Santa Fe Visitor Guide: Where to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay

Santa Fe has it all – arts, culture, history, outdoor recreation. And, of course, green chiles. Many visitors come for the green chiles alone, which can be on pizzas, in mac and cheese and added to stews, sauces and spreads. When you’re ready for margs, historic architecture, fine art galleries, trendy boutiques and a celebration of Native American heritage, Santa Fe is ready for you. Here are our top picks on where to eat, stay and visit while in Santa Fe.

For outdoor lovers, there are some fantastic hiking trails in Santa Fe, particularly in Diablo Canyon Recreation Area, which is one of the more popular area hiking destinations. Diablo Canyon’s stunning natural beauty is a major draw. Look for towering rock formations, unique geological formations and breathtaking views across the high desert landscape. There are hiking trails for all levels, too. A favorite six-mile hike guides visitors along the canyon floor with soaring sandstone walls on either side. Diablo Canyon is also known for rock climbing, birding and mountain biking.

If you feel like immersive art installations are all around you, you’re right: Santa Fe has plenty of them. Meow Wolf is a mind-bending, fantastical art experience that borders on psychedelic. It got its start in 2008 by a collective of Santa Fe artists, and has since popped up in Denver and Las Vegas. Meow Wolf Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Return allows visitors to explore more than 70 colorful, chaotic and curious rooms featuring neon forests, wormholes, treehouses and spaceships. After your visit, it’s a short six-minute walk to the renowned Kakawa Chocolate House. Yum-o.

The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe is a top stay in Santa Fe. For one, it allows you to feel worlds away, tucked into the high desert landscape, yet you’re not more than a 15-minute drive from Santa Fe Plaza. Luxurious casitas feature wood-burning fireplaces and private patios for desert sunrises and sunsets, allowing for true relaxation in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Amenities include an outdoor pool, spa treatments, elevated dining and an on-site adventure center, which offers guided hikes and private mountain biking tours. In winter, a ski butler program allows for a frictionless ski experience at nearby Ski Santa Fe.

The New Mexico State Capitol is steeped in history and has served as the seat of the state’s government for more than a century. Known as the Roundhouse, the state capitol is the only round capitol building in the United States. It was built to resemble the state’s Zia sun symbol, which is said to represent the circle of life. The Roundhouse is home to the Capitol Art Collection, which has on display the works of more than 600 artists, many of whom are from New Mexico. Visitors can take self-guided tours Monday through Friday, and also wander the lush 6.5-acre gardens.

Whether you like your margs on the rocks or frozen, Santa Fe is the place to be, thanks to the Santa Fe Margarita Trail. Savor some of the best margaritas that Santa Fe has to offer, like the Mana Margarita at Bell Tower Bar. Settle in with a marg as you relish a spectacular sunset from this fifth-floor rooftop bar in historic Santa Fe Plaza. Purchase a paper passport at the visitor center or get the mobile app to track your stops on the Santa Fe Margarita Trail. As a bonus, the passport entitles passport-holders to discounts on signature margaritas at each location.

The Santa Fe Indian Market is an annual event that takes place each August at historic Santa Fe Plaza. It is among the largest and most prestigious Native American art markets in the world, showcasing the works of at least 800 artists from more than 200 different tribes. Art works include jewelry, pottery, wooden carvings, textiles, beadwork and handmade baskets. The market also features live music, dance performances, storytelling and demonstrations that celebrate Native American traditions and culture. Food trucks sell traditional Native American foods and snacks, like Indian Fry Bread and Pueblo Stew.

Santa Fe’s Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is dedicated to the life, work and legacy of world-renowned American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe. The museum features a thoughtful collection of O’Keeffe’s work, including paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs. The museum is home to some of O’Keeffe’s most famous works, including Blue Line and Ram’s Head, Blue Morning Glory. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has a permanent collection, as well as several rotating exhibitions that explore her life and phases in her development as an artist. Check the events calendar for online and in-person art classes that range from block printing to watercolor landscapes.

Historic Santa Fe Plaza is widely-considered a must-visit for a variety of reasons, including its architectural and cultural significance, as well as its boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Santa Fe Plaza dates back more than 400 years, and was established as a central gathering place for Spanish colonials. It’s chock full of historic landmarks too, including the Palace of the Governors, the Loretto Chapel, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Stop in Shiprock Santa Fe, a gallery featuring Native American jewelry, rugs, pottery and sculptures. Grab a bite at Zacatlán, a flavorful restaurant that brings together Southwestern and Mexican culinary influences.

Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection, dates back to the 1800s when it was a working ranch, and later, a popular destination for travelers in search of tranquility and natural beauty. Today, the five-star Bishop’s Lodge is an ultra-luxurious resort with a range of amenities for resort guests, including signature spa treatments and transformative wellness classes, like intuitive healing and energy medicine. Bishop’s Lodge can also arrange outdoor adventures, including fly fishing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking and guided hiking. Rooms feature Santa Fe artwork, textiles and artifacts, as well as views for miles across the sprawling Tesuque Valley.

Santa Fe Brewing Co. is one of the largest craft breweries in New Mexico. This brewery is known equally for its award-winning flagship beer, Santa Fe Pale Ale, and for its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Santa Fe Brewing Co. has two taprooms that were constructed from salvaged shipping containers. The brewery is dedicated to reducing their ecological footprint through initiatives such as solar power and re-use of wastewater, which is used for irrigation. Santa Fe Brewing Co. frequently hosts live bands and music festivals, such as the Spring Runoff, which has food, beer and raffles.

There’s just something about the retro vibes of midcentury modern style, like those you’ll find at El Rey Court in Santa Fe. Located along the original Route 66, this iconic roadside motor lodge dates to 1936. Today, the 86 rooms at this adobe-style motel deliver a distinctly Southwest feel that’s both contemporary and modern. The property sits on five acres, which includes gardens, an on-site food truck, a cocktail bar and an inviting outdoor pool area called the Swim Club. El Rey Court frequently hosts live music for guests and Santa Fe locals.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi was built in the late 19th century. It is one of the oldest and most historic churches in the United States. Also known as Saint Francis Cathedral, the Romanesque Revival style cathedral has round arches, vaulted ceilings, large stone columns, stained glass windows and square towers. The cathedral is a stone’s throw from historic Santa Fe Plaza and is one of Santa Fe’s most celebrated landmarks. Adjacent to the cathedral is a small adobe chapel, all that remains of a former church that sat on the same site, which was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680.

The Anasazi Restaurant is one of Santa Fe’s most well-known restaurants and bars, noted for its silver coin margaritas and its sizeable wine collection (more than 600 bottles). Located in the historic Inn of the Anasazi, an adobe building that dates to the 1600s, this upscale Southwestern style restaurant boasts dishes inspired by locally-sourced ingredients, such as green chile chicken enchiladas and bison ribeye. The restaurant offers tequila tastings, as well as private dining in its exclusive wine cellar. After a delicious meal or refreshing margarita, walk across the street to explore the New Mexico History Museum.

The Santa Fe Farmers' Market is a year-round open-air market that takes place at the Santa Fe Railyard on Saturdays and Tuesdays (May to December). It’s the go-to market for meats, cheeses, honey, cut flowers, produce, and of course, green chiles. More than 150 farmers and producers sell their fresh, locally-grown products at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market, making this farmers' market one of the largest in the country. It’s also one of the oldest, dating back to 1968 when a group of local farmers began selling produce from the back of their pickup trucks.

The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture is a part of the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution and is devoted to celebrating the culture of Native Americans in the American Southwest. The museum’s extensive collection includes more than 70,000 objects and artifacts, such as pottery, textiles, baskets and sculptures. “Sunday, Funday” events take place the first Sunday of the month, featuring speakers, storytelling and classes, like sandal making. Set in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the museum shares its location with several other museums, including the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art and the Museum of International Folk Art.

Canyon Road is a vibrant and historic street in Santa Fe that is lined with art galleries, boutiques, jewelry shops, cafés and restaurants. This stroll-able half-mile walk allows visitors to appreciate fine art works at more than 50 galleries from artists across the United States. Favorite galleries include the Gerald Peters Gallery and the Morning Star Gallery, which features Native American art works, including pottery and quillwork. On Friday nights, the Canyon Road Art Stroll allows visitors to pop in and out of galleries, as well as meet local artists. Canyon Road also hosts popular events such as the Spring Art Festival in May.

Ski Santa Fe is just 16 miles from Santa Fe and it’s the place to go for winter fun thanks to 86 ski runs, including more than 15 green runs for new and beginner-level skiers. Seven lifts enable winter sports enthusiasts to criss-cross the ski mountain with ease. At Ski Santa Fe, look for terrain parks, a slow skiing area, lessons and an adaptive ski program for adults and children with disabilities. There are several on-site restaurants, including La Casa Café and Totemoff’s Bar & Grill, as well as a sports shop for all your ski gear and outerwear needs.

The Santa Fe Railyard (aka the Railyard) is the in-town gathering place for locals and visitors. There’s so much here too, including a farmers' market, a 13-acre public park with walking trails and picnic areas, an amphitheater for outdoor concerts, art galleries, boutiques and all kinds of dining options. The Railyard is also home to Sky Railway, which opened in late-2021 and offers scenic train rides on an 18-mile stretch of historic rail between Santa Fe and Lamy. Before you visit the Railyard, get your cowboy on at Kowboyz. This western wear shop is just two blocks away and sells boots, hats, belts and buckles.

Completed in 1878, the Loretto Chapel is one of Santa Fe’s most famous landmarks, if only for its curious spiral staircase. Some say the staircase is mysterious since no one has been able to identify who built the staircase, the type of wood the builder used and the complex physics around its construction. According to legend, the Sisters of the Chapel prayed to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, for a way to access an upper-level choir loft. A carpenter appeared, a spiral staircase was built and the builder left without a trace. The staircase’s design boggles experts even today.