Taos, NM was the second stop on our road trip (you can read about our first stop in Boulder, CO. here), and although we had visited once before during the pandemic I was anxious to return during more “normal” times. While my husband had some things to attend to in New Mexico I was lucky enough to have our middle son meet us and spend some time exploring the area with him.
Where we stayed: Hotel Willa
Taos is not overflowing with luxury places to stay, and so when I was doing my research I was happy to see that the GOOP travel guide mentioned the Hotel Willa in a positive light. We booked two rooms, a suite for my husband and I and a King room for my son. The Willa is a remodeled Motel located across from a strip center and as we approached I was a little hesitant. It turns out that the accommodations surround a courtyard with a pleasant garden and pool, but the initial approach was disconcerting.
The staff was friendly and welcoming upon our arrival and following a brief check-in we were given keys to our suite located at the very far end of a long corridor. While we did have a small patio (alongside the parking lot) we did not enjoy a view of the lovely courtyard or pool. Additionally, our room had a terrible smell- not of cleaning products but more so of a possible brewing septic issue. Not the best way to start off.
One last complaint, our suite was definitely the highest priced accommodation at the Willa, it might have been a nice gesture to include some welcome snacks for free? This is generally a pet peeve of mine…
As I mentioned, the inner courtyard was quite lovely and featured a magnificent weeping willow as it’s centerpiece along with an array of flowers and an inviting pool that was crowded throughout the day. The warning sign next to the pool gave me pause and I am hopeful most guests heeded the instructions.
The Willa does have a restaurant on site but we ended up exploring alternative options in Taos as breakfast was not included in our room rate (although there was complimentary coffee in the morning) .
Where we ate: There are plenty of spots to choose from in Taos and we decided to sample restaurants ranging from old school tried and true to more of a hipster vibe. Our first meal at Orlando’s New Mexican Cafe definitely fit in the category of old school and featured all the classic New Mexican dishes you might expect.
When we arrived close to 8:30 pm Orlando’s was crowded both inside and on their patio with what seemed like mostly locals with a few tourists sprinkled in. The vibe was casual and comfortable with very friendly and helpful servers who advised on what our best options would be. I tried the fish tacos while my son had a variety of enchiladas (Los Colores) smothered in chiles and served with beans and posole. It was not a fancy meal but certainly was satisfying.
Staying in the “old school vibe” we also visited Michael’s Kitchen which has been serving patrons since 1974. We arrived early so there was no line and we were seated with what seemed to be only locals including a table of police officers dining together and several tables of older men who seemed to be true regulars joking constantly with the waitstaff.
Michael’s Kitchen was friendly and welcoming and when asked for a recommendation the waitress didn’t hesitate before advising my son to order the Atole-Pinon pancakes (blue corn pancakes sprinkled with pine nuts). I opted for a “healthy” meal of scrambled eggs, cottage cheese and avocado (not that appealing looking to be sure). The pancakes were deemed tasty, though a bit dry; but his entire meal was salvaged with a purchase of a freshly made apple fritter that we picked up from the bakery on the way out which he deemed sublime.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow is most certainly not an “old school” spot but rather more of a hipster one. Part coffee bar/ bakery/ convenience store as well as a tempting breakfast and lunch destination and it was so good that we ended up going there twice during our three day visit to Taos. Fresh, healthy and satisfying, what more could you want?
Not quite as healthy but just as delicious is Chokola which is nirvana for chocolate lovers. The small shop smells delicious and is crowded all day long. The spicy iced mocha was top notch and the vat of dark chocolate mousse was incredibly tempting, though I resisted.
Sticking with beverages we also popped in to the Taos Mesa Brewing Taproom for a taste of two of their highly acclaimed offerings. There was pizza on the menu as well which everyone around us seemed to be enjoying so if you are craving a pizza fix the Taproom might be just the place.
The best meal we had in Taos was our final one, dinner at The Love Apple which prides its self on using uber-fresh local ingredients and has the friendliest staff you could imagine. Two things to note- The Love Apple is cash only (there is an ATM about a minutes drive from the restaurant) and the lighting is not conducive for capturing the most appetizing photos, but don’t let that dissuade you- the meal was excellent. A highlight for me were the gf blue corn muffins (they actually sell the mix at the restaurant), they were extremely moist and delicious.
Where we visited: I believe the most interesting place to visit is the Taos Pueblo which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the US and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site where people actually reside. In existence for more than 1,000 years and in many ways unchanged over time it is absolutely worth a trip. Free tours are offered daily, so if you visit be sure to take advantage of one.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge located several miles outside the center of Taos is a engineering marvel worth a stop. The second highest bridge on the US Highway system and the 5th highest in the US it is quite a dramatic sight to behold. It used to be that pedestrians could walk across the bridge, but now you can only admire it from afar from a trail overlooking the gorge.
While you are in the car you may want to make the trek to the San Francisco de Asís Cathedral, a National Historic Landmark adobe cathedral which dates back to the 1800s and is one of the few remaining original buildings in Taos.
I am glad to have spent the time visiting Taos as an add-on to our trip to Santa Fe, though in all honesty I think you only need one night to experience all of the history and sample some of the local restaurants.
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