12 Best Things to Do in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, the rugged, high-desert New Mexico town at 7,199 feet above sea level is nestled in the foothills of the ink-blue Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You’ll first notice the sunny skies against the striking, sandy-brown pueblo architecture—but there's so much more to discover here. Renowned for its Native American, Spanish, and Mexican traditions and art, this is the oldest capital city in the United States, and also a bonafide culture epicenter. And yes, there are the museums, galleries and music venues aplenty—not to mention unique healing arts, vast outdoor wonders, and (of course) a heaping of that earthy, spicy, Southwestern cuisine around every corner. Below, a sampling of the best classics and newcomers in the City Different that make up the best things to do in Santa Fe.
Read our travel guide on the best things to do in Albuquerque here.
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Gabriella MarkshotelHotel Santa Fe, Hacienda & Spa
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Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021This sturdy Pueblo Revival-style property offers an unbeatable location just steps from the buzzy Railyard District, known for its robust art scene, breweries, coffee, farmers market and Southwestern-flared eateries. It’s also a short ten minute walk to Santa Fe’s famed Plaza and Canyon Road areas. Spring for the Hacienda side of the hotel where all-suite rooms come with gaslit fireplaces, hand-carved beds and balconies. Designed with earth tones and Southwestern neutrals, the walls highlight contemporary Native American artworks by Apache, Navajo and Hopi tribes. Noteworthy are a hand-burnished black on black Avanyu (serpent) pot by the Santa Clara potter Glenda Naranjo, a Hopi Maiden Kachina and a handsome Navajo Yei Rug from the Shiprock Area (circa 1950).
Courtesy Sante Fe Farmers MarketactivitySante Fe Farmers Market
If you're standing in the Railyard District on a Saturday morning, hopefully your feet are planted at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market; a lively, year-round spot where stands of leafy greens, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes and Northern New Mexican chiles (of all shapes, colors and sizes) dazzle local shoppers. Inside a modern interior, you’ll find everything else you could imagine: grass-fed meats, honey, jams, flowers and cheese – some of which is sustainable and organic. There are also baked good vendors with tasty green-chile bread and sausage breakfast burritos. An outpost of the uber-popular Clafoutis is a must for French breads, pastries and sweets. Meanwhile, a small designated cafe serves Whoo's Donuts (try the blue corn lavendar) paired with local organic Aroma Coffee. On Sundays you'll find an artisan market alongside local musicians and entertainment for young ones.
Danny Hancock/GettyactivityRandall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary
From the gentle loop of the Dorothy Stewart Trail to the more strenuous 6.2-mile climb up Atalaya Mountain, Santa Fe offers a wealth of hiking options. For an easygoing nature stroll, Randall Davey Audbon Center (home to the National Audubon Society’s education center) is set on 135 acres at the end of Upper Canyon Road. A relaxed morning option, you’ll find free guided bird walks (with 190 species such as hummingbirds, scrub-jays and mountain chickadees) alongside garden tours (hello, cholla cacti) and a short Haiku Trail walk where Christy Hengst’s ceramic-etched poems hang from tree branches. At the heart of the property is a peach-colored homesteader, the spot where Davey, an American painter and who as part of the Santa Fe Art Colony, lived from the 1920s up until his death in 1964. Inside his old house, you’ll find antique furnishings, mural paintings and memorabilia including his beloved cello and a hidden, prohibition-era bar on display.
4Kinshipshop4Kinship
A welcome addition to Canyon Road’s 80-plus galleries is Amy Denet Deal’s Navajo-owned (Diné) boutique, which opened in 2022. Inside the beamed-ceiling space, Denet, who once worked in fashion, stocks New Mexican indigenous pieces, colorful up-cycled fashion, vintage denim, Kiyani’s eco-friendly soaps and washable blankets courtesy of Thunder Voice Hat Company. There are also handsomely modern silver-turquoise jewelry pieces by Kewa maker Thomas Coriz. A few doors down, you’ll discover Cielo Handcrafted, a four-year old shop and arts collective stocked with local New Mexico and Latin America wares; colorful pillows handmade from frasadas (blankets) from Cusco families, espresso mugs by Jessi Penrod, and cheeky planters by Cara de Planta.
Douglas Merriam/Los PoblanosshopLos Poblanos Farm Shop Norte
Last year, the family-owned certified organic Grosso lavender farm, Los Poblanos in Albuquerque, which hosts a 45-room Inn alongside its tasty Campo restaurant, opened a Santa Fe outpost in a rehabbed, 1930s Sinclair Gas station. The airy space, dressed with reclaimed wood tiling (milled from the farm’s defunct pine trees) stocks the brand’s lavender-based lotions, shampoos, scrubs, soaps and salves—alongside a trio of signature scents (if you want to smell New Mexico, pick up the piñon grove fragrance.) Also available are offee beans, organic chocolate and the brand’s line of granola, alongside handsome Oaxacan-made pottery. Off to the side through a small doorway, a dimly-lit, 30s-esque speakeasy bar decked with floral tiles, vintage wallpaper and gin-forward cocktails, a recent booze foray by the farm, paired with small nibbles.
Courtesy Relais & ChateauxhotelThe Inn of the Five Graces
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023The historic Barrio de Analco, founded in 1610, is one of Santa Fe’s oldest neighborhoods. It’s also home to the town’s most unique lodging: the Inn of the Five Graces, a cozy, highly-visual 24-room Relais & Chateau property set in a string of old adobe and stone buildings. Its owners, Sylivia and Ira Seret, who opened the inn in 1996 (and also operate a nearby design emporium) are responsible for the decidedly maximalist Southwestern and Central Asian decor: plush crimson armchairs, Afghan rugs, embroidered Uzbekian headboards and kiva fireplaces. Huge bathrooms house soaking tubs and folklore-themed, mosaic-tiled walk-in showers; while turndown service includes fresh homemade chips and salsa and rotating chocolates. A tasty breakfast (ask for your huevos rancheros “Chritmas Style”) is served in a tranquil courtyard with a babbling fountain. Come dinner, the reopened, oak–beamed Pink Adobe (est. 1944) serves “New Mexican Cajun” fare: clams Lucifer in red-chile tequila broth and fire-roasted chile rellenos. Also resurrected is the Dragon Room Bar—once hosting the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe—gussied up with a shiny green Chihuly chandelier and margarita menu. A new 5-room spa, sure to top several “best of” lists, is dotted with Buddha statues and giant crystals, a serene spot for Himalayan salt stone massages and luxe Augustinus Bader facials.
Meredith Brockington/Living ThreadsactivityLena Street
A smaller, hipper alternative to Canyon Road is Lena Street, an urban loft and retail development that’s been making waves thanks to a newish foursome of creatives: Living Threads, a handsome shop from Teresa Robinson and Eric Mindling, offers photography, Oaxacan pottery, indigo kaftans and hand-carved Palo Santo vessels by Wichi artisans. A few doors down, Whiskey + Clay, ceramicist Kimmy Rorhs workspace-cum-shop showcases a collection of stoneware and porcelain (you can also nab her work inside Georgia O’Keeffe Museum gift shop). Also nearby is the buzzy, pint-sized Japanese eatery Ozu from LA transplants Jeff Ozawa and Jaimie Lewis. A minimalist bento box stars a generous buttery slice of king salmon atop fluffy rice; while the uber-fresh blue crab sunomono temaki hand roll recalls how seafood is supposed to taste. The Bread Shop, is beloved for—yes, its bread (the seedy rye and focaccia pizza are both aces) and toothy sweets a la the tahini chocolate chip cookie topped with sesame sprinkles. Each month, the area’s “first Saturdays” remain an ideal time to taste, touch and shop the goods.
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David Woodfin/The LensicactivityLensic Performing Arts Center
The highly-acclaimed Santa Fe Opera is often headlined in the summer months. These days though, downtown’s all-seasons Lensic Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit founded in 1931 and designed by Boller Brothers of Kansas City, is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. Located in a grand Pueblo Deco style structure on West San Francisco Street, the 821-seat space, with Moorish and Spanish Renaissance influences, has hosted countless entertainment legends like Judy Garland, Claudette Clobert and the Trapp Family Singers. Having undergone an extensive renovation in the early aughts, the venue now extends to over 200 offerings (music, theater, comedy, dance) each year. This fall into winter season, a smashingly diverse lineup will include the likes of Beth Orton and her band; Mariachi Herencia de México who joins Grammy-winning La Santa Cecilia vocalist La Marisoul, and Cuban American Arturo Sandova.
Ivana Star/GettyactivityPalace of the Governors
Founded in 1909, this single-story adobe is situated on the north side of the Plaza and is known as the oldest public building in the United States. Displayed on blankets under a portal, you’ll find pottery and jewelry from 23 federally recognized Native American tribes and nations in New Mexico (a rotating lottery ensures different artisans visit daily). While the neighboring museum-like shops, including the beloved Shiprock Gallery, hawk high-valued, high-curated art pieces alongside cherished Navajo rugs, the portal’s local creatives and native artists, 1,500 in total, are immensely talented in their own right. You’ll find a highly-giftable spread of silver earrings, turquoise bracelets, belts and small pottery pieces. It’s also a great way to interact with the stories and customs behind the wares. For instance, a recent stroll showcased a Zuni craftperson’s gemstone bracelets alongside a Navajo maker's silver necklaces.
Courtesy La ChozarestaurantLa Choza
$$La Choza (Spanish for “the shed”), an unfussy eatery which happens to be the longtime sibling of its famed Plaza restaurant – also called The Shed – has maintained its Railyard District locale since 1983. And for good reason. A down-home haunt known for its mostly locals vibe, a sprawl of authentic New Mexican grub makes use of its owners – the Cardwell’s – family recipes: an earthy dark red chili and a vibrantly smooth green chili. A series of cozy, darkly-colored dining rooms – always lively and always crowded – are dotted with local art and vigas lined across the ceiling. A coveted stool at the 12-seat bar is best for interacting with town folk, in between sips of Silver Coin margaritas. On a recent night, the bartender suggested combining the menu’s mushroom soup with the green chile stew. The result? A comforting spoonful of roasted chilies, potatoes, pork, and crimini mushrooms – and producing a just-spicy enough, sinus-clearing jolt (sop any remnants with toasted garlic bread). Other notables include pork carne adovada burritos, cheese enchiladas, pork tamales and a chile relleno plate fried to a perfect golden brown.
New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem ContemporaryactivityNew Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary
In the heart of the Railyard District, the new Vladem Contemporary Art Museum, is a key addition to what’s quickly being hailed as Santa Fe’s premiere arts district. Already home to the edgy SITE Santa FE, there are several local galleries and two film venues (one of which belongs to Game of Thrones scribe George R.R. Martin). Set in a renovated, steel industrial warehouse from the 1930s, the museum’s inaugural Shadow + Light exhibition (through April 28, 2024) looks at New Mexico’s famed light and features works by Florence Miller Pierce and Emil Bistrram; both original members of the 1938-founded Transcendental Painting Group. Also: New Mexican resident Judy Chicago will display two drawings and an augmented reality (AR) project. Outside, a breezeway houses Albuquerque-born Leo Villareal’s "Astral Array,” a permanent LED light (running 24/7) installation generating patterns that recall cloud formations and other far-out celestial wonders. A nod to Villareal’s work, the gift shop sells a small collection of table lamps, alongside unique glass, pottery and coffee table tomes.
BODY of Santa FeactivityBody of Santa Fe
Long a town for spiritual seekers and the healing arts, you’ll find several fine hotel spas around town (i.e., The Four Seasons, Ten Thousand Waves). But, locals and in-the-know visitors flock to Body of Santa Fe – a 20-year-old, earth-toned, multi-purpose space founded by Lori Parrish and dedicated to unique (and reasonably-priced) treatments. Enlist in reiki, acupuncture, Hawaiian lomi lomi, soul sessions and a new marconics “no touch session” leaning on multi-dimensional energy to aid what no longer serves. Meanwhile, a naturally-lit yoga studio with soaring ceilings hosts several forms of the ancient practice. That’s not all: there’s sustainable clothing by Karu, chic Hanselmann Pottery (handmade in Corrales, N.M.) and sustainable Southwestern sandals by the actress Ali McGraw, who lives in the region. An apothecary is stocked with Kate’s Magik anointing oils and DNA Skin Institute products. This fall, a forthcoming counter eatery will offer an array of plant-based smoothies, organic juices, wraps and bowls. There will also be a bespoke tea service for post-spa sipping and relaxing.
Tesuque Village MarketrestaurantTesuque Village Market
$$Well, okay, it’s not a bar per se, but let us explain. About ten minutes from downtown, this funky Pueblo-style roadhouse sits at the intersection of Tesuque Village and Bishop Lodge roads. A golden oldie since 1989—you can’t miss the giant red-hued Native American mural by the artist ELMAC stationed outside. Inside, a diverse crowd of families, tourists and locals gather post various rugged outdoor adventures. Doubling as a bar and general store, the unpretentious space doles out simple meals: fish tacos and hearty green chili posole. And just after 4 p.m, you can order tasty wood-fired pizzas with sweeping views onto the distant Jemez Mountains. A wooden bar is dedicated to beers, tequila and mezcal drinks—and using organic fruit purees. Try the Mexican Old Fashioned with reposado mezcal, orange bitters and agave or order a Cantarito with tequila, agave, muddled grapefruit and lime (and topped off with Topo Chico). Or stay simple with a “Ranch Water” a smooth blend of blanco tequila, Topo Chico and fresh lime juice.
Courtesy Cafe PasqualsrestaurantCafe Pasqual’s
$$For forty-four years, Katherine Kagel, the founder and chef of Cafe Pasqual's (aka: the Alice Waters of Santa Fe) has been serving early risers breakfast at her coveted corner cafe. With its sturdy wooden tables and kaleidoscopic ceiling cutouts, you’ll sip some of the best organic coffee around – a warm dark roast Central American blend poured in the cafe’s namesake mugs. After proper caffeination (and whole wheat pancakes), head upstairs to the eatery’s hidden-from-the-street gallery and beeline to the earthy, durable Mica cookware collection. Handcrafted from indigenous micaceous clay that’s been used by Native American potters for centuries, the vessels make a special gift for anyone who enjoys cooking on an open flame. A handful of Mica artists, Felipe Ortega (hailed as the grandfather of the form) alongside Andrea Byers and Clarence Cruz, each bring their own style to the aesthetic. Or maybe you’ll buy a coffee mug, pairing it with a bag of beans from its beloved venue below.
