After dining at the Compound, compound your enjoyment of signature architecture and fine food another night by heading further up Canyon Road to Geronimo. Santa Fe style is legendary, and Canyon Road has so many examples to prove it. That fresh spring pea soup and the rack of lamb definitely get my vote every time.Ĭelebrity Spotting on the Menu at Geronimo Kiffin assumed the helm in 2000 and brought to the table a seasonally-tuned menu of contemporary American cuisine fusing Old World flavors of the Mediterranean with the best of New World taste. It’s no wonder that the James Beard Foundation named him 'Best Chef in the Southwest” in 2005. While chef/owner Mark Kiffin has dispensed with the silver covers once timed to lift exquisitely off diners’ plates at the same moment, the standard has remained high. The Compound is a sweet place to celebrate a special occasion.įor as long as I have been in Santa Fe, the Compound has always at the top of the list for a celebratory occasion. The wise decision to bring in noted designer Alexander Girard (he whose massive collection of folk art forms the basis of the world-class Museum of International Folk Art) created a memorably elegant space, largely unchanged through the years. Back in the early part of the 20 th century, this quiet edifice, nestled on a verdant swath of land by the river, welcomed the weary movers and shakers of society, before morphing into a restaurant in the mid-1960’s. Nowhere is this truer than at The Compound Restaurant, named for the building that was once the centerpiece of a residential family compound. Landmark buildings create a lovely setting, and Canyon Road is rich with historic structures. Friendly neighborhood camaraderie flows throughout, as visitors and locals converse convivially on how best to tap into the artistic scene that is Canyon Road.Īdding Beauty Compounds the Pleasure of a Great Meal The interior of the cafe is jewel-toned, with quirky sculptures and paintings scattered in nooks and crannies of a space that feels truly Santa Fe, and a small fireplace to guard against winter’s chill.

The tree-shaded patio is perfect for an al fresco lunch of tacos, or that ubiquitous signature Santa Fe treat, the green chile cheeseburger.

Artful tea santa fe