Santa Fe, New Mexico: An Insider’s Guide to Spring & Summer

• Visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. This museum presents a beautifully curated journey through the artistic life of Santa Fe’s own O’Keeffe. Works include some of her very earliest pre–New Mexico work to masterworks from her final artistic stage.

• Visit Museum Hill. Four fantastic museums share the grounds on Museum Hill, and across the street is the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. You can do it in a day, or break it into two half-days (recommended).

  • Museum of International Folk Art. This museum features, among other interesting displays, the amazing collection of Alexander H Girard, who traveled the world collecting Indigenous arts and crafts from around the world.

  • Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. This museum displays Indigenous New Mexican arts and crafts from ancient (figurines dating back 13,000 years) to today’s modern Native American artwork.

  • Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian spotlights both contemporary and traditional Native American art. The exhibitions are housed in an eight-sided building, a nod to the traditional Hogan homes used by the Diné (Navajo) people.

  • Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to Nuevo Mexicano heritage arts. The collection focuses on regional artworks while including historic pieces from around the world for comparative purposes.

• Visit El Alamo Winery. We happened across this little one-person operation winery. Owner/winemaker Joseph Martinez gave us a wonderful tour of his place—and an even better tasting! We left with seven bottles and a membership to the wine club. Because he ferments many of his reds in used bourbon barrels (clever idea!), they are smooth, round, and distinct. You do need to make a reservation.

• Window shop (or really shop!) on Canyon Road. The galleries on Canyon Road have established reputations with major art collectors, art fairs, and museums throughout the country. See for yourself why Canyon Road continues to attract major collectors who know art and where to find the finest.

• Soar in a hot-air balloon. The ballooning season runs from May through October. My first time provided the right balance of anxiousness, exhilaration, and awe.

• Take a hike. Take in the natural beauty. One joy of Santa Fe is getting out of Santa Fe and into the stunning natural wonders all around. I use the AllTrails app to pick a trail that suits my body and spirit on any particular day. Choose from the short and easily accessible Ancestral Sites Trail in Pecos National Historical Park to the difficult and rewarding Santa Fe Baldy via the Windsor Trail in the Santa Fe National Forest.

• Take a day trip. Santa Fe is near some great sites. Consider a day trip to Bandelier National Monument, with ancient cliff dwellings and scenic trails (one hour away); take a breathtaking drive through mountain villages, churches, and artist studios on the High Road to Taos; experience the natural hot springs and spa at Ojo Caliente or Ten Thousand Waves; or drive to Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch and see Georgia O’Keeffe’s landscapes come to life. Or do it all!

Best breakfast places

• Café Pasqual’s: Cafe Pasqual’s has served creative, organic, and scratch-made breakfasts blending Mexican and American influences for over 40 years. Our favorite dishes include the chorizo breakfast burrito and huevos motuleños. We love the vibrant, art-filled space and commitment to fresh ingredients.

• Tia Sophia’s: Tia Sophia’s is a no-frills, authentic local experience with consistently good and generous Northern New Mexican dishes on a very affordable menu. We love the family feel and casual atmosphere. While Tia Sophia's stays open through lunch, it is best known for its breakfast service. After all, it is the birthplace of the breakfast burrito! Note: there is no patio or alcohol.

• Tune-Up Café: Known for flavorful breakfast burritos and a family-friendly vibe, Tune-Up Cafe blends Mexican and American breakfast classics. It provides good service and a cozy atmosphere.

• Also worth considering: Clafoutis (classic French bakery and café), Plaza Café (American and Southwest), Dolina (Eastern European), Mille (French), and Sunrise Family Restaurant (traditional American).

Best casual & authentic New Mexican cuisine

• Tres Colores: Tres Colores serves fantastic and authentic New Mexico food in a warm and casual environment. The mole is made by co-owner Rosario, because, as her husband, co-owner and host Pedro says, “She is the only one with the patience to make it.” Her patience shows, as it is some of the best we’ve ever tasted. Prepare to be seated, get a menu, then approach the counter when ready to order. Food is delivered to the table. Order a couple of margaritas, grab an appetizer, and prepare for some great food and drink.

• Pantry Restaurants (three locations): A Santa Fe staple for over 65 years (and also deserving of being on the best breakfast list), we love The Pantry. Pantry Rio and Pantry Dos provide a casual diner atmosphere; reliable, filling, and hearty meals; and comforting options like breakfast sandwiches with green chile and chicken-fried steak.

• Torogoz Restaurant: A very laid-back restaurant serving generous portions of excellent Mexican and Salvadorian food with warm, friendly, and professional staff. The fajitas are extremely good, and the margaritas are well-crafted, relatively small, and noticeably potent.

• Also worth considering: Tomasita’s (classic Mexican) La Choza and The Shed (sister restaurants with authentic Southwestern cuisine), El Comel (authentic home-style cooking), and Tia Sophia’s (see above).

Best fine dining

• Sazón: James Beard–winning chef Fernando Olea’s Sazón delivers refined Mexican cuisine, particularly the signature mole negro and the chef’s tasting menus. We love Sazón’s inventive approach and artful presentations.

• Geronimo: Housed in a historic adobe on Canyon Road, Geronimo offers an elegant, romantic setting and a menu that blends global flavors with local ingredients. Signature dishes include the mesquite-grilled elk tenderloin with roasted green chile. Consider Geronimo’s wine pairings for special occasions or a no-reason-needed indulgence.

• Coyote Café. A pioneer of modern Southwestern cuisine, Coyote Café is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and consistent quality, and its creative dishes and lively rooftop cantina. Our favorites include innovative takes on regional classics, such as the green chile cheeseburger.

• The Compound Restaurant: Helmed by James Beard Award–winner Chef Mark Kiffin, The Compound Restaurant is a classic known for elegant, contemporary American cuisine. The restaurant’s blend of history, stylish ambiance, and Michelin-trained talent make it a perennial favorite.

• Also worth considering: Restaurant Martín (contemporary American with a Southwestern twist), Market Steer Steakhouse (fresh seafood and classic steakhouse cuisine), Joseph’s Culinary Pub (inventive New American), Zacatlán (James Beard semifinalist Eduardo Rodriguez’s elevated Mexican), and La Boca (tapas-style Mediterranean)