Inn of the Turquoise Bear — Hotel in Santa Fe

Overall: 5|- Location: 5|- Exterior: 4|- Interior: 4|- Ambiance: 5|- Witter Byner Room: 5|- Witter Byner Bathroom: 4|- Breakfast: 5|- Amenities: 5|- Hosts: 5|- Housekeeping: 5|- Parking: 4|- Value: 5||For the first stop on our driving tour of the Southwest US, we stayed in Santa Fe for 5 nights. But where? Reviewers touted the Inn Of The Turquoise Bear…..and they were right.||Pros:|- Location: Central. Just south of the downtown area and a 15 minute walk to Canyon Road.||- Exterior: A sprawling property in a residential neighborhood. Several smaller buildings seem to have been added over the (many) years to the main building seen on most photos of the property.||- Interior: Like going back 100 years. Things were fixed, of course…especially in public spaces…but you might feel as if you’re in a living museum.||- Our Room (Witter Byner): Large and rambling. More than enough room for 2 people plus a balcony overlooking the front of the property. Very comfortable. I could live there for a month if we didn’t mind going up and down 15 stairs to the main floor.||One interesting aspect: The bathroom. It was very nice and fully equipped, but separate from our room and down 5 stairs. That wasn’t a problem during the day, but a few nights were an adventure||- Breakfast: Unreal. Everything was homemade with great taste. The buffet portion had sliced fruit, granola, juices, pastries and yogurt. The hosts and kitchen staff had 3-5 entrees available each day. I rarely tried those since I filled up on the buffet, but my wife ate one every day and only had good things to say. Service at the community table was gracious and unhurried with lots of interesting conversation.||- Amenities: A 1-2 hour Happy Hour every day starting at 430 or 5 PM. Fresh cookies, fruit, tea and jug water were available all day (coffee from 630-10 AM). Umbrellas. Plenty of smiles.||- Hosts: Everyone was very friendly, helpful, informative and even charming. Special thanks to Aileen (sp?).||- Housekeeping: Effective, efficient and unobtrusive.||- Parking: Sufficient. The large courtyard in front of the of the property provided enough room for cars in the 11 room B&B.||- Price and Value: Reasonable. It’s not cheap, but as in most cases you get what you pay for.||We’d heartily recommend the Inn Of The Turquoise Bear, but make reservations...

The Inn of the Turquoise Bear was a dream stay for my solo birthday trip to Santa Fe! The inn was comfortable, stylish, with a storybook charm that made turning another year older almost magical. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by one of the friendly innkeepers who gave me a complete tour, offered assistance to make my stay perfect, and answered any questions I had, both about staying at the inn and about Santa Fe in general.||Full of Southwest beauty, the historic property has time-honored interiors and picturesque, thoughtfully landscaped grounds with relaxing outdoor lounging spaces - hammocks included! My room, the Willa Cather room, named after the writer of the marvelous classic, “Death Comes for the Archbishop,” was not only extremely comfortable but also artfully appointed, with thoughtful details that reflected the inn’s rich artistic legacy. Once home to poet Witter Bynner, the inn has hosted an impressive list of creative luminaries, from Willa Cather to Georgia O’Keeffe; as a poet and artist myself, I felt their creative spirits lingering in the air. It was as if the adobe walls had absorbed decades of artistic energy.||And then there’s the breakfast! Absolutely incredible. Each morning began with an elegant spread of the freshest fruits, creamy yogurt, crunchy mixes of granola, and an assortment of baked good - a refreshing start before the main event: a rotating selection of savory, home-cooked main dishes that were as flavorful as they were filling. Even though I am more introverted, having breakfast with the other inn guests was comfortable and inviting, which was good because the deliciousness of the meal made me want to linger at the table and take my time.||Stylish, serene, and suffused with history, the Inn of the Turquoise Bear offers an experience that feels both timeless and distinctly Santa Fe. I’ll...

Our experience at the Inn of the Turquoise Bear was exceptional.

We found the Inn after extensive online searches for a small and private wedding venue in Santa Fe. We settled on it after reviewing their thoughtfully curated website, reading the outstanding reviews, and speaking with the owner, Dan, who graciously walked us through all the options and what our wedding could look like.

We decided to rent out all 9 of their unique rooms for three days so we could include our closest friends and family. When we arrived at the Inn, we were blown away by the vibrant grounds and stunning Santa Fe architecture. Dan greeted us, and it was an absolute joy to be shown to each of our rooms personally.

The rooms were impeccably clean, and the staff were the most hospitable of anywhere we have ever stayed. In addition to being the most charming place we've ever been, the Inn boasts some of the best breakfasts our party has ever had.

When it came time for our wedding ceremony, the Inn had everything organized down to the details and we had all we needed for a stress free intimate ceremony. Alex was the perfect officiant and ensured the day ran smoothly. After the ceremony, our party walked downtown to enjoy a reception dinner.

The Inn's close proximity to the downtown area made our stay even more enjoyable throughout, as we could walk to almost all that Santa Fe has to offer with ease.

The Inn of the Turquoise Bear was the perfect setting for our wedding; we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful venue, helpful staff, and unique experience. A month later, we're still hearing from our guests about how perfect everything was. We hope to be able to return to the best little inn in the land of...