15 Best Hotels in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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.

Within an easy walk of both the Plaza and Canyon Road, this mid-priced charmer with spacious Southwest-style rooms is one of the city's best small hotels. Alameda means "tree-lined lane," and this one perfectly complements the inn's location by the gurgling Santa Fe River. The adobe architecture and enclosed courtyards strewn with climbing rose vines combine a relaxed New Mexico country atmosphere with the luxury and amenities of a top-notch hotel, from afternoon wine and cheese to triple-sheeted beds with luxurious Egyptian cotton bedding. Rooms have a Southwestern color scheme, handmade armoires and headboards, and ceramic lamps and tiles—many have patios and kiva fireplaces. While there is no pool, there are two outdoor hot tubs. The Inn also offers a courtesy shuttle to anywhere within a 3-mile radius.

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.

This contemporary motor court–style inn looks from the outside like an attractive, if fairly ordinary, adobe motel, but it has stunning and spotless rooms with elegant Southwestern decor. Tile baths, high-quality linens, and upscale furnishings fill every room, along with high-end toiletries; many have kiva fireplaces, or balconies and patios, and in most cases refrigerators and deep Jacuzzi tubs. A small business center and gym are open 24 hours. Most rooms open onto a courtyard parking lot, although chile ristras hanging outside each unit brighten things up. The make-your-own-breakfast-burrito buffet is a nice touch.

This intimate and artfully designed boutique hotel steps from the Plaza has superb architectural detail, top-notch service, and a much-celebrated restaurant, bar, and lounge. The inn is part of the prestigious Rosewood Hotel group, and the sumptuous linens and elegant furnishings reflect that brand's ultra-luxe standards. Each room has a beamed viga-and-latilla ceiling, kiva-style gas fireplace, handwoven fabrics, and organic toiletries. Five of the inn's junior suites have balconies overlooking Downtown. Additional amenities include twice-daily housekeeping service and a stunning library.

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.

Once a run-down motor court dating to 1936, El Rey Court was redesigned and now attracts design aficionados and Instagram influencers with its hip take on modern,1950s-inspired Southwest decor. The property features motor court-style rooms as well as some suites and adjoining rooms for families or large parties. No two rooms are alike, with many featuring special vintage touches such as inlaid tile decorations, original artwork, and tin light fixtures. The large pool is ideal for cooling off on hot days, and there is a hot tub for cool nights. The on-site bar, La Reina, specializes in tequila and mezcal and is a popular meeting place for a younger local crowd with live music on many weekends. A café tent offers coffee and pastries while some of Santa Fe's favorite casual dining spots are within walking distance including the Pantry, El Parasol, and Mampuku Ramen.

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.

Picurís Pueblo has controlling interest in this handsome Pueblo-style three-story hotel on the Railyard District's edge and a 15-minute walk from the Plaza. The light, airy rooms and suites are traditional Southwestern, with locally handmade furniture, wooden blinds, and Pueblo paintings; many have balconies. The hotel gift shop, Santa Fe's only tribally owned store, has lower prices than many nearby retail stores, and the hotel's rooms and common areas are decorated with a museum-quality collection of Native American artworks. The 35 rooms and suites in the posh Hacienda wing have corner fireplaces and the use of a well-trained butler. Amaya is one of the better hotel restaurants in town, and there's a full-service spa offering a nice range of treatments as well as a refreshing garden pool. Informal talks about Native American history and culture are held in the lobby and Native American ceremonial dances take place on the property.

Just south of the Plaza, this stately three-story hotel retains a historic vibe but has been given a modern flair—with expansive stone floors, plaster walls, and spare furnishings lit by massive pillar candles at night, the lobby feels a bit like a monastery. The simple, elegant rooms with high ceilings and casement windows have rustic Mexican furnishings. If you're looking for more of a splurge, the Cardinal Suite has a private balcony with views over the rooftops of downtown. The cocktail bar, Secreto, serves excellent cocktails and has a light bar menu. An added bonus is the Gruet Tasting Room, where you can sample the still wines and respected sparkling brut from one of New Mexico's best-known wineries.

This compound consists of clusters of three-story town houses with pitched roofs and tall chimneys. Best bets for families or up to four adults traveling together are the one-room penthouse suites, which each have a loft bedroom and a separate sitting area (with a curtain divider) that has a Murphy bed. All units have wood-burning fireplaces and there is a nice pool on the property. It's right off a major intersection about 3 miles south of the Plaza, but it's set back far enough that there's little regular traffic noise. Ask for one of the second-floor end units for the best mountain views.

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.

This low-slung adobe property significantly transcends the generally sketchy quality of the several other budget motels along Cerrillos Road, thanks to the tireless efforts of its owner. There's a kitschy, Western aspect to the place—rooms are named for icons of the West (Annie Oakley, Wyatt Earp) and contain related plaques with colorful biographies and local cowboy art. Furnishings are decidedly Southwest: Mexican-tile bathrooms, serape tapestries, built-in bancos, and equipale chairs (made of woven wood and leather) are present in most rooms. Enjoy breakfast on the covered ramada picnic area. The popular home-furnishings and gift emporium, Jackalope, is next door.