Food & Drink

• La Choza - Beloved locally. This is the sister restaurant to the more touristy version, The Shed, off the plaza.  

• Maria's - This place is my favorite for NM food in Santa.  I love sitting in the bar and eating some green chile stew with a margarita.

• Sweetwater - Great cafe that's very health forward, all organic, lots of gluten free, etc.  Good for brunch.

• Iconik - Two locations.  I like the one on Lupe - they have a nice backyard and lots of outdoor seating.

• The Pantry: The big breakfast spot. 

• Vinaigrette: Can't go wrong, especially after all the enchiladas you'll be eating. 

• El Farol: The place to go after gallery hopping on Canyon Road.  Good bar scene too.

• The Teahouse: Canyon Road and fun for just a tea, but nice lighter fare also available. 

• Cowgirl: This place has a great bar and live music and dancing.  Basic American/NM food.  Good spot.  

• The Bell Tower Bar: rooftop. It's right off the plaza and a really nice place to enjoy a sunset.

• La Posada: This is another famous hotel. Super historic with a fab bar, great outdoor seating. It's "haunted" and I saw Diane Keaton there as a kid (haha!!)

About Town

• Walk around the plaza. I assume that the Natives will be set up along the wall with jewelry in a centuries-long tradition and there are nice stores surrounding the walk about. Very fun. I highly recommend walking upstairs to see Shiprock Santa Fe, which has museum-quality textiles and jewelry and often has an art exhibit up. The other place I love for Santa Fe antiques is also right off the plaza, The Rainbow Man.  

• Kowboyz is a used boot shop near the Railyards, which is a fun stop-in. The Railyards has a lot more shopping and it's all walkable from the Plaza.

• Canyon Road - This is the famous street that houses most of the galleries. I recommend checking out Gerald Peters, Nedra Mateucci, Acosta Strong, and Turner Carroll. There are many good ones not mentioned, of course, and just walking the street is a great activity. 

• Dale Ball Trail System - You can access these from a number of entrances, one of which is right at the top of Canyon Road. They are super accessible and nice. 

Museums

• Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

• Museum of International Folk Art - This is maybe the most renowned of them all and has the international folk art market event attached to it, which may have heard about.

• New Mexico History Museum

• New Mexico Museum of Art - Easy and fast to get through.

• Georgia O'Keefe Museum 

Day Trips

• Ghost Ranch/Abiquiu - Amazing hiking and the homestead of Georgia O'Keefe is here.  It's stunning. 

• Ojo Caliente - Famous hot springs and spa just north of Santa Fe.  They should be open by Memorial Day.  Their sister property is apparently super awesome too and a little closer into town.  I haven't yet been there, though.  Ojo Santa Fe. 

• Chimayó - The Santuario de Chimayo is so gorgeous and the drive up there is just beautiful.  The holy dirt draws pilgrims from everywhere.  There's also a restaurant there that has traditional pueblo food including natillas, a vanilla pudding.  Also in Chimayó is the family-run looms of Ortega's.  These clothes and Chimayó weavings are internationally known and the older stuff is very valuable.  You can actually ask them to operate the old looms for you at the shop in the town.  

• Nambe Pueblo.  You'll see the store around the plaza, the town is just north of the city too.  You can also access the high road to Taos right here near Nambe/Chimayo, and it's a great day trip, but you might want to do Taos on another trip.

• Tent Rocks - National Monument with a great hike through the canyon and rock formations.  (South of Santa Fe)

• Bandelier National Monument - Cave dwellings and 140-foot ascent to the ceremonial kiva. (North of Santa Fe)