A Local’s Guide to Santa Fe, New Mexico
After weeks on the road with Colorado behind us and Florida still far ahead—we had to decide: take a detour to the Painted Desert in Arizona, or keep heading south? My husband voted for Santa Fe, and honestly, thank goodness he did.
We didn’t have a plan. No reservations, no itinerary. I just searched online for something local, charming, and walkable—and that’s how we found the Hotel Chimayó, and ended up having one of the best stops of our entire trip.
🏨 Where We Stayed: Hotel Chimayó
Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe is a historic boutique property just steps from the Santa Fe Plaza. Owned by the Heritage Hotel Group and run by Chef Estevan and his wife—prominent locals—this place has soul.
Spacious suites with wood-burning fireplaces
Handcrafted wood furniture and Southwestern textiles
Amber lighting that makes everything feel warm and glowing
Garlands of dried red chilis hang from beams outside each room
Two on-site restaurants: Low 'n Slow Pizza and El Rincon Southwestern Cuisine
We stayed in a large ground-floor suite (thank you, no stairs!) with a plush bed, cozy sectional, and a fireplace we didn’t use—but admired anyway.
🍸 First Stop: The Bar
While my husband checked in, I posted up at the hotel bar with Kodi. The bartender poured me a margarita and gave me the local scoop:
“Horno Restaurant down the block just won an award—you’ve gotta go.”
I booked a table for dinner on the spot.
🌇 Dinner at Horno: A Feast of Flavor
We walked Kodi through downtown, letting her do her business while we explored. The streets were lined with T-shirt shops, apothecaries, galleries, and hidden bars. As the sun set, we arrived at Horno.
We sat outside under a turquoise pergola wrapped in fuchsia bougainvillea. Golden light flickered through the flowers like candle flames.
And the food? Absolutely phenomenal:
Spicy tuna tostadas with wasabi oil
Smoked chicken wings with Thai crab caramel and pine nuts
Fried chicken with broccolini and cheddar biscuits
Grilled sea bass with sweet corn marmalade
Dessert? Of course.
The service was warm, the vibe chill, and Kodi was treated like royalty. Our waiter even nudged us to try our hotel’s restaurant the next night.
🛍 Morning in the Plaza
The next day we hit the streets early—mission: explore, shop, and snap photos. The sun was already intense by mid-morning.
The Santa Fe Plaza was alive with energy. Local Native American artists laid out silver and turquoise jewelry, velvet crafts, and handmade wares on blankets along the pavement. It was beautiful, overwhelming in the best way.
We wandered past:
The historic Cathedral Basilica
The St. Francis Hotel
Shady courtyards and adobe buildings
Turquoise Trail signs and hidden museums
I even found the Coyote Café & Rooftop Cantina, where we once ate with the kids in 1998. It's still going strong—with a stunning red blown-glass chili chandelier inside.
🍽️ Lunch Next Door: Inn of the Anasazi
Ready for a break, we returned to the hotel but decided to grab lunch next door at the Inn of the Anasazi.
We were seated on the patio alongside a couple with a stroller—dogs and babies welcome, apparently!
I ordered another margarita and we snacked on:
More spicy tuna tostadas (yes, again)
Coconut crème ceviche
A juicy smash burger
We stopped at a chili-laced T-shirt shop on the way back and picked up souvenirs before crashing for a late-afternoon nap.
🌶 Dinner at El Rincon: Our Last Night in Town
We woke up just in time to sneak into El Rincon, the hotel’s intimate Southwestern restaurant. It was being remodeled, but we were the last seating—just us, a quiet dining room, and Kodi on the bench beside us.
What we ordered:
Chili relleno stuffed with mushroom duxelles
Pork ravioli in chili sauce
Rainbow trout in garlic-lemon-butter
Red Bird paillard—thin and crispy, with wine-butter sauce
Every bite was flavorful, comforting, and deeply regional. We toasted our meal and our time in Santa Fe. It felt like a full-circle moment.
✨ Final Thoughts: Santa Fe Spirit
Chimayó, the hotel’s namesake, is also a sacred pilgrimage site known for its healing dirt. And honestly, after weeks of travel, that’s how Santa Fe felt—healing.
Sure, you could spend days here doing spa treatments, soaking in hot springs, or staying at luxury resorts. But for us, it was about keeping it local—authentic food, art, architecture, and conversations.
We came for a pit stop.
We left feeling grounded.
Next stop: the long road home.