Annamaria Brezna O’Brien serves Eastern European dishes infused with New Mexican flare at this buzzy brunch spot. Within walking distance of the Santa Fe Plaza, yet peacefully out of the fray, Dolina ladles hearty flavors from Brezna O’Brien’s native Slovakia, such as the morning soup (with rich lamb bone broth, wild rice, caramelized onion, and a poached egg) and the Orechovník French toast, which begins with a base of house made walnut and cinnamon bread, and is topped with warm fruit. The interior feels like a country house—a fitting feel for a restaurant with a dedicated farm for its produce.

The team at this North Guadalupe bakery deserves an award for cracking the science behind baking at high altitudes. Their jam-packed display case can be overwhelming, so here are the priorities: almond croissants that are always perfectly laminated and crisp, flaky strudel with tangy insides like poppy seed cherry, and soft gingerbread that pairs well with a latte. There’s sit-down service and a good amount of space for a casual brunch over omelets and salmon tartine, but keep in mind the parking lot is tiny.

Slovakian transplant Annamaria O’Brien's bustling bakery and brunch spot is as bright and crisp as her food. The menu borrows a bit from the chef's Eastern European roots with favorites such as paprikash, langos, and goulash, but also features regional American dishes like cornmeal waffles with buttermilk fried chicken and a surprising bone broth "morning soup." The quiche of the day is always delicious. Nearly everything served at Dolina was either grown on the Dolina farm or sourced as locally as possible.

Cozy Dolina serves a lovely breakfast spread with an Eastern European bent. Try the nutty granola atop Greek yogurt with fruit, ricotta pancakes, and a hearty breakfast burrito with organic eggs, hash browns, and asadero cheese (topped, in good New Mexican fashion, with red or green chile). There’s also robust espresso and coffee, local bone broth, and baked grab-and-go sweets like chocolate croissants, banana pie with a flaky, buttery crust, and Slovakian-style vanilla cream puffs.

Pair savory brunch with Hungarian cakeDolina Cafe & Bakery looks like a quaint cottage you’d expect to stumble upon in a forest. Which makes sense, considering Dolina means “valley” in owner Annamaria Brezna’s native Slovak. She outfits her menu of sweets and savories with New Mexican and Eastern European flavors.

And finally, you must make a stop at the Five & Dime General Store for frito pie — it's a classic!

Start your day with a feast at Dolina Cafe & Bakery, a Hungarian-New Mexican mashup that pairs chile-smothered breakfast burritos and buttermilk fried chicken & waffles with the likes of Hungarian goulash, borscht and chicken Paprikash. Whatever cuisine you choose, don’t sleep on the sweets — the pastry case teems with buttery Polish tea cookies, apple-walnut strudel and makos dios, a Hungarian cake made from ground poppy seeds, walnuts and raspberries. For other sweets, you’ll find green chile-apple fritters and blue corn-lavender donuts at adorable Whoo’s Donuts, or saucer-sized cinnamon rolls and frosting-slathered bundt cakes at kitschy Counter Culture.

Stop at Cafe Fina for local coffee, organic eggs, and crispy bacon with green, red, or Christmas chile, a breakfast burrito or morning soup (organic New Mexico chive-y lamb bone broth with egg) at Dolina, huevos Motuleños (Yucatan-style eggs with feta, peas, chile, and plantains) at Pasquals, or a paleo Golden Turmeric Wrap at the serene and completely gluten-free Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen. If you’re going on a day trip, stop at Bread Shop for picnic essentials: straight-from-the-oven sourdough, organic crudites from Ground Stone Farm, a tin of Fishwife rainbow trout, and imported cured meats.

In a pleasantly surprising plot twist, Santa Fe is low-key a hub for some of the best Hungarian pastries, dishes, and desserts in the country. It's all courtesy of Dolina Cafe & Bakery, a charming farm-to-table love letter from owner Annamaria Brezna, who bakes up traditional dishes from her Hungarian homeland, like makos dios, a poppy seed and walnut cake with raspberry preserves, serving them in a cozy, convivial cafe a stone's throw from historic downtown Santa Fe. Many ingredients hail from a local farm, all used to marry New Mexican traditions with Eastern European inspirations.

Dolina Bakery & Cafe is a modern take on an old-time favorite establishment that bakes their own goods like cakes, pies, and pastries fresh daily and offers a nice breakfast and lunch menu in their cheerful cafe. Along with the standards, they also have unique cake offerings such as the Dobos Torte, which is a Hungarian sponge cake layered with a bittersweet chocolate buttercream frosting and a Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake.

Pop into Dolina Bakery & Cafe and experience this unique spin on brunch with items that combine Slovakian and New Mexican flavors, with items like Langos, savory fried bread that is typically served in Slovakia as street food, the Orechovnik (walnut swirl bread) French Toast, and Slovakian pastries including Makos Dios, Tvaroh Pockets, and Polish tea cookies. For lunch, order their freshly baked pies and homemade soups.

What do you get when you combine a bakery, modern American brunch, and Eastern European flavors?. You get Dolina Bakery and Cafe, where you can enjoy everything from brunch favorites to chicken paprikash, borscht, and Hungarian goulash. The bakery is equally diverse with a variety of quiches, coconut cream or banana cream pies, cakes, strudel, a Hungarian specialty called Makos Dio, and more!

Dolina Cafe & Bakery – When I heard about a Slovak bakery, I was immediately intrigued (I used to live in the Czech Republic, so I’m very familiar with—and love—a lot of Slovak specialties)!. Dolina met and far exceeded my expectations. It’s not only a great place for baked goods, but an all-around awesome pick for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

All told this year, four Santa Fe restaurants and chefs made the semifinalist lists announced Jan. 24, including Best Chef: Southwest nods for Dolina’s Annamaria O’Brien and Zacatlán’s Eduardo Rodriguez; Outstanding Restaurant for chef Mark Kiffin’s The Compound; and Best New Restaurant for Hue-Chan Karels’ Alkeme at Open Kitchen.

A mix of Slovakian and Southwestern influences makes Dolina stand out among downtown Santa Fe restaurants. Their menu includes everything from breakfast burritos to chorizo hash, alongside fresh pastries and lattes. Located just minutes from the Santa Fe Plaza, it’s a fantastic stop before exploring nearby galleries and shops.

Native to Slovakia, owner of Dolina Cafe and Bakery, Annamaria O’Brien, has learned that food has no language. The inspiration for the bakery came from growing up in a small tucked-away village in Slovakia and learning to appreciate simple and fresh food. She hopes to bring a sense of community and home through her bakery.

Dolina is one of my latest favorites on the Breakfast Burrito scene in Santa Fe. If you can beat the crazy weekend rush, and terrible parking options, I implore you to try this place immediately. Their burrito isn’t the largest but they are generous on the meat and distribute their ingredients exceptionally.

Are you looking for a quiet breakfast and lunch spot in Santa Fe with an airy atmosphere?. Dolina Bakery and Cafe is one of the city’s most beloved cafes, serving Slovakian-inspired food. The restaurant’s vibe is laid back, providing diners with a relaxed atmosphere that keeps them returning for more.

Dolina – Dolina serves modern American brunch with European influences, but if it’s baked goods you’re after, they have the goods. Croissants, cinnamon buns, muffins, cookies, scones (bacon scone, anyone?) and a whole bunch of cakes and pies.

Dolina-Known for its hearty modern American brunch menu with Eastern European influences, Dolina never disappoints. But be ready to wait for a table. The benefits of waiting mean you can entertain yourself with one of their gorgeous pastries.

It is walkable, but located outside the main square in Santa Fe. You can stop in for quick counter service to grab a coffee and pastry/dessert versus table service to order off their menu.