Inn at Vanessie

The mid-range Inn at Vanessie offers 19 rooms and suites spread through two buildings, two blocks from the Plaza. The location makes it easy for guests to explore the area’s many restaurants and shops on foot -- though the on-site restaurant, occupying a handsome, historic building next to the Inn, is a great option as well, especially once the nightly live cabaret performers, jazz musicians, or pianists take the stage. While the restaurant/bar/lounge is the property's main common area, there is also a brick courtyard with cushioned adobe benches, shaded by a vine-covered arbor, plus open hallways lined with wooden seating and dangling clusters of dried chiles. The decor and layouts of the rooms vary, but all have charming Southwestern decor. Note that there are no elevators, so guests with mobility issues should request first-floor accommodations.

The Inn at Vanessie is located two blocks from the Plaza, putting guests within easy walking distance of Santa Fe’s cultural hub. The Railyard shopping district is also easily visited on foot.Santa Fe means “Holy Faith” in Spanish and is home to about 85,000 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: It was founded in 1607. From the hotel, it is a 10-minute walk to the Palace of the Governors -- the oldest continuously occupied public building in the U.S.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 Cochiti or Tesuque (15-minute drive from the hotel), 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 one of the nation’s largest markets for buying and selling art. In addition to the many galleries and studios at the Plaza and along Canyon Road (a 10-minute drive from the hotel), several museums including the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (showcasing the painter’s long relationship with New Mexico) celebrate the creative spirit in Santa Fe.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 hotel is a 20-minute drive from Santa Fe Municipal Airport and a 75-minute drive from Albuquerque International Airport.

All 19 rooms and suites at the Vanessie have a unique design based on traditional Southwestern style: The decor consistently includes Native American rugs and pottery, framed black-and-white photos of the region, and other works of regional art. Red-brick or wood floors and rough-hewn wood furniture add to the cozy New Mexico atmosphere. Some rooms have extras like poster beds, daybeds, sunrooms, patios, and adobe fireplaces. All rooms have HDMI flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers with free coffee and tea, mini-fridges, and free bottled water. Beds are made up with Frette linens and goose-down duvets and bathrooms feature cotton bathrobes and slippers, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, and either a shower/tub combos or a walk-in shower. Additionally, rooms have dimmer lights, individually controlled air-conditioning and heat, and free Wi-Fi.

As a small boutique inn, Vanessie offers a small list of features. Its biggest is its restaurant, which occupies a lovely adobe building, adjacent to the inn, with skylit wood-beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and warm peach-toned walls. Called Fenix at Vanessie, the restaurant serves Mediterranean-influenced cuisine in a casual atmosphere for dinner. The restaurant's piano bar can seat 150 people, and features nightly entertainment, like jazz bands and cabaret singers, plus live piano music four nights a week.The hotel's free breakfast includes yogurt, cereals, bagels and cream cheese, pastries, and coffee. Hot items like waffles and omelets can be ordered separately for a fee. Room service is not available.A small fitness center features cardio machines and free weights, and there is a hot tub for guest use. Wi-Fi and self-parking are both free.