Lodge Glorieta Opens in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was named the finest metropolis within the U.S. by Journey + Leisure readers this 12 months, is commonly praised for its charming downtown and engaging artwork scene. It is outside journey choices are hardly ever lauded as the primary draw. The brand new Lodge Glorieta is able to change that.

“Santa Fe is a kind of wealthy American cultural cities the place the pure magnificence is not going to hit you within the face,” says Jeff Burns, associate on the resort’s possession group, Bullwhip Capital. “However by the third day, guests actually begin to see it.”

He needed to open a resort that may appeal to others searching for a better connection to the outside. Burns and his enterprise companions purchased The Lodge, a 128-key resort a mile north of downtown, and have spent the final 12 months giving it a classy new look.

I checked in a couple of weeks after the property’s reopening. With its north-of-downtown location and a perch on a hill, it additionally boasts probably the greatest views of town. Whereas vestiges of the constructing’s authentic incarnation as a Sheraton circa 1976 stay, it’s had a top-to-bottom refresh, led by buzzy native design agency French & French. They saved a number of the furnishings and paintings from The Lodge, which operated for the final 20 years, however added significant upgrades to make the property really feel new.

“The earlier resort house owners had assembled an exquisite assortment of furnishings and artwork, and we felt it was essential to honor that historical past,” says Heather French, the design principal. “The strong wooden Mexican beds, as an illustration, are fantastically crafted and timeless, so we selected to maintain them and design round them.” Talking of the beds, the plush Sealy Beautyrest felt like a cloud, clad with crisp Italian-made Sferra linens.

The artwork within the newly repainted visitor rooms consists of woven wall hangings and historic black-and-white images of native Indigenous communities. Luxe Schumacher materials add texture and pops of colour all through. Whereas the loos are a throwback to an earlier time, my spacious King Suite featured a dwelling space with a leather-based pull-out couch, a workspace with a desk overlooking downtown, and an enormous wall-hung flat-screen tv.

I did not have a automobile, which made the journey difficult. The fantastic thing about Lodge Glorieta is that it’s faraway from downtown, however meaning nothing is in strolling distance. With wheels of my very own, I may need struck out to see close by Abiquiú, the place famed artist Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch is, or spent a day luxuriating in spring-fed swimming pools at Ojo Santa Fe. To keep away from disappointment—or racking up Uber expenses—do your self a favor and lease a car.

Considerate touches abound at Lodge Glorieta, a reputation meaning “gathering spot.” There’s a free of charge espresso bar within the foyer, stocked with urns of drip espresso, a trio of flavored syrups, and takeaway cups; in-room glass bottles are stuffed with filtered water to assist scale back single-use plastics; and the breakfast buffet—with dishes akin to house-made granola, scrambled natural eggs, and fried potatoes with spicy-tart salsa—is a discount at $10.

One morning, I walked via the resort’s again car parking zone and up one of many sand-covered hills rising up on the rear of the property. I discovered easy accessibility to the La Tierra community of 25 miles of trails. One other afternoon spent lounging on the property’s kidney-shaped pool was a pleasure, due to the ample umbrellas and a pleasant bartender-slash-DJ spinning tunes and mixing up a first-rate paloma. Morning yoga on the grassy central garden is obtainable a number of occasions per week, and for days when the climate isn’t cooperating, the teacher can transfer the category to the diminutive chapel (it additionally doubles as a venue for occasions and weddings). The Marigold Room, simply off the foyer, is an intimate music house and listening room for simply 150 visitors that’s already pulling nationwide touring acts.

A number of the additions to Lodge Glorieta are but to return. With the official grand opening in late October, the on-site eatery and cocktail bar Girl Duff’s Lounge will debut a brand new cocktail menu and desk service with a small menu of things akin to steak with chimichurri fries, oyster ceviche, and Mexican flan with mint-berry syrup. The lounge can even host reside jazz performances. Moreover, the crew will add a barrel sauna on the pool deck, making the “leisure membership,” with its current pool, sizzling tub, and bar, an all-weather haunt spot.

With the growth of the restaurant’s choices, Burns says they plan to supply different providers for visitors inquisitive about exploration. “We need to be an city journey resort. The entire concept is that you would be able to check-in and we’ll ask, ‘The place do you need to go right now? What do you need to do?’ And we are able to pack you a Yeti cooler, with sandwiches, drinks, and no matter else you need, and also you’ll be capable of exit and hike or discover,” he says.

Charges begin at $165 per night time and could be booked at hotelglorietasantafe.com.