Santa Fe - American Southwest - page 144

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Encantado Santa Fe recently witnessed the opening of this Auberge Resort,
an architectural artwork. About 15 minutes north of the plaza, the resort resides where
the old Rancho Encantado was, though all the former buildings of that historic property
have been razed. The new resort, set in the pink foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Moun-
tains, offers 65 elegant casitas, an artfully kiva-shaped spa, and gourmet dining. The
resort melds contemporary architecture with traditional Pueblo style, utilizing textured
art and earth tones to add warmth to the design. Broad windows blur the boundary
between indoor and out, with views from nearly every vantage point. In the casitas,
polished concrete floors, kiva fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, and patios with stunning vistas
facing west toward the Jemez Mountains add to the “mystical” quality the resort touts.
Encantado's Terra offers three meals daily in a glass-walled dining room accented with
stone and wood.
198 NM 592. & 877/262-4666. Fax [phone]. www.encantadoresort.com. 65 units. $275-$650
double; $675-$1,050 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; concierge; gym; Jacuzzi;
heated outdoor pool; room service; sauna; spa. In-room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, Wi-Fi.

Inn of the Anasazi The designers of this fine luxury hotel have crafted a
feeling of grandness in a very limited space. A 2006 remodel added even finer touches,
including new bedding and decor in the rooms, with bold splashes of color from artwork
and weavings. Flagstone floors and vigas create a warm and welcoming ambience that
evokes the feeling of an Anasazi cliff dwelling. Oversize cacti complete the look. Accents
are appropriately Navajo, in a nod to the fact that the Navajo live in the area the Anasazi
once inhabited. A half-block off the plaza, this hotel was built in 1991 to cater to travel-
ers who know their hotels. On the ground floor are a living room and library with
oversize furniture and replicas of Anasazi pottery and Navajo rugs. The rooms range from
medium-size to spacious, with pearl-finished walls, comfortable four-poster beds, and
novelties such as iron candle sconces, gaslit kiva fireplaces (in some), and humidifiers. All
the rooms are quiet and comfortable, though none have dramatic views. Though this is
still a great hotel, a recent visit left me asking if it was worth the price. The Anasazi
Restaurant serves creative Southwestern cuisine.
113 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87501. & 800/688-8100 or 505/988-3030. Fax [phone]. www.
innoftheanasazi.com. 57 units. Jan 5-Feb 26 $269-$469; Feb 27-Apr 28 $325-$525; Apr 29-Jan 4 $325-
$525 double. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $15 per day. Amenities: Restaurant; concierge; room
service. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, hair dryer, Wi-Fi.

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Inn of the Five Graces Finds In the historic Barrio de Analco, just a few
blocks from the Plaza, this inn holds true to its stated theme: “Here the Orient and the
Old West meet, surprisingly at home in each other's arms.” With floral-decked court-
yards, elaborately decorated suites with kilim rugs, ornately carved beds, and often
beautiful mosaic tile work in the bathrooms, this is truly a “sheik” place. All but a few
suites are medium size, most with small bathrooms, and some with fireplaces. The lower-
priced rooms are smaller. Request one of the suites in the buildings on the north side of
East de Vargas Street; they're more spacious and substantially built. Travelers seeking an
exotic stay will like this place; it's of the same caliber as Inn of the Anasazi, but with more
flair. The inn's biggest news is the purchase of the Pink Adobe next door, which they've
turned into their restaurant. Wine-and-cheese hour is offered every other day. This is a
non-tipping property and all amenities are included with the room rate.