Las Vegas can be a day trip from Santa Fe or Albuquerque, but we like to go to Las Vegas and spend a day or two.
Castañeda - Our favorite historic hotel - anywhere! It was a hotel run by Fred Harvey. It was restored and reopened for hotel guests in 2019. It is a great place to begin any walking exploration and when you are tired of walking, it has wonderful food and porches for long periods of sitting.
Plaza Hotel - Sits on the Las Vegas Plaza. It has spacious historic rooms and is a good central location for anything you would like to explore in Las Vegas.
Bar Casteñeda - nice food and a great selection of drinks.
Kin at Casteñeda - the "Fancy" restaurant that had a grand reopening in 2023 - Really great food and service in a beautiful old dining room.
Charlie's Spic and Span - Great for breakfast! Also serves lunch and takeout bakery.
La Fiesta - New Mexican food in the north area of town.
JC's New York Pizza Department - on the Plaza
El Rialto Restaurant - Good New Mexican food, near the plaza. 1970s old New Mexico style.
Brotique - New Mexico gear and gifts. Near Charlie's Spic and Span
Plaza Antiques - Right on the historic Plaza.
Rough Riders Antiques - One of my favorite antique shops anywhere. It is right across from the Casteñeda.
El Zócalo Cooperative Art Gallery - Local artists located on the Plaza.
Las Vegas recently launched an app in 2022 to provide visitors with walking tour guidance and information about historic buildings. It works well and provides great information about the historic neighborhoods. Highly recommended as your guide!
United World College is located in Las Vegas New Mexico. It includes the historic Montezuma Castle that was a luxury spa to train tourists in the 1880s. While regular tours are not offered at the time of this writing, the website states they will be available beginning in September 2024. The College and the Castle are so interesting, and when it is possible a visit is highly recommended.