SANTA FE RAILYARD DISTRICT

Once a desolate industrial area of muddy train tracks and warehouses just south of the Plaza, the Santa Fe Railyard is now a hip, bustling hub of art galleries, entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, shops, museums, a lush garden and performance space, and the twice-weekly Farmers’ Market. This 21-year transformation has been gradual but thorough as the development plan at last nears completion.

When the railroad came to Santa Fe, in 1880, it effectively ended dependence on the overland trade routes, including the Santa Fe Trail itself. Trains brought welcome goods, such as bricks and other building materials that couldn’t previously be delivered. The railroad also brought tourists and new residents, and the Railyard became a center of activity for the community. After WWII, with the advent of the Interstate system and growing air transport, the Railyard began a long decline. By the 1980s, the City of Santa Fe recognized that the blighted area required development, and began work on a master plan that took years and involved hundreds of participants; the final plan was adopted by the city in 2002. Work began on developing the area to reflect its industrial roots while providing opportunities for business and community development. Today, the district has come full circle to its origins as a bustling center for residents and visitors alike.

SITE Santa Fe is a private nonprofit contemporary art space that sits adjacent to the garden at the south end of the Railyard district.

Through July 21, 2023

GOING WITH THE FLOW: ART, ACTIONS, AND WESTERN WATERS

Going with the Flow: Art, Actions, and Western Waters is a group exhibition exploring the vital role of water in the arid Southwest.

June 2–September 11, 2023

BRUCE NAUMAN: HIS MARK

SITE Santa Fe presents His Mark, Bruce Nauman’s first solo exhibition in New Mexico. It will include the premieres of new 3D video and self-portrait work.

June 2–September 11, 2023

RACHEL ROSE:

MOON

Thursday, June 22, 2023 at SITE Santa Fe and the Railyard Park

OFF THE RAILS: SITE Santa Fe’s Annual Benefit and Concert

Off the Rails is a community-centered concert and celebration that raises vital funds for SITE Santa Fe’s groundbreaking contemporary art exhibitions, Every Day: Free Admission initiative, transformative education initiatives, and dynamic public events.

SITE Santa Fe

1606 Paseo de Peralta sitesantafe.org

Eating Out In The Railyard

So many options! Trusted favorites and exciting new restaurants make the Railyard a shopping, walking, and eating destination.

Goodnight

Goodnight Moon, a solo exhibition by artist Rachel Rose, features sculpture, newly commissioned video work, and notable historical loans from the Yale Center for British Arts.

Second Street Brewery is the granddaddy of Railyard restaurants, having opened in 2010. The taproom has a full menu, a rotating selection of award-winning beers on draft, and an outstanding people-watching patio.

1607 Paseo de Peralta secondstreetbrewery.com

Opuntia is a lofty space on the second floor of the Railyard parking garage (entrance across from Violet Crown Cinema). The restaurant’s seasonal menu, its large selection of teas, beer, cider, and wine, and its setting in an industrial space with an interior garden and pond make it a unique destination for brunch, lunch, or dinner. The outdoor balcony overlooks the Rail Runner tracks and lets you keep an eye on the action on the street below.

1607 Alcaldesa Street opuntiacafe.com

You don’t have to go to the movies to enjoy the food at Violet Crown Cinema. Grab a beer or a bite from the menu of small plates, pizzas, and salads and head into the theater, or just stay in the bustling seating area with your friends.

1606 Alcaldesa Street santafe.violetcrown.com

Tired of vanilla? La Lecheria craft ice cream will introduce you to a whole new range of seasonally available flavors: butterscotch miso, prickly-pear margarita sorbet, red-chile honey, vegan coconut miso, citrus basil, Cracker Jack, and lots more, along with classics like vanilla, chocolate, and coffee. This organic ice-cream maker sources ingredients from local vendors. Enjoy your icy treat on the sidewalk chairs, or take it with you and enjoy the views.

500 Market Street #110 lalecherianm.com

Occupying a 100-year-old warehouse, Nuckoll’s Brewing Company opens this summer with 64 New Mexico beers on tap, a 3,000-square-foot wraparound deck, a full menu, and a brewery on site. Nuckolls will also have a beer-garden outdoor stage for live entertainment and community events.

430 W. Manhattan Avenue nuckollsbrewing.com

While not technically in the Railyard, El Chile Toreado’s food truck is across Cerrillos and easily within walking distance. It’s so good that it’s been nominated for a James Beard award.

807 Early Street elchiletoreado.com

On Saturday and Tuesday mornings, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market and Café Fresh (both in the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market pavilion) serve up coffee, fresh pastries, and breakfast burritos. Grab some sustenance to give you the energy to shop the many local farmers’ booths.

1607 Paseo de Peralta santafefarmersmarket.com

New kid on the block Restoration Pizza offers classic pizzas (with vegan options), appetizers, salads, wine, and beer from Albuquerque’s Bosque Brewing Company. At street level, their patio provides great crowd watching.

1607 Alcaldesa Street restorationpizza.com

As Above So Below serves up exhilarating new concoctions featuring their signature craft spirits and cocktails. Botanicals, specialty grains, and new styles of distillation make for interesting blends available by the bottle or the glass in a modern lounge setting.

545 Camino de la Familia aasbdistillery.com