Santa Fe – the City Different!

RETRO-CHIC SANTA FE HOTELS & MOTELS

There are plenty of well-known, brand-name hotels and motels in Santa Fe, but genuine retro-chic is alive and well here.

• El Rey Court – Built in 1936 and located at 1862 Cerrillos Rd (Old 66). Originally a sister motel of the El Vado Motel in Albuquerque.  Quaint, elegant,  laid back.  This is Santa Fe’s ambiance.
• The Mystic (formerly the Silver Saddle Motel) – Built in 1948 as one of the original motor lodges after Route 66 bypass, it’s located at 2810 Cerrillos Road (old 66). Once a retro cool motel, under new owners, it has evolved into something more Fanta Se. From July to October, they host Mystic Echoes, dinner prepared by a James Beard award-winning chef, and a show that immerses guests in local Indigenous culture through traditional dances and authentic cuisine.
• La Fonda Hotel – Built in 1922, located on the historic Santa Fe Plaza, promoted as the “Best of the Southwest.” It is. Map your way to 100 E San Francisco Street, at the corner of the Plaza.

Restaurants in Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a culinary capital. So much to choose from. Here are some local favorites:

• Plaza Cafe Downtown – Established in 1905, at 54 Lincoln Ave (On the Downtown Plaza). Authentic. Casual.  Everything from blue corn, green chile, carne asada enchiladas, plus a warm, pillowy sopapilla to chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes to a gyro with a Greek salad on the side.
• Chocolate Maven Bakery and Café – Located off the route but worth the detour! Find this sinfully good bakery and gourmet meals at 821 W San Mateo Road, Suite C. It has won ‘Best of Santa Fe’ for 23 years running. Decadently delicious. 
• Iconik Coffee and Café – Forget Starbucks, this is for the coffee connoisseur. Serving light breakfast and lunch. A cool hangout for hipsters. Located at 1600 Lena St. (not on 66).
• El Farol Restaurant -Established in 1835 (for real!) and still at 808 Canyon Road (not on 66). Canyon Road is a destination for art galleries. El Farol is THE place on Canyon Road.  El Farol is “Hailed as Santa Fe’s most historic and iconic bar and restaurant.”
• Cafe Pasquals – Best Breakfast! Founded in 1979, the building was previously a Texaco station, then the Liberty Cafe, before the owner, Katherine Kagel, transformed it. The restaurant’s name honors San Pasqual, the patron saint of cooks and kitchens. 

Historic Theatre

• The Lensic Theatre – The historic Lensic Performing Arts Center keeps each season interesting with theater, lectures, film, dance, and music. The Lensic has its fair share of festivals, from Jazz to New Music to the Santa Fe Chamber Orchestra.

Museums

This list has a focus on ART:

• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: Dedicated to the life and work of the iconic American modernist painter, Georgia O’Keeffe, this museum is a must-visit for art enthusiasts. 
• New Mexico Museum of Art: Showcases a vast collection of American and European art, with a strong emphasis on artists working in the Southwest. 
• Museum of International Folk Art: Explore a diverse collection of folk art from around the world, housed in a beautiful building on Museum Hill.
• Museum of Spanish Colonial Art: Dedicated to the art and culture of the Spanish Colonial period in New Mexico. 
• IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts: Focuses on contemporary Native American art, showcasing the work of artists from the Institute of American Indian Arts. 
• SITE Santa Fe: An independent contemporary art museum that features rotating exhibitions and public programs. 

Focusing on History:

• Palace of the Governors: Part of the New Mexico History Museum, the Palace of the Governors is a historic building that served as the seat of government for the region for centuries. 
• New Mexico History Museum: Explores the rich and layered history of Santa Fe and New Mexico, from its Indigenous roots to the present day. 

Attractions

The whole city is an attraction!  Here are a couple of highlights:

• Jackalope – Established 1976, located at 2820 Cerrillos Road (old 66). A sprawling mercado featuring imports and local artists.
• Meow Wolf – The House of Eternal Return – Established in 2008, located at 1352 Rufina Circle (not on 66). “Meow Wolf embodies an enthralling artistic venture that skillfully fuses boundless creativity and captivating sensory engagement, transcending various mediums in a truly immersive experience.”  Or, in other words, Far Out, Man. Tripping into the multiverse.
• Canyon Road – Canyon Road’s unique charm and diversity is its claim to fame. A half-mile of more than a hundred galleries, artist studios, jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, home furnishing shops, and restaurants await.