Hotel description

Set foot inside La Posada’s six-acre compound and you might have difficulty believing that you’re still in both the city and the desert. Perhaps that’s because the beautifully landscaped property, with tropical flowers lining shaded pathways and leafy vines climbing up stucco walls, resembles a lush secret garden, and despite the calm, it’s within walking distance of Santa Fe’s gallery scene and (exceedingly mellow) nightlife.

They’ve got the yin-and-yang concept down, to be sure, at this 157-room resort that’s both sophisticated and rustic: the resort’s flagship is the stately 19th-century Staab House mansion and carriage house, which stands in contrast to the surrounding cluster of down-to-earth adobe casitas done up in warm earth tones and local artwork. After serving as an artists’ haven for several decades, the estate was acquired and renovated by RockResorts in the late 1990s, and the boutique chain’s philosophy of elegance and informal luxury in the great outdoors has done wonders for a property that was lovely to begin with.

Guest quarters, quiet and cottage-like, feature traditional Southwestern details like wood-beamed ceilings, pueblo-style fireplaces, and hand-carved furniture; contemporary amenities include wireless internet access, fine linens, Starbucks coffee, and gourmet bath products from the resort’s Avanyu spa. A range of specialty suites and guest rooms offer extras like separate living areas, antique billiards tables, private patios, and photography by New Mexican artists.

La Posada’s Fuego is one of Santa Fe’s top restaurants, noted for its wine selection and spicy cuisine served in either a romantic setting under the stars or in the cozy-chic dining room. Cocktails in the historic Staab House are a favorite with both hotel guests and well-heeled locals, ideal for unwinding after a visit to the nearby Canyon Road and the Georgia O’Keeffe gallery.

How to get there:

La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa is approximately a 1 hour drive from Albuquerque International Airport and 20 minutes from Santa Fe Airport. Several shuttle services provide transportation between the Albuquerque Airport and La Posada de Santa Fe 7 to 10 times a day.