Where to go in Santa Fe
Dinner at Radish and Rye. The most “LA” restaurant in SF. Delicious food and cocktails.
Hike the Tsankawi Pueblo. About 25 minutes outside of town. You can see a Highlight Story on my insta but it’s easy and beautiful. You really see the way the natives lived on pueblos. Closer than Tent Rocks but that’s super cool too. Lots of amazing hikes but Tsankawi is a must. Google map to it and park on the road. Bandolier National Park is incredible.
Shopping on the Plaza, I’ve named a few favorites below but really pop into all you can, some are weird but always little gems. SO MANY SHOPS in so many blocks in the area.
If you are there on Saturday, you must go to the Farmer’s Market, best in the country. You can watch them roast the green chiles and the peach rhubarb hand pies are delicious. They always have a cute band. There is also a very cute park near there for the kids, concrete slides coming out of walls and fun sand play.
Massages and soaks and mud bath at Ojo Caliente (a little more hippie) or more local Ten Thousand Waves (a little more luxe, no kids). Ten Thousand Waves also has a Japanese restaurant.
Chocolate at Kakawa House, seriously amazing. The Aztec hot chocolate is wow and the brownies are my favorite. Also the Pinon chocolate… I could go on and on.
Canyon Road for quirky art galleries and a store called La Boheme for gorgeous Mexican clothing. There is also an old school, fine dining restaurant called Geronimo at the top of Canyon Road that is dark and romantic. Also The Compound on Canyon Road is good too.
The Tea House on Canyon Road for lunch/mid-day, great cookies.
Stop by Modern General on Cerrilos for a cute store and fresh juice and baked goods. Amazing avocado toast. Favorite spot for breakfast. The Basil Coconut smoothie is perfection. Avocado toast and the hot cakes.
* Brunch at Pasquales, there will be a wait but it’s worth it.
* Rainbow Man (I always see Ali McGraw when I go here, she’s a regular) is great for good vintage turquoise and Edward S. Curtis photographs, he was a brilliant documentarian of Native Americans.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu for Georgia’s homes and gorgeous red canyons.
* Keshi across from the St. Francis Hotel for authentic Zuni art, jewelry and carvings. My favorite store in SF.
* Andrea Fischer fine pottery. THE BEST pottery from the working Pueblos.
*Sun Country Traders has good (mostly new) Navajo jewelry and crafts. Cute baby booties.
* The Shed for old school New Mexican lunch. I also really like Casa Chimayo for down and dirty old school New Mex. Tomasita’s is fun but always crowded and overrated in my opinion.
Taco Fundacion is a must. Veggie tacos are best I’ve ever had and the soft serve Mexican Vanilla ice cream is delicious.
Dolina across from Taco Fundacion is another great organic lunch spot with delicious pastries and cookies.
Tune-Up Cafe is delicious too for lunch and total hippie/local place in a old part of town. Their pupusas are yum. A bit off the normal path.
Shake Foundation for burgers/fries and great Green Chile stew, next to Modern General. Very good stew, spicy! Best French fries.
Opuntia for breakfast or lunch is super cute near the El Rey Inn. Very good food. Pretty place.
Go to the El Rey at night for a cocktail. Bar is called La Reina.
Shiprock Santa Fe for out of this world vintage turquoise and the holy grail of Navajo rugs!
Meow Wolf is an art exhibit that is interesting and hyper pop-modern. It’s like secret doors and tunnels and crawling through closets to get to neon rooms. It’s a little wacky but an experience. Also, SITE Santa Fe is great for contemporary art and I love the Folk Art Museum as well.
Go to the Loretto Chapel and see the magical staircase. It’s a beautiful sight and truly unbelievable if you like historic church culture.
Santa Fe Vintage on Palace. Best vintage ever. Scott Corey is the owner and he’s such a rad dude. You will want it all.
Tour the Acoma Pueblo if you have time, outside of Albuquerque. True appreciation for the Natives and their way of life. It’s a full half day and you will need reservations.
Palace of the Governors on the plaza. Where all the Natives come down from reservations to sell their wares. Some things are really inexpensive and some aren’t. You can bargain here with them and find some gems. Some of it is not our style, but great to support those makers.
La Reina at El Rey for cocktails, Secreto Bar in the St. Francis for a cocktail, Tonic for cocktails.
* notes located on the Plaza. The Plaza has fun food carts and music acts depending on when you go and there are streets and streets of shops and museums.
Image via santafe.org