7 Reasons To Love This Albuquerque Luxury Inn

Mention Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm to people in Albuquerque, New Mexico and throughout the Southwest and you’ll hear, ‘special occasion, anniversary spot,’ ‘dream wedding place,’ ‘gorgeous, beautiful,’ or ‘where the movie stars stay.’

We agree with all of the above.  Located in the rural, private Los Rancheros area and set among 25 acres of organic farm and lavender fields, gardens and secret pathways, we have nicknamed it The Little Adobe Hotel Bel-Air of Albuquerque.  Here are 7 reasons why we love it …

1.)  THE HISTORY …

Driving west from Albuquerque towards the north valley, the city changes from bustling metropolitan to rural homes with fields and equestrian signs. As you turn onto the tree-lined driveway of Los Poblanos you immediately know this is a special place, with sunshine dappling the driveway of wise old cottonwoods shading and welcoming you to this charming estate and working ranch.

Built in 1932 and noted for its adobe Santa Fe style buildings, it feels like stepping back in time … peaceful and quiet, drawing you into a state of relaxation. Family owned, three generations of the Rembe Family have operated the inn, farming, and line of farm products.  It is their dedication to preserving the history of the ranch that is a gift to all who visit.  (read more of their history here and about artisans that have created one-of-a-kind artwork for Los Poblanos.

Of note, Los Poblanos has the first swimming pool built in Albuquerque that you can still enjoy today.

2.)  THE GROUNDS …

Guests are welcome to explore the lotus pond, or stroll the pebble-inlaid paths of the famed Rose Greely garden along with peacocks, roadrunners and guinea hens that roam the ranch.  Intimate trellised paths lead to inner courtyards, acequias (ancient irrigation designs that channel water in from the Rio Grande) and hide-away trails leading to the pool and fields.  Bicycles are available for riding around the grounds with access to the Rio Grande river trail.  Adobe benches are built into walls and along-side the quaint garden fountain for sitting and daydreaming.  The magnificent La Quinta Cultural Center houses the famed ballroom with hand carved details, masterly painted murals, and The Art Gallery exhibiting revolving shows of local artists and the photographs of Laura Gilpin, one of New Mexico’s foremost photographers.  A short stroll from La Quinta, artisan gifts and every lavender product one could need can be found in the Farm Shop.

3.)  THE ACCOMMODATIONS (and BEDS!) …

Rooms and suites  available in the original hacienda home are called Meem rooms named after New Mexico’s famed architect John Gaw Meem.  Our room, pictured, is one of the farm suites with updated modern minimalist Southwest design.  The ‘oars’ over the beds are authentic wooden bread paddles used for baking with horno adobe ovens.  Farm suites are located a skip and hop from the main building, across from the lotus pond.  After a day of discovering the grounds, lounging on your poofy comfy soft bed with equally poofy down pillows, lighting a fire in the adobe fireplace, and sipping a lavender champagne cocktail on the quiet patio under a starry night sky … there you have all the soothing ingredients for a perfect night’s sleep.  When you wake, half of the morning can be easily spent soaking in the deep bathtub and trying all of the healing lavender bath products provided for you.

4.)  THE LAVENDER …

You may have guessed by now that everyone at Los Poblanos smells like lavender.  You bump into someone for a chat and all the while the calming sweet herbaceous scent drifts around you.  Lotions, soaps, bathing and hair products are stocked in every guest room, and they are of the highest quality.  Made in small batches, Los Poblanos cultivates a special Grosso organic breed that is steam distilled for added purity.  We are loving their hand salve, shampoo, conditioner, lip salve, and hand soap.  In the Farm Shop, food items we recommend are the culinary lavender, lavender honey, bottled lavender water, and apricot lavender jam.  Most of these can be found on their online shop.  (Tip: be sure to try the hair products in your room, rinse and repeat.  They do wonders for conditioning your hair and relaxing the scalp.)

5.)  THE PURE FOOD …

Pure is another word you oftentimes hear at the inn.  Organic breakfasts with produce harvested daily from the kitchen garden are included in your room rate.  The menu changes daily, with dishes such as house made pound cake french toast with seasonal fruit compote, the farm breakfast with the fluffiest farm fresh scrambled eggs ever, and fresh neat country butter sprinkled with house salt.  We also love the chilaquiles, and carrot cake bread with aforementioned unforgettable butter.  Just-picked tomatoes are little bites of sunshine.  Dinner at Los Poblanos is divine, and again, pure is the word.  From artisanal cheeses and salad field plates, to achiote charred ribeye with quelite tomato ragu, or lemon and herb chicken with lavender, everything is mindfully composed with the most crisp, healthy ingredients possible.  Even the water comes from the ranch well and is so clean there is no taste at all.  Also, some exciting news …  word has it that they are currently expanding to build a larger farm restaurant on the estate.  (Reservations are required for breakfast and dinner.  Tip … save room for one of their delicious lavender desserts.)

6.)  SALA GRANDE LIVING ROOM, INTO DINNER …

Los Poblanos dinners are beautifully choreographed.  They recommend you arrive 20 – 30 minutes before your reservation to take in the enclosed fountain courtyard that leads into the Sala Grande living room for an artisan cocktail and to relax in this beautiful space that feels unchanged for eighty plus years.  Intimate, with 2-foot thick adobe walls, you sit and sip, flirt, relax, or share an art / historic photo book until the hostess comes to lead you through the dining rooms, perhaps to the outdoor patio area.  How lovely it is to watch the sun set as you place your order.

7.)  THE ROMANCE …

Why do people gravitate to Los Poblanos to celebrate their most special occasions?  Why is the waiting list for weddings a mile long?  Because this is an elegant, intimate place designed and preserved to entice you to walk a bit slower, hold hands, and find yourself reflecting on the important things in life … who you are with.  All of the love in your life.  All the while knowing you are in good hands, with a friendly staff waiting to help you make plans.  Or, you simply wander and forget any world but this, to be alone-together and discover.

These are only 7 reasons of thousands to fall in love with Los Poblanos.  Coming soon is the 8th reason we love it … a feature of The Farm Store.  So charming and unique we feel it deserves it’s own article.

Wishing you Buen Provecho and Great Discoveries!

xo Amy & Mr.D