Milk of the Poppy to open in Santa Fe’s Railyard DistrictMilk of the Poppy to open in Santa Fe’s Railyard District

Milk of the Poppy, an apothecary-meets-craft cocktail bar and restaurant, will open this spring in the heart of the Railyard District in Santa Fe, N.M., the company said Thursday.

The company said the location at 418 Montezuma Ave. is adjacent to the Jean Cocteau Cinema and Beastly Books and will serve as an additional community gathering place.

The bar and event space for 100 will evoke the experience of stumbling into a modern traveler’s tavern, backers said.

The name draws inspiration from the medieval remedy “milk of the poppy,” which is a specialty concocted beverage known for both its medicinal properties and the remarkable “poppy dreams” it induces.

“When we started on the journey of opening Milk of the Poppy, we had no idea where the creative process would take us,” Al LaFleur, Milk of the Poppy creative director, said in a statement. “Our goal was to serve as an extension of the wonderful community gathering places the Railyard District has crafted over the years, and I think we’ve honored that vision. The inspiration behind the project was for guests to be able to step right off the train and into this rich world of storytelling with Beastly Books, Jean Cocteau Cinema and now Milk of the Poppy.”

Milk of the Poppy’s 1,200-square-foot lounge space, featuring seating for 55, is outfitted with custom steel and hand-carved wooden furniture, tile, stone and marble finishes, custom art pieces, and oddities from local artisans. The adjacent outdoor garden will feature an additional 30 seats and overlook the Sky Railway train.

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Historical influences shine through in Milk of the Poppy’s beverage program, and the menu will offer a limited selection of seasonal dishes.

“Driven by our team’s passion for history, Milk of the Poppy’s menu was designed to transport guests through time,” LaFleur said. “Our cocktails draw reference from the medieval era to present day, incorporating ancient techniques, flavors and ingredients to create something truly special.”

Milk of the Poppy will be within the same 1910 adobe building as the John Cocteau Cinema and Beastly Books. It once served as storage for regional produce brought to town via the railway.

“Our north star is always ‘How we can provide this incredible state — and those who come to visit it — with something different and unique where they can escape from reality for a moment and be immersed in art?’ This project reflects that,” LaFleur said.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

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