9 Best Hotels in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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 tranquil 70-acre resort offers 32 rooms overlooking verdant gardens and 20 casitas with gas fireplaces and secluded patios, plus a first-rate spa focused on energy healing and integrative medicine, a variety of open-air soaking tubs, a large outdoor pool, yoga and fitness studios, a sweat lodge, and an outstanding restaurant—Blue Heron—serving healthy, locally sourced contemporary fare. Guests can enjoy complimentary morning yoga, be part of a Friday evening Temazcal renewal ceremony, cuddle silkie chickens, and do "puppy play" with furry friends awaiting adoption through the Española Humane Society. There is also a fitness center and self-guided hikes. 

Devotees appreciate the authentic onsen (Japanese-style baths) atmosphere of this award-winning 20-acre Japanese-inspired spa and boutique resort in the picturesque foothills a few miles northeast of town. The 14 light and airy hillside cottages are settled down a piñon-covered hill below the first-rate spa, which is tremendously popular with day visitors. The sleek, uncluttered accommodations have marble or stone wood-burning fireplaces, fine woodwork, high speed Wi-Fi, low-slung beds or futons, and courtyards or patios; two come with full kitchens, but breakfast is included in the rates. The facility has private and communal indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and overnight guests can use the communal tubs for free. The treatment rooms have a zen-like vibe, and the wonderful massages or specialized wellness treatments heal sore muscles after a day hiking or skiing in the surrounding mountains. The hip izakaya-style restaurant, Izanami, serves exceptional Japanese fare.

All the beautiful Southwestern and Mexican furniture in this small, upscale compound is custom-made, and all the art and photography is original. Rooms are spacious and pleasant with fireplaces and separate entrances; some are in their own little buildings. El Farolito has a peaceful Downtown location, just steps from the capitol and about a 10-minute walk to the Plaza. The same owners run the smaller Four Kachinas inn, which is close by and has one handicapped-accessible room (rare among smaller Santa Fe properties). The breakfast here is a real treat, featuring a tempting range of delicious baked goods.

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.

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.

It's a pleasant 10-minute walk west of the Plaza to reach this group of properties consisting of a few historic, luxurious compounds, one of them Spanish Pueblo–style adobe, another done in the Territorial style, and others ranging from rooms in renovated Victorian houses to contemporary condos with up to three bedrooms. A network of brick paths shaded by mature trees leads through these buildings, connecting them with secluded courtyards and flower gardens. All units have fireplaces, microwaves, and refrigerators (and full kitchens in some cases), and individual art and handcrafted furnishings, and rates include an extensive continental breakfast. It's an elegant alternative to the city's upscale full-service hotels, affording guests a bit more privacy and the feel of a private cottage rental—though it is managed by the Hotel Santa Fe.