Santa Fe's Cozy, Affordable Aztec Cafe
Yep, the Aztec Cafe is on Aztec Street.
This little cafe and comfort stop is a bit off the plaza, so pay attention here. Aztec is a street that runs between Guadalupe and Sandoval Streets. If you use the plaza as a starting point you can get there by taking West San Francisco off the plaza going west a couple of blocks where you'll run into Sandoval Street. Turning left (south) onto Sandoval Street, walk until you cross the Santa Fe River (a dry watercourse beneath a bridge if it isn't raining or melting snow). Continue on until on your right you spot Aztec Street. It's only about two short blocks beyond the river.
Okay, so now that you've gotten there, what do they have to offer?
A lot! In winter hearty soups and hot chocolates along with free trade coffee and tea. They also offer hot and cold sandwiches made to order - a lot of which are vegetarian friendly. Morning offers breakfast burritos, bagels, muffins and more. There's home made natural ice cream in the summer along with fresh fruit smoothies.
Their hours vary a bit between winter and summer, but basically they open at 7 a.m. each morning except Sunday when they open at 8 a.m. Most days they're open until at least 7 p.m. and weekends later. Check out their website for exact hours.
This is not a high speed restaurant and the ambiance waxes a bit toward funky so no suit and tie required (actually nowhere in Santa Fe can I think of that requires that). There's artwork on the walls by local artists and frequently local artists inside sketching. Free wi-fi too if you have your laptop and need a hotspot. Staff is friendly and laid back. Prices range from about $4.50 a slice of homemade quiche to $6.75 vicinity for sandwiches. Not bad. And if you're feeling adventurous, try the Martin Sandwich - turkey, green apples and swiss cheese, yumm!
