The Best Hotels to Book in New Mexico

Tequila fans are spoiled at Rosewood’s Anasazi, where complimentary bottles await every guest and food-paired tastings are held at Santa Fe’s only Tequila Table. Accommodation showcases the staples of Southwestern architecture – with cylindrical wooden ceiling beams, locally-produced art and furniture and gaslit kiva fireplaces – and one of the suites comes with a large balcony. The bar and restaurant present New Mexico in a glass and on a plate: don’t miss the Silver Coin margaritas or the chicken or beef fajitas.

As one of New Mexico’s most colorful and design-conscious B&Bs, the bathrooms at the Five Graces are works of art – decorated from floor to ceiling with stone mosaics of onyx, marble, lapis and jade. The rooms and suites are no less dazzling, featuring carved-wood fittings, one-off Silk Road antiques and East-meets-West furniture and fabrics. Breakfasts of homemade granola, fruit and locally-roasted coffee are served in a Moorish-style dining room – and the affiliated 315 Restaurant, situated opposite, specializes in French cuisine.

The only hotel on Santa Fe’s historic main square is home to the Belltower rooftop bar, where cocktails and snacks accompany the best sunset views in town. The entertainment offering is completed by La Fiesta Lounge, which hosts live music every night – and La Plazuela Restaurant, in which the specialties are tortilla soup and pan-fried trout. Rooms showcase hand-painted headboards and locally crafted furniture – add-ons include kiva fireplaces and balconies overlooking Santa Fe’s most historic churches and the mountains beyond.

Spread throughout this complex of traditional casitas is a professionally curated collection of works depicting iconic Southwestern scenery. The intimate bar and restaurant occupy an 1880s mansion built by a merchant named Abraham Staab and are reputedly haunted by the ghost of his socialite wife, Julia – join her by the fireside or on the terrace for Southwestern dishes with twists, tapas and cocktails. An outdoor pool provides respite from the New Mexico sun and yoga and pilates classes are offered at weekends.

Ideal for sporty and adrenaline-seeking travelers, this five-star Four Seasons has an in-house Adventure Center – offering everything from a daily hike on the Camino Encantado Trail to hot air ballooning and white water rafting on the Rio Grande. All casitas and suites feature verandas with mountain views, kiva fireplaces and a desert-inspired palette of browns and oranges. Come sunset, take a seat around the firepit and order a Terratini – a spicy cocktail made with green or red chile and New Mexican vodka.

A luxurious offshoot of Santa Fe’s only Native American-owned hotel, the Hacienda offers 35 cozy, kiva-warmed rooms decorated with artwork celebrating the culture of New Mexico’s 19 pueblos. Wellness amenities include a pool and jacuzzi set in gardens scattered with Native American sculptures and a spa scented with sage, lavender and piñon sap. Private dining can be booked in a teepee while the main restaurant does classic regional fare – alongside international dishes such as fish and chips and seared duck breast.

This Alpine-style lodge is geared towards an energetic holiday in the surrounding mountains – whether on bikes or foot during summer or skis and snowboards throughout colder months. Rooms and suites maintain the mountain-retreat theme – with furry cushions, wooden fittings, electric open fires and views over the slopes and pine forests. Adjust to the 2,800m (9,186ft) elevation in the spa’s Oxygen Bar – before heading to Restaurant 192 for apres ski aperitifs, locally-brewed beers, pizzas and flatbreads.

Built out of pale sandstone from the New Mexico-Colorado border, this central Albuquerque boutique serves as a hotel and artistic hub – housing minimalist rooms inspired by Navajo weaving culture as well as a collection of works by Native American artists. The rooftop restaurant showcases the creations of acclaimed French chef Christian Monchatre: standouts include the crispy falafel in curry sauce and the beef filet mignon. Enjoy New Mexico wines and views of the Sandia Mountains from the Crafted Cafe.

Hydrotherapy at this Santa Fe resort is provided by several thermal baths and the town’s largest saltwater pool – all of which are supplied by a natural spring and shaded by enormous cottonwood trees. Other benefits of a stay include a Puppy Patch – in which all the temporary residents are adoptable – a coop of Silkie Chickens that can be fed and petted and an archery and hatchet-throwing range. Traditional adobe rooms and casitas come with private terraces overlooking the pools and gardens.

Golf and equine enthusiasts, this is your place – an all-inclusive resort in the Santa Ana pueblo with a Gary Panks-designed course and a rehab center for rescued horses. Spend a day on the greens or hacking through the desert – before tequila flights and sunset views at the Rio Grande Lounge, followed by a meal of vibrant New Mexican dishes at the Santa Ana Cafe. Cruiser bikes and helmets can be rented from reception for no extra cost and Albuquerque is a half-hour drive away.