I am a Santa Fe native, and when I was growing up, what is now the St. Francis Hotel was known as the DeVargas and it was very run-down. At some point in the 1980s, it was refurbished into a beautiful place where people would meet for social events and drinks in the bar. But it had been about a decade since I had last been there, and when I needed to find a hotel with close proximity to the Plaza, friends recommended the new St. Francis and I couldn't have been more pleased with my decision to stay there.
Currently owned by the Heritage Hotel & Resorts New Mexico "chain" (I believe they have six properties in total, the current St. Francis' lobby has a look and feel of monastic austeriy complete with candlesticks and sculptures of St. Francis. The stone tile floor gives the interior a certain "hush" from the moment you walk inside, and across the street is a lovely fountain with the famous Plaza nearby. The bar, Secreto, features a lavish menu of fancy cocktail drinks made to order with fresh fruit including mangoes, blueberries, raspberries and the like, and "mixologist" Chris Miligan serves each cocktail with a winning smile.
Give the vast numbers of restaurants in the city, I neglected to have dinner in the dining room, but breakfast was a sumptuous and affordable affairs with poached eggs and spinach (it had a fancy name to it but I can't recall it.) My room was an economy but had a beautiful comforter and a nice closet and a tv, along with one of the best shower heads I can recall having in a hotel in any city.
All told? A remarkable place at an affordable price. I look forward to staying there again when I next need to visit my home town.
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