Santa Fe is known the world over as a mecca for artists, and Canyon Road is the beating heart of the city’s art scene. Just a short walk from the Santa Fe Plaza, Canyon Road is dedicated to galleries and studios featuring original work from around the globe. Explore over a hundred showrooms, boutiques, and restaurants lining a half-mile stretch of road. Stroll from one gallery to the next and shop for specialty clothing, jewelry, and signature gifts. Discover spectacular sculpture gardens and courtyards full of kinetic art.
Canyon Road offers an impressively diverse selection of artistic work – including traditional, contemporary, Native American, fine art photography, and some of the most distinctive jewelry in the Southwest. It’s easy to while away an entire day walking up and down this charming corridor, taking in the art and enjoying some of New Mexico’s finest cuisine. There are a few high-end gourmet establishments on Canyon Road, including The Compound and the world-famous Geronimo. El Farol is an iconic bar and tapas restaurant offering fantastic live performances by musicians and flamenco dancers. The Tea House is the perfect pit stop at the end of Canyon Road with a lovely courtyard and a wide variety of teas and coffee.
Canyon Road becomes even more magical during the holidays, when thousands of farolitos cast a cheery glow over the jumbled courtyards and historic adobe walls. On Christmas Eve, Canyon Road becomes the backdrop for one of Santa Fe’s most cherished holiday traditions – the Canyon Road Farolito Walk. The surrounding streets and alleys are closed off to vehicles, allowing thousands of carolers and spectators to amble from one crackling luminaria (bonfire) to the next, sipping hot chocolate and munching on biscochitos to warm up in the winter night. If you’re in town during the holiday season, you won’t want to miss this.
Canyon Road is a special place to be no matter what time of year. From its vibrant art scene to its exquisite dining and world-class shopping, it’s the perfect place to experience the city’s many traditions as the creative capital of the American Southwest.
