New Mexico

Cityscape

O’Keeffe country

City life

Artists and adobe

With 17th-century buildings, sprawling ranches and clear views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it’s no wonder that New Mexico’s capital is also the hip art and dining hub of the American Southwest…

Long before artist Georgia O’Keeffe settled in Santa Fe to paint ram skulls, calla lilies and cacti, the adobe-crafted was known for its distinctly Spanish and Mexican history. These days, the tiny city, which centres around a Spanish-style plaza, ticks every vacation-worthy box. The chilli-based cuisine lures award-winning chefs from around the world to create Southwestern takes on staples – including the fiery chilli-topped burger – and local specialties, such as grilled elk. The city’s unique style has also created a thriving design industry for Native American crafts and Southwestern furniture. Nature-lovers can scale the nearby hills for scenic vistas, or travel the town on horseback. And, of course, O’Keeffe’s legacy looms large: the city is something like a large-scale art colony, with works cramming the galleries that line rambling Canyon Road.