The Best Santa Fe Food Tour for You: Sip & Savor vs. Margarita Trail vs. Red or Green
Three tours, three different afternoons, one decision. Wander runs three public food tours in Santa Fe, and the most common question we get is which one to book. The honest answer is that it depends on what kind of day you want: a long walk through downtown with wine, a margarita-forward stroll, or a seated lunch that goes deep on the food itself. Here's how the three compare, point by point, so you can pick the one that fits your trip.
The quick version
If you want the full sweep of Santa Fe's food scene and don't mind walking, take Sip & Savor. If you're here for the drinks, take the Margarita Trail. If you'd rather sit down and really understand New Mexican food, take Red or Green. The rest of this post is the detail behind that.
Sip & Savor: the flagship
The Sip & Savor Historic Plaza tour is the one most people mean when they say "Santa Fe food tour." It runs about four hours, covers roughly a mile and a half on foot through the downtown Historic Plaza, and includes four tastings, three food and one wine. You'll sample classic New Mexican flavors alongside what's new and interesting in the city's food scene, and you'll meet chefs, owners, and winemakers along the way.
It's the most complete picture of how Santa Fe eats, and it's the tour that sells out first. Choose this one if you want range, you're comfortable on your feet for an afternoon, and you want the version you'll tell people about when you get home. It caps at twelve to fourteen guests.
Margarita Trail: the drinks-forward stroll
The Santa Fe Margarita Trail tour is the only guided tour on the city's official Margarita Trail, and Santa Fe doesn't call itself the Margarita Capital of America for nothing. It's built around margarita tastings at several stops, with food bites to go with them, and you get the official Trail Passport with stamps as you go.
It's shorter than Sip & Savor and spirits-focused, so it's the pick for a group that wants the drinks to be the point. One thing to know before you book: the tastings are pre-curated, with no substitutions, and the tour is 21 and up. Choose this if your group's idea of a good Santa Fe afternoon involves three excellent margaritas and the stories behind them.
Red or Green: the seated deep dive
The Red or Green chef-guided lunch is the one with the least walking and the most focus on the food itself. It starts in the Santa Fe Railyard, takes a short stroll along the historic Rail Trail, and centers on a chef-guided lunch at La Choza, the beloved sister restaurant of The Shed.
The whole tour is built around New Mexico's state question, "Red or green?", as a guided comparison of New Mexican versus Mexican food. You taste New Mexican and Mexican-style posoles side by side, a famous blue corn enchilada with sopaipillas and honey, and margarita pairings with each course, finishing with a local artisanal ice cream. Choose this one if a long walk isn't your thing, if you want to sit and learn, or if you want the single most accessible of the three.
Side by side
| Sip & Savor | Margarita Trail | Red or Green | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Walking tour, 3 to 5 stops | Walking tour, margarita stops | Seated chef-guided lunch |
| Best for | The full food-scene sweep | Drinks-forward groups | Sitting down, going deep |
| Walking | ~1.5 miles | Moderate | Least (seated lunch) |
| Drinks | One wine pairing | Margarita tastings | Margarita pairings |
| Ages | All ages | 21+ | All ages |
| Price (per person) | $209 | $129 | $109 |
A small amount of tax and booking fee is added at checkout. Check the individual tour page for schedule details.
How to choose if you're still stuck
A few simple tiebreakers. Traveling with someone who tires on long walks, or with a teenager? Red or Green. Celebrating with a group that wants to toast? Margarita Trail. Only doing one tour and want the most for it? Sip & Savor. Want all three? Plenty of guests stack a couple over a long weekend, and the tours are designed to complement rather than repeat each other.
And whichever you choose, book directly at wandernewmexico.com rather than through a third-party marketplace. It's the same tour and the same guide, and booking direct keeps your money with the local company.
Frequently asked questions
Which Santa Fe food tour is best for first-timers? Sip & Savor. It covers the widest range of Santa Fe's food scene in one afternoon, so it gives first-time visitors the best overall picture and the most useful recommendations for the rest of their trip.
Which tour has the least walking? Red or Green. It's centered on a seated lunch at La Choza with only a short stroll from the Railyard, so it's the most accessible if a long walk isn't comfortable for you.
Can I do more than one tour on the same trip? Yes, and many guests do. The three tours are built to complement each other rather than overlap, so doing two over a long weekend gives you drinks, a downtown walk, and a deep dive without repeating stops.
Do any of the tours have an age limit? The Margarita Trail tour is 21 and up because it's built around margarita tastings. Sip & Savor and Red or Green welcome all ages, including teenagers.
What's the difference between Red or Green and the others, really? Red or Green is a seated, lunch-based comparison of New Mexican versus Mexican food, so it's the most focused on understanding the cuisine. Sip & Savor is a broader walking tour across multiple kitchens, and the Margarita Trail is drinks-forward. Different goals, not different quality.
Ready to pick yours?
Whichever afternoon sounds like yours, the small tables go fast. Compare the three on their tour pages and reserve your spot: Sip & Savor, the Margarita Trail, or Red or Green. All cap small and sell out in season, so book direct before your dates fill.