Overview
Pojoaque (pronounced poh-WAH-kay) is a small town in north central New Mexico, USA, not far from Santa Fe. While of limited interest itself to the traveler, it is a good jumping-off point for many northern New Mexico attractions.
1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Wettest: Jul and Aug. (climate data from nearby Santa Fe)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SAF Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Santa Fe — 19 mi away. Directions
- TSM Taos Regional Airport, Taos — 43 mi away. Directions
- ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport, Albuquerque — 68 mi away (major hub). Directions
Pojoaque is about 15 miles north of Santa Fe on US highway 285. The nearest major commercial air service is via Albuquerque, while Santa Fe has limited air service.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Pojoaque is about 15 miles north of Santa Fe on US highway 285. The nearest major commercial air service is via Albuquerque, while Santa Fe has limited air service.
Get around
Once you've been there, you've gotten around. A car is useful for reaching outlying attractions.
See
- Pojoaque Pueblo is one of the smaller of the American Indian pueblos of New Mexico, but does have a casino (see under "Drink") and a moderately interesting tribal museum.
- The Poeh Cultural Center is on US 285 and appears to be open during daylight hours (probably 9-5), with exhibits by local artisans. The museum's position on historic interactions between Native Americans and European settlers, it is fair to say, is opinionated. Occasional special events.
Buy
Pojoaque Pueblo is less significant as an arts/crafts center than nearby San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblos, but interesting pueblo art can sometimes be found at the museum.
Shop Gabriel Gallery
Paintings, sculpture, jewelry; across the parking lot from the excellent Gabriel's restaurant (see below), and combines well with a meal there.
Eat
Eat Gabriel's
As much "Old" Mexican as New Mexican. The guacamole appetizer is fantastic, as are the fajitas. Dinner with guacamole and sangria will cost $25 or so. The art gallery across the parking lot is worth a look too, when you're done with your meal.
Drink
Drink Cities of Gold Casino
The creation of casinos at Native American pueblos and reservations during the 1990s was controversial, and many locals resent the fact that operations like this one exist, citing serious problems with gambling addictions in the community — while others point with pride to the revenue it has created for the town and pueblo. Like it or not, it's there, and you can find a drink, some entertainment, and a chance to lose your earnings on site. Alcohol is served and the bartenders will sure likely to get you real drunk.
Sleep
Go next
- Pojoaque is about equidistant from Santa Fe and Los Alamos with nearby Bandelier National Monument. Los Alamos and Bandelier are both interesting and worth a day trip; Santa Fe is one of the world's great travel destinations, and a traveler who comes to Pojoaque but doesn't spend time in Santa Fe is missing something.
- Pojoaque is also a reasonable jumping-off point for the American Indian (incidentally, the term is preferred locally to "Native American") pueblos of the region; check the Santa Fe (New Mexico) and North Central New Mexico articles for details.
- The High Road to Taos is one of the classic scenic drives in northern New Mexico and takes off from Pojoaque via SR 503 on the north side of town. For route details, see the North Central New Mexico article.
Nearby
Española
City / town · 14 listings · 8 mi away
Chimayó
City / town · 4 listings · 9 mi away
Santa Fe
City / town · 149 listings · 15 mi away
Bandelier National Monument
Park · 3 listings · 18 mi away
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Rural area · 3 listings · 26 mi away
Abiquiu
City / town · 13 listings · 27 mi away
Pecos
City / town · 5 listings · 29 mi away
Valles Caldera National Preserve
Park · 30 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.