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1922

La Fonda on the Plaza

Santa Fe, New Mexico
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100 East San Francisco St, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 Original Property Opened in 1922 Historic Hotels of America member since 1991
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art
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ghosts
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memorabilia
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presidential
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tours

La Fonda on the Plaza, which celebrated “100 Years of Hospitality” in 2022, is located on the historic Santa Fe Plaza. This landmark property is in the heart of Santa Fe and was the first hotel in North America’s first European-founded capital city. Reports of an inn at this location date to as early as the 1600s. La Fonda on the Plaza guests enjoy the design influences of famed architect John Gaw Meem, and the celebrated Southwest architect and designer, Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter. The hotel honors its rich past while offering contemporary luxury, services, and amenities. The hotel’s Terrace Inn at La Fonda features 15 luxury rooms and suites; each offering a serene place to bask in the light and beauty of New Mexico, no matter the season.

Discover

  • Discover the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture this meticulously restored hotel situated on the historic Santa Fe Plaza. It features such details as the original viga ceiling beams, wrought-iron chandeliers, handcrafted furniture, and the 400-plus hand-painted windows that enclose the former patio and now centrally located restaurant.
  • Enjoy a complimentary docent-led history tour of the hotel and learn about its Pueblo Revival-style architecture. Get a closer view of Arnold Rönnenbeck’s terra cotta relief panel above the fireplace and the hammered-tin chandeliers in the event rooms. And take in the hotel's 1,000-piece art collection, which includes works by Gerald Cassidy and Paul Lantz, with many of the pieces dating back to the 1920s.
  • Walk the hallways to recall the hospitality era that Fred Harvey introduced to the American southwest, which is famously depicted on screen and in print. The Harvey Girls movie (1946) starred Judy Garland. Stephen Fried’s book Appetite for America: Fred Harvey and the Business of Civilizing the Wild West, One Meal at a Time also detailed Harvey's support of women and people of color in the workplace, including at La Fonda on the Plaza. The 1947 film noir Ride the Pink Horse was shot onsite as well.
  • Dig deeper into the heritage of Santa Fe and La Fonda on the Plaza, as well as elements like the hotel's design and art collection, at one of the educational talks given by visiting artists, writers, historians, and other experts. Held monthly, these fascinating discussions are part of the education program for the hotel's docents, and guests interested in learning more about La Fonda on the Plaza are welcome to attend. Check with the concierge for dates and speakers.

Explore

  • Explore Santa Fe Plaza, a U.S. National Historic Landmark that is the town's central gathering place. The Santa Fe loop of Route 66, which ended in 1937, is also located just outside the hotel's doors. Cross the historic plaza to find the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the Palace of the Governors (home to the state's history museum), the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Art, the New Mexico Museum of Art, and the contemporary-art space SITE Santa Fe.
  • Take in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe that was built between 1869 and 1886. Just a block away, ponder the mysteries of the Loretto Chapel, which is a draw today for its unusual helix-shaped spiral staircase, dubbed the "Miraculous Staircase" due to the circumstances surrounding its construction by an unknown carpenter. Unable to identify the mystery craftsman, the Sisters of Loretto simply credited St. Joseph with its construction.
  • Embrace the outdoors with hiking, bicycling, skiing, or nature viewing in the surrounding Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Or take a drive to Bandelier National Monument to see petroglyphs and dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs.
  • Visit the San Miguel Chapel, said to be the oldest church in the continental United States. Hailed for its architectural preservation, this adobe church was constructed by Franciscan friars, with the earliest documentation dating back to 1628. Although there have been structural changes, the current building dates from 1710, and some of the original walls still stand to this day.

Experience

  • Experience a walking tour of Santa Fe and learn about the famous history of the most historic state capitol in the U.S., dating back to 1610. Gain more information about the Spanish and Pueblo influences on the city's architecture, as well as the local significance of the Manhattan Project, which spearheaded the development of the first nuclear weapons.
  • Attend world-class opera performances each summer at the Santa Fe Opera, a stunning, open-air venue located seven miles outside of the city, with vistas that never fail to awe visitors.
  • Take a short stroll over to nearby Canyon Road, which is home to the highest concentration of art galleries in the city, or journey about five miles from the hotel to explore the interactive-art experience Meow Wolf.
  • Search for locally grown produce and other goods at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Held Saturdays and Tuesdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM throughout the year, this growers' market, which was voted one of Sunset Magazine's "Top Ten Farmers' Markets," is one of the oldest and largest in the country, serving over 150 New Mexico farmers and producers. An artisan market is also offered in the same location on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Taste

  • Tuck into new twists on traditional New Mexican cuisine at La Plazuela, La Fonda on the Plaza's historic main restaurant, which used to be an open-air patio and still has the original fountain from 1922. The culinary creation team serves classic regional cuisine alongside imaginative takes on familiar dishes in a romantic natural-light setting.
  • Sample the many variations along the city's acclaimed Margarita Trail, starting at the La Fonda on the Plaza's La Fiesta lounge with the Don Rael Margarita. Sip the Herradura Double Barrel Reposado Margarita or other libation while marveling at a sunset from the location's rooftop Bell Tower Bar.
  • Tour the Kakawa Chocolate House, which pours drinking elixirs representative of traditional Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican, Mayan, and Aztec chocolate blends. Kakawa also offers truffles, caramels, and ice cream, some infused with New Mexico's famous chili essence.
  • Put on an apron and learn how to make classic Southwestern favorites at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Offered several times weekly, these hands-on or demonstration-style classes cover everything from Native American to Mexican to Spanish cuisines. Then, savor the flavors and fruits of the class's labor during either a tasting or full-course meal.
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FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS

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Terrace Suites
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Deluxe Rooms
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Traditional Rooms
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Featured Offer

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Best Available Rate

Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

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National Trust for Historic Preservation Special Member Rate - Save up to 25% off

Friends of Historic Hotels of America receive up to 25% off the Best Available Rate.

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Special Occasions

Meetings & Groups

Eight distinct Santa Fe event spaces at La Fonda on the Plaza can accommodate up to 600 guests. The Lumpkins Ballroom is a flexible space that can be easily divided or used in its entirety for larger groups. La Terraza is a third-floor terrace that offers stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Smaller groups will find the Exchange Room, Board Room, and Stiha Room are perfect settings for breakout sessions or intimate gatherings at La Fonda on the Plaza The New Mexico room is a popular choice for banquets and the Santa Fe Room can be used for cocktail receptions or business meetings.

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