Casita Don Miguel is an oasis of quiet and charm within the South Capitol neighborhood of downtown Santa Fe. The one-bedroom home is tucked away on a secluded residential lane and surrounded by adobe walls. As you linger over your morning coffee or evening cocktails in the lushly landscaped private courtyard, you might forget just how close you are to shops, restaurants, and historical sights.
For instance, in just 15 minutes you can stroll to Santa Fe Railyard, a former transportation hub that’s now chock-full of galleries, markets, and eateries. Only a 20-minute walk away are San Miguel Mission, the country’s oldest church, and Loretto Chapel, with its must-see helix staircase. And in less than a half-hour you can walk to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Santa Fe Plaza, the National Historic Landmark that’s home to more shops and galleries as well as the Palace of the Governors.
If you want to hop in your car—and Casita Don Miguel has its own parking spaces, so you don’t have to worry about circling the block in search of a spot—you can be at Museum Hill and the galleries of Canyon Road in less than 10 minutes. Or drive a bit longer and hike Atalaya Mountain, climb Thompson Peak, or hit the slopes of Ski Santa Fe.
A superb location isn’t the only reason to stay at Casita Don Miguel, however. A Pueblo Revival-style charmer, the adobe home is a cheery, bright retreat. Skylights and French doors let in plenty of sunlight; the white-painted viga ceiling beams, the tiled floor, and the wood-burning kiva fireplace add traditional Southwestern flair. With its well-cushioned leather sofa and roomy armchair, the living room invites you to kick back and watch TV, read, or chat over nibbles and drinks. That sofa, by the way, opens into a queen-size bed, so that Casita Don Miguel can sleep four people in all.
Numerous restaurants are close by, but sometimes eating in is more relaxing (and easier on the wallet). Luckily several grocery stores and markets are