The Matador
Dive Bars · Santa Fe, NM
About
Open since 5pm (9pm Sunday) and running until 2am every night, The Matador is a dark, low-slung dive bar hidden below street level near the historic Plaza. Known for friendly staff, strong drinks, and a punk-rock soundtrack, it draws a mixed 30s-and-40s crowd that feels as comfortable as a regular.
The bar is cash only with a full bar and cute bartenders. Regulars know Tuesday nights feature local artist Tim Jag spinning rockabilly, classic country, and more. A large silent movie screen plays classics with captions, and the bar's DVD collection is available to browse. It's across the corner from the Plaza, but you'll need to slip down that dark narrow staircase to find it.
The Matador is tucked under street level just across the corner from Santa Fe's historic Plaza, placing you steps from the heart of the city's dining and art scene.
Features
- ✓Punk-rock dive bar under street level
- ✓Cash only with strong drinks
- ✓DVD collection available
- ✓Tim Jag spins rockabilly on Tuesdays
- ✓Silent movie captions on the big screen
Good for
Practical
Best nights: Wed, Fri, Sat
What people say
Rated from 161 reviews. 19 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
Unlike the bar across the street, this one actually serves gay men. I had a great time, though the crowd can be a bit rough—just treat them like people and you'll have people you never knew who'd have your back. Totally worth it. One suggestion: get Bacardi. Cash only, cute bartenders, strong drinks.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Not so gay”
Not very gay on a Tuesday in February during happy hour. It wasn't busy at all.
A guest · Over a year ago
“Killin' 'em at The Matador”
If you weren't at the Matador for Cinco de Mayo the other night, and by my count there must have been 20 or 30 of you, slap yourself right now. You missed a unique celebration with local artist Tim Jag spinning some of the best music ever played, Cesar running the bar with incredible skill and grace, and Frankie stepping in to curb any stupidity with his unusually charming mix of pseudo tough guy and welcoming host. While Midnight Cowboy played silently on the large screen with captions, Jag spun and spun, expertly switching from rockabilly to classic country to countrified rock and back. Free beers came at me in a blinding flash as I switched from Corona to Tecate to Bohemia and back. If I wasn't mesmerized by Cesar's sideburns, I was star struck by Jon Voight as a young man opposite Dustin Hoffman in one of the best movies ever. The crowd kept coming; Prairie Dog kept spinning; the beers, premium tequilas, and good cheer flowed and flowed; the night became magical. The second anniversary of the well hidden and low slung Matador, which is under street level, ranks as the most entertaining event in my travels, and by all accounts the spring chicken in me left some 30 years ago. I have been to three countries and a thousand bars; there is nothing like this place. Cesar and Frankie have a jewel in the Matador, and their combination is perfect for Santa Fe and all of New Mexico as far as I can tell. Be sure to feel the vibes while Jag spins on Tuesdays; you will be transformed to a simpler time, and don't forget to check out their DVD collection any night you visit, because you simply must see this wonderful bar masquerading as the nicest place on Earth. Just across the corner from the historic plaza, the Matador sits in history, and you can see history in the making every night, not to mention sideburns that would make Elvis envious.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Matador cash only? +
Yes, it's cash only.
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