More than 400 years of authentic, artistic tradition welcomes guests to Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe, creating an ambiance drawing from the multi-layered story of the community. From the original artwork in every room to the decor and colors of the public areas, the unique traditions of northern New Mexico infuse even the smallest decorative element. More than 70 Chimayó artists contributed their talents to the design and decoration of Hotel Chimayó. Custom artwork, furniture and design details - the best of Chimayó's craftspeople - are everywhere.
Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe offers guests the best of northern New Mexico culture in hotels. Every piece of art - from the bold woven rugs and bed runners to beautiful painted santos, expertly carved retablos and simply beautiful hand-crafted crosses - was made by an artisan from northern New Mexico. These pieces are more than unique art - they are New Mexico artifacts bearing witness the community’s spirituality, traditions originating with Spanish colonial settlers and master craftsmanship.
Escape to Hotel Chimayó and discover a retreat that reflects local artistic tradition. Each guest room and suite features a warm color palate of browns, creams and blacks, which represent the natural wool colors of the Churro sheep originally brought by Spanish settlers in the 17th century. The design elements are greatly enhanced by wood burning fireplaces, handcrafted crosses, private and shared balconies overlooking the outdoor courtyard, and cross-shaped chandeliers inspired by a candle fixture in Chimayó's an 1880s Chimayó Oratorio, private community chapel.
The lobby features stunning woven tapestries by award-winning artisans like Irvin Trujillo of Centinela Traditional Arts, Robert Ortega of Ortega's Weaving Shop, and Karen Martinez and Carlos Martinez. Dating from the 1700s, the utilitarian craft of weaving introduced by Spanish colonial settlers has transformed into today's multi-generational enterprises combining time-established motifs with modern aesthetic and techniques.
These hangings, as well as the woolen yarns displayed nearby, showcase the bold reds, lustrous golds and intense turquoise hues of the New Mexico sky, many created from natural area plant dyes. By contrast, guest rooms incorporate the restful, muted tones of brown, cream, black and ecru into the carpets and hand-woven bed runners in each guest room. Gathered from local heritage Churro sheep, the natural wools in the bed runners are durable as well as beautiful.
Each hotel room and our elegant lobby area showcases the hand-woven textural tradition brought to Chimayó by Spanish colonial ancestors in the 1700s. From handcrafted bed runners to bold wall hangings, the weavings that adorn Hotel Chimayó were created using the same tradition implemented by Chimayó ancestors. Wall weavings were crafted using traditional wools and techniques by acclaimed Chimayó artists including Irvin Trujillo of Centinela Traditional Arts, Robert Ortega of Ortega's Weaving Shop, and Karen Martinez and Carlos Martinez and natural dyes.
The art in our guest rooms reflects the rustic, hand-carved style of historical Spanish colonial furniture and architecture: built-in bancos (benches), traditional Spanish trasteros (armoires), and Saltillo-style tile work. As in any respectable Spanish ranchero, private or communal balconies and separate living rooms center on concealed, open-air plaza-like patios.
The Chimayó community contributed over 500 handcrafted, found material crosses to ornament most rooms' carved, wood burning fireplace mantels. The cross-shaped chandeliers take their design from the Plaza del Cerro Oratorio de San Buenaventura, the community chapel built in the early 1800s.
The devotional tradition carries back into the public areas of the hotel in a locally sourced stone lobby altar dedicated to Santiago - St. James - the patron saint of Chimayó, the handcrafted wood carving santos (saints) and retablos (devotional painting), and 12-foot cross standing in the upper courtyard of the hotel's plaza. Made from a single piece of cedar, this cross is a striking reminder of the importance of Chimayó's everyday spirituality.
Named after the book "Low 'n Slow - Lowriding in New Mexico" by Jack Parsons and Carmella Padilla, the Low 'n Slow Lowrider Bar at the Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe reflects the unique, contemporary style and artistry of the lowrider culture of Chimayó and northern New Mexico. The watering hole (with selected food options) reminds visitors that if the Santuario de Chimayó is the Lourdes of America, so Chimayó is the Lourdes of lowriders.
Low 'n Slow refers to the cruising style of a custom automobile whose body hovers only inches from the ground. The bar displays Jack Parson's dynamic, enigmatic photographs of a culture where faith, family and creativity find expression in distinctive custom cars. Authentic lowrider elements were specially crafted by expert Chimayosos: diamond-tuck upholstery on chairs and booths, chrome hubcap and steering wheel light fixtures and tables, and the religious iconography and other designs airbrushed into glossy car hoods.
Lowrider style begins on the street outside the bar with an exclusive "Lowrider Only" reserved parking space for classic Chevys that ride like Cadillacs. Inside and on the outdoor patio, sample innovative concoctions from award-winning mixologists.