Santa Fe-based investment team Cienda Partners and hospitality group Bentley Legacy have opened the newly reimagined Piñon Court by La Fonda in Santa Fe, N.M. Formerly the Old Santa Fe Inn, the historic 58-room boutique court hotel is in the city’s downtown near the Railyard Districts.
Constructed in an aesthetic known as Spanish Colonial Revival, the original Piñon Court property dates back to the 1930s, when it first opened as The Galisteo Inn, then catering to motorists on Route 66. In 2003, it was rebranded as Old Santa Fe Inn before being acquired by Cienda Partners and Bentley Legacy in 2022. The hotel has since been recognized by Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture and ambiance.
Conceptualized and executed by Mendil + Meyer Design Studio, the renovation took a contemporary approach to the property’s history, updating the lobby, guestrooms and suites as well as adding a new onsite dining concept, The Bistro & Lounge. The design elements pay homage to the city’s artisan culture are incorporated throughout, including piñon wood, imparting a distinctive regional fragrance.
The hotel’s guestrooms emphasize Santa Fe’s arts scene with historic prints by local artist Willard Clark on display in each room. The hotel has classic rooms in a variety of configurations, ranging from 180 to 320 square feet. Junior and one-bedroom suites have work areas, microwaves and mini-fridges, and some have adobe gas fireplaces and outdoor spaces. Bathrooms have been updated and enhanced with new flooring and light fixtures and a regionally inspired color palette.
The Bistro & Lounge at Piñon Court has a traditional southwestern kiva fireplace and a dog-friendly social patio.
The hotel is close to historic sister hotel La Fonda on the Plaza, and the two properties share a fitness center.
“Piñon Court is the perfect blend of old and new, and we’re excited to preserve the history of the property while offering today’s travelers a contemporary stay,” Brooke Evans, partner and chief marketing officer at Bentley Legacy Group, said in a statement.