Tap into Santa Fe’s thriving arts scene and soak up its distinctive Pueblo-style architecture at these must-stay hotels and characterful, converted haciendas in the New Mexico capital – bookable on Culture Trip.
LessThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.