Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe

From its distinctive decor to its unique cuisine, this charming hotel pays homage to the historic village of Chimayo, located about 30 miles north of Santa Fe. Founded in the 1600s, the village of Chimayo has long-held artistic and culinary traditions that are reflected in the ornamentation and menus featured at the hotel. Lobby and room adornments include ornate tinwork, photographs, woven blankets, paintings, and hand-carved furniture created by artists from Chimayo. Artisanal decor is also featured at the restaurant, where even the cuisine is inspired by the historic village -- the chef uses chiles harvested from the fields of Chimayo, plus other ingredients from the Santa Fe farmers' market.Inside the lobby the feel of rural old New Mexico pervades the room -- with wood beams in the ceilings, red tile floors, wrought iron chandeliers, and a brick fireplace with decorative tilework. The adjacent Low ‘n Slow Lowrider Bar is a fun concept lounge with classic car decor and many large photos of low rider vehicles. Both the bar and restaurant have outdoor seating to take advantage of New Mexico’s sunny weather.Beyond the lobby, the intimate courtyard leads to the rooms and is attractively designed with more artwork, potted flowers, and a large crucifix. The crucifix is a theme repeated throughout the rooms and hotel to evoke the historic, picturesque church located in the village of Chimayo. A portion of revenue generated by the hotel is donated to the Chimayo Cultural Preservation Association.

Hotel Chimayo is located one block from the Plaza -- Santa Fe's shopping and cultural center -- giving guests the chance to walk to the many attractions that surround the historic square. This also means that there is near-constant foot traffic going to and fro in front of the hotel which makes for great people-watching from the front steps. The location does come at a price however, as guests must pay (as part of the resort fee) for hotel's underground parking.Santa Fe means “Holy Faith” in Spanish and is home to about 84,000 people of varying cultural backgrounds including Hispanics, Native Americans, and Anglos. New Mexico’s fourth-largest city is also the nation’s highest capitol and its oldest -- at 400 years and counting.The “City Different,” as it’s known, sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet at the southern edge of the Rockies, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Although the cool summer hiking and skiing in winter offer great reasons to visit, it’s best to keep in mind that the high elevation also means more stress for the body while acclimating. Most people become used to the thinner air after two or three days which means that strenuous physical activity will become easier and less dangerous if you wait a day or two after arriving in town. One more caution: one alcoholic drink at this altitude will equal three drinks at sea level!The Spanish influence seen so often throughout Santa Fe stems from the missionaries who arrived in the 1600s to convert the local Native American population. Old missions such as the San Miguel can be seen scattered across New Mexico and offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history. Often times, these missions are located at or near Native American pueblos, such as Tesuque or Cochiti, which are home to the various Pueblo peoples. Visiting New Mexico’s pueblos offers a chance to interact with the locals, purchase art and wares, and gain a better appreciation of New Mexico’s rich history.Today, Santa Fe is the nation’s third-largest market for buying and selling art. In addition to the many galleries at the Plaza and along Canyon Road (10-minute drive from the hotel), several museums including the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum (showcasing the painter’s long relationship with New Mexico) celebrate the creative spirit in Santa Fe. Both the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum are a five-minute walk from the hotel. It's also a five-minute walk to the Palace of the Governors, oldest continuously occupied public building in the nation. Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe is about an hour's drive from Albuquerque International Sunport, and a 20-minute drive from Santa Fe Municipal Airport.

The Chimayo offers 56 rooms and suites that are among the largest in Santa Fe (between 400-800 square feet). In addition to ample space, they offer decor inspired by the village of Chimayo (much of it actually handcrafted by Chimayo artists), such as crucifixes, chandeliers fitted with candle-like lights, and handcrafted wood furniture. Though room decor is resolutely Old World, modern amenities -- flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, Wi-Fi (covered by mandatory resort fee) -- are in attendance. Beds feature sumptuous Frette linens. Bathrooms feature a few decorative tiles and C.O. Bigelow toiletries. Some rooms offer wood-burning fireplaces, private balconies, and kitchenettes. Upgrading to the Santo Nino Family Suite gets you two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenette, a small sitting area with a fireplace, and a private balcony. The Santiago Presidential Suite features a separate living room, dining room, full kitchen, and large balcony. Additional rooms can be added as needed.

Hotel Chimayo's second-floor restaurant offers traditional and contemporary New Mexican cuisine flavored with chile peppers grown in the namesake village. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Sunday. Room service is not available. The adjacent Low n' Slow Lowrider Bar offers comfort food with a New Mexican twist (green chile cheeseburgers, enchiladas with calabacitas and pinto beans), along with an extensive wine list and signature cocktails, open daily. Both the restaurant and bar have open-air patios for outdoor seating.One of the hotel's most notable features is its extensive collection of beautiful handicrafts created by artists from the village of Chimayo, but the property lacks most amenities typical of an upper-middle-range hotel, for example, there is no pool, fitness center, spa. Hotel Chimayo's mandatory resort fee (which covers Wi-Fi, self-parking in the underground garage, and newspapers in the lobby) includes free hourly shuttle service to sister properties Eldorado Hotel & Spa and The Lodge at Santa Fe, where guests can use the pool, and the fitness center at Eldorado. The resort fee also includes free walking tours of Santa Fe, which are offered every Saturday, May through October.