5 Best Hotels in Outside the Plaza, Santa Fe

This sumptuous yet relaxed Relais & Chateaux hotel has an unmistakable East-meets-West feel, fitting right in with the kind of memorable lodgings you hear about in Morocco and Bali. All of the roomy suites have vibrantly colorful Asian and Latin American antiques and art, Kilim rugs, and jewel-tone throw pillows. The owners, who have a long history in Santa Fe as importers of antiques and textiles, have a wonderful eye for decorating. All rooms have woodburning fireplaces, and several have private porches or balconies. Great care has been taken in designing the fabulous bathrooms. Outfitted with bright mosaic tiles, semiprecious-stone inlays, plush Frette linens, and exclusive Bamford bath products, these spacious bathrooms have double sinks and separate showers (and in some cases steam showers). Parties traveling together can book the exclusive 2,000 square-foot Luminaria Villa, with two master suites and the most stunning chef's kitchen you're likely to experience in a hotel. The personal service stands out: treats are left on your pillow and minibar items are complimentary as are afternoon drinks and breakfast. The gardens, pool, and hot tub areas abound with lush plants, gurgling fountains, and cozy nooks. A spa offers massages, facials, and other wellness treatments.

All the beautiful Southwestern and Mexican furniture in this small, upscale compound is custom-made, and all the art and photography is original. Rooms are spacious and pleasant with fireplaces and separate entrances; some are in their own little buildings. El Farolito has a peaceful Downtown location, just steps from the capitol and about a 10-minute walk to the Plaza. The same owners run the smaller Four Kachinas inn, which is close by and has one handicapped-accessible room (rare among smaller Santa Fe properties). The breakfast here is a real treat, featuring a tempting range of delicious baked goods.

In the 1920s, poet Witter Bynner played host to an eccentric circle of artists and intellectuals, as well as some wild parties in his mid-19th-century Spanish–Pueblo Revival home, which is now a superb bed-and-breakfast with a great location a few blocks from the capitol; in sum, it's the quintessential Santa Fe inn. Rooms are simple, traditional Southwestern style with carved wood furniture and plush linens. The inn's style preserves the building's historic integrity, starting with the lodge-like lobby and extending throughout the lush, terraced grounds with gardens and comfy seating areas. You might sleep in the room where D. H. Lawrence or Willa Cather slept, or perhaps in Robert Oppenheimer's room.

It's a pleasant 10-minute walk west of the Plaza to reach this group of properties consisting of a few historic, luxurious compounds, one of them Spanish Pueblo–style adobe, another done in the Territorial style, and others ranging from rooms in renovated Victorian houses to contemporary condos with up to three bedrooms. A network of brick paths shaded by mature trees leads through these buildings, connecting them with secluded courtyards and flower gardens. All units have fireplaces, microwaves, and refrigerators (and full kitchens in some cases), and individual art and handcrafted furnishings, and rates include an extensive continental breakfast. It's an elegant alternative to the city's upscale full-service hotels, affording guests a bit more privacy and the feel of a private cottage rental—though it is managed by the Hotel Santa Fe.

Rooms in this reasonably priced 1873 adobe compound have handmade and hand-painted furnishings, Navajo weavings, brick and hardwood floors, sand paintings and pottery, locally carved santos (Catholic saints), and Western art. All have kiva fireplaces and private entrances, and many have kitchens. Breakfast is served in the convivial main dining room with lots of fresh fruits and yogurt, baked goods, cereals, coffee, and teas, but the standout features are red chile pork tamales and hearty green chile chicken stew. The Plaza and the Railyard District are both a short walk away.