Counter Culture Cafe

great spot for brunch, though it was quite crowded. order at the counter then take a number to any table you can find space! coffee was excellent and the Durango omelet was delicious, though their breakfast potatoes were lacking for me, as they had no crunch or crispness at all. overall good but not fantastic dining experience.

first time stopping in. Cute environment, terrible coffee. The layout is nice and comfortable. honest, open kitchen, customers can see some of what’s going on. seems like a good place to study. Music selection had me wanting to leave a little sooner, but there’s absolutely no way to please everyone. Waitress was alright, had a weird (thinks she’s a barista) attitude, but the attitude is inexcusable unless you can seriously produce a damn good shot, which it absolutely wasn’t. I made the mistake of ordering a shot in the dark, and it must’ve been the first cup of coffee in Santa Fe that I absolutely couldn’t force down; totally tasted like cough medicine. I would order a different plate next time, (got the grilled prosciutto sandwich) as I know a few people who swear by the food, but I probably wouldn’t choose to come back here again.

Really great little café with affordable prices. Would give 5 stars if they had better coffee. But you can’t beat the $ 5 fried egg sandwich.

I’ve been here a few times for breakfast and dinner. Each time was always pleasant experience. The staff are super friendly, and the food is always yummy. I’ve gotten the smothered breakfast burrito, French toast and bacon, burger special, love the haystack fries, tom yum soup, clam chowder, and probably other dishes I can’t remember. The Thai tea is also good.
I really like like the ambiance and décor. It’s nice that it’s dog friendly. I love seeing the different artwork displayed each time I visit. It’s also a nice place to read while eating or have your laptop out while eating or drinking. I’m only bummed that they only accept cash :(Overall, it’s a cool spot to hang out with really delicious food!

Friendly staff and cool atmosphere. I dig the art on the walls! My tasty pale ale paired well with my tasty Americano

What an awesome new find in Santa Fe. It’s so hard to venture from our favorites when visiting, but man are we glad we did!
Let me first mention the cinnamon roll… heaven. Honestly, one of the best I’ve ever had!
The rest of our meal… awesome. I had to get something with chile since it was my last meal before leaving town. So went with the breakfast burrito, Christmas. Both the red and green were awesome!!! The burrito was great too, but they could have smothered that chile over cardboard and I would have eaten it ;) Others tried the huevos and house made gravlax and both were very happy with their meals.
It’s a cute space, with a modern industrial style. It’s order at the counter, get your own water, silverware, etc. They have toys for the kids. And a cute little patio, although it was a touch cold to take advantage of this weekend.
The kind of place for a great meal, to read the paper and sip your coffee, meet friends, whatever… just a great place. Enjoy!

Counter Culture Café in Santa Fe is a fun, inviting, and hip spot to get delicious food with New Mexican flavor. The colorful, heaping portions fill up any hungry tourist. We have had breakfast and dinner at this location and have not been disappointed. The service was terrific. Our drinks were prepared while we ordered at the counter and our food came to our table quickly. They have a large variety of food options for all taste buds. Delicious spicy items for unique New Mexican food or a hearty homestyle meal!

We came here based on all the raving reviews for the food and the Cinnamon roll. We ordered the breakfast burrito with red and green sauce (came with egg/​potato/​bacon/​cheese). We also we ordered the cinnamon roll which was out of this world, out of body experience. Yup probably one of the best cinnamon rolls EVER! Gotta check out this place if you are ever in New Mexico!

I’ve come here regularly for a month now, and it’s impossible not to notice that the barrista is a misanthrope or simply hates her job. Zero friendliness, zero customer interaction, zero compensation for The exorbitantly priced drinks and dry cookies. If she’s the owner, this place is going down, and if she’s not, the owner needs to do something.

It’s easy to get caught into the charm of Santa Fe’s shopping square but this is one place you need to venture away from tourist land and experience the local culture. They have mastered the «vibe» a local place needs in the three pillars of the complicated restaurant world. 1) commitment to the art of food, beginning with excellent ingredients. 2) fun location that’s hard to fin. (I had to ask (beg really) a local to tell me about this place. 3) Great service while still committed to their own culture.
Tourists can be a pain in the ass. They use up the resources, leave behind trash and fail to invest in anything sustainable. They are tolerated because they drop money to get whatever they want. As a result, I recommend traveling with «humility». Recommit to manners and kindness and walk, talk and act like you’re a visitor and the locals will embrace you as their own. (I sheepishly walked in with a Starbucks cup tucked under my arm and quietly asked for a cup. I know, I know… I’m sorry!)
Counter Culture has a great blend of locals and visitors, maintaining a great style, an open family seated atmosphere, menus created in chalk as if the staff created the selection just for you, right before you walked in. They know their ingredients and I recommend experiencing the food, don’t talk, read or distract yourself from the gratitude your palette will have for REAL food, prepared with intention and a great energy.
Counter Culture… yes, you are just that and we thank you for committing to quality food and great service.

Great spot for breakfast. Had the frittata and bf had the gravlox both equally delicious! Fyi this is a cash only restaurant. Love the décor mixed metal and wooden tables give it an artsy industrial appearance. Great place for the family with toys offered to keep the kiddos occupied. Patio area is dog friendly too.
Downfall.
Quite noisy and they bring your food to your table but not your coffee. Watch for your coffee at the counter cause you won’t be able to hear them.

Good spot for working with decent free wifi. The coffee is great but the food is just ok (ate here a few times).

I ordered the Asian plate and everything was incredibly fresh, the plate was packed with flavor. Hubby had the salmon coconut curry soup and it was delicious as well. And they make an excellent latte!

This is a near quirky place. We came here because they are known for being kid friendly. My son had a blast playing with the toys they have available.
Maybe breakfast is better. We went for lunch and it was OK. I would give it a try again.
Parking was pretty tight.

I love trying new places when traveling and this was a recommendation of someone local. It was fabulous, fresh, inventive and delicious. I came for breakfast with my husband and teenaged sons. Everyone loved it and we came back for lunch on our way out of Santa Fe!
We had: huevos rancheros, french toast, steak sandwich, truck tacos with ahi, gazpacho, handheld burrito and carrot cake to go! On the second go, we got one of their hulking cinnamon buns to go too!
It is cafeteria style where you order up front then pick up your silverware, cups, condiments and bring them to your table. There is a very nice outdoor seating space too.
Every dish was delicious — fresh ingredients, plentiful and creatively presented. It was some of the best food we had in the 5 states we drove through this summer!

I went to Counter Culture Café the the first time yesterday, and I was pleased.
AMBIENCE
Although only a turn off of the busy Cerillos, Counter Culture seems tucked away, and is quiet enough that the outdoor seating is pleasant (and importantly for New Mexico, well-​shaded). This place has a warehouse chic atmosphere, which seems to be all the rage ever since Chipotle took up that style of décor. It’s «fast casual» since you order at the counter, serve yourself coffee/​water, pick up your silverware, and wait for someone to b being food after you’re given a number.
The place seemed like a pretty popular lunch spot with good energy, so maybe not great for work/​loitering if you prefer a quieter space, at least not during lunch rush.
As others have pointed out, this place is cash only (which is kind of a drag, especially since it seems like most businesses at least convert to the credit card scanner and app via iPad).
FOOD
Counter Culture has a large menu, and I’d like to try out more of the food, especially breakfast and the highly Unilocal-​recommended cinnamon rolls.
From my food, and the food I saw that others ordered, the ingredients were high-​quality and fresh, and everything I tasted was well-​executed.
I ordered the tofu bahn mi with sesame soba noodles. I liked that there was a generous amount of cabbage, the bun was well-​toasted, and the tofu was pressed and grilled. The bahm mi was solid, but not a good as bahn mi I’ve had at Vietnamese shops. this was more of a bistro interpretation. The cold sesame soba noodles were delicious in a peanut butter dressing, but sesame, soba, and peanut butter are things I love, so I probably would’ve liked it no matter what.
The shoestring fries I mooched from the generous serving included with my friend’s burger were delightfully crispy, which is unfortunately not the case at most places.
The drip coffee available was solid and tasted fresh.
PRICES
Prices are reasonable for mid-​scale cafes, especially in Santa Fe, but I think it’s worth it for the totality of the ingredients, execution, and ambience.
BONUS
Tons of large animal figurines and DINOSAURS to pay with, and there are enough of them that I don’t feel guilty as an «adult» playing with one.

Counter Culture basically lives up to its name. It’s in a nice spot off Cerillos and Baca and you can bring your dog!!! Of course, s/​he must be leashed and you sit outside, but it’s more like the old Santa Fe… welcoming. Dress is casual sloppy.
The food is really quite good and you can get anything from Pancakes or French toast to brie and fruit to tuna sandwiches. Portions are big. Pastries are big and delicious. Vegan dishes are available,
They do not take credit cards, so bring cash, they are open every day from 8 to 3 on Sun and Mon and until 9 every other day. Parking is limited, but you can leave your car across the street and walk over.
The place is definitely funky and worth visiting.

Had a great time here! Portions are big and everything is very fresh. I had the food truck tacos, and they were very tasty. Definitely recommend this place. Make sure to bring cash, though!

This place is amazing!
At the risk of sounding pretentious, I live in Chicago where coffee shops are numerous and outstanding, so, guys, trust me when I say Counter Culture Café is a cut above the average.
I have the good fortune of being able to come to Santa Fe a few times a year, and without fail, I always stop by Counter Culture at least once during my visit (more often it’s like daily…)
Great food, delicious coffee drinks, ample table space, water stations for you to grab water as you want, plenty of outlets, a fireplace, artwork everywhere, charming outdoor space, free wifi, the ability to linger as long as you want with a coffee and book… great spot to people watch (can’t emphasize this enough)… and there’s even toys and books for kids if you have some little munchkins at your feet… In sum, this café is PERFECTION.
As a vegan in the southwest, it’s also a wonderful to find some great vegan choices here. My favorite is the Vegan Banh Mi sandwich, which comes with a generous portion of sesame noodles with peanut sauce on a bed of salad.
I also love that this place is patronized by all kinds of people, from young families with kids, to ladies who lunch, to brooding artist-​types with notebooks, to rough-​and-​tumble types with cowboy hats and boots, and to tourists like me who like to sit and soak up the the relaxing NM vibes. Again, it’s a wonderful place to people watch (just don’t be creepy about it).
Another antidote that sums up the comforting community vibe — one time my car wouldn’t start in the parking lot out front. Two people in trucks were quick to help out and offer me a jump. That is something you wouldn’t find in Chicago.
(As you’ve probably already figured out, it’s cash only, so come prepared.)

What a great little find!!! I mean this place is so So-​Cal, until I’m expecting to see the ocean when I look out the window.
The hustle and bustle of the wait staff, the patrons & the cashier isn’t even disturbing. It all blends together like a well oiled machine. Everyone knows their role & plays the part.
Place your order, PAY WITH CASH (my only complaint & reason for 1 star less… hello it’s called a square reader people, its 2014), take your number to your seat & await your food. There’s a water jug of sorts with ice cold water & plastic cups nearby if you want it.
The menu is quite vast & I can’t imagine that there’s not something on there for everybody… for me it was the Caprese sandwich!!! Love those!!!
Free WiFi & super comfortable bench style seating along the wall, I suggest you grab one of those if it’s available, great for people watching.
Again, great place, less the CASH ONLY requirement.