The 11 Most Historic Hotels in Santa Fe
The of the oldest cities in North America, Santa Fe is steeped in history, with many of the Spanish Colonial buildings in its city center dating back more than two centuries. Even some of the relatively newer properties—built in the early to mid-20th-century—occupy interesting old buildings that feature such classic Santa Fe design elements as latilla-and-viga-beam ceilings, rooms with traditional kiva fireplaces, and thick adobe walls. These hotels best capture the vibrant historic heritage of the fabled City Different.
El Rey Inn
Why it made the list
Fans of Route 66 and mid-century-modern decor appreciate this 1930s compound with a colorful retro sign that's set along a former stretch of the Mother Road. It's the sort of place Lucy and Ricky might have stayed during one of their cross-country road trips.
Rancho Nambe
Why it made the list
To stay in one of the four rooms in this 300-year-old adobe hacienda is to get a sense of what New Mexico might have felt like when it was under the control of Spain. The inn sits on 24 secluded acres far from modernity, and indeed, furnishings—including the bathrooms—are decidedly old-fashioned.
Pueblo Bonito Bed & Breakfast Inn
Why it made the list
A relatively affordable B&B inn that's a short walk from Downtown Santa Fe's countless historic attractions, Pueblo Bonito was developed in the 1930s as a cheap apartment complex for artists, visiting politicians to the nearby Capitol building, and other colorful characters. Rooms have wood-burning fireplaces and charming Southwestern folk furniture in the style and spirit of old-time Santa Fe.
Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza Hotel
Why it made the list
So strikingly grand is this 19th-century Italianate Victorian hotel on the magnificent Plaza in Las Vegas, about an hour outside Santa Fe, that it's regularly chosen to appear in Hollywood and TV Westerns. Jesse James, Doc Holliday, and many other figures from New Mexico's fabled past have stayed here, and the hotel's relatively new owners are continuously renovating and improving this atmospheric property with wallet-friendly rates.
Drury Plaza Hotel
Why it made the list
Built in the late 1950s, this five-story building became a hotel in 2014 and is a relative newbie among Santa Fe accommodations. However, it's also a terrific example of Santa Fe's Territorial-style and a work of the so-called father of Santa Fe style, architect John Gaw Meem. In its transformation from a hospital into a hotel, designers retained the building's original architectural elements.
La Posada de Santa Fe
Why it made the list
This lavish spa resort is built around a historic Victorian mansion, which today houses the richly inviting lobby, restaurant, and bars. Some of the accommodations elsewhere on this resort are in restored 18th-century buildings.
El Paradero Bed & Breakfast Inn
Why it made the list
It might be a little hard to tell that this early 19th-century building, which houses Santa Fe's oldest inn, used to be a farmhouse, as it's located in the heart of the South Capitol neighborhood a 10-minute walk from the Plaza. But this handsome adobe house with a red gabled roof clearly reflects the city's history, with its thick walls, towering evergreen trees, and traditional interiors. Many rooms have classic brick floors, kiva-style fireplaces, and beam ceilings.
Rancho de Chimayo Hacienda
Why it made the list
Rooms in this 19th-century hacienda in the heart of historic Chimayó are decidedly old-world, with hardwood floors, beam ceilings, thick stucco walls, wood-burning fireplaces, and a slightly well-worn appearance (the rates are very reasonable). It's easy to feel like you're frozen in time, as rooms also are without TVs, phones, or even Wi-Fi. But for an affordable break from modernity, it's wonderfully restful and relaxing.
Hotel St. Francis
Why it made the list
On the National Register of Historic Places, the Hotel St. Francis opened in 1924 on the site of a previous hotel and was designed in the California Mission Revival style. Rooms, though in some cases a bit compact, retain the inn's vintage look, with original hardwood floors and high ceilings with original casement windows. The stone-floored lobby is illuminated by candles and feels at once old-fashioned and contemporary, with its spare, white-washed look.
Inn of the Turquoise Bear
Why it made the list
This rambling early 19th-century Spanish–Pueblo Revival inn occupies the former home of 20th-century literary figure Witter Bynner, who threw parties and entertained such renowned luminaries as Willa Cather, Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Ansel Adams, Aldoux Huxley, Martha Graham, and many others. It's in a storied residential area right along the Old Santa Fe Trail.
La Fonda on the Plaza
Why it made the list
According to local records, the location of this beautifully restored 1920s adobe inn was the site of Santa Fe's first lodging some four centuries ago. La Fonda overlooks the historic Plaza and sits at the very end of the fabled Santa Fe Trail. Legendary Grand Canyon architect Mary Jane Colter created the hotel's striking Southwestern aesthetic, and renowned local architect John Gaw Meem designed the building. This is one of the true historic hotel gems of the Southwest.
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