Guide to Santa Fe | Travel + Leisure
  • E-mail to a Friend
  • Print Print
  • RSS RSS
  • AddThis

Guide to Santa Fe

Return to main article

When to Go

Santa Fe has year-round attractions: in July, sudden showers are followed by twin rainbows; and in August, the famous Indian Market comes to town. Visit in winter for the smell of piñon smoke from kiva fireplaces and the Colonial and Indian Christmas. In April and May, the flowers start blooming.

How to Get There

United and Frontier offer connecting service from Denver to the Santa Fe airport. Continental runs a nonstop flight from Newark to Santa Fe during July and the winter. The main airport in Albuquerque is an hour’s drive away.

Where to Stay

La Fonda on the Plaza
There’s been an inn at this site since 1607. La Fonda was decorated in 1924 by Mary Colter in a style that remains untouched: tin panels, adobe, bright paint. 100 E. San Francisco St.; 800/523-5002 or 505/982-5511; lafondasantafe.com; doubles from $399.

Inn of the Anasazi
Once a juvenile correction facility, it’s now a chic little hotel managed by the Rosewood group. 113 Washington Ave.; 505/ 988-3030; innoftheanasazi.com; doubles from $275.

Rancho de San Juan
The only Relais & Châteaux property in the Southwest, so secluded that even Santa Feans come here to hide. 34020 Hwy. 25, Ojo Caliente; 505/753-6818; rancho desanjuan.com; doubles from $275.

Where to Eat

Aqua Santa
Brian Knox’s small, three-year-old restaurant offering simple, seasonal cuisine is a gathering place for locals. 451 W. Alameda St.; 505/982-6297; dinner for two $130.

Baleen
Delicious dishes at night. They’re good at Santa Fe’s main meal too: breakfast. 211 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505/984-7915; brunch for two $50.

Café Ecco Espresso & Gelato
105 E. Marcy St.; 505/986-9778; lunch for two $20.

Café Pasqual’s
Mexican chairs and paper cutout flags, plus exquisite food, such as Niman ranch beef or mangoes sprinkled with hot chili powder, by Katharine Kagel, "the Luddite chef." Great for breakfast, too. 121 Don Gaspar Ave.; 505/983-9340; dinner for two $90.

Downtown Subscription
376 Garcia St.; 505/983-3085.

Meridian Espresso
228 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505/989-9252.

Plaza Café
54 Lincoln Ave.; 505/982-1664; lunch for two $20.

Tomasita’s Restaurant
The most popular chili and taco joint in town. By the rail yard. 500 S. Guadalupe St.; 505/983-5721; lunch for two $30.

Trattoria Nostrani
Excellent Northern Italian cuisine in the Southwest. Try to sit on the front porch. 304 Johnson St.; 505/983-3800; dinner for two $170.

Where to Shop

Double Take at the Ranch
Consignment shop with boots and more. 321 S. Guadelupe St.; 505/820-7775.

Garcia Street Books
Edward and Eva Borins carry the latest titles, and the fullest selection of remaindered titles west of the Strand, in New York City. 376 Garcia St.; 505/986-0151.

G. Coles-Christensen Rug Merchants
125 W. San Francisco St.; 505/986-6089.

Gloria List Gallery
418 Cerrillos Rd.; 505/988-4002 or 505/982-5622.

Nathalie
503 Canyon Rd.; 505/982-1021.

Ortega’s on the Plaza
101 W. San Francisco St.; 505/988-1866.

Packard’s on the Plaza
61 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505/883-9241.

Pak Mail
For shipping your goods home. 369 Montezuma Ave.; 505/989-7380.

Galleries and Studios

Henry Noestheden Design
1704 Lena St.; 505/988-5032.

James Kelly Contemporary
1601 Paseo de Peralta; 505/989-1601.

Larry Swann
1515 Third St.; 505/920-5444.

Phil Space
1410 Second St.; 505/983-7945.

Robert Nichols Gallery
419 Canyon Rd.; 505/982-2145.

Second Street Galleries
1807 Second St.

Site Santa Fe
1606 Paseo de Peralta; 505/989-1199.

Victoria Price Contemporary Art & Design
Rail yard, 550 S. Guadalupe; 505/982-8632.

What to Do

Cristo Rey
This 1940 church by John Gaw Meem is the finest example of the Pueblo style around. 1120 Canyon Rd.; 505/983-8528

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
217 Johnson St.; 505/946-1000; okeeffemuseum.org.

Museum of International Folk Art
The only comprehensive museum of folk art in the world. Unique and delightful. 706 Camino Lejo; 505/476-1200; internationalfolkart.org.

Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
750 Camino Lejo; 505/982-2226; spanishcolonial.org.

Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Performances take place at the St. Francis Auditorium and the renovated Lensic Performing Arts Center. July 15–August 20. 888/221-9836; sfcmf.org.

Santa Fe Indian Market: Southwestern Association for Indian Arts
August 17–19. The Plaza; 505/983-5220; swaia.org.

Santa Fe Opera Music Festival
Astonishing premieres, avant-garde operas, great singers—a real destination. June 29– August 25. 800/280-4654; santafeopera.org.

Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
A small showcase of Indian art. 704 Camino Lejo; 505/982-4636; wheelwright.org.

Copyright © 2008, American Express Publishing. All rights reserved.