Anaconda Bar — Restaurant in Taos

This is the THIRD time I have had a bad experience at the Anaconda Bar. We stopped in over the weekend as my mother was in town staying at El Monte Sagrado. I sat with my husband waiting for my mother to join us. I waited 20 minutes for the bartender Paul to barely acknowledge my presence. In the time I waited, he was not busy, he walked around, spoke to other patrons, and served them....all while I waited patiently. I asked about white wine, and he scoffed and walked away. A woman approached the bar next to where I was seated and he happily served her. I am sure my irritation was visible by this time and another waiter came and provided me with a menu, by that time I was already uninterested in purchasing anything based on this bartender's dismissive and rude attitude (Again, this is the THIRD time this man has provided poor service, I have been here on a date prior with the same rudeness and with my office- where it took us nearly all night to receive our drinks and Paul was dismissive and behaved as if our presence was a nuisance) My mother joined us and we sat at lounge table, The waiter brought us menus and waters, then he disappeared for 20 minutes more, by this time we were all aggravated and decided to leave. We ended up having dinner and drinks at Sagebrush. SUPERIOR service by the staff at The Sagebrush, and live music. I will never return to Anaconda Bar, I suggest they provide some hospitality training to Paul or find a...

The El Monte Sagrado Hotel is gorgeous, with architecture that honors the state of New Mexico, and the Native American legacy of the state. That's what I don't get about the Anaconda Bar. Anaconda-New Mexico-huh? What am I missing? I think Brazil, the Amazon, when I imagine an Anaconda? What does an Anaconda have to do with New Mexico?

This Anaconda theme is carried out throughout the bar. The bar has a mirrored serpentine design, akin to a Chinese dragon, last seen at a Chinatown parade. A huge aquarium, filled with exotic fish, is the highlight of the interior. Anaconda is no doubt a beautiful bar, but I just don't get the Amazonian theme. Thus, I dropped a star. Drinks were good, service elegant, and having cocktails at El Monte Sagrado is special. However, I felt like I should be sitting in an elegant bar in Belem, Brazil rather than Taos, New Mexico. The fabulous architectural theme of the hotel needs to be carried out in the bar also. An architectural gestalt...

As a local, I frequent the bar as it is right down the street from where I live. Recently I went for happy hour. The bartender told me my 2 drinks were on happy hour prices. When I asked for the bill, another bartender took my Gold Card & presented me a bill for full price & said they no longer had happy hour prices. The original bartender did not know that but after a short conversation, apologized & the other bartender would not give me the discount price. I paid full price — double what it should have been. I’m a long time customer & he didn’t care when I said I would not be back. Note: on the web site, it still says they have happy hour. I learned that the long-time bar manager quit, as did my favorite bartender. Apparently there is a new GM. I will not be back. They simply don’t care that I’ve been coming there & their restaurant for anniversary & birthday dinners. No more. This place no longer wants locals— it’s only for tourists. Avoid it! Terrible...