Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Santa Fe, founded in 1607, is the capital of the state of New Mexico and its principal tourist destination, renowned for its confluence of scenic beauty, long history (at least by American standards), cultural diversity, and extraordinary concentration of arts, music and fine dining. With an elevation of ft 7000, it is not only the United States' oldest state capital but its highest, sitting at the foot of the spectacular Sangre de Cristo Mountains. And with a population of about 70,000, it's not the most populous capital, but that's part of its charm. This is not a capital that bustles with politicians but one that bustles with tourists, who flood the narrow streets around the town's plaza in the summer months to take in the beautiful adobe architecture and the unique cultural legacy, and the spectacular art that make Santa Fe one of the world's top travel destinations.

Santa Fe (New Mexico) Halal Travel Guide

Backroads Santa Fe (14184251729) - Loretto Chapel

History

Santa Fe was once the capital of Spain's, and then Mexico's, territories north of the Rio Grande, but its visible history extends far beyond the arrival of the Spanish; it is thought to have been the site of Puebloan villages that had already been long abandoned by the time the Spanish arrived in 1607. It became the state capital when the territory of New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912.

In the early 20th century and the area attracted a number of artists, such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. The region remains important on America's art scene. The arrival of Igor Stravinsky and the founding of the Santa Fe Opera, one of the world's leading opera companies, had a similarly invigorating and enduring influence on the musical community. Many people go to Santa Fe for spiritual gatherings and to training meditative arts at the many spas and resorts that are in and around Santa Fe.

Santa Fe is rooted in paradoxes. On the one hand, it is one of the United States' oldest cities (by some reckonings the oldest), and many residents can trace their roots and property holdings in town back to the 17th century. On the other hand, it has also been the target of a teeming influx of wealthy immigrants in the last 30 years or so that has spurred a great deal of new construction and created inflated prices for real estate—and drastically elevated taxes on old family properties, many of which are owned by families that can't afford the taxes. The tension between new and old, rich and poor, etc., is a persistent undercurrent in the community. These and other factors (not the least of which is a well-deserved reputation as a haven for flamboyant characters) contribute to Santa Fe's uniqueness.

How is the Climate in Santa Fe (New Mexico)

The Miraculous Staircase|Santa Fe's origins as a venture of early Spanish colonists have made it the home of a number of legends, myths and stories mixing indigenous and Catholic themes, one of the most famous being the legend of the Miraculous Staircase. The choir loft at Loretto Chapel is reached by a winding staircase with two complete revolutions, and no obvious means of support; it looks like it floats in the air. Legend says that a mysterious carpenter built this staircase single-handed in the 1870s and then vanished without a trace before he could be paid or even identified. Some say that this carpenter was none other than St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters, come to earth. When you visit Loretto Chapel, take a good look at the staircase and decide for yourself whether it requires divine intervention to stay intact.

Santuario de Guadalupe | 100 Guadalupe 35.68682, -105.94500 downtown area ☎ +1 505 988-2027 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9AM Monday - 4PM, Sa/Summer 10AM Monday - 4PM Free A favorite musical venue and the Santuario is an excellent example of Spanish Colonial architecture and contains a superb collection of religious artworks.

Scottish Rite Temple | Web: &Itemid=3 463 Paseo de Peralta 35.69145, -105.93647 north of downtown but within walking distance of the Plaza ☎ +1 505 982-4414 - A startling, bright pink Moorish-style building modeled after the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

The State Capitol Building - corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta 35.6823, -105.94 south of downtown ☎ +1 505 986-4589 | Opening Hours: Self-guided tours Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 6PM, call for guided tours Free New Mexico State Capitol New Mexico State Capitol east entrance One of the nation's most unusual and striking state capitol buildings; usually open to visitors during working hours. It's known locally as "the Roundhouse," and even a casual look will tell you why.

An enormous number of Santa Fe structures are on the National Register of Historic Places. Rather than recapping the whole list here, visit the web site. A good way of sampling the Historic Places is to start at the Plaza (itself one of the designated places) and work your way out. At least 40 places on the Register can be visited conveniently from here.

Best things to do in Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Festivals

Santa Fe hosts a seemingly unending series of community fairs, festivals and celebrations, of which the most characteristic is the Fiesta de Santa Fe. This grand city-wide festival is held over the weekend after Labor Day in mid-September, after most of the summer tourists have left (and has been described as Santa Fe throwing a party for itself to celebrate the tourists leaving!). The celebration commemorates the reconquest of Santa Fe in 1692 by the Spanish after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Fiesta opens with a procession bearing a statue of the Blessed Virgin known as La Conquistadora to the Gothic Church of St. Francis. Revelry starts with the Thursday night burning of Zozobra, commonly called "Old Man Gloom," a huge, animated figure whose demise at the hands of a torch-bearing dancer symbolizes the banishing of cares for the year. Prepare for BIG crowds - this event is not for the faint of heart and can be downright scary for small children! The crowning of a queen (La Reina) of the Fiesta and her consort, representing the Spanish nobleman, Don Diego de Vargas, who played a key role in the founding of the city, is a matter of great local import. Revelry continues through the weekend and features such events as the hilarious children's Pet Parade on Saturday morning and the Hysterical/Historical Parade on Sunday afternoon. A Fiesta Melodrama at the Community Playhouse effectively and pointedly pokes fun at city figures and events of the year past. The Fiesta closes with a solemn, candle-lit walk to the Cross of the Martyrs.

Santafe zozobra - Zozobra meets his doom at the annual Santa Fe Fiesta A few of the other festivities during the year, arranged in (usual) chronological order through the year, are:

ArtFeast, Edible Art Gallery Tour - Opening Hours: February 20–22, 2015

Santa Fe Community Days - Opening Hours: mid-May
Santa Fe Plaza Arts and Crafts Festivals - Opening Hours: mid-June and Labor Day weekend
Rodeo de Santa Fe - Opening Hours: late June-early July
Santa Fe Wine Festival - Opening Hours: usually first weekend in July At Rancho de las Golondrinas, taste and enjoy some of the finest soft drinks in New Mexico in the beautiful outdoor setting of a living history museum

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market - Opening Hours: early July Santa Fe International Folk Art Market - A huge gathering of folk artists from around the world showing their work on the Milner Plaza at Museum Hill.

Summer Antiquities Show - Opening Hours: July
Santa Fe Jazz Festival - Opening Hours: mid- to late July
Summer Spanish Market - in the Plaza Opening Hours: late July
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival - Opening Hours: July and August Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival - With a series of internationally known musicians.

Mountain Man Rendezvous - Palace of the Governors Opening Hours: mid-August
Santa Fe Indian Market - Santa Fe Indian Market - This annual mid-August event is the most significant Santa Fe festival for tourists and collectors. The entire downtown area is filled with vendors of American Indian arts and crafts, ranging from $10 tourist trinkets on up to breathtaking works of the highest quality. It advertises itself as the world's largest show for Native American artisans, and the description is probably accurate; an artisan who wins one of the top prizes in the juried competitions here is "made" as a significant folk art figure. Lodging is tight in town on Indian Market weekend, so if you're attending, make plans early—Indian Market weekend in 2008 is August 23–24.

Thirsty Ear Music Festival - Eaves Movie Ranch Opening Hours: August–September
Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta - Opening Hours: late September Pairs soft drinks from vintners around the world with the spicy foods for which Santa Fe is known. Winemakers' dinners, special tastings and the Grand Tasting on the Santa Fe Opera grounds make for a vintage weekend! This event is a sell-out for Santa Fe, so lodging is at a premium - reserve early.

Santa Fe Film Festival - Opening Hours: early December Santa Fe Film Festival - The web site is usually updated in the fall to reflect the coming offerings.

Winter Spanish Market - Opening Hours: early December
Las Posadas - A pre-Christmas commemoration of Mary's and Joseph's search for lodging taking place outdoors on the Plaza. This event takes place in mid December and is a truly unique experience. The audience "participates" in the play by holding candles and following Mary and Joseph in their search for lodging. El Diablo (the devil) appears on rooftops throughout the plaza and hurls insults at the crowd, which responds in kind. This is a wonderful family event.

Farolito Walk - A Christmas Eve walk around the historic areas of downtown Santa Fe, throughout which have been set farolitos, small brown bags filled with sand and a votive candle, to light the way for the Christ Child

Winter Antiquities Show - Opening Hours: late December

In addition, many of the Native American New Mexico Pueblos|pueblo communities nearby schedule dances and other ceremonies to celebrate specific feast days throughout the year that welcome tourists (along with a few that are for tribe member only).

Performing Arts in Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Santa Fe Opera-Roofline - Santa Fe Opera

Santa Fe is an important center for music and musical groups and the most illustrious being the Santa Fe Opera, although there are several other excellent venues in town.

Santa Fe Opera - 301 Opera Drive 35.764, -105.947 off US 285 on the north side of town ☎ +1 505 986-5900 - Santa Fe Opera - - The opera house is partially "open air," so that opera goers get attractive views of the Jemez Mountains near Los Alamos as an additional backdrop to what's on stage. The Santa Fe Opera is known around the world for staging American and even world premieres of new works and the operas of Richard Strauss, and promising new artists on their way up (and, to be fair, one or two aging superstars each season who are on their way down, not up). Opera season is the summer, with opening night (tickets are almost imfeasible to get) usually around July 1 and the last performances in mid-August. (Bring a light jacket/wrap and an umbrella to the later performances; the open-air nature of the house can make August performances nippy and drippy, although seats are protected from the rain.) Many performances sell out well in advance, so book early. (KHFM radio, frequency 95.5 MHz, airs a "ticket exchange" that may be helpful in finding tickets to sold-out performances, if you find yourself in town on the spur of the moment during opera season; they stream their broadcast online, so you can check the ticket exchange even before you arrive.) People-watching here can be as much fun as the opera itself; you'll see folks in the most expensive formal wear sitting next to others in jeans, which is typical of Santa Fe. Dressing up at least a little from jeans is a good idea, though. Pre-performance "tailgate dinners" in the parking lot, as though you were attending a football game or such, are part of the tradition and color; you can bring your own, or see under "Eat/Other/Luxury" below.

Center for Contemporary Arts - Armory for the Arts | 1050 Old Pecos Trail 35.6735, -105.9370 ☎ +1 505 982-1338 - Mainly theater.

GiG - 1808 Second Street 35.6624, -105.9654 ☎ +1 505 989-8442 - A spinoff (they describe themselves as a "stepchild") of the Jazz Festival; coffee-house environment with jazz, folk music, etc.

Greer Garson Theatre 1600 St. Michael's Dr 35.6591, -105.9779 ☎ +1 505 473-6511 - On the campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design]; visit the web site to see what's playing there. Comfortable, with good acoustics.

James A. Little Theater 1060 Cerrillos Road 35.6776, -105.9553 - On the campus of the New Mexico School for the Deaf, remarkably enough.

Lensic Performing Arts Center - 225 W. San Francisco Street 35.68778, -105.94105 ☎ +1 505 988-1234 - Lensic Theater Box-office. A converted movie theater with a pleasant atmosphere. As with most downtown sites, parking can be a pain, but there is a parking garage a block west that's usually OK in the evening.

Paolo Soleri Theater 1501 Cerrillos Road 35.6724, -105.9678 ☎ +1 505 989-6300 - An outdoor amphitheater at the Santa Fe Indian School, popular for events in spring, summer and fall.

St. Francis Auditorium 35.6883559, -105.939313 At the New Mexico Museum of Art (see above).

In addition, many churches host concerts of various kinds, among them St. Francis Gothic Church and the Santuario de Guadalupe downtown, and the remarkable Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community GPS 35.6080,-106.0014 far out on the south side of town (11 College Avenue) -- extraordinary acoustics at the latter.

Some of the groups using these spaces are:

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet - A professional ballet company that splits its time between Santa Fe and Aspen, Colorado. Three or four performances a year, usually at the Lensic.

Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company - Santa Fe's premier flamenco troupe performing six nights a week June through September.

Musica Antigua de Albuquerque - - Many groups based in Albuquerque do performances in Santa Fe as well; this one specializes in music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque, performed with period instruments as well as voices.

Sangre de Cristo Chorale - One of the best of the many "community-based" choral groups drawing on the enormous swimmingpool of skilled singers in northern New Mexico. Two repertoires per year (usually Christmas, with a well-regarded dinner concert, and spring), as well as special events throughout the year.

Santa Fe Desert Chorale - Fully professional choral music, with summer and winter programs, including works specifically commissioned for the ensemble.

Santa Fe Pro Musica - Chamber orchestra, multiple performances from September through April.

Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus - Classical and contemporary works performed September through May, including interpretive lectures and occasional youth concerts.

Santa Fe Women's Ensemble - A 12-voice choral group, performances Christmas and spring.

Serenata of Santa Fe - Yet another choral group with a September-to-May schedule.

There are others; if you hear one you like, add it.

Film

There are several movie theaters and art houses spread around the city that play Hollywood flicks as well some of the more off-beat movies. In addition to the year-round offerings, film enthusiasts should check out the Santa Fe Film Festival, held every year in early December.

First-run Hollywood films can be seen at UA DeVargas Mall Cinema GPS 35.6929,-105.9499 in the DeVargas Mall and at the Regal Cinemas GPS 35.6418,-106.0157 on Cerrillos Road at Zafarano Drive (the later of which is newer and can screen 3D films).
The Lensic Performing Arts Center (listed above) occasionally holds a screening in addition to their regular performing arts lineup.

Jean Cocteau Cinema - 418 Montezuma Ave 35.6850, -105.9466 west of Guadalupe, around the junction from the Santa Fe Depot ☎ +1 505 466-5528 - Plays a mixture of Hollywood, classic, and indie films.

Center for Contemporary Arts - Adjacent to the Armory for the Arts (listed above), plays a good selection of indie films and documentaries.

The Screen - 1600 Street Michaels Dr 35.6556, -105.9761 on the campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design ☎ +1 505 473-6494 - Screens a selection of foreign, indie, and art house films.

Violet Crown Cinema - 1606 Alcaldesa Street 35.6831, -105.9491 in the Santa Fe Railyards ☎ +1 505 216-5678 - A brand new movie house which plays first-run Hollywood films. All seats are reserved (reserving online ahead of time is recommended) and there is a full-service restaurant in the building, with the option of taking your food into the theater. Food is prepared on order, so if you want to eat while watching the movie, be sure to arrive well ahead of screening.

Outdoors

As one might expect from its location between mountain and desert, Santa Fe is rich in outdoor activities, particularly hiking, cycling, and horse riding. Most are slightly outside town itself and are covered in the "Get out" section and pages cited there, but there are a few in-town possibilities:

St Johns College Santa Fe - |The campus of St. John's College in the hills above Santa Fe

There are a number of great trails around town:
The Cross of the Martyrs GPS 35.6894,-105.9328 is a good short walk, on a hill just northeast of Downtown. From Paseo de Peralta and the paved walkway ascends to the top of the hill, where a cross honoring the Spanish martyrs of New Mexico has been placed. Unfortunately, getting to the entrance to the trail involves uncomfortably close proximity to vehicle traffic, as one has to walk along a narrow but extraordinarily busy street on very narrow sidewalks, but the view of Santa Fe makes it all worth it. Old Fort Marcy Park GPS 35.6896,-105.9307, at 300 Kearney Ave, is just around the junction a short walk from the cross, and is an in-town (one really can't call it "urban") park suitable for a short hike to begin getting your cardiovascular system adjusted to the 7000-foot altitude.
The Santa Fe River Park runs along the so-called Santa Fe River (it rarely has more than a trickle of water), with access convenient to the plaza area along Alameda Street, which cuts through the downtown area between the Plaza and the State Capitol. You'll share the path with myriad walkers, bikers, and some boarders and horse riders.
The campus of St. John's College GPS 35.66678,-105.91176, 1160 Camino Cruz Blanca, is the starting point for several hikes of lengths ranging from 2 to 7 miles and the latter being the ascent of Atalaya Mountain, one of the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos that rises just east of town. Park at the visitors' parking lot and choose your hike.
A trail along the railroad to Lamy south of Santa Fe can be hiked, biked, and ridden on horseback. It is a nationally designated Rail with Trail, and plans are underway to further develop its trail facilities. It's paved from the Railyard to Rabbit Road (continuation of St. Francis Drive on the south side of I-25), continuing as a dirt path along the tracks to Lamy. Needless to say, keep an eye out for trains.
The Santa Fe National Forest covers the mountains east of town and offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities. Ski Santa Fe GPS 35.796,-105.803 is a short distance outside town, at the end of NM 475 (Hyde Park Road) in the high country of the forest (seriously high—even the base of the runs is above 10,000', so think carefully whether you want to go there if you have respiratory problems or are prone to altitude sickness). In addition to the obvious skiing and the lifts often operate during the summer, taking visitors to near the top of 12,000'-plus Tesuque Peak for great views. The road to the ski area goes through an aspen grove with spectacularly golden foliage (and hordes of people looking at the trees—don't expect privacy) in the fall, and several trails lead into the national forest from trailheads along the way. Some of the trails turn into interesting Nordic ski tracks in the winter.
Travel activities#Geocaching|Geocaching has become popular in Santa Fe, as might be expected from the general atmosphere of the city. The geocaching.com web site lists hundreds of caches in and near town, sufficient to keep even the most ardent cacher busy for a while. One caution: Santa Fe's reputation as a playground for the rich and famous has created a number of closed and gated neighborhoods, many of them quite intolerant of trespassers and aggressively patrolled. If your route to a cache leads you to a closed gate, take it seriously, and either look outside the perimeter for your quarry, or seek a different cache.
Horse riding is available at several stables on the west side of town, and at Bishops' Lodge (see below under Sleep). If you have your own horse, or contract with an outfitter, your choice of places to ride is enormous. Popular trail systems in the Santa Fe area include the Santa Fe National Forest, Pecos Wilderness, Caja del Rio, Cerrillos Hills Historical Park, and Pueblos (access requiring a permit). A little farther afield is Los Alamos, Valles Caldera National Preserve, and the Carson National Forest.
White-water rafting is excellent on the nearby Rio Grande and Rio Chama north of town, with trips ranging from easy half-day floats to taxing multi-day outings. Kokopelli Rafting Adventures, 551 W. Cordova Rd. #540, +1-800-879-9035, is one of several good outfitters operating out of Santa Fe; other good ones can be found along the road to and in Taos. Reservations are a must, particularly during peak season (usually June to early July).
If you're cycling, thorn-resistant tires and tubes are almost mandatory owing to the ubiquitous "goat's head," a weed whose seeds seem custom-made to puncture bike tires. A well-regarded bike shop is Rob and Charlie's GPS 35.6584,-105.9745, 1632 St. Michaels Drive, +1 505 471-9119. They have just about everything you'll need for riding in the area, including recommendations, but unfortunately and they don't have rental bikes. For rentals, try Mellow Velo GPS 35.6884,-105.9356 132 East Marcy St., +1 505 995-8356; they also offer guided rides on some of the mountain-bike routes in the mountains.
Golf and other sports are less accessible in Santa Fe than in some other cities, as many of the golf courses are either private and reserved for residents of adjoining gated communities, or out of town at one of the nearby pueblos and in Los Alamos. Santa Fe Country Club GPS 35.6322,-106.0560, Country Club Road (off Airport Road), +1 505 471-0601, is a "semi-private" course that welcomes the public and includes tennis courts; call for tee times. Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe GPS 35.6738,-106.0694, 205 Caja del Rio Road, +1 505 955-4400, is the "municipal" course in town—well, almost in town, as it's off the Santa Fe Relief Route a good eight miles from the Plaza. Golf in Santa Fe is "challenging;" the altitude may tire you (although the thin air may also help the ball fly farther and straighter), and weather can interfere, with strong winds in the spring and afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. Still, Santa Fe is a great place to get outside, and that includes golf and other sporting activities.

Genoveva Chavez Community Center - 3221 Rodeo Road 35.6413, -105.9930 ☎ +1 505-955-4000 - Contains three swimming pools, an ice rink, a gymnasium, and a fitness center.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Folk art

Santa Fe is a designated UNESCO Creative City and is one of the best places in the world to shop specifically for Native American Indian arts and crafts. How to proceed depends on what your goals are and how much you want to spend.

If your goal is jewelry, note that the price for turquoise stones has risen dramatically in the 21st century, as demand has risen at the same time that the mining of new stones has declined. Most new turquoise jewelry, and all of the affordable jewelry, uses "stabilized" turquoise, rather than the rarer types that are naturally hard enough and mined in the American Southwest. Gem-grade natural American turquoise can cost more than $100 per carat, and more than that for a choice piece from a favored mine, such as the world-famous Lander Blue turquoise mine in Nevada.

Santa_Fe_Palace_of_Govs - 350x350px|Vendors on the Portal at the Palace of the Governors

The place of choice for most travelers seeking Native folk art is the Native American artists who sell their own art on the "Portal" (accent on second syllable) in front of the Palace of the Governors. The jewelry, pottery, and other works are available for a reasonable price, you know that the money goes directly to the artist, and – unlike the many affordable shops around town that import Native-style objects that were made in Asia – the authenticity is guaranteed through a rigorous licensing system. Most artists are happy if you ask questions about the symbolism and materials used, but don't haggle over the prices here. The vendors rotate in and out on a lottery system, so there are some different sellers each day. Pickings may be a bit thin on Sundays, and the vendors leave after 5:30.

A word of warning: do not patronize the similar vendors on sidewalks out around town unless you know they're okay, or you don't care what you're buying. If they're not on the Portal and there's a reason, and one common reason is that they're passing off non-Indian junk as authentic. Some authentic local artisans may be off the Portal, but caveat emptor.

For higher-quality (and -priced) Native art, art galleries cluster around the Plaza. Some reputable ones (there are more) are: Allan Houser Gallery 125 Lincoln Ave. Suite 112 GPS 35.6886,-105.9384 ☎ +1 505 982-4705 - Hours: Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM. Showcases sculptures, drawings, and paintings by Allan Houser. A sculpture garden south of Santa Fe with more work by Houser is open for tours.

Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery - 100 W. San Francisco 35.6872, -105.9397 ☎ +1 505 986-1234 | Opening Hours: Summer Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday noon-6PM; Winter Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM, Sunday noon-5PM Museum quality Native American pottery.

Blue Rain Gallery | 130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D 35.6891, -105.9386 ☎ +1 505 954-9902 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM, closed Sunday Specializing in contemporary Native American art, including pottery, paintings, glass sculpture, jewelry and mixed media.

Lyn Fox Pueblo Pottery | 640 Canyon Road 35.6812, -105.9274 ☎ +1 505 577-0835 - Specializing in fine historic Pueblo pottery from the eight northern pueblos, including Native American clay pots, dough bowls, vases, olla pots, and storyteller pottery.

Steve Elmore Indian Art | 839 Paseo de Peralta, suite Monday 35.6858, -105.9336 between Palace & Alameda ☎ +1 505 995-9677 | Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 5PM daily Specializing in Native American antiques with an emphasis on historic Pueblo pottery, Navajo weavings, kachinas, and old pawn jewelry.

There are other good ones as well; if you find one that you think offers particularly good value for dollar, please expand this list. You can spend as little as $100 for a small piece, or spend more money than you have for something that's literally one-of-a-kind.

Other art

If you have any interest at all in "Anglo" art, make sure you walk down Canyon Road (an easy stroll from downtown), which is full of unique, quirky and just plain fun art galleries. Other galleries are west and south of the Plaza in the downtown area itself. A small sampling to give you a sense of what's there (opening hours at these can be somewhat erratic and are not always posted):

Only in Santa Fe...|Another chapter was added to the weird, wonderful lore of the "City Different" in August 2007, when one of the many jewelry and art shops in the downtown area suffered a midnight break-in by -- no kidding -- a mountain lion. You won't have to compete for goods with this aesthetically inclined beast, however, as it was tranquilized by Fish and Game officers, removed, and released in the wilds of northern New Mexico.

Axle Contemporary - variable locations and hours; check website for daily updates NA, NA ☎ +1 505 670-5854 - A mobile gallery of contemporary art, featuring works on paper and installation in a beautiful custom-retrofitted 1970 aluminum stepvan. Art by both established and emerging New Mexico-based artists.

Chuck Jones Gallery - 135 W. Palace Ave 35.6884, -105.9403 ☎ +1 505 983-5999 | Opening Hours: Hours apparently "flexible" Amid the galleries featuring the scenic and cultural beauty of the Southwest and Native Americana, you can find this one featuring the "beauty" of ... Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner!? This gallery memorializes the great cartoon artist and his successors in animation art, with many originals. Not what you might think of as typical of the Santa Fe art scene, but highly entertaining.

Gerald Peters Gallery - 1011 Paseo de Peralta 35.6820, -105.9340 ☎ +1 505 954-5700 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM One of Santa Fe's "high-end" galleries, with works by some famous artists (Hurd, Remington, Miro, etc.), bearing six-digit price tags in some cases. If you're looking for affordable "souvenir" art, look elsewhere, but the serious art collector should definitely check this one out.

Glenn Green Galleries - 136 Tesuque Village Road 35.7607, -105.9315 in Tesuque, 5 miles north of the Plaza ☎ +1 505 820-0008 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM; Sunday by appointment Established in 1966, 5 acre sculpture garden and gallery. Contemporary sculpture, paintings, prints and wall art by artists such as Allan Houser (whom the gallery represented from 1974-1994), Khang Pham-New, Eduardo Oropeza, Melanie Yazzie, etc.

Klebau Photography Gallery - 220 E. Santa Fe Ave 35.6800, -105.9383 ☎ +1 505 954-4777 - The proprietor of this photography-oriented franchise is also deeply involved with Santa Fe's classical-music scene, and may be able to give you tips on what's playing if he's there (buying something doesn't hurt, of course).

Manitou Galleries - 123 W. Palace Ave 35.6883, -105.9398 ☎ +1 505 986-0440 +1-800-283-0440 Opening from Monday to Saturday 9:30AM–5:30PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 5PM One of the relatively few Santa Fe galleries open 7 days a week. Mid-range ($100 to $20,000) work, mainly with a Southwestern theme; nice bronzes.

Mark White Fine Art - 414 Canyon Road 35.6827, -105.9322 ☎ +1 505 982-2073 | Opening Hours: Daily 10AM Monday - 5PM Meditative wind sculptures. Inside the gallery you can view radiant and unique paintings on metal.

Mill Fine Art - 530 Canyon Road 35.6822, -105.9304 East section of Canyon Road ☎ +1 505 982-9212 | Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 5PM Exhibiting primarily contemporary and minimalist artwork.

Nedra Matteucci Galleries - 1075 Paseo de Peralta 35.6812, -105.9344 ☎ +1 505 982-4631 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 9:30AM–5PM A gallery by a well-known Santa Fe entrepreneur, with an emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century work, including a number of works from the art colony at Taos.

Shidoni Foundry - 1508 Bishops Lodge Road 35.7563, -105.9266 in the outlying village of Tesuque, north of Santa Fe ☎ +1 505 988-8001 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 9AM Monday - 5PM 8 acres of sculpture garden display the diverse and eclectic—some would say peculiar—work of the locally-celebrated Shidoni Foundry, along with furniture, ceramics, photography, etc.

Waxlander Gallery and Sculpture Garden - 622 Canyon Road 35.6815, -105.9284 ☎ +1 505 984-2202 | Opening Hours: Daily 9:30-5:30PM Contemporary artists led by Phyllis Kapp.

William R. Talbot Fine Art - 129 W. San Francisco Street 35.6876, -105.9404 upstairs ☎ +1 505 982-1559 - Historic maps, regionalist prints and paintings.

Winterowd Fine Art - 701 Canyon Road 35.6812, -105.9261 ☎ +1 505 992-8878 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM, Sunday noon-4PM A reasonable (if comparatively conservative) example of the many Canyon Road galleries; friendly and helpful service.

This listing barely scratches the surface of the art scene in Santa Fe; the community phone book lists over six pages of galleries. There are some tourist traps among them, but more good stuff than tourist souvenirs.

Other goods

In downtown Santa Fe there are quite a few specialty stores for toys, book stores, clothes and a variety of other stores with handmade goods such as purses and jewelry.
On the south side of the city there is an outlet mall GPS 35.6116,-106.0319 at the intersection of I-25 and Cerrillos Road and a large gathering of newer, big-box stores like Best Buy and Target on Zafarano Road near Cerrillos and Rodeo Roads, across the road from the enclosed Santa Fe Place GPS 35.6361,-106.0145 mall. A second (and slightly smaller) enclosed mall and the DeVargas Center GPS 35.6928,-105.9507, is at Paseo de Peralta and Guadalupe, just north of the downtown area. Within the downtown area proper is the Sanbusco Center GPS 35.6853,-105.9474, a partially-enclosed mall with mostly upscale shops, anchored by a Cost Plus World Market.

Halal Restaurants in Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Santafe_shed_enchiladas - Blue corn enchiladas at The Shed

Santa Fe, and the rest of New Mexico, is known for its huge and spicy plates full of Southinternational food. Restaurants in Santa Fe run from expensive haute Southwestern to down-home fast-food style plates, where you will be asked "red or green" (chile). You can try a mix of both red and green chile peppers by asking for your dish "Christmas". However, Santa Fe also has a number of excellent restaurants offering other cuisines—possibly too many of them, in fact, as the highly competitive marketplace forces even some very good ones out of business before their time. It is almost imfeasible to overstate the dining possibilities here; they far outstrip those in most American cities ten times Santa Fe's size. As with several other New Mexico towns, restaurants in this description are broken into the sub-categories "New Mexican" (which is not the same as "Mexican" by any means) and "Other." Meals (exclusive of soft-drinks and tips) will usually cost $10/person or less at the "Budget" places, $10 to $25 at the "Mid-range" ones, and more—sometimes much more—at the "Luxurys." Many Santa Fe restaurants are somewhat casual as regards business hours; if a place doesn't have hours listed below, inquire locally as to when it's open, as the hours may change erratically. - Santa Fe Farmers Market 1607 Paseo de Peralta GPS 35.6823,-105.9490 Paseo de Peralta at Guadalupe ☎ +1 505 983-4098 . The Santa Fe Farmers Market represents over 100 active vendors and features hundreds of different agricultural products. To further meet Santa Fe's demand for fresh, local produce and the Market began operating year-round in 2002, and with more and more farmers using extended growing techniques and the "off season" becomes more successful every year.

New Mexican

There are so many good New Mexican restaurants in town that a description here can barely scratch the surface. Half of the writers on New Mexican food claim that green chile is hotter than red, while half claim it's the other way around. In reality and the best authority on the spiciness of the chile at the particular restaurant you eat at is the restaurant itself, so if you're concerned about the chile being too hot, simply ask; you'll get a straight answer far more often than not. One thing that's definitely true, however, is that green tends to be fleshier than red, and adds a bit more substance to the dish, independent of the heat level.

Frito_pie_at_Five_&_Dime_General_Store_(Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico)_001 - Chili con carne in a bag of Frito corn chips|The original Frito pie, served in the bag

Five and Dime - 58 E San Francisco Street GPS 35.6870,-105.9392 ☎ +1 505 992-1800 . The former Woolworths on the Plaza was said to be the birthplace of the "Frito Pie"; it has since been replaced by the Five and Dime. The original chef is purported to still serve them there. The Frito Pie consists of a bag of Fritos corn chips topped by meaty red chile and cheddar Cheese, with onions and jalapeños as a garnish, served in the original Frito bag.

The Shed | 113½ E Palace Ave 35.6876, -105.9369 ☎ +1 505 982-9030 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 2:30PM and 5:30PM Monday - 9PM The quintcrucial New Mexican lunch spot. In a little plaza off East Palace Avenue in the heart of the downtown area, recessed off the street and hard to find, but worth the effort to poke around the several side plazas until you locate it. They operate a sister restaurant, La Choza GPS 35.6792,-105.9527, at 905 Alarid St. It is open evenings and is on an obscure side street close to the main drag of St. Francis Drive, well outside the downtown area. Both serve "traditional" New Mexican food (enchiladas, stuffed sopaipillas, etc.) in a rustic setting. Reservations are recommended. Lunch entrees from $7 or so at both, dinners from $9.

Felipe's Tacos | 1711 Llano Street 35.6584, -105.9723 ☎ +1 505 473-9397 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 8AM Monday - 9PM, Sunday 9AM Monday - 6PM Huge burritos, tacos and very, very authentic Mexican food for as little as two dollars. It's a few blocks from Santa Fe High, so after school can be a little crowded, but it's worth the wait.

Posa's El Merendero - 1514 Rodeo Road (secondary location at 3538 Zafarano Dr 35.6393, -105.9629 ☎ +1 505 820-7672 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 7AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 3PM This is primarily a catering/retail-sales outfit (delivery throughout town, sometimes delivering very large orders, and by parcel) of long standing and good reputation, but has opened two fast-food-style outlets for their wares. It's definitely not fine dining, but a reasonable representative of basic New Mexican fare for those in a hurry. Entrees $5-10.

Plaza Cafe | 54 Lincoln Ave 35.6875, -105.9392 ☎ +1 505 982-1664 | Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - 9PM daily An old standby a stone's throw from the vendors on the Portal. Open for all meals, but particularly recommended for lunch, although it's crowded.

Tia Sophia's | 210 West San Francisco Street 35.6875, -105.9410 ☎ +1 505 983-9880 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 7AM Monday - 2PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 1PM Breakfast and lunch daily; much loved by local residents for breakfast.

Tortilla Flats | 3139 Cerrillos Road 35.6535, -105.9956 ☎ +1 505 471-8685 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 7AM Monday - 9AM, F-Sa 7AM Monday - 10PM Less than $10A well known New Mexican establishment with typical Santa Fe fare. Frequented by many local residents, another great stopping point for a quick meal or a casual dinner.

Mid-range

Tomasita's 500 South Guadalupe Street GPS 35.6839,-105.9465 just south of downtown in an old railroad station ☎ +1 505 983-5721 - Hours: Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 10PM. Considered by many to serve the definitive "traditional" New Mexican food. Expect to wait, as it's vastly popular. Entrees around $9–11, but splurge a little and get the sangria too.
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- Blue Corn Cafe | 133 Water Street (secondary location at 4056 Cerrillos Rd) 35.6869, -105.9406 ☎ +1 505 984-1800 | Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 10PM daily A curious combination of New Mexican cuisine and a sheesha lounge.
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- Maria's New Mexican Kitchen | 555 West Cordova Road 35.6742, -105.9527 ☎ +1 505 983-7929 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday to Sunday noon-10PM Margaritas are a specialty here, but the traditional New Mexican cuisine is also good, if a bit heavier than at Tomasita's. Parking, though ample, is a pain to get to; approach from the east, on Camino de los Marquez rather than Cordova.
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- Tabla de Los Santos | 210 Don Gaspar Ave 35.6864, -105.9400 inside the Hotel St. Francis ☎ +1 505 992-6354 | Opening Hours: Monday 7:30AM Monday - 11AM, Tuesday - Thursday 7:30AM Monday - 2PM and 5PM Monday - 9PM, F-Sa 7:30AM Monday - 2PM and 5PM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 7:30AM Monday - 1:30PM and 5PM Monday - 9PM New Mexican cuisine with great tasting Beef chops and chile rellenos. Great views of the Plaza.
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Ma Casa Sena 125 E Palace Ave GPS 35.6875,-105.9366 ☎ +1 505 988-9232 - Hours: Monday to Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 3PM and 5:30PM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 3PM and 5:30PM Monday - 10PM. An example of "Southwestern" cuisine—the merging of traditional New Mexican preparation and presentation with more modern, creative ingredients (sometimes a little too creative). Reservations recommended.
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- Coyote Cafe | 132 West Water Street 35.6865, -105.9406 ☎ +1 505 983-1615 | Opening Hours: 11:30AM Monday - close daily Another highly-regarded "Southwestern" dining experience, although there has been a recent tendency for chef Mark Miller, (however Mark Miller sold the Restaurant to a group of employees); to use his restaurant to engage in puffery on behalf of his big-city franchises elsewhere. It's still an excellent restaurant, if an expensive one -- $50 per person for dinner, including fruit cocktail/dessert and tip, is not unusual. Reservations recommended.
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- Luminaria | 211 Old Santa Fe Trail 35.6854, -105.9374 inside the Inn at Loretto ☎ +1 505 984-7915 | Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - 2PM and 5PM Monday - 10PM daily Enjoy views of the Loretto Chapel and Old Santa Fe trail while dining.
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Other

Santa Fe has plenty of standard chain restaurants (Olive Garden, Outback, Red Lobster, etc.), but why bother? There are enough excellent "local" ones that you can save your trips to these more ubiquitous eateries for cities less well-endowed from a culinary point of view. All restaurants below are uniquely Santa Fean in their character and cuisine.

Chopstix - 238 North Guadalupe Street GPS 35.6903,-105.9449 ☎ +1 505 820-2126 - Hours: Sunday - Friday 10:30AM Monday - 8PM. A fast-food, take-out or dine-in Chinese restaurant. Built into an old gas station, it looks like the kind of place that you should stay a mile away from, and that's what makes it so good.

Pantry Restaurant | 1820 Cerrillos Road 35.6648, -105.9724 corner of Cerrillos & 5th ☎ +1 505 986-0022 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 6:30AM Monday - 9PM, Sunday 7AM Monday - 9PM $5-$10 Delicious food served in a diner-type setting. The waitstaff are super friendly, and the portions are humongous. The clients fill the small front quickly in the mornings, but seats are often available at the bar (which serves delicious milkshakes, even before noon).

Pyramid Cafe - 505 W. Cordova Road 35.6732, -105.9495 in a strip mall on Cordova Road south of downtown ☎ +1 505 989-1378 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 9PM Good Greek/Mediterranean lunches. Nothing fancy, just good, casual food. Don't bother with reservations, but call to check on hours. Lunches from $5 or so; occasional belly-dancing entertainment. Now also open in Los Alamos if your travels take you in that direction.

Santa Fe Baking Company - 504 W. Cordova Road 35.6725, -105.9508 ☎ +1 505 988-4292 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 6AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 6AM Monday - 6PM Across Cordova Road from Pyramid and offers tolerable sandwiches, soups, etc., for lunch, but don't go just for the lunch (or breakfast); grab a dessert while you're there and these being what it's known for. Can be very busy at lunchtime on weekdays, with chaos on all quarters. Call-in orders welcome.

Santa Fe Bite - 311 Old Santa Fe Trail 35.6844, -105.9374 ☎ +1 505 982-0544 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 8AM Monday - 8PM, Fri-Sat 8AM Monday - 9PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 5PM Inside of Garrett's Desert Inn. Known for their green chile cheeseburgers.

Tune-Up Cafe - 1115 Hickox Street 35.6813, -105.9586 ☎ +1 505 983-7060 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday to Sunday 8AM Monday - 10PM Occupies the space formerly "Dave's Not Here." Local hangout featuring the owners' Guatemalan cuisine with a New Mexican flavor. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The location, near the main St. Francis Drive artery, is more convenient for the through traveler than to downtown.

Upper Crust Pizzas - 329 Old Santa Fe Trail 35.6837, -105.9377 ☎ +1 505 982-0000 | Opening Hours: Winter daily 11AM Monday - 10PM, summer daily 11AM Monday - 11PM Widely considered to serve the best (American-style) pizza in town. Free delivery, but if practical, consider dining in instead; Old Santa Fe Trail is one of the main tourist drags, and you get a chance to combine pizza munching with people watching.

Whole Hog Cafe - 320 S. Guadalupe 35.6858, -105.9456 ☎ +1 505 474-3375 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 8:30PM A barbecue chain centered in Arkansas and Louisiana, but with two New Mexico outlets (the other is in Albuquerque); fast-food-meets-steakhouse format, but the BBQ is high-quality by any standards. Try the "Volcano" BBQ Sauce (you'll have to ask for it at the counter) and see if it's hotter than the New Mexican cuisine elsewhere in town. If it blows you away, Sauce #3 also has some kick and is tasty. Lunches (handy as it's in the pandemonious Cerrillos Road shopping area) from $5.05.

Mid-range

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- Cowgirl BBQ 319 S. Guadalupe GPS 35.6860,-105.9449 ☎ +1 505 982-2565 - Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - Midnight, Saturday 10AM Monday - Midnight, Sunday 10AM Monday - 11PM; Drinks served until 1:30AM Monday to Saturday, midnight on Sundays. Santa Fe mainstay where visitors and local residents alike flock for some semblance of nightlife in Santa Fe. Decent food, 4 red swimmingpool tables ($12/hour, 7'), decent prices, and live music every night, except Mondays- Karaoke. The BBQ ain't bad, either.
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- India Palace - 227 Don Gaspar Ave 35.6856, -105.9397 ☎ +1 505 986-5859 | Opening Hours: Daily 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM Figure $15–20 a head, and worth every penny Second location: India House GPS 35.6602,-105.9829 at 2501 Cerrillos Road, +1 505 471-2304. Surprisingly excellent Indian cuisine, both operated by the same family, with crucially identical menus. India Palace is more "atmospheric," India House more convenient (better parking), and the sag paneer at both is to die for. India House may have entertainment for some dinners.
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- Marisco's La Playa 537 W. Cordova Road 35.6731, -105.9506 ☎ +1 505 982-2790 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 9PM An example of the difference between "Mexican" and "New Mexican" cuisine; this restaurant definitely serves the former, with an emphasis on seafood prepared as in Old Mexico. (You definitely won't find the Pulpo—octopus—dishes on the menu at their New Mexican counterparts!) Nothing special as regards ambience/presentation, but good, authentic food.
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- Mu Du Noodles - 1494 Cerrillos Road 35.6689, -105.9665 ☎ +1 505 983-1411 | Opening Hours: Dinner Tuesday - Saturday from 5:30PM Features noodle/pasta dishes from around the world, but most of the dishes are from China or Southeast Asia. Parking can be a challenge. Ambitious cuisine for New Mexico, although perhaps equally ambitiously priced.
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- Pasqual's - 121 Don Gaspar 35.6866, -105.9395 ☎ +1 505 983-9340 | Opening Hours: Breakfast and lunch daily 8AM Monday - 3PM; dinner daily from 5:30PM An old standby in the downtown area. As with many Santa Fe restaurants and the menu blends New Mexican cuisine with more traditional American fare. Reservations recommended for dinner, which approaches "Luxury" territory, and recommended particularly for breakfast, when it's far better value for dollar than the restaurants at the several nearby hotels.
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- Pink Adobe - 406 Old Santa Fe Trail 35.6834, -105.9382 ☎ +1 505 983-7712 | Opening Hours: Daily 11:30AM Monday - 9PM A long-time Santa Fe standard, near the downtown area. A mix of continental and New Mexican cuisine that borders on "Luxury" territory.
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- Pranzo Italian Grill - 540 Montezuma Ave 35.6857, -105.9468 in the Sanbusco Center ☎ +1 505 984-2645 | Opening Hours: Sunday noon-10PM, Monday to Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 3PM and 5PM Monday - 11PM May be the best Italian restaurant in town. Reservations advisable. Expect it to be loud.
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- Wok - 2860 Cerrillos Road 35.6557, -105.9900 ☎ +1 505 424-8126 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 9PM, F-Sa 11AM Monday - 9:30PM, closed Sundays Chinese food is a weakness (at least relatively speaking) in Santa Fe, but this unpretentious place has some supporters.
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315 315 Old Santa Fe Trail GPS 35.6840,-105.9376 ☎ +1 505 986-9190 - Hours: Lunch Friday 11:30AM Monday - 2PM; dinner Sunday - Thursday 5:30-9PM, F-Sa 5:30-9:30PM. A restaurant whose name is also its street number. Reservations advised. French/Continental cuisine in a sidewalk-bistro-like setting. Good list, and save room for the crème brûlée dessert. You can easily drop $50 a person here and feel good about it.
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- The Compound - 653 Canyon Road 35.6815, -105.9267 ☎ +1 505 982-4353 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday noon-2PM, 6PM Monday - Entrees from $25–40; reservations strongly advised On Canyon Road near the art galleries. Although the Compound once enforced a dress code of jacket and tie, new chef/owner Mark Kiffin eliminated any formal dress requirement. Southwestern cuisine.
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- Geronimo - 724 Canyon Road 35.6804, -105.9254 ☎ +1 505 982-1500 | Opening Hours: Daily 5:30PM–9:30PM $40 per person will get you an excellent dinner Another fine restaurant amid the galleries. The menu tends toward Continental but is entertainingly diverse and changes frequently. Dinner reservations are recommended and can be placed via the (unnecessarily ostentatious) web site.
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- El Mesón - 213 Washington Ave 35.6894, -105.9367 ☎ +1 505 983-6756 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 5PM Monday - 11PM Expect to pay $40 per person or more Spanish cuisine, well prepared and attentively served; the paella is excellent. Diners used to sangria New Mexico-style may find this restaurant's version a bit dry. Live entertainment most evenings.
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- The Old House Restaurant - 309 W. San Francisco 35.6882, -105.9424 in the Eldorado Hotel ☎ +1 505 995-4530 | Opening Hours: Dinner nightly from 5:30PM Expect to spend around $50 per person AAA Four Diamond restaurant that Zagat honored as New Mexico’s best. Contemporary global cuisine featuring seasonal and regional ingredients, with Southwestern and Asian influences and a great fruit cocktails.
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- Osteria d`Assisi - 58 S. Federal Pl 35.6902, -105.9373 three blocks north of the Plaza ☎ +1 505 986-5858 | Opening Hours: Lunch Monday to Saturday 11AM–3PM, dinner nightly from 5PM If Pranzo (above) isn't the best Italian restaurant in town, this one may be. Prices range from about $10–12 for a simple Neapolitan-style pizza to $70 or more for a grand 5-course dinner with (come hungry and expect to leave full), or anything in between.
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- Santacafe - 231 Washington Ave 35.6901, -105.9363 ☎ +1 505 984-1788 | Opening Hours: Lunch daily 11:30AM Monday - 2PM, dinner daily from 5:30PM; brunch Sunday 11AM Monday - 2:30PM Expect to spend around $50 per person One of Santa Fe's big-name restaurants, and you probably pay a little extra for the celebrity, but the American/Continental fare is creative and well presented, with attentive service. Excellent matchbooks, too.
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Two of the ubiquitous alcoholic beverages in Santa Fe are the familiar margarita and the possibly-less-familiar sangria, a fruit cocktail-based concoction incorporating fruit, more commonly associated with Spain and Central America. Most of the better New Mexican restaurants in town have their own house sangria; it goes well with New Mexican cuisine, and is claimed by some to be a useful antidote if the spicy food gets the better of you. It's considered much more of a day-to-day beverage here than in many other places. The high altitude may increase sensitivity to alcohol.

Much of the organic juice consumed in the community is imported from Mexico, and there are also a few microbreweries. If you're sticking with non-alcoholic beverages, a tip: Many local residents advise against having soft drinks with New Mexican food, instead preferring iced tea. This preference is based on the belief that carbonation in drinks (including Cola) tends to accentuate the spiciness of the chile peppers and cause the spicy component to hang around in the throat, while iced tea mutes it. Do the experiment, or at least have your designated driver do it.

Santa_Fe_Railyard_(7729689888) - 350x350px|Santa Fe Railyard - Secreto Lounge 210 Don Gaspar Ave GPS 35.6860,-105.9402 inside the Hotel Street Francis ☎ +1 505 983-5700 . One of the best places for people-watching in all of Santa Fe. The crowd tends to be more sedate here than at some other places. Two great guys to look for here, Daniel and Chris, both award winning mixologists.

Inn on the Alameda - 303 E Alameda Street 35.6847, -105.9328 ☎ +1 505 984-2121 - Included in its rates is an afternoon and Cheese reception, and with its location at the base of Canyon Road, it offers an easy way to relax after a day of gallery-hopping.

Second Street Brewery | 1814 2nd Street 35.6621, -105.9652 ☎ +1 505 982-3030 | Opening Hours: Sunday noon-10PM, Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 11PM for food, later (closing time unspecified) for the bar Brewpub, with live music most evenings Thursday-Sunday and art exhibits (this is Santa Fe, after all) at other times. They've been fined in the past by the state of New Mexico for permitting consumption of drinks off grounds, so they may be sticklers for keeping your drink on-site. There's also a secondary location,
Second Street Brewpub at the Railyard GPS 35.6826,-105.9488, at 1607 Paseo de Peralta #10 (behind the Farmer's Market).

Changes in New Mexico laws during the 1990s led to the development of casinos at a number of nearby American Indian pueblos. The closest to Santa Fe are along US 285 on the way to Pojoaque. Big-name acts occasionally appear and liven up the night life, although you're as likely to catch a falling star on his/her way down-and-out as a current, lively act. The two listed here may run shuttle services connecting to the major in-town hotels; inquire locally as to availability.

Camel Rock Casino US 84/285 GPS 35.8216585,-105.9737155 10 miles north of town ☎ +1-800-462-2635|fax=|hours= -

Cities of Gold - US 84/285 35.8910726, -106.0208029 15 miles north of town in Pojoaque ☎ +1 505 455-3313

Several of the local-style bars can be found on Cerrillos Road and St. Michaels Drive, if you'd prefer to avoid the tourist places. Warning: some of these can get rowdy, and DUI is a problem in the area as well.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Santa Fe (New Mexico)

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

Most Santa Fe hotels, motels and B&Bs are in one of two areas: downtown (near the Palace of the Governors and Plaza) or on Cerrillos Road and the commercial main drag. The distance of the Cerrillos Road hotels from the downtown attractions isn't significant from a purely physical point of view; the most distant ones (near Villa Linda Mall) are still within a couple miles of the downtown area, which can be visited quickly by vehicle or shuttle bus. However and the atmospheric distance is enormous. Downtown has the fabled Santa Fe ambience of a sleepy old Western village frozen in time and transported to the 21st century (with, of course, a few modern amenities and nuisances added, like cars), while Cerrillos Road has the "ambience" of a shopping neighborhood in a suburb of a major city. In compensation, hotels on Cerrillos Road tend to be less expensive on an amenity-for-amenity basis. When deciding where to stay in Santa Fe, give particular thought to the balance of ambience and economy that fits your needs.

"Budget" lodging (if any) will start at less than $75 a night, "Mid-range" from $75 to $150, and "Luxury" greater than $150, with some of the luxury suites, etc., ranging far upward. A warning on the "Budget" and "Mid-range" classifications: Santa Fe hotels and motels are prone to very substantial seasonal variations in availability and price. A hotel that may look like "Mid-range" during off season (spring, fall exclusive of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta week, usually in early October) may be "Luxury" material during ski season and the summer, particularly around significant events such as the Santa Fe Indian Market, Fiesta, opening weekend of the Santa Fe Opera, etc. Of course the converse is true as well, meaning you can stay at a "Luxury" hotel in the off-season months of November through February at a really low price. Check carefully on rates when booking; most of the more important hotels/motels have informative web pages, and better hotels should give you the best price themselves, instead of letting discounters underprice them.

Budget hotels and motels in Santa Fe are few and far between. The economy-rate chains all have franchises in town, but it's not clear that most can really be considered "budget" lodging. Try one and write it up here.

Comfort Suites Santa Fe 3348 Cerrillos Road GPS 35.6476,-106.0021 ☎ +1 505 473-9004 - Checkin: |checkout=. An entirely non-smoking hotel. Complimentary breakfast buffet.

Holiday Inn Express Cerrillos | 3450 Cerrillos Road 35.6466, -106.0050 ☎ +1 505 474-7570 - This one is a long way from downtown, and the "ambience" of Cerrillos Road is nothing to write home about, yet not bad.

Santa Fe International Hostel | 1412 Cerrillos Road 35.6697, -105.9650 ☎ +1 505 988-1153 +Dorms $20, superior Muslim friendly rooms $25-35 plus $10 each additional person, apartment $45-55 noon An independently owned, traditional hostel and boarding house offering dormitory accommodations and superior Muslim friendly rooms. It has been around for several decades and is still going strong. Offers a lot of free food, well beyond a continental breakfast, pay phones, laundry facilities, maps, a lounge, and internet use (for an additional daily fee).

Santa Fe Sage Inn | 725 Cerrillos Road 35.6797, -105.9489 ☎ +1 505 982-5952 +1-866-433-0335 +1 505 984-8879 From $50A no-frills "motor lodge" with surprisingly quiet and comfortable rooms given the low rates. Closer to the downtown attractions than other Cerrillos Road lodging.

Mid-range

There are a number of bed and breakfast establishments beyond the ones shown here. Rates vary not only seasonally but also with the room, as each establishment will have a range of room sizes and accommodations; larger and more luxurious rooms are likely to reach the "Luxury" category. In addition to B&Bs, one can also rent furnished homes, large or small ("casitas") which allows you to prepare at least some of your own meals, and enjoy a little more space, both indoors and outdoors. Here are a couple of agencies, followed by classic bed & breakfast choices.

Alexander's Inn - 529 E Palace Ave 35.6855, -105.9291 ☎ +1 505 986-1431 - Vacation rentals in the downtown area.

AQUI Santa Fe Luxury Vacation Rentals - 17 Bishop's Lodge Trail NA, NA ☎ +1 505 984-8885 - From $200/night A small but select group of luxuriously furnished and equipped houses and casitas, some with art collections, all with gourmet kitchens, Frette bedding, fireplaces, patios or gardens.

Casa Cuma Bed & Breakfast | 105 Paseo de la Cuma 35.6943, -105.9382 ☎ +1 505 216-7516 Checkin - 3PM to 5PM / Check-out: 11AM Nice B&B with mountain views, full hot gourmet breakfast and just 4 blocks to the Plaza.

Pueblo Bonito Inn | 138 West Manhattan Ave 35.6818, -105.9427 ☎ +1 505 984-8001 - Secluded behind its thick adobe walls, Pueblo Bonito Inn is a true historic bed and breakfast.

Zone Rosa Suites | 429 West San Francisco Street 35.6890, -105.9445 ☎ +1 505 988-4455 - One, two and three-bedroom suites, each appointed with a Kiva fireplace, saltillo tile floors, and viga ceilings.

Dunshee's B&B | 986 Acequia Madre 35.6787, -105.9214 ☎ +1 505 982-0988 +1 505 982-1547A small bed and breakfast near the Canyon Road art neighborhood.

El Farolito Bed and Breakfast | 514 Galisteo Street 35.6817, -105.9435 ☎ +1 505 988-1631 +1-888-634-8782 Within easy walking distance of downtown and the Plaza. Authentically furnished casitas and great gourmet breakfasts -- the chicken-and-apple-sausage quiche is worth the trip in and of itself.

El Paradero Bed and Breakfast Inn | 220 West Manhattan Ave 35.6823, -105.9439 ☎ +1 505 988-1177 +1-866-558-0918 On a quiet downtown side street. Gourmet breakfasts and afternoon teas.

Casa Del Toro Santa Fe Bed and Breakfast | 229 McKenzie Street 35.6901, -105.9420 ☎ +1 505 715-6861 +1-866-476-1091A compound of adobe cottages. Hot breakfast served every morning.

Santa Fe Motel & Inn | 510 Cerrillos Road 35.6824, -105.9455 ☎ +1 505 982-1039 +1-800-930-5002 +1 505 986-1275 - Near the Railyard District. Complimentary hot breakfast, free wireless.

Most major hotel chains have franchises in Santa Fe, mainly outside the main tourist areas. A few are removed from downtown on Cerrillos Road, hence have better value-for-dollar if you don't mind the distance:

Hampton Inn 3625 Cerrillos Road GPS 35.6464,-106.0073 ☎ +1 505 474-3900 - Checkin: |checkout=. Notable for accepting (attended) pets.
- Quality Inn | 3011 Cerrillos Road 35.6548, -105.9940 ☎ +1 505 471-1211 - They claim to offer free transportation to the train station, which is no small distance away. Check it out.
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There are many others on Cerrillos Road; non-chain options include:

Inn at Santa Fe 8376 Cerrillos Road GPS 35.6125,-106.0319 ☎ +1 505 474-9500 - Checkin: |checkout=

Several of the classic downtown hotels/lodges approach "Luxury" status, particularly during peak periods, both for their locations and their quality, but a splurge is frequently worth the expense for those who want an authentic Santa Fe experience. A couple of the more reasonably priced ones:

- Don Gaspar Inn 623 Don Gaspar Ave 35.6797, -105.9412 ☎ +1 505 986-8664 +1-888-986-8664 +1 505 986-0696 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: 11PM $105-$355A short walk to the Plaza, galleries, spas, unique shops, and wonderful restaurants. The gardens and courtyards surround the three houses that comprise the Inn and cover half the block. The Inn offers 10 spacious suites and rooms.
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- Inn on the Alameda | 303 E Alameda Street 35.6848, -105.9325 ☎ +1 505 984-2121 +1-888-984-2121 +1 505 986-8325 Price Seasonal rates range from $159 to $599, with January and February being the most affordable time to splurge on a stay at this cozy inn | checkin=4PM / Check-out: 12noon As the closest hotel to the art galleries of Canyon Road and the Inn offers an ideal location for adventuring all the attractions of the Santa Fe Plaza area, with its setting at the edge of one of the city's nicest residential areas. resulting in a more peaceful hotel stay. Spread across three acres, this is downtown Santa Fe's most value-added property, with a lavish complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon and Cheese reception served daily, free parking and wi-fi access, and parking and local and toll-free calls all at no charge. Two pets under 100 pounds are accepted in dedicated pet rooms with a non-refundable nightly deposit.
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- Hotel Santa Fe | 1501 Paseo de Peralta 35.6824, -105.9469 ☎ +1 505 982-1200 +Singles from $99 depending on season A little more distant from the Plaza than some of the others, hence a little less expensive, and still within comfortable walking distance of most of the good stuff.
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- Hilton Santa Fe | 100 Sandoval Street 35.6876, -105.9428 ☎ +1 505 988-2811 +Singles from $129 An old standard, one of the few downtown hotels that doesn't raise its rates during the tourist season. No longer an "elegant" hotel, but not bad at all. A great place for conferences too.
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- Hotel St. Francis | 210 Don Gaspar Ave 35.6862, -105.9401 ☎ +1 505 983-5700 - Atmospheric, and close to the downtown attractions. Good, if sedate, people-watching at the bar (see under "Drink"). On the National Registry of Historic Places. Reflects a Franciscan Missionary style.
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- Lodge at Santa Fe | 750 North St. Francis Dr 35.6987, -105.9542 ☎ +1 505 992-5800 + | checkin=4PM / Check-out: noon Just north of the city but only 3-5 minutes from the Plaza. Every summer they feature the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company live performances. Complimentary shuttle downtown, an onsite restaurant, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, complimentary Wi-Fi, and event spaces.
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Bishop's Lodge Resort - 1297 Bishop's Lodge Road 35.7313, -105.9100 north of town ☎ +1 505 983-6377 - Rates from $199, seasonal variations

Closed for renovations until 2019. A full-service resort in the beautiful Tesuque Valley features horseback riding, spa, tennis courts, summer children's programs,and more in a peaceful setting away from the hubbub of the Plaza, but not so far away as to be inconvenient. Complimentary shuttle to and from the Plaza.

Eldorado Hotel & Spa | 309 West San Francisco Street 35.6885, -105.9421 two blocks west of the Plaza ☎ +1 505 988-4455 - A large and spectacular property convenient to the downtown attractions. Rooms are well done and atmospheric. The Old House restaurant was honored as Zagat's top pick for dining in New Mexico. Lively lounge with frequent live entertainment, and many amenities. Nidah Spa is in the hotel.

Inn and Spa at Loretto | 211 Old Santa Fe Trail 35.6853, -105.9371 ☎ +1 505 988-5531 +From $229, with substantial seasonal variations Art galleries and a full service day spa, in addition to the lodging.

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi | 113 Washington Ave 35.6881, -105.9371 just northeast of the Plaza ☎ +1 505 988-3030 - Rooms from $200, seasonal variations This four-star Santa Fe luxury hotel offers fine dining, a business center, and Southwestern style boutique accommodations.

La Fonda Hotel | 100 E San Francisco Street 35.6867, -105.9379 on the Plaza, at the end of the Santa Fe Trail ☎ +1 505 982-5511 +Rooms from $219, with (atypically for downtown hotels) no seasonal adjustments; occasional package deals - The quintcrucial Santa Fe hotel, with the Plaza on one corner, beautiful Saint Francis Gothic Church across the street, and several interesting and not-too-tourist shops on the premises. They have their own parking garage, no small advantage in the downtown area.

La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa | 330 E Palace Ave 35.6862, -105.9334 ☎ +1 505 986-0000 +1-866-331-7625 157-room boutique resort and full-service spa offering adobe-style rooms and suites, many with fireplaces and patios. Downtown and two blocks from the historic Plaza, art galleries, and shopping.

Camping Places

There are several commercial campgrounds in town ({{marker* Los Campos de Santa Fe RV Resort GPS 35.6447,-106.0059, {{marker* Rancheros de Santa Fe GPS 35.5460,-105.8632, {{marker* Santa Fe KOA GPS 35.5469,-105.8362, {{marker* Santa Fe Skies RV Park GPS 35.5886,-106.0421), but the camping is much more rewarding along the road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. There are several campgrounds in Santa Fe National Forest on this road, and there is also good camping at the very pretty {{marker* Hyde Memorial State Park GPS 35.730,-105.834 between forest and city. If you're planning on using the national-forest or Hyde Park campsites, make sure you have enough clothing and bedding to stay warm; they're in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and get cold at night.

Stay Safe

Santa Fe is a fairly safe city as regards violent crime, despite the widely publicized occurrence of occasional hate crimes. In reality and the crime rate, with the exception of residential burglary (a definite problem in town but one unlikely to affect the traveler), is not high compared to other American communities of comparable size, and the visitor is very unlikely to have any crime-related problems. Some of the bars can get a little rough, with ethnic tensions frequently a factor despite the city's multicultural nature; simply don't stir up trouble and you should be OK. Otherwise, public areas are generally very safe, and are well yet unobtrusively patrolled by the city police.

Much more of a problem is automobile safety, for several reasons. Many of the roads were built during a slower-paced, less-populous time, and lack the carrying capacity for the current crowds. Northern New Mexico has serious problems with drunk driving, and Santa Fe is not exempt from these, particularly late at night. Another factor is an inexplicably high density of bad drivers and/or decrepit vehicles with poorly secured cargo; natives often speak of having a "New Mexico moment" when something falls off the back of a pickup or trailer and into the roadway in front of an unsuspecting driver. This is a good place to training your defensive driving, particularly along St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road (the intersection of these two has been voted the most dangerous intersection in all of New Mexico). Running red lights is one of the state pastimes, and reaches its zenith in Santa Fe; be extremely vigilant when pulling away from an intersection when the light changes. On the positive side, most motorists are fairly tolerant (if not always aware) of pedestrians and bicyclists.

Finally, be alert for signs of health problems associated with high altitude, particularly if you venture out of town toward the mountains. The most common problems are headache and/or feeling tired may occur, drinking more water or going to lower altitude may help (a trip down La Bajada to the reservoir will usually do it). Also pay attention during hikes and bike rides, remember you are at 7,000 feet—sunscreen is important, even in the winter. The dryness of the air combined with physical exertion will often leave you not sweating through your clothes even if it's 85 degrees out, and many people won't realize they are working hard without that. Dehydration is a common issue for visitors—bring more water than you might otherwise. Some visitors report increased sensitivity to alcohol due to the altitude.

Telecommunications in Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Santa Fe Baking Company and Pyramid Cafe (see above under Eat) also claim to offer free wireless access. Most of the major hotels offer wideband service to guests.

Java Joe's. Coffeehouse first, Internet cafe second.

Java Joe's Southside 2801 Rodeo Road GPS 35.638856,-105.9832039 ☎ +1 505 474-5282 - Hours: Monday to Friday 6AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 6AM Monday - 5PM, Sunday 7AM Monday - 5PM -

Java Joe's Siler - 1248 SiLER Road 35.6586622, -105.9934981 ☎ +1 505 930-5763 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 6PM, Saturday 8AM Monday - 1PM

Cope

Ten Thousand Waves Japanese Spa and Resort 3451 Hyde Park Road GPS 35.7176,-105.8901 on the way to the Santa Fe Ski Basin ☎ +1 505 982-9304 . A Japanese Spas|bathhouse with communal and private hot tubs, body wraps, several schools of massage, facials, etc., that can feel incredibly good after a day of skiing. Reservations strongly recommended, and mandatory if you're getting a private massage or comparable treatments. Mainly a "day spa," but there are a small number of rooms for overnight stays, in the "Mid-range" to "Luxury" class.
- The Spa at Loretto - 211 Old Santa Fe Trail 35.6852799, -105.9374251 ☎ +1 505 984-7997 - Full-service day spa at the Inn at Loretto.
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- Tone 901 W. San Mateo Road ☎ +1 505 989-8552 - Advertises itself as "Body and Face for Women;" more massage, facials, etc. Several of the hotels in town also offer spa services.
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More pedestrian resources for the traveler (laundromats, grocery stores, auto repair shops, etc.) tend to congregate along St. Francis Drive, St. Michaels Drive and Cerrillos Road. If you look for these services downtown (Plaza area), you'll pay extra for them without getting anything special in terms of goods and services; get away from the glamour neighborhood and save some money.
SpaNomad ☎ +1 505 490-0591 . A mobile massage service featuring Indian head massage, Hawaiian lomi lomi, (Thai) massage, body wraps and several other styles of massage in your own hotel or vacation rental. Mainly a "traveling spa," but SpaNomad also has trainings in Indian head massage and provides massage at several local events.

News & References Santa Fe (New Mexico)

Travel Next

Native Americana

Potters_hands - San Ildefonso Pueblo pottery

One of the major contributors to Santa Fe's fame is the large number of American Indian New Mexico Pueblos|Pueblos (towns) nearby. Several are important centers for folk art; most permit visitors at dances and other tribal ceremonial events; and from a more contemporary perspective, several host casinos with gambling, night life, etc. There are also, however, some pueblos that jealously guard the privacy of their residents and admit visitors only grudgingly, if at all. Nearly all pueblos charge a fee for photography, video, sketching, etc., as an attempt to mitigate the impact of tourism on the private life of the inhabitants. For more detailed info on each pueblo, see the New Mexico Pueblos page.

Among the nearby pueblos, Cochiti Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo are southwest of town off I-25, both centers of folk art, with Santo Domingo excellent for pottery and jewelry. North of town and there are a couple of pueblos along US 84/285; Tesuque is the closest to Santa Fe and has a casino, but the pueblo itself is closed to the public. Continuing north takes you to Pojoaque, which has an interesting museum and gaudy casino. Further beyond off the primary street is Nambe Pueblo, which has a pleasant campground and waterfall, while San Ildefonso Pueblo is off the primary street to Los Alamos and is a major pottery center. More pueblos are in the vicinity of Española (New Mexico)|Española and Taos even further north.

Other

Kasha-Katuwe_Tent_Rocks_NM_(9406466737) - 350x350px|Scenery at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Taos, known for its art colony and the iconic Taos Pueblo, as well as a superb downhill ski area, is about a two hour drive north of Santa Fe. The trip up is quite scenic, with a couple excellent drives feasible; see the North Central New Mexico#Scenic drives|North Central New Mexico page for detailed directions.
Pecos (New Mexico)|Pecos is a small town about 20 miles east of Santa Fe just off I-25, and is the home of the Pecos National Historic Park, a small NPS site that preserves the ruins of an abandoned Indian pueblo and Spanish mission from the 17th century, as well as the Glorieta Pass Battlefield, site of a major Civil War battle in the West.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is just south of town near Cochiti Lake in the Central New Mexico|central region, and is covered in that region's article. Many guidebooks of the area omit this little gem, which is open for day use ($5/vehicle) and includes a trail through a short but spectacular bit of slot canyon. Highly recommended for the hiker with half a day to spend.
A trip to Los Alamos and nearby Bandelier National Monument is a great excursion from Santa Fe. If you want to make a day of it, you can continue on into the Jemez Mountains and Valles Caldera National Preserve (plan ahead, as the Preserve's more interesting activities require advance reservations).
If you're not tired of the art scene by the time you leave, head south on SR 14 to Madrid (New Mexico)|Madrid, an old mining town turned art colony, significantly lower-key than Santa Fe itself. Albuquerque lies beyond, with its own attractions; getting to Albuquerque via SR 14 is slower than the direct route on I-25, but compensates with far reduced traffic and nice scenery.

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Santa Fe (New Mexico)

From Halal Explorer

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