Inn of the Anasazi, A Rosewood Hotel

New Mexico
United States

The Experience

If the vibe feels good here, there's a reason. A Franciscan priest and a Pueblo medicine man both blessed the site. And it’s not just the vibe that’s special: Since only locally sourced natural materials were used to create this 1990 paean to Southwestern style in the heart of Santa Fe, you'd swear it was the handiwork of a Pueblo tribe from the last century. Through massive hand-carved doors are textiles hanging on sandstone walls, baskets on shelves and cacti in terra-cotta pots.

The Rooms

Size isn't the reason to stay here: The smallest "traditional" rooms start at a snug 300 square feet, and even deluxe rooms top out at 500 square feet, though all include a king-size bed and a gas-lit kiva fireplace. In fact, every element is designed to create a homey mood, making a stay here the next best thing to owning your own hacienda. A comprehensive refurbishment in summer of 2007 saw all 57 guest rooms enhanced with ceilings of vigas and latillas, gas-lit kiva fireplaces and handcrafted western fabrics used in flooring and seating. New sandstone walls were also built, covered with native rugs and given additional illumination to convey a contemporary design found on time-honored local design principles.

The Service

The relaxed and warm staff prides itself on the individual attention you'd hope for from a property this small. Everyone is enthusiastic about Santa Fe and its culture: You'll meet local historians and archaeologists who give fireside talks, and if you come with the family, you can park the kids with the Native American storyteller (or a babysitter) while Fido munches on special biscuits from the pastry chef.

The Highlights

This isn't the kind of place where you relax out by the pool before going for a spa treatment—there's neither. Rather, grab a book from the library's collection on Southwestern art, history or culture and settle into the leather couch under the wood-beamed ceiling. Then head to the Anasazi restaurant, where chef Martin Rios combines Southwestern cuisine with Asian and French influences. It's a unique combination for Santa Fe, but he makes it work using organic local produce and serving his creations on hand-hewn tables.

 

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