Santa Fe New Mexico Travel Guide: Best Eats, Art and CultureSanta Fe surprised us more than once. The food alone could anchor a trip, but then there's the art, the architecture, the markets, and the museums, each pulling you in a different direction. We leaned into all of it and still left with a list for next time.Authorslilybchapman
DestinationsNew MexicoItinerary

Stay

El Rey Court
Adored this spot. The highlight of our trip was having somewhere so fun to return to! Originally built in 1936 as a roadside motor court on old Route 66, El Rey Court has been reimagined into a laid-back boutique hotel with a bar, food trucks, live music, and a pool to come back to each evening.
See More
Book

Day 1

Loretto Chapel Museum
The Loretto Chapel's famous staircase makes two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20 feet tall, has no center support, and was built without nails or glue — and nobody has ever been able to fully explain how it was done. Iconic stop of course.
See More
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Built between 1869 and 1887 in the French Romanesque Revival style, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi rises above Santa Fe's adobe skyline in a way that stops you in your tracks. The park out front is a lovely bonus, a great spot to sit and take it all in.
See More
French Pastry Shop & Restaurant
A Santa Fe institution since 1974, the French Pastry Shop sits inside La Fonda on the Plaza and has been turning out fresh croissants, crepes, eclairs, and napoleons ever since. Get there early for the best selection.
See More
Kakawa Chocolate House
Kakawa Chocolate House specializes in historic drinking chocolate elixirs drawing from recipes spanning Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica through Colonial America. Get the tasting flight to try them all!
See More
The Dragon Room
A local favorite for generations, the Dragon Room is the bar attached to the Pink Adobe restaurant on Old Santa Fe Trail, with a kiva fireplace, eclectic art on the walls, and live music when you're lucky enough to time it right. The perfect pre-dinner stop.
See More
Santa Fe Railyard
A great sunset spot. Set on a former 50-acre rail switching ground half a mile from the historic Plaza, the Santa Fe Railyard has become a hub for contemporary art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques with a farmers market, live music, and the Sky Railway departing right from here on weekends.
See More
Tomasita's Santa Fe - New Mexican Restaurant
THE SOPAPILLAS!! A Santa Fe institution since 1974, Tomasita's has been consistently voted the best New Mexican restaurant in the city, with red and green chile that people swear by and sopapillas that arrive pillowy, warm, and drizzled with honey.
See More

Day 2

Dolina Bakery & Cafe
A Santa Fe brunch spot with Eastern European influences, Dolina's pastry case is the real draw. The lemon cream tart alone is worth the trip. Best in the world, honestly.
See More
Iconik Coffee Roasters, Lena
Cutest spot and the merch is super cute too. The original Iconik location, Lena Street is nestled in a small neighborhood near mid-town Santa Fe and roasts all its own beans in-house. Pick up a bag to take home alongside whatever you pluck from the merch shelf.
See More
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum holds the single largest collection of her work in the world, spanning every era of her career from early student pieces through the iconic New Mexico paintings that defined her legacy. Small, intimate, and completely absorbing
See More
Double Take
New Mexico's largest consignment store, Double Take has been running since 1987 out of the original Coca-Cola plant in the Guadalupe Railyard District, with two floors of vintage clothing, western wear, Native American jewelry, furniture, art, and collectibles. Give yourself time in here.
See More
Thunderbird Bar & Grill
We loved the view from the terrace! Thunderbird Bar & Grill is the only restaurant in Santa Fe with a covered deck overlooking the Plaza year-round, with views stretching to the Palace of the Governors and the Cathedral Basilica.
See More
Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort
One of our favorite stops — incredibly peaceful and scenic. Set on 77 acres in the La Cienega Valley, Ojo Santa Fe's spring-fed thermal pools sit surrounded by trees and open sky, with communal soaking areas, private tubs, miles of trails, and a full spa all woven into the landscape.
See More
Book
The Bell Tower Bar
Perched on the fifth floor of La Fonda on the Plaza, the Bell Tower Bar offers panoramic views of Santa Fe and the surrounding mountains, open seasonally from May through late October. Close to everything iconic and one of the best sunset spots in the city.
See More
La Plazuela At La Fonda
La Plazuela's sunlit indoor courtyard with its central fountain and 460 hand-painted windows creates one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Santa Fe. Beautiful setting for dinner and the Caesar salad is delicious.
See More
Book
Secreto Lounge
Right inside the lobby of a seriously cool hotel. Tucked into the historic Hotel St. Francis just steps from the Plaza, Secreto Lounge is Santa Fe's most awarded cocktail bar, known for its garden-to-glass drinks made with fresh local herbs and house-made syrups. Order the smoked sage margarita.
See More

Day 3

Pantry Rio
The red and green enchiladas were unbelievable. Sister restaurant to the original Pantry, which has been a Santa Fe institution since 1948, Pantry Rio brings that same classic New Mexican comfort food to a downtown location with a spacious patio and a menu full of the kind of dishes Santa Fe does better than anywhere.
See More
Santa Fe Botanical Garden
Sitting on Museum Hill, the Santa Fe Botanical Garden weaves native plants, fruit trees, and sculpture together along meandering paths. Try and catch the spring blooms!
See More
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
Walking into the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is to walk into the diverse worlds and distinctive communities of the Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache cultures of the Southwest, past and present. One of the most thoughtfully assembled museums in the region and not to be missed on Museum Hill.
See More
Museum of International Folk Art
This place is crazy, we had no idea what to expect and we were blown away. Home to the world's largest collection of international folk art with over 130,000 objects from more than 100 countries.
See More
La Choza Restaurant
A sister restaurant to The Shed and a Santa Fe staple since 1983, La Choza is set in a historic adobe building with award-winning red and green chile, a summer patio, and margaritas to match. Worth every minute of the wait.
See More