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Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe

Name: Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe
Address: 125 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
Telephone: 855-752–9273;505-988–4900
Price range: $$

125 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, USA See on Map

Andrew Collins

Among the handful of mid-price, full-service hotels within a couple of blocks of the Plaza, this attractive, Territorial-style adobe hotel with a mix of spacious standard rooms and even bigger suites is a terrific option, especially given the extensive amenities available in many units—wet bars, kitchenettes, spacious sitting areas. The hotel is beside the handsome and historic city library and across the street from the New Mexico History Museum and several good restaurants.

On Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., from May through October, the hotel offers free 75-minute walking tours of the historic Santa Fe Plaza neighborhood.

Photo: Mission King Suite Bedroom

room

The rooms are furnished with handcrafted furnishings and Southwestern textiles, and have wood-burning fireplaces and either shared or private patios. Decor is devoted to the historic High Road village of Chimayó, for which the hotel is named, and you'll find photos depicting the village in your room along with hand-carved crosses produced by the town's renowned artisans. You enter some rooms through a pleasant central courtyard, while others are set down interior hallways.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Although rooms have large windows, they primarily face a narrow courtyard and other rooms and can feel a little dark for this reason, especially those on the ground floor.

Photo: Mission King Suite Bedroom

bathroom

Bathrooms are on the small side and relatively functional, but sinks are located conveniently outside the room with the tub-shower and commode.

Photo: Hotel Lobby with Original Art & Furnishings

lobby

Although warmed by a fireplace, the lobby is a bit dark and relatively small. Among the common areas, it's more fun to hang out in the colorful Low 'n Slow Lowrider bar, which is just off the lobby.

Photo: Hotel Lobby with Original Art & Furnishings

gym

There's no gym on-site, but guests do enjoy complimentary use of the gym at one of the hotel's sister properties, the Eldorado, which is just a 7-minute walk.

Photo: Front Patio Porch Seating - 1/2 Block to Plaza

dining

The hotel's main restaurant, Estevan, serves a mix of traditional New Mexican and international fare, including pork tamales with red-chile sauce and cornmeal-crusted rainbow trout.

Photo: Front Patio Porch Seating - 1/2 Block to Plaza

Photo: Low 'n Slow Lowrider Bar

drinking

The offbeat Low 'n Slow Lowrider Bar—decked in artfully displayed vintage car parts—is a fun spot for a creative cocktail (the mezcal-based Smoky Margarita has a loyal following).

Photo: Low 'n Slow Lowrider Bar

LOCATION

Getting Around

Less than a block from Santa Fe's historic Plaza, Hotel Chimayó is one of the most centrally located hotels in town—it's an easy walk to several major museums and dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops. There's also an underground parking garage (use of it is included with the hotel's $25 resort fee.

Restaurants

Stroll across the street to sup on delicious Spanish and Mediterranean tapas—patatas bravas, Moorish lamb skewers with harissa—at La Boca (2-minute walk), which also boasts a superb wine list. For more than a century, the retro diner–style Plaza Cafe (5-minute walk) has been serving delicious fare throughout the day, from huevos rancheros for breakfast to chicken-fried steak at dinner.

Bars

Inside the historic Hotel St. Francis (a sister property of Hotel Chimayó), Secreto Lounge (5-minute walk) serves exceptional craft cocktails, such as the blueberry creek, with rye, fresh lemon, blueberries, honey syrup, and ginger beer. Grab a seat overlooking the Plaza on the balcony of the Draft Station, which serves an extensive list of New Mexico beers.

WHY WE LIKE IT

This 56-suite hotel's greatest asset is its prime location in Santa Fe's historic center. Other pluses include convenient underground parking, a consistently helpful staff, and one of the more colorful bars in town, Low 'n Slow Rider, which is just off the lobby. Rooms themselves are spacious if somewhat unremarkable, but among other full-service hotels this close to the Plaza, Hotel Chimayó offers a solid value.