About Santa Fe

Located just off the Santa Fe Plaza and near the state capitol, Rio Chama serves the finest prime and choice dry aged steaks, chops and seafood. Beyond the unassuming entrance on Old Santa Fe Trail, you will find a mix of intimate dining rooms with kiva fireplaces, a lively bar scene, peaceful courtyard dining and a relaxing patio bar. Rio Chama combines great food, premium wine and spirits, warm ambiance and a friendly, professional staff with dining options for all occasions. Rio Chama appeals to both locals and visitors alike.

Rio Chama is located in the oldest neighborhood in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Barrio de Analco, which literally means “neighborhood on the other side of the river.”

In 2001, Rio Chama opened its doors to the public and is under the leadership of Executive Chef Russell Thornton. Since 2001, Rio Chama has undergone a tremendous amount of construction, conceptual change, and expansion. The original incarnation of the restaurant included the bar and the dining room and in the summer, the courtyard and patio.

In 2005, we acquired an additional building formerly belonging to Cristoff’s in order to accommodate larger groups. We have affectionately named this space the Baca House in honor of long-time employee, Patricia Baca, whose grandparents owned the house, where she used to sometimes spend the night as a child.

2006 was the year Rio Chama renovated the room next to the Baca House in order to add the Humidor--the only public cigarette and cigar bar in Santa Fe. In addition to the Humidor, Rio Chama began large-scale construction of two new spaces in the main facility: the President’s Room and the Abiquiú Room.

These spaces were put into operation in September 2007, The President’s Room is a banquet room with seating for up to 120 people which has been host to many prestigious guests, including Bill Richardson and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Our Abiquiú Room, a private 36-seat wine cellar, opened at the same time. The room features a private collection of Georgia O’Keefe photos done by her personal photographer, Malcolm Varon. The first wine dinner to be held in the room was the Heitz Cellars wine dinner in 2007. In 2008, we hosted Domaine Serene, of Oregon's Willamette Valley. The Abiquiú Room has also hosted the Clio Awards Dinners for the past two years.