The Bell Tower Bar is just "OK".
Yeah, you're on top of the building (5 floors up looking at roof tops of the rest of the city) Â and yeah, the views of the distant mountains are nice....BUT.....
- It fills up fast on a nice evening, get there early if you want to go;
- Margaritas are $12; pricey and average quality;
- the server & management let you know when they want you out (guess I spent too much time in Europe - this really turned me off).
There were 4 of us, we ordered 6 of the $12 margaritas, 2 glasses of wine & 3 appetizers - we weren't being cheap. Â
As soon as we finished our last sip, the bill was laid on the table (I mean, I had barely finished swallowing). Â Then the management keep walking by the table, looking at the check and then looking at us. Â After the 3th time, the tip percentage took a nose dive.
After the 4th time, we left.
My recommendation: if you really want to check it out (and it is a nice facility), go there early, have one drink & leave before they can push you out the door. Â It's not like it's the only choice in Santa Fe - this city is loaded with great places to eat & drink.
If you want a downtown sunset experience, take a walk to Hillside Park (about 4 blocks from La Fonda), take a discreet drink with you & that special person, sit on top of the hill and be in control of your own time.
The lounge area serves the best lunch buffet ever. Â It's so fresh, consistent and priced right. Â The staff, ever so friendly, always greet us kindly. Â
If we feel like meat, we have lots to choose from, if salad is the thing, we load up on the shredded lettuces, tomatoes, salsas and top it off with a bit of beans and cheese.
Something to please everyone! Â Parking is almost always available, so convenient - get your parking ticket validated and it's free with lunch.
LaFonda will always be our special hideaway for New Mexican comfort food at lunchtime especially.
Bell Tower Bar: 5 stars. Beautiful views. Can get chilly!
La Fiesta Lounge: 3 stars
The food is standard bar food and not bad, not great. It hits the spot.
The drinks are good. Loved the local NM Alien ale on tap.
Live music and dancing every night. Quality of the bands varies, but none of them are bad per se.
The service is iffy. It take a long time to get served, but it comes, and the servers tend to decided when they think you are done and hand you a check whether you ask for it or not.
The place gets pretty busy almost every night, but there is an overflow area out into the hallway. But service gets spottier the further you get from the action.
Kitchen closes at 10pm, as do most kitchens in the neighborhood, so word to the wise if you like to eat late.
It's located nicely at the La Fonda and feels pretty open, like you just HAVE to stop by and visit at night. Nice touch.
If you're hoping for a bell tower like at a church, guess again. It's more like a covered area on the patio with no bell. The pillars for the covered area are also bulky so they block much of the view. It's also a stretch to call it a "lounge". It's an outdoor bar with metal patio furniture. Regardless, the fifth-floor rooftop bar at the La Fonda Hotel was a nice visit and has some very good margaritas.
Review Source:Just visited the Bell Tower Bar. Â Sigh!! Â First off, beautiful view. Â Didn't catch the sunset, but nice anyway.
Second, Tommy, our server, was irritated that we wanted the table in the shade and he had to wipe down the table. Â Clue phone Tommy, might want to answer this one. Â We're paying customers and well, that's part of your job. Â We had 2 very average $12.00 margaritas, so then I had to retrieve Tommy from the bar to order a couple of Coronas. Â
I guess he forgot about them because one of his peers saw us sitting forlorn and drinkless and took our order a second time and delivered the goods. Â Hey! Can we change servers? Â Guess not. Â Tommy brought our bill but never came back for it so I had to take it to the counter to pay. Â Tommy got a crappy tip. Â
Again, it was a lovely location an perhaps if we had a different server we would have had a different experience.
I can't imagine a better place to have a drink while watching the sunset than the Bell Tower. Â A couple of key tips:
1. Look up what time the sun sets and get there early. Â Everyone else in Santa Fe has the same idea you do. Â This isn't some hidden, super secret spot.
2. Dress very warmly. Â 65 degrees sounds pleasant enough, but when paired with 25 MPH winds, it feels more like 45 degrees. Â If you get there early as recommended, they have a limited number of blankets which are key in making this an enjoyable experience.
Oddly enough, even though I grew up here and have been living here the past six years, I've never even eaten or had a drink at La Fiesta Lounge. It always looks lively and fun though.
The Bell Tower though, that's something else. Truth be told I wish they'd do something a lot nicer. It's a rooftop with patio furniture and drinks in Dixie cups. I think the spot and the entire reason it exists - to watch gorgeous sunsets - justifies something much more elaborate - but no matter. I go up there all the time when I have visitors or have a date. Go there for the amazing sunsets - that's all you need to know!!!
I love, love, LOVED La Fiesta Lounge. Â My husband and I had an amazing dinner here during our stay at La Fonda on the Plaza in March of 2012. Â
Service was quick, friendly, attentive, and wondeful. Â
The food (chips, guacamole, salsa, chicken tortilla soup, green chili) was delicious and filling. Â
The margaritas were some of the best I have ever had. Â
The ambience was perfect for a cozy, romantic date with my husband. Â
The live band they had playing was fun, talented, and really got people on the dance floor. Â
Five stars. Â I wish I lived closer so that I could go all the time.
On a few warmer than usual March days we hung out here. Silver coin margaritas and Santa Fe Pale Ales go down smooth. Blankets to take off the chill. Tommy as our waiter and Leo behind the bar gave the great and friendly service you seldom get anymore. We will be back next time in Santa Fe.
Review Source:Nice lounge in the La Fonda Hotel.  They have a live band after 8 p.m. and in Santa Fe that is one of the only things open at that time.  It was very pleasant with all age groups from young to old.  Great margaritas and bar type menu.  It was nice that they  served some bottled local beers.  Nachos were one of the best we ever had.  It had beans on the bottom of the chips and chips did not get soggy.
Review Source:I will definitely be back here on our next trip out to Santa Fe. Â First of all...it was the BEST MARGARITA I had my entire weekend in Santa Fe. Â This is in the downstairs bar. Â I believe it was the Silver Medal or something Margarida. Â YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!! Â We made chit chat with the bartender who was super funny and cool and just chilled out for a bit. Â Then...she told us about the Bell Tower bar and how we HAD to go up there and see a sunset. Â Unfortunately, we had to drive 6 hours back to Denver that day so we couldn't stay late enough for sunset but decided to check it out anyway.
WOW WOW WOW what a view. Â SERIOUSLY!!! Â You have to find the Tower (you have to go up an elevator). Â You can sit in one of the tables underneath where the old bell used to be (inside the tower which is still open to the outside) or just sit in one of the many other tables on the rooftop deck. Â Aaaaaahhhhhh. Â Just sitting there looking out into the city of Santa Fe was just delicious!!!
The only downside was the margarita at the top. Â I guess they don't use the same recipe as downstairs (either that or our bartender downstairs is the secret weapon here as hers were to die for - she is a slightly older lady in her 40s probably? Â look for her!). Â I didn't like it at all and had a hard time drinking it. Â Oh well. Â Doesn't matter...the view totally made up for it. Â
Glad we found this place (BY ACCIDENT)!!!
La Fiesta Loung & Bell Tower Bar Review - Scene 1
--------------------------------------------------Â---------------------
Takes place in La Fiesta Lounge inside La Fonda on the first floor:
[Director's Commentary] This scene almost didn't take place because we walked in to La Fonda to see about La Plazuela, saw the bar and it looked like a Western version of a hotel bar, so we left. Â Fortunately, the catering company ran out of water and we needed delicious beverages for the crew. (the wife and I)
[End Director's Commentary]
Bartender makes two drinks, both margaritas, one high end for the pretentious lady and one low end for the guy who just wants alcohol.
Bartender and patrons make small talk over the twang of the sixty year-old Texans at the end of the bar, talking of the glory days when they played high school football.
Woman Patron: This is the best margarita I've had here!
Guy Patron: I liked the ones at Del Charro better. (sorry, but they're almost half the price and almost as good, plus you get a damn martini shaker for what appears to be two margaritas! Â This is a price to quality comparison here) Â
Textual context: Most margs here are in the $10 - $11 range, but extra brownie points for having a bottle of Don Julio 1942 behind the bar.
End of scene 1 - Intermission
La Fiesta Lounge & Bell Tower Bar Review - Scene 2
--------------------------------------------------Â----------------------
Takes place in Bell Tower Bar on 5th floor of La Fonda:
[Director's Commentary]This scene almost didn't happen as well, because we didn't know about this place until I pissed the bartender off and she told us to make sure to check out the belltower
[End Director's Commentary]
Textual context: OK, I didn't really piss her off, she was very understanding
Bartender: You guys should really check out the belltower, it's on the fifth floor
Guy Patron: Is that where the short guy with the weird shaped back is?
Bartender: You're nowhere near Notre Dame
Guy Patron: (to woman patron) OK, let's go check it out
Patrons ascend to fifth floor in old, creaky elevators. Â Patrons secretly wonder to selves...if this thing has a malfunction of some sort, at least we'll die together.
Patrons arrive at fifth floor, walk out onto patio and take in beautiful, scenic Santa Fe, but from five floors up. Â
Woman Patron: OMG! (yes, say it in text speak, it'll provide a light-hearted comedic moment) Â This is beautiful! Â Why didn't we come here before?
Guy Patron: Um, we didn't know it was here. Â Where's the waiter?
Patrons order more margaritas, same as were drank in scene 1. Â Woman Patron is not as happy with this one. Â Male Patron doesn't care as he is just looking to score in between mouthfuls of salty, dry roasted peanuts.
Textual Context: This is a great spot to see the sunset over Santa Fe, but apparently you must arrive early. Â They open at 4 or 5 and close at sunset. Â We were there early and got ourselves a primo table to catch a sunburn, but the place filled up quickly. Â Oh, and prices are the same as downtstairs, but you do get fancy "take home" plastic cups up here.
THE END
So there is a disagreement here: my boyfriend would give this two stars and I give it three. Were there a 2.5 option... well that's where this would be.
La Fiesta Lounge is a good place to go see the sunset, if you get there early enough to snag a table. That being said, the place is just about as pricey as you would expect it to be. About 5 dollars or so for a bottle of beer, 8-10 for a margarita, etc. Also, we asked for some water, and apparently they don't have a faucet up there, so they just gave us a bottle and charged $2.50 for it. That's pretty preposterous.
So if you're on a budget like we were, I would say either skip this place OR just go up there and order one drink and split it while you watch the sunset. It's also quite an old crowd, but whatever, young or old, everyone likes a good sunset.
Great View of the Santa Fe Sunset!
1.) Â Find out what time the sun sets.
2.) Â Head to the Bell Tower Bar (inside La Fonda Hotel, diagonally across from The Plaza)
3.) Â Take pictures.
4.) Â Hasta La Vista.
The bar is only open until "sunset", so there's not much reason to stay after you see the sun set over an unpolluted New Mexican sky. Â This sounds bad, but I prefer to see sunsets over a polluted sky b/c of the variance in colors.
I always forget about this bar, which has pricey mixed drinks, but totally affordable beers. Today, after perusing the few remaining open galleries and doing some window shopping with out-of-state guests, one of them looked up and asked what the people were doing on the roof of the La Fonda.
*DING*!
We rushed up there and caught the brilliant Santa Fe sunset with a few tastey margaritas. We met a couple groups of tourists, who took our pictures and we took theirs and everyone had a great early evening.
AND HELLO PATIO ACTION!
This place is cute and has great views but beware...it is TINY and everyone is desperate for a chair or a table. So come early and stake out a spot (guard it with your life). The first half hour of our time spent up here went something like this ''hey babe...I think they're getting up...lets grab their spot...it's better than ours". As we attempted to be polite and not pull NYC tude on poor southerners we were pushed out of the way and chairs were snagged up from underneath our butts!!! This repeated probably an additional 3 times...I felt like we were playing musical chairs. Everyone up there (who didn't have a primo seat) was tensely looking around for the next move.
The view was great when we finally got a super table but drinks are on the pricier side and no food served up there. A glass of wine was $8.50. It is definitely romantic and can be enjoyed if you get the right seat.
The Bell Tower bar is a spectacular place to watch the sun set in Santa Fe!
On the 5th floor of La Fonda, it has spectacular views out west. Â They have a pretty decent selection of beverages, too, from wine and sangria to hard liquor.
It was crowded when we arrived very close to sunset-- I'd recommend getting there earlier to get a good seat near the balcony.
When we went the bar closed near 7:30 pm (it was October) and we were able to get the $4 Sangria special. Â It was a lovely romantic evening on the roof! Â I highly recommend it!
This historic bar has live music and dancing nightly.  They make the best classic margaritas - no frills, just good big old fashioned tequila & salt drinks.  The music and drinks are so popular that the tables spill out into the side hotel lobby.  Atmosphere & history.  If you close your eyes and listen you can almost hear the old cowboys' spurs hitting the tile floors, smell the leather and outdoors, and hear the dust in their throats as they order a cold beer from the bartender.  "Gimme a cold one Jake!"  You can also almost expect a couple of dance hall girls to come out from behind the bar and start singing and dancing with one of those trail dusters.  But you open your eyes and . . . .  your 3rd margarita and another basket of salsa and warm chips has arrived  . . . along with the 21st century.  Oh, well maybe that movie they are filming in the lobby early tomorrow morning will be worth getting up for . . . if your head doesn't hurt too much.
Review Source:
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