The Matador

The heavy metal music was too loud and unnerving. Small basement bar, that is more of a dive bar. They were playing obscure war movies on the tv. I'm not sure what they are going for???

Nightlife in sleepy Santa Fe can be a challenge, so Matador came in clutch on our recent visit there on a Friday night. No frills, cash only, dark and underground- nice spot for a beer or mixed drink after a long night. An alt oasis in the desert.

Just the best place . No attitude all real place . The staff is unpretentious and super friendly . The energy there is eclectic.

It's the only Neo-Punk destination in Santa Fe New Mexico ! Bring your Cash and Attitude, but leave your Credit Cards & Pretense at home ~ !

Loved the bar. Ive taken many trips to Santa Fe and finally made it in. Had a great time then stubbled home

Santa Fe is known for its awesome cultural attractions, food, weather, and many other qualities. And yet there's times when you don't necessarily seek a superlative experience. Perhaps you desire some earthiness, a bit of grunge even. The Matador fills the bill. This basement dive bar effuses those characteristics and then some. Even the underground location adds to its charm. Although the address lists a San Francisco Street location, the entrance is a bit hard to find off of Galisteo Street across from Evangelo's (another fun bar to visit). Head down the concrete stairs and enter into a cozy and compact space. The decor won't win any awards but you'll feel at home with the friendly bartenders and heavy pours. Karla is our favorite and is wise beyond her young years. This is an awesome joint to cap an evening of revels in Santa Fe. Highly recommended.

Classic dive. A Santa Fe staple. If you haven't been to Matador and you're in Santa Fe, stop and go now. It's small, cash only, and the can get overcrowded easily. But for a stiff drink with heavy pours, go here!

We were looking for a place to play darts with friends near downtown. We LUCKED into this spot!It's DOWNTOWN (YAY!) & TINY (perfectly) and in the "basement" -- eclectic decor & 1 dart board were perfect for our drinks before dinner.Phil, the bartender, was fun to banter with & the two other customers who were there joined in the fun. Reasonable prices! We'll DEFINITELY BE BACK! (And so will our friends who were with us -- and everyone we've told in Santa Fe!) :)Cheers!

As dive as you can get! I was town for a few days and luckily found this place on an evening stroll. When you find the address look down, it is below street level, follow the nasty looking concrete steps down! And settle in for a healthy pour, classic movie on the one TV and loud music.

Used to refer to this place as The Dresden (from the movie Swingers) - so much fun. Loved to chat with the owners and friendly bar staff. The vibe is pure energy, and always an original soundtrack playing with cool movies on the tv. Best place to get a shot and a beer, mingle with a wide array of folks, all just out for a good time.