georgia O'Keefe, loved the area, and if you go there, you'll see why. The stunning cliffs are best illuminated at dusk or dawn. Daily tours, reservations required.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The O'Keeffe: Welcome Center
21120 US-84Abiquiu's most famous resident, Georgia O'Keefe, loved the area, and if you go there, you'll see why. The stunning cliffs are best illuminated at dusk or dawn. Daily tours, reservations required.
Yet more Georgia O'Keefe celebration, though with a museum, hiking, and horseback riding.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center
280 Private Drive 1708Yet more Georgia O'Keefe celebration, though with a museum, hiking, and horseback riding.
Puye Cliffs Welcome Center
300 NM-30Interesting historical hike.
Overlook Road
Overlook RoadA splendid view with overlook and hiking trails.
Hiking, skiing, and a nice beer festival in the fall.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area
397 Camp May RdHiking, skiing, and a nice beer festival in the fall.
Reserva Nacional Valles Caldera
39201 NM-4Elk and hiking.
Despite the diversions upstream in Colorado, river rafting the Rio Grande is still fun and a nice way to cool off during the summer. Easy runs start around Dixon, harder ones north of Taos.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Los Rios River Runners
4003 NM-68Despite the diversions upstream in Colorado, river rafting the Rio Grande is still fun and a nice way to cool off during the summer. Easy runs start around Dixon, harder ones north of Taos.
Yeah it's a tourist trap, but it's still one of our favorite spots to visit. 10 miles west of Taos.
226 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Puente del Cañón del Río Grande
Yeah it's a tourist trap, but it's still one of our favorite spots to visit. 10 miles west of Taos.
To get a different perspective on the Gorge, try a balloon. Especially fun is the splash and dash, in which they set down the basket in the river.
Eske's Paradise Balloons
31 Reynolds RoadTo get a different perspective on the Gorge, try a balloon. Especially fun is the splash and dash, in which they set down the basket in the river.
Further west from the gorge is a colony of off-the-grid earthships, which look far nicer inside than they do on the outside. Think Hobbiton. There is a visitor center that explains how they work.
45 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Earthship Biotecture
2 Earthship WayFurther west from the gorge is a colony of off-the-grid earthships, which look far nicer inside than they do on the outside. Think Hobbiton. There is a visitor center that explains how they work.
Yet another tourist trap, but with plenty of interesting history.
228 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Taos Pueblo
Yet another tourist trap, but with plenty of interesting history.
Everything Else
Sorry. No experience, though the local peaks get up to 13,000 feet, and most elevations above 9000' have snow most of the winter.
240 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Taos Ski Valley
116 Sutton PlaceSorry. No experience, though the local peaks get up to 13,000 feet, and most elevations above 9000' have snow most of the winter.
Sorry. No experience, though the local peaks get up to 13,000 feet, and most elevations above 9000' have snow most of the winter.
51 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Angel Fire
Sorry. No experience, though the local peaks get up to 13,000 feet, and most elevations above 9000' have snow most of the winter.
Good for light or planned services. More serious medical care would have to be done either in Espanola or Albuquerque.
Las Clinicas Del Norte: General Dentistry
28 NM-571Good for light or planned services. More serious medical care would have to be done either in Espanola or Albuquerque.
Chevron
19698 U.S. 84Next nearest gas station after Bode's. Also open longer hours. About 30 miles away.
Entertainment & Activities
Abiquiu Lake Boat Ramp
A lake in the desert. Need we say more?