Your Guide to Santa Fe, New Mexico
If you’re looking for great food, sunshine, rich culture, and amazing spas, you must visit Santa Fe.
Santa Fe has been on my list to visit since moving to Denver because it’s a short 5.5 hour drive. I really didn’t know much about it besides the cool adobe style homes and western culture. After this trip, I suggest visiting for a relaxing weekend getaway full of good food, beautiful art, and relaxing landscapes.
Santa Fe is the nation’s oldest state capital city and boasts 400+ years of cultural fusion. The town center is 7,000 feet above sea level and set between three mountain ranges, offering beautiful landscape views in the distance. The entire downtown is filled with adobe-style architecture with intricate wooden carved doors and bright colors. Known for its huge art scene, you can find the streets filled with local artists and little shops.
Santa Fe is unique. Its small downtown can easily be covered by foot but offers big surprises behind the doors of restaurants, shops, and galleries. Life feels easy and relaxed here without the fast-paced drive.
Update: We returned to Santa Fe again this year to experience the Spa element. This article has been updated again (November 2021).
Where to Eat in Santa Fe
Santa Fe surprised me in the food scene! I had no idea I would eat so many amazing meals here. This town is fit for a foodie! We ate out the entire trip hence the amount of food reviews below but I think you could easily spend more than a long weekend here and still find more amazing places. Of the places I’m sharing below, I’d say my top favorites are Paper Dosa, La Choza, Zacatlan, Paloma, Santafamous (breakfast burrito) and Chaine (for dessert).
Paper Dosa
It’s no surprise why everyone recommended this place. It’s rare to find genuine, authentic Indian cuisine, and this hits the spot! I’d say this one can’t be missed. We ordered the Classic Masala Dosa, Mysore Chutney Dosa, and Chile and Cilantro Uttapam. Everything was wonderful, and I will absolutely visit again! As of now, it’s first come, first serve (no reservations), which makes it a great spot to show up without a reservation because places get booked up fast.
La Choza
We ordered to-go several nights from here (for good reason). Several locals said this was their favorite go-to, and we have to agree. The food was authentic, and everything we tried was delicious! It’s a great place to go with a larger group or family because there’s something for everyone to enjoy. I would go back on our next visit!
Zacatlan
A true hidden gem! We landed on this spot one night and raved about how amazing it was—from the small, family-owned experience of ordering and picking the food up to the incredible food—this felt like you went to your best friend’s house for an amazing dinner that their mom cooked. We ordered the dinner for two that was a prix fixe menu to-go during COVID.
Plaza Cafe
It’s all about the experience here. The food wasn’t my favorite of the trip, but the place is full of history and the staff made you feel right at home. Situated on the Plaza in Downtown Santa Fe, you can feel the history as you scan the walls lined with black and white photos from the past. It’s Santa Fe’s oldest restaurant and dates back to 1905!
Chaine
This place is rated a 5 star on Google for good reason. The best macrons I’ve ever eaten! We loved the churro flavored ones and came back multiple times throughout our trip to enjoy. Her creme brûlée cookie was unlike anything I’ve ever eaten. Filled with a creme center, it was rich and delicious. Definitely something you could share between several others. I’m already craving them again as I write this. A must visit!
Tomasita’s
This place was on a lot of reviews so we stopped in for a margarita. While I can’t speak on behalf of the food, the margarita was good but nothing to rave about. The restaurant is massive and can seat a lot of people. However, the atmosphere felt old and I think you’d be best hitting up another spot if you have limited time in Santa Fe.
The Shed
The Shed was another highly suggested place to try. As our time to leave was coming to an end, I was sure to squeeze in a to-go lunch order from here. The atmosphere was SO cute and it was conveniently tucked back in downtown! I would’ve loved to dine in on their front enclosed patio. The food was amazing and authentic. Would definitely recommend.
Craft Donuts & Coffee
Looking for a quick coffee and donut without sacrificing the taste? Visit this food truck right near the art galleries and enjoy a melt-in-your-mouth donut! We came back on our way out of town to start the day with a little caffeine and sugar.
Coyote Cafe & Rooftop Catina
This was another one recommended by locals and seemed to be fairly popular especially with it’s 4.5 google review. We ate rooftop (no indoor dining available due to COVID) and absolutely loved looking over downtown. I thought the food was just ok. After looking at reviews and hearing all the amazing things by others I’m wondering if our visit here missed the mark due to COVID. I would try this place again to see but I would skip it if you have a limited amount of time here and are aiming for the best of the best.
La Plazuela at La Fonda
Set inside the La Fonda on the Plaza hotel, this place was full of character. It felt a little more upscale than some places in Santa Fe and a little pricer. The food and service was great.
SANTAFAMOUS Street Eats
I saved the best for last. DO NOT leave Santa Fe without trying a breakfast burrito from this food truck. It was the best I’ve ever had and I wish I could find this in Denver. We went here several times because we knew we would have to come back to Santa Fe to have a breakfast burrito this amazing again.
Paloma
We recently visited Santa Fe for our second time this year and we’re sure to get into Paloma as we didn’t make it our first time. We’ve heard so many great things and it’s ranked on many lists. The reservations were booked so we arrived 10 minutes prior to opening and were able to get in. During those 10 minutes, four more groups of people lined up so be sure to get there early if you’re trying to sneak in as a walk-in. We had a lovely experience—from the service to the atmosphere to the food and drinks—it was such a fun night. Highly recommend here!
Other places we wanted or were recommended to us to try but were closed while we were there…
Izanami Restaurant
Cafe Pasqual’s
The Pink Adobe
Places to Stay in Santa Fe, NM
We LOVED our Airbnb!
We really lucked out on finding this airbnb and 10/10 recommend it to anyone! Here’s my official review of the place:
“Book it!! Hands down our favorite Airbnb we’ve ever rented. We weren’t familiar with Santa Fe before this trip & I’m so happy we lucked out on this location. Situated in the rolling hills and a short 5 minute drive to the heart of downtown Santa Fe. It serves as a wonderful nature retreat while also offering easy access to explore all that Santa Fe has to offer. Shasheen was a wonderful host and beautiful soul! He was out of town and offered us his rooftop porch where we enjoyed the 360 degree view of the sunrise and sunset each morning. We even enjoyed midday yoga here! His property has ample space for the dogs (and humans) to enjoy. We played volleyball on his sand court and enjoyed reading on the porch off the suite (while listening to the birds sing). The place was super clean! It is furnished with quality West Elm furniture and nice finishes. The Amerisleep mattress and west elm linen bedding allowed for a wonderful night’s sleep. The kitchen was equipped with everything we needed to enjoy our stay. Special touches like the Sonos soundbar and candles created an amazing evening atmosphere. We also enjoyed the fireplace and were provided ample wood for our stay. Shasheen had a great book collection that we enjoyed. We had been traveling from state to state so the washer and dryer were an added bonus. Highly recommend!”
I own a clothing boutique, Shop Sundrop. We used the property to take some content as the setting was so dreamy with a beautifully landscaped yard, intricate architectural details, and stunning rooftop views. Here are a few shots we took below to give you a better idea of how great the property is.
Four Seasons Santa Fe
Who wouldn’t want to stay here? Situated on 57 acres in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, the Four Seasons Resort offers a relaxing getaway and is located just 10 minutes from downtown. Super pet friendly too! We haven’t personally stayed here but I imagine it’s a beautiful place to stay.
Santa Fe Skies RV Resort
A friend of mine recommended the Santa Fe Skies RV Resort to us if we decided to stay in our van. She said they were “so nice!” This looks like a great place to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Santa Fe area!
El Rey Court
A vibe! I stumbled across this “motel” on instagram and have been drooling over the cool western vibes and uniquely designed rooms ever since. Talk about having an instagram moment staying here! We drove past and the exterior looked just like the photos—sure to be a hit!
OJO Santa Fe Resort and Spa
We had an amazing experience at Ojo Santa Fe! Set about twenty minutes from downtown Santa Fe on 77 acres, you can leave your worries out the door and truly escape to relax here. Ojo Santa Fe is built to reconnect with nature and that’s exactly what we did. We spent Thanksgiving day at their award-winning spa and slept in our van at night to save some money but would’ve loved to stay on site.
Read my blog post on Ojo Santa Fe Spa & Resort and Ojo Caliente (coming soon) to learn more about our experience and the difference between the two.
Things to Do in Santa Fe, NM
Gruet Winery
Gruet Champagne has been our go-to pre-ski champagne. We have a long history of drinking this, so it was so fun to visit Gruet in person finally. The winery is located out of town but the tasting room is located in the heart of Santa Fe attached to Hotel St. Francis. I recommend making a reservation as the space is small and can fill up quickly. It was a nice, sunny day so we opted to sit outside in the courtyard. It was a cute vibe and we loved the Gruet tasting.
Art Galleries + Museums + Walk Downtown
The art galleries range from traditional to contemporary, print to sculptural. Here you’ll find the famous Georgia O’Keeffe museum, along with many others. Vivid colors and western history bleed through many works and reflect our nation’s history. There is an art district you can walk through as well as the downtown galleries. Depending on the time you go, there may be different artists setup throughout town as well. I had a ring made with a rock that was found in the surrounding mountains.
Sunrise + Sunset
Santa Fe offers stunning skylines at both sunrise and sunset. We loved watching it rise each morning with our coffee, and go down each evening with our wine.
Hike
We didn’t do any major hiking while we visited but we definitely plan to do more on our next visit. It’s common to have Arroyos wind through the neighborhoods and town. These make great walking or running paths. Be sure to be aware of wildlife as we saw numerous coyotes which you want to keep away from your dog.
Historic Buildings
Downtown Santa Fe offers plenty of architecture to admire with legendary history. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a breathtaking event venue that is a true showstopper. I suggest taking your time to stroll through and admire all the hardwork and details that went into building these structures.
Ski Taos
Taos is located about an hour away. We have yet to visit, but we’ve heard great things. I’ll be sure to refresh this section as I know it’s something we’ll do in the near future.
Spas
As I mentioned above, we visited both Ojo Santa Fe and Ojo Caliente to get a feel for what they’re all about. I’ll release my blog posts soon, covering both spas. What I can say is that they were both fantastic in their own ways, and I highly recommend them!
Other Travel Adventures:
Are you craving a weekend escape to the picturesque town of Carbondale, Colorado? Look no further than Angel’s Ranch, where adventure and serenity await. It’s sure to be an unforgettable getaway as you explore the natural beauty of Carbondale and indulge in the therapeutic companionship of rescue horses. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, an animal lover, or simply in need of a rejuvenating retreat, Carbondale offers an idyllic setting for a weekend getaway like no other.