City Guide: Santa Fe, New Mexico

By: Scott Dubois, Fauna Travel Designer

Founded by the Spanish in 1610, Santa Fe is the third-oldest city in the United States. Because of strict adobe building codes, the small city tucked into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico retains much of its historic charm. Mild year-round temperatures make it one of my favorite getaways for summer at altitude or for a snowy, not frigid, winter. The city is known for its Southwest Art, but it also offers plenty of great restaurants, cultural attractions, and epic hikes.

Here’s a short city guide of some of my favorite places in town. Note that many shops and restaurants are closed on Monday and Tuesday, so check hours before you go anywhere.

Where to Stay

Bishops Lodge is undoubtedly our favorite hotel in town. Once a ranch retreat for a prominent Spanish bishop, Auberge transformed the property into a luxury hotel ideally suited to the outdoor enthusiast. The lodge sits just ten minutes from downtown on 317 acres with horseback riding trails for all ages, a fly fishing outfitter/shop, and direct access to the Santa Fe National Forest for hiking. 

If you are looking for a place to stay near the Plaza, the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi has the best location. You can sometimes get great rates here, but once they rise close to $1,000 per night, you may consider The Inn of Five Graces for a bit more character for the price. Travelers on a budget will love the El Rey Court, a classic motel on busy Cerrillos Road that is a hip place to stay.

Where to Eat

Santa Fe has excellent dining options for a relatively small city. Mexican mainstays are always my first stop. I’m partial to The Shed near Santa Fe Plaza, but nearby Cafe Pasqual’s or La Choza, closer to the rail yards, are also good backups if you want to satisfy your craving for an enchilada or burrito. None of these accept reservations, so you must put your name on the list and walk around while you wait for a table.

For slightly more upscale near the Plaza, Sazón is a good option. Geronimo serves elevated and eclectic New American cuisine and has won multiple awards, if you’re looking for an authentic fine dining experience. And I really love Joseph’s Culinary Pub for a really nice meal that is a bit more under the radar.

Beyond the popular lunch and dinner spots, my family loves Dolina for breakfast and brunch. The little bakery serves tasty soups, sandwiches, and breakfast burritos. Iconik is the most reliable place to satisfy your caffeine fix, with three locations around town. However, if you are near the Plaza, 35 Degrees North brews a solid cup. Finally, Kakawa is always worth a visit for tasting the variety of hot drinking chocolates–I’m partial to the spicy flavors.

What to Do

Walking Tour of the Plaza and Downtown

Santa Fe Plaza and downtown are the most obvious tourist draws in the city, and it’s certainly worth a visit. There is a plethora of shops, galleries, museums, and historic sites within a short walk, and you can easily spend a whole day here. To that end, here’s a brief walking tour we share with our clients:

• Start at the Georgia Okeefe Museum – it opens at 10 am.
• After you finish the museum, walk towards Santa Fe Plaza. The New Mexico History Museum and New Mexico Museum of Art also open at 10 am and are right off the Plaza. The museum isn’t huge, but it gives a nice timeline of New Mexico History if you’re new to the city.
• Have lunch after a morning of museums. My family always eats enchiladas at The Shed, but Cafe Pasqual’s is nearby as well.
• Note: If you’re interested in WW2 history, the Los Alamos Santa Fe office is right next to The Shed at 109 East Palace. 
• Lunch will be heavy but good, so it’s a perfect time to walk it off. Explore some of the surrounding shops. Shiprock has a fantastic collection of Native Artwork, including museum-quality blankets and rugs. Doodlets has a nice selection of gifts for kids, and I love the Los Poblanos Farm Shop, north of the Plaza, for adult gifts. Standard and Strange has fashionable clothing, and there is even a Christmas-themed shop open year-round. 
• Cross over to the nearby St Francis of Assisi Basilica and walk the grounds. There may be native singers or dancers performing here if you’re lucky. 
• If you are interested in more museums, the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is across the street from the Basilica.
• Next, walk towards Old Santa Fe Trail Street, where you can stop at the Loretto Chapel, which is known for its incredible spiral staircase.
• After seeing the small chapel, head south down Old Santa Fe Trail – there are even more shops here!
• End at the Oldest House Museum and San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in North America.

Hiking and History

Bandelier National Monument is about a 50-minute drive from downtown Santa Fe. It is one of my favorite day trips from the city, because the cliff dwellings are a fascinating link to the region’s ancient history. If you’re looking for a long hike, the Santa Fe National Forest has miles and miles of trails. Tesuque and Aspen Vista Loop Trail near Ski Santa Fe is among the best trails at elevation to escape the summer heat. If you’re there in winter, the Diablo Canyon trail on the other side of town shows off the desert side of Santa Fe with sheer cliffs resembling Big Bend National Park.

Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf is an interactive art experience that is hard to describe. The space blends funhouse exploration with psychedelic visuals and a 1980s sci-fi storyline into something truly special. Adults will love following the story’s clues, and kids will be swept up in the magic of it all. Buy tickets in advance online and plan on spending an hour or two there.

Railyards

The Santa Fe Railyards district is a newly developed area built around the Santa Fe Sky Railway. The train is a fun, family-oriented activity featuring live music, native dance, and scenic views of New Mexico during the two-hour round-trip ride. You can also find a farmers’ and artisan’s market here every Saturday (and on Tuesdays except in winter). My kids love stopping for ice cream at La Lecheria after a day of exploring the city.

Spa Day: Ten Thousand Waves

Ten Thousand Waves is a spa and hot spring resort modeled on a classic Japanese onsen. It was built in 1981 by Japanese artisans and focuses on providing a serene wellness experience, complete with soaking tubs, shiatsu massage, and a meditation room. You can stay overnight, but I prefer it for spa treatments, which include afternoon access to the community soaking tub. You can also book a private tub for your family, but these are popular and need to be booked months in advance to secure your space.

Going Further: New Mexico Wildlife Itinerary

A visit to Santa Fe makes a great start to our New Mexico Wildlife Safari itinerary or a longer road trip west towards Colorado or the Grand Canyon.