A Review of the Best Breakfasts Served in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is full of fine breakfast eateries, but a short drive to the edge of town for your first meal of the day can be deliciously rewarding.

Tesuque Village Market
It is a beautiful, long and winding drive to the door of the Tesuque Village Market - if you avoid the rush of N.M. 84/285 and take the scenic route to Tesuque on Bishop's Lodge Road past beautiful adobe homes, horses grazing in open fields, and old cottonwood trees.

Worn wooden doors welcome you at the threshold of the market. Mouthwatering cinnamon rolls, fine desserts, and freshly baked bread sit in glass cases just inside the front door.

There are several seating options available. Sitting inside, you feel the pleasant hum of ibis busy eatery and can hear the dishes clank and cash register ring amid the murmur of conversations-

Outside seating is also an option. The market has large heaters on the front porch, where some prime people-watching opportunities exist. Slow-moving cars, pedestrians, dogs, and bicycle riders all are part of the landscape outside.

The croissant breakfast sandwich was larger than my two hands could hotcl. The soft and flaky croissant (baked in the markets kitchen) was filled with scrambled eggs and large slices of flavorful link sausage. Both the coffee, served in a big mug, and a glass of freshly squeezed, bright-as-the-sun orange juice were rich with flavor.

The huevos rancheros were also stellar. Cheese, red or green chile, beans, and eggs done to your liking sit atop two small blue corn tortillas. Fresh tomatoes, lightly seasoned browned potatoes, and a soft flour tortilla on the side help to temper the heat of the tasty chile sauce.

San Marcos Cafe offers an idealized vision of ranch life - a sprawling house, peacocks wandering around, and, based on multiple visits, some of the best breakfasts you have ever had. No matter what breakfast entrée you order, it will taste better with a cinnamon-roll appetizer baked from scratch. The rolls are crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. A small drizzle still-hardening white frosting provides the perfect topping.

The deluxe Peed Store Burrito takes up an entire plate and is stuffed full of eggs, bacon, and hash browns. The generous slice of quiche of the day - accompanied by a small salad - has never been a letdown. Both breakfast entrées come with soft, buttery Texas-style garlic toast.

Santa Fe Brewing Company has developed a reputation for a good night of music, drinks, and dancing on the outskirts of town. But it also serves a delicious, hearty breakfast seven days a week.

Breakfast is quiet time at this restaurant. If dining solo, this is a place where you can be alone with your thoughts, even on weekend mornings. And it's entirely likely that the person who takes the order for your Breakfast Brewito at the bar is the same person who cooks it in the kitchen and serves it to you with a smile.

The burritos are enormous. Stuffed with a mixture of egg, shredded potatoes, and strips of bacon or sausage, they are then topped with a thick layer of cheese and mild green chile. For something a little less daunting - but still quite filling - try the Breakfast Sando. The Sando comes with eggs cooked to order, cheese, and thick, chewy bacon, all sandwiched between a sliced sourdough roll

While breakfast at the brewery is not usually disappointing, it varies from meal to meal depending on the morning cook. According to a sign on my table, all breakfasts in October are served with free coffee or juice.

Even in the chill of the fall air, sitting outside at the Brewing Company is a treat, with the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains in view over the patio wall. You may just decide to hang out on the patio all day, enjoying that view and waiting for the evening entertainment to start.