Where to Stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Find artistic inspiration at La Posada de Santa Fe, a former artists' colony | Courtesy of La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort and Spa / Expedia.com

Anna Laird Barto

14 August 2021

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Santa Fe is one of few places where you can experience the rich interplay of Native American, Spanish, and frontier culture. For a small, easy-to-navigate city, New Mexico’s capital offers an overwhelming number of things to see and do – from taking in the art of Georgia O’Keeffe to riding the Rio Grande rapids, hiking, and skiing. These hotels showcase the best of Santa Fe style, a timeless aesthetic inspired by the diverse landscapes and cultures of the Southwest.

The Sage Hotel

Courtesy of the Sage Hotel / Expedia

The Sage effortlessly combines classic Santa Fe style (raw beams, beehive fireplaces, chili pepper strings) with modern boho chic (macramé wall hangings, potted succulents, and minimalist furnishings). The result is an airy, restful retreat, just across the street from the trendy Railyard District and six blocks from the historic Plaza. Don’t feel like walking? The hotel offers a free shuttle service. You can also unwind at in-house Social Kitchen + Bar, which serves Southwestern comfort food like spinach and bacon quesadillas, and burgers topped with green chili and Monterey jack cheese.

The Inn of the Five Graces

Courtesy of the Inn of the Five Graces / Booking.com

Step inside the traditional adobe facade and you’re immediately transported to a royal caravan along the old Silk Road. Every detail of this 25-room hotel has been lovingly decorated by owner-artist Sylvia Seret, using lush textures and patterns from Central and East Asia – kilim rugs, embroidered Uzbek curtains, antique Indian screens, and mosaics worthy of a Roman bath. Shimmering silks pull aside to reveal modern flat-screen TVs, and the rich fragrance of piñon pine emanates from the crackling fireplace – there’s one in every room – reminding you that this Land of Enchantment is deeply rooted in the American Southwest.

The Hacienda and Spa at Hotel Santa Fe

Courtesy of the Hacienda and Spa at Hotel Santa Fe / Expedia.com

This three-acre (1.2ha) luxury estate is an adjacent section of the Hotel Santa Fe, owned and operated by the Picuris Pueblo tribe. Feast your eyes on the museum-quality art adorning the rooms and grounds, from intricately painted red, white and black Pueblo pottery to original oil paintings by celebrated Native American artists. Bask in Santa Fe’s 283 days of sunshine beside the outdoor pool, surrounded by flowers, trees, and sculptures. At the in-house spa, you can try a white-sage facial or Moccasin Dance foot therapy in addition to more conventional treatments.

Hotel Santa Fe

Courtesy of Hotel Santa Fe / Expedia

The original Hotel Santa Fe, next door to its more upscale sister, La Hacienda, also pays tribute to the owners’ Native American culture. Art is everywhere – hand-painted Hopi Kachina dolls peek from alcoves, bronze sculptures grace the courtyard, and every wall spotlights bright canvases. You can also purchase local arts and crafts at the hotel gift shop. Although fine paintings, ceramics, and textiles are displayed in every room, you won’t feel like you’re sleeping in a museum, thanks to soft leather chairs, rustic pine furnishings, and cozy Navajo blankets.

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi

Courtesy of Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi / Expedia.com

Welcome to luxury Pueblo life at the Inn of the Anasazi, steps from the historic Plaza. The Southwestern touches extend beyond studded leather headboards, kiva fireplaces, and Navajo rugs. Get a taste of Santa Fe’s rich culinary tradition at the hotel restaurant, consistently ranked among the region’s best. Innovative fusion fare such as achiote-spiced chicken nachos and cinnamon and chili-rubbed beef medallions integrate Native American, Mexican and European flavors to create a uniquely Southwestern culinary experience.

Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe / Expedia.com

Set on a former dude ranch in the sunlit foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado feels secluded but is actually just 10 minutes from downtown galleries and restaurants. Plan the expedition of your dreams – traverse the red rocks of Abiquiú in the footsteps of artist Georgia O’Keeffe, or ride the rapids of the Rio Grande – with the help of the hotel’s Adventure Center. Or stay and enjoy the enchanting mountain views from your private patio or the hillside pool.

La Fonda on the Plaza

Courtesy of La Fonda on the Plaza / Expedia

A stay at La Fonda on the Plaza means taking part in a tradition of hospitality that goes back 400 years, to when Santa Fe was a remote colonial outpost. Folk-art touches, such as punched-tin armoires and fancifully painted headboards, inject warmth and character into the historic mission-style decor. Sip margaritas and imbibe the sunset from the rooftop Bell Tower Bar, gazing out over unobstructed views of downtown.

La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa

Double bedroom with crisp white linen, a separate seating area and wooden ceiling beams at La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort and Spa

Courtesy of La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort and Spa / Expedia

Find your muse at Santa Fe’s “art hotel”. This six-acre (2.4ha) former artists’ colony, built around an 1880s French revival mansion, has hosted the august artistic likes of Georgia O’Keeffe. The main house is connected to a series of 1930s-era adobe casitas via landscaped pathways and sculpture gardens. The sculptures, like all the professionally curated art on display at the hotel and its grounds, are for sale. Any purchase is rewarded with a half-price stay upon your next visit.

Don’t want to splash the cash on an opulent stay in Santa Fe? Book one of the best budget hotels in the New Mexico capital.

These recommendations were updated on August 14, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.

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