Taos
Establishment
neighborhood
Taos Mesa Brewing Company
20 ABC Mesa Rd., Taos
The Taos Mesa Brewing Company is an enormous Quonset-hut-meets-airplane-hangar live music hall and (incredible) on-site brewery set out in the desert on the way out of town toward the desert-OG hippie Mothership outpost. There are amazing tacos, cool lounging areas in the gorgeously minimal, modernist space, and a live show there is a truly singular experience—it's hippie/hipster/southwest heaven.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Hwy 64, Taos
Only about 10 miles outside of Taos, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (which, as the name suggests, crosses over a section of the Rio Grande River) is one of the tallest bridges in the country. At the time it was first built, locals called it the bridge to nowhere because the state didn't procure the funding to build the road on the other side until after the bridge was completed. The views of the rift valley below the bridge and through the desert are spectacular.
Taos Ski Valley
116 Sutton Pl., Taos Ski Valley
Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains eighteen miles northeast of the town of Taos, the Taos Ski Valley is best known as a ski resort, though there's plenty to keep families busy here in the summer, too. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, you can opt for climbing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rafting, or llama trekking. (Yes, llama trekking.) You can also stop for a mid-day hot chocolate at the Phoenix Grill, grab a drink at the Martini Tree Bar, or order a meal made from produce handpicked from local Taos farms at Rhoda’s restaurant. While it's a great destination in its own right, Taos makes for a convenient day trip from Santa Fe.
El Meze (Closed)
1017 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos
At this 165-year-old restored hacienda in Taos—which boasts amazing views of the mountains at sunset—influence of the centuries-long Moorish occupation of Spain takes center stage. Embracing the culture’s impact on northern New Mexico cuisine, the menu is a mixture of Old World Spain, New Mexican, and Mediterranean foods. The result: uniquely American, rustic comfort food, prepared with organic, locally grown produce sourced from Taos’s small farms. Note: El Meze is open for dinner only, and reservations are recommended.
The Love Apple
803 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos
This wonderfully cozy restaurant made its home in a little chapel, originally built in the 1800s. The owners partner closely with local farmers, so the menu changes nightly; regardless of what's in the dish, this is the kind of food that's made (as the name indicates) with a lot of love. It's a great spot for a romantic dinner.