Santa Fe has a surprisingly large number of luxurious hotels to choose from given its relatively small size. There are options in close walking proximity of the main square to those outside of the city that feel more remote. After visiting Santa Fe for the first time, I found myself easily justifying a return visit trying a different hotel with each stay. If you are looking for a more personalized experience, the hotels below are all 100 guest rooms or less. Let this be your guide to choosing amongst some of the boutique hotels Santa Fe has to offer its visitors.
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Where to Stay
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi
The Rosewood properties have always been an appealing choice presenting a luxury option with great service. It is no surprise that this property was awarded one MICHELIN key. This hotel has a total of 58 guest rooms. Rooms feature wood beam ceilings and tasteful decor of southwestern design. The property is conveniently located within walking distance of the main square leaving you to explore countless shops and restaurants on foot. I loved their patio just adjacent to the main entrance where you can relax and enjoy a cocktail. When checking in, they provide you with a token for a complimentary silver coin margarita and the patio is the perfect place to people watch and sip on your drink.
After having a child, I have a newly found appreciation for Rosewood’s special attention to younger guests. They always provide attention to detail for children that goes beyond placing a crib in the room. At this location, they provide a lovely stuffed animal for the younger guests. Some other nice touches include nightly turndown service with a couple of cookies as treats, bottled water, and a 24 hr fitness facility. There are robes and slippers in the rooms along with complimentary snacks. Each room has a fully stocked bar cart. I loved the electric fireplace in our room that provided a nice ambiance in the evenings. The property also gives you access to bicycles you can utilize to ride around town.
You can explore booking your stay by clicking here.
The Inn of The Five Graces
This Relais & Chateaux property is also in a good location leaving you within a 7-8 minute walk of the main plaza. This 28 guest room hotel provides a luxury 5 star experience and has been previously named the number one best hotel in Santa Fe by Travel + Leisure. The rooms here have an intricate attention to detail with ornate decor and colorful patterns. All rooms are furnished with a wood burning fireplace and some with private balconies.5
Some of the amenities with the room include complimentary daily breakfast, complimentary mini bar with non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, access to the fitness center, valet parking, and twice daily housekeeping. Relais & Chateaux properties are chosen based upon a very strict set of admission criteria. After staying at countless properties throughout the world, I can attest to the high standards utilized to place their stamp of approval. I have very rarely been disappointed with their product. Their dining options are always high quality. This property includes The Pink Adobe and The Dragon Room along with a speakeasy, Bar Analco.
This property does accept children. Very select room types accommodate children under the age of 5. Otherwise, children 5-21 pay the extra person charge of $75 per night. Click here to check availability at this property.
Bishop’s Lodge, An Auberge Property
Bishop’s Lodge officially re-opened in 2021 after undergoing a $75 million renovation. I had my eye on this property for quite some time after seeing it listed on the Auberge website and knowing my interest in Santa Fe. It is located about a 10 minute drive from the main plaza. If you have a rental car, it is still conveniently close to the major sights and attractions such as the historic Loretto Chapel.
Bishop’s Lodge is more of a destination hotel than some of the other properties listed. The hotel is set on 317 acres, so the ambiance is much different. Even though this is one of the larger properties listed at 100 rooms, it feels like a peaceful retreat. The rooms are spread out and set along a hill leaving them very spacious. Our room had a seating area and fire pit outside along with a fireplace inside as well. There were complimentary snacks in the room along with a well appointed bar cart. The design of the rooms is beautiful with wood ceilings and modernized southwestern decor.
On property, there are a number of activities to keep you occupied. They have a gym, pool, art gallery, restaurant, fly fishing, hiking trails, and more. You can choose to participate from one of their many activities on the calendar such as yoga, meditation, archery, or silversmithing. If any of this peaks your interest, you can book your stay by clicking here.
Hotel St. Francis
This 79 room property located on Don Gasper Avenue will leave you conveniently located steps away from the heart of Santa Fe. It is also one of the more inexpensive options listed. If you want to enjoy more of what the city has to offer, this might be the best option. Keep in mind that the rooms here are smaller and less spacious than the other options listed. The color palette of the rooms is muted with creams and grays. There are distressed light wood accent pieces.
One enticing quality of Hotel St. Francis is the Gruet tasting room located on the first floor. You can enter through the hotel lobby and enjoy flights or a bottle of Gruet with small bites. There is a small selection of seating indoors and also on their outdoor patio. If you aren’t familiar with Gruet, this is sparkling wine that is made in New Mexico. Their product is very enjoyable, particularly at the price point. I always love going to their tasting room to try bottles and flights of some of their varietals that aren’t as readily available outside of the state.
This property didn’t dazzle me quite as much as the others listed, but it still has redeeming qualities. Make your decision based upon what you would like out of your trip whether it is to focus on the city itself or spend time relaxing in your surroundings. You can book your stay at Hotel St. Francis by clicking here.
Ten Thousand Waves
Ten Thousand Waves is a spa that also provides a select number of lodging options. You will feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere even though downtown Santa Fe is a mere 10 minutes away. There are different categories of rooms including Zen, Townsman, Samurai, and Emperor. Each room is unique with a different design. There are amenities that are offered only to hotel guests. Some of the benefits include complimentary outdoor bathing in the grand bath with expanded hours to guests staying on property, priority booking to spa suites and treatments, and also a discount on private tubs.
There is a 2 night minimum stay at Ten Thousand Waves. Although it is a spa, it is not exclusive to adult guests. They do allow children of all ages to stay on property. On site, you will also find their restaurant Izanami. They serve upscale Japanese bar food. I enjoyed my meal here, and there are wonderful views from the outdoor patio.
I felt their spa services were a great value for the price. Look into their spa packages for a better deal. Finally, if you decide to stay elsewhere, you can always visit the Ten Thousand Waves Spa to still take advantage of this property. This is a great way to experience the best of both worlds.
Search your options via the Ten Thousand Waves website.
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado
This 65 room property is secluded outside of the main center of Santa Fe located on 57 acres of land. It is the furthest outside of the city attractions but still only around 15 minutes away. The Four Seasons can be a romantic getaway or a family friendly destination. There are many additional offerings for guests bringing their children to make the stay easier. Much like Bishop’s Lodge, there is a more robust offering of things to do on property and excursions.
There are both suites and individual casitas all with very muted decor still maintaining a southwestern design. Rooms have wood burning fireplaces and all with a private seating area outside. You can find yourself enjoying local excursions or relaxing with a wellness experience. The Four Seasons is located 10 minutes away from the Opera. They provide complimentary transportation to the Opera and other upgraded packages for interested guests. Regardless of your needs, the concierge team can set you up with everything from horseback riding to hiking.
Click here to explore booking your stay at the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado.
Final Thoughts
In order to make the right decision about where you would like to stay in Santa Fe, think about what you would like to experience while visiting. Staying at one of the properties within walking distance of the main plaza leaves you easily enjoying everything the city has to offer. If you want a more relaxing getaway, you may want to stay at one of the properties set away from the city center such as Ten Thousand Waves, Bishop’s Lodge, or the Four Seasons. Whether or not you have a rental car is also important in the decision making process. If you are staying outside the main plaza, having a car allows you to still explore the city. Deciding where to stay in historic Santa Fe can be a tough decision. Allow this guide to help you choose the best hotel Santa Fe can offer for your stay.
