342 E Buena Vista St, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | 505-983-0798
Historic inn with pueblo charm, adobe touches, and courtyards
Uniquely designed rooms feature kiva fireplaces and patios or balconies
Convenient location near downtown and Old Santa Fe Trail
Dining room with banquet table and fireplace
Lobby provides tea station and fresh baked goods
Evening cocktail hour with baked goods in parlor
Internet corner provides PC computer and printer/copy machine
Video and book library with flat-screen TV
On-site massage services
Four pet-friendly rooms (for a fee)
Free parking, Wi-Fi, and breakfast
Some rooms have tube-style TVs
Bathroom furnishings in some units need renovation
Deposit required
Inn of the Turquoise Bear is a romantic desert oasis that’s rich in history with a central Old Santa Fe
Trail location. Attracting mostly couples, the bed-and-breakfast is a national historic
site and features charming adobe designs, one acre of pueblo courtyards, and an
elegant dining room. The 11 rooms have unique Southwestern designs, kiva
fireplaces, private patios, and flat-screen TVs. But a few guests complain that
some bathrooms, which feature outdated furnishings, are in need of renovations.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A New Mexican historic gem with courtyards and an adobe dining room
Inn of the Turquoise Bear,
listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, offers a bit of old New Mexican
charm and some modernity. Notable New Mexico resident and poet Witter Bynner once called the inn his home. He was known to
entertain the cultural elite here, including D.H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Robert
Frost, and Rita Hayworth, among many others.The two-story adobe villa was
built in the mid-1800s and many of the original designs have been preserved.
The Spanish Pueblo exterior features adobe walls and teal window frames.
There are numerous courtyards on the one-acre property that includes classic
cushioned patio furniture, stone walking paths, fountains, and overhanging
pines. The reception lounge features viga ceilings, a kiva fireplace, wood
floors, and charming Southwest decor.
Location
Near historic Old Santa Fe Trail
The inn is conveniently located near
downtown Santa Fe, appealing to solo travelers and couples alike. Old Santa Fe
Trail, used in the 1800s as a route from New Mexico to Missouri, is one block
away. The Santa Fe Visitor Info Center -- seven minutes north by foot -- is surrounded by various shops, restaurants, and art galleries. The Plaza Mercado, with the Palace
of Governors, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and Santa Fe Convention and Visitors
Bureau, is a 17-minute walk north, while the Chapel of San Miguel is a shorter walk
in the same direction. The Santa Fe Opera is 14 minutes north by car while
getting to the airport is a 20-minute drive south.
Rooms
Charming adobe rooms with kiva fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and private courtyards or balconies
Notable
artists, photographers, writers, and friends of former owner Witter Bynner are
the inspiration for guest-room names. Spaces feature Southwestern designs, kiva
fireplaces with free wood, air-conditioning, viga ceilings, bathrobes, and
flat-screen TVs. Select rooms have hardwood floors, mini-fridges, picture
windows with built-in benches, and/or claw-foot bathtubs. Rooms also have private
courtyards or balconies overlooking the garden, Sangre de Cristo mountains, or
Old Santa Fe Trail. The Spud Johnson room, which is ADA compliant, is in an old
carriage house with cowboy decor. Some spaces however have outdated bathrooms and
old-style TVs. A few rooms are pet-friendly (for a fee).
Features
A cozy TV lounge offers Santa Fe designs, a library, and an Internet corner
The inn’s office doubles as a
library and TV lounge for guests. Comfy furnishings mixed with Southwestern
decor fill a room that’s adorned with abode designs. There are also a flat-screen TV and books which guests can borrow. And an Internet corner
offers a PC-computer workstation with a printer/copy machine. On-site massage
services can be booked online through the inn’s website as well. Plus there's a
dirt parking lot on the property that's free for guests.The Turquoise Bear’s dining room is elegant, with a dark wood
banquet table, a stained-glass window, a fireplace, and large windows. Guests
gather for breakfast at the table and in the parlor in the evenings for a
cocktail hour, which usually includes fresh baked goods. Innkeepers Dan and
David have also been known to thoughtfully pack takeaway breakfasts for guests
who must leave on early-morning flights.
