11 Best Hotels in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Although this historic resort is just a 10-minute drive from the Plaza, its setting in a bucolic valley at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains makes it feel worlds apart. Guests can revel in seasonal activities including hiking, swimming, yoga, art classes, and fly-fishing in an on-site trout habitat. Bishop Lodge's popular stables offer scenic trail rides in the Santa Fe National Forest. History runs deep here with the nearly 150-year-old chapel built by Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy—a figure lionized by writer Willa Cather—at the resort's center. Rooms are luxurious and feature tasteful, contemporary Southwest decor, many with balconies or patios with spectacular mountain vistas. Special accommodations for families or large groups include a 12-room Bunk House and indoor and outdoor event spaces. The Stream Dance Spa offers massages, facials, shamanic healing, yoga, and meditation, and the on-site restaurant, SkyFire, offers an expansive terrace with stunning views of Tesuque Valley.

This luxurious, secluded, yet centrally located tract of about 15 spacious one- and-two-bedroom vacation rentals is located on a hill just north of Downtown. Kitchens are especially impressive in these units, which also have kiva-style fireplaces, patios with gas grills, washers and dryers, and plenty of off-street parking. Rates run from about $1,750 to $2,300 per week in summer (and about one-third less the rest of the year).

This eye-catching, oft-photographed, pueblo-inspired property attracts a loyal clientele, many of whom swear by the friendly staff and high decorating standards. The lobby opens up to the pretty garden, pool, and outdoor event area. Inside, leather couches and high-end architectural details make the hotel perfect for a relaxing happy hour. Rooms are among the largest of Downtown property and contain vibrantly upholstered, handcrafted furnishings, and sumptuous slate-floor bathrooms—many have large balconies overlooking Downtown. Other nice touches include spa robes and slippers. The restaurant, Luminaria, serves creative Southwestern fare and the café and lounge, Crafted, offers a number of specialty cocktails featuring New Mexico spirits, local wines, and coffee. In the spa, you can choose from a wide range of treatments and services and an on-site salon offers everything from blow-outs to balayage. The Inn also offers guided tours around the area.

This historic, reasonably priced hotel by the Santa Fe River has cheerful rooms with a Mexican theme, bright colors, hand-painted folk art, feather pillows, Southwestern fabrics, and handmade furnishings; deluxe rooms also have balconies and fireplaces. Perks include a complimentary sherry and biscochito (anise cookie) welcome, breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi, and parking. The on-site restaurant Del Charro is popular for lunch, dinner, and late-night drinks and snacks (the bar's chicken wings are arguably the best in town). The drinks are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the bar stools are usually populated with locals.

This venerable downtown landmark comes with modern amenities but still retains a warm, artful design—including whimsical painted headboards and handcrafted furniture that's faithful to the vision of Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the vaunted architect responsible for the hotel's elegant Southwestern aesthetic. Though there has been an inn on this corner for centuries, the pueblo-inspired structure you see today was redesigned in 1922 by famed regional architect John Gaw Meem and has since been enlarged many times. Antiques and Native American art decorate the tiled lobby. Some suites have fireplaces; the rooftop suites are the most luxurious and include continental breakfast and private concierge services. A year-round heated pool and steam room are great for relaxing. La Plazuela Restaurant, with its hand-painted glass tiles, serves tasty, creative Southwestern food. Live bands rotate nightly in the snazzy La Fiesta Lounge, and the beloved Bell Tower Bar (open spring through fall) serves light food and offers commanding views of the mountains and Downtown. Don't forget to book a free docent tour of the property to truly appreciate its history and art collection.

The kind of place where Lucy and Ricky might have stayed during one of their cross-country adventures, the El Rey was built in 1936 but has been brought gracefully into the 21st century, its rooms and bathrooms handsomely updated without losing any period charm. Rooms are individually decorated and might include antique TV armoires, beamed ceilings, upholstered wing chairs, and sofas; some have kitchenettes. Each unit has a small covered front patio with wrought-iron chairs. Beautifully landscaped grounds are covered with flowers in the summer and towering trees shade the parking lot. There's a landscaped courtyard with tables and chairs by the pool.

This large, yet inviting, hotel comes with individually decorated rooms and stunning mountain views. Rooms are stylishly furnished with carved Southwestern-style desks, large upholstered club chairs, and art prints; many have terraces or kiva-style fireplaces. The rooftop pool has a bar and food area, as well as a special event space for parties under 100 people. The gym is also a winner; there you can work off your night at the Agave restaurant and lounge, one of the most popular happy-hour and late-night snacking spots in downtown Santa Fe. A full slate of treatments, from chakra rebalancing to prenatal and couples massages, is offered by the hotel's Nidah Spa.

One of the few slightly more affordable, full-service hotels near the Plaza, this attractive, Territorial-style adobe hotel with a mix of spacious standard rooms and even bigger suites is a solid option, especially given the extensive amenities available in many units—wet bars, kitchenettes, spacious sitting areas. All the rooms are decorated with handcrafted furnishings and Southwestern textiles, and many have woodburning fireplaces and either shared or private patios. You enter some rooms through a charming central courtyard, while others are set down interior hallways. The hotel's main restaurant, Estevan, serves a mix of traditional New Mexican and American fare, and the offbeat Low 'n Slow Lowrider Bar—decked in artfully displayed vintage car parts—is a fun spot for a drink. In an additional nod to the area's low-rider and cruising culture, the hotel owns a 1964 Impala lowrider that is popular for selfies. The hotel is beside the venerable city library and across the street from the New Mexico History Museum and several good restaurants.

Rooms on the beautiful, quiet grounds of this Tribute Portfolio resort and spa vary greatly in size and configuration, but the level of luxury befits the somewhat steep rates, especially given the considerable amenities and appealing East Side location. Many rooms and suites have fireplaces, and all have flat-screen TVs, leather couches, marble bathrooms, and Navajo-inspired rugs. The main building contains a handful of luxurious, high-ceilinged Victorian rooms. The property boasts excellent bar, spa, and common areas, including the breezy and charming Patio Restaurant, the atmospheric Staab House Lounge, and the upscale Julia restaurant and bar, named for the resident ghost. Guests are offered numerous complimentary events throughout the week, like Margarita Monday, wine-and-cheese pairings on Wednesday, and chef's receptions on Friday. History lovers should grab a copy of the book, American Ghost: A Family's Extraordinary History on the Desert Frontier by Hannah Nordhaus, for a fascinating look into the life, and ghostly legends, of the Staab family, who first built the mansion.

Once an old motel on the original Route 66 in need of a major facelift, the Mystic is now a hip hang-out with a funky Joshua Tree vibe that is heavy on the pastel colors and folky artwork. The rooms are simple but stylish with tile floors and soothing decor, and some have small refrigerators. There is a full bar in the inviting lobby that's good for socializing, and a large event space out back that can fit 200 people, making the Mystic a popular wedding location.

On the southern edge of the Railyard District, this smart motel offers affordable comfort, modern bohemian Southwestern decor, and a location that's just about a 5-minute walk to the Railyard and a 15-minute walk from the Plaza. Although there is a $15 "Xperience Xclusive" fee in addition to room rates, it includes access to the seasonal outdoor pool, parking, shuttle service to/from the Plaza, property-wide Wi-Fi, the 24-hour fitness center, the business center, and an extensive hot breakfast. The on-site bar and restaurant, Social, has good Southwestern comfort food, a broad drink menu, and regular live entertainment. Get a room upstairs in one of the rear buildings for the most privacy and quiet.