NOSA restaurant & inn: a desert retreat outside santa fe
By Annabelle Bragalone
Just outside Santa Fe sits NOSA Restaurant & Inn, a destination that blends farm-to-table dining with intimate, design-forward lodging. With only four guest rooms and seating for about fifty guests, NOSA feels personal, intentional, and refreshingly small in scale.
I had the pleasure of dining with Chef Sharon Van Meter, co-owner of NOSA, while Chef Graham Dodds, also co-owner, chef, and innkeeper, curated an incredible lineup of dishes with thoughtful wine pairings. The evening began with tempura shishitos followed by a parsley root and sunchoke bisque. Later courses included a Niçoise salad and a charcoal-grilled wagyu bavette served with white bean puree and jimmy nardello peppers.
Reaching NOSA takes a bit of planning. The property sits about forty-five minutes outside Santa Fe, and rideshares are unreliable once you reach the desert. I recommend renting a car. The drive winds through open stretches of desert, and on arrival you will find ample parking. From the outside, the inn blends naturally into the landscape while still standing out as a carefully crafted retreat. Reservations can be arranged in advance for dinner or for an overnight stay booked through Airbnb.
The inn offers four adobe-style bedrooms: two kings and two queens. Each room includes a fireplace, a sitting area, and a private porch overlooking the desert. The layout is simple and inviting, giving guests space to slow down and unwind. The bed was incredibly comfortable and ensured a deep, restful sleep. The design reflects classic New Mexico adobe architecture with understated, thoughtful details.
Dinner is the heart of the NOSA experience. The restaurant features three small dining rooms, which keeps service relaxed and intimate. Chef Graham visits each table throughout the evening to greet guests personally, and the hospitality from the entire team sets the tone right away.
Meals are served as multi-course dinners with optional wine pairings. Each course arrives beautifully presented with a focus on balance, not excess. The wine pairings complemented each dish without overpowering the flavors. By the time dessert arrived, a New York–style cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, the meal felt cohesive and memorable.
While dinner is the highlight, the surrounding landscape is worth exploring. A standout nearby experience is Windows of the Earth, a sandstone cave near Ojo Caliente. Sculptor Ra Paulette spent decades carving the cave by hand, creating arches, alcoves, and walls that feel architectural and meditative.
My evening ended with quiet desert views, clear skies, and beds so comfortable it felt like sleeping on a cloud. Guests can then spend the morning on their porch, take a walk in the surrounding landscape, or use NOSA as a base to explore northern New Mexico.
NOSA is exceptional, and so is Santa Fe. The inn is a destination on its own, yet Santa Fe deserves time as well. If your visit aligns with a Saturday, I recommend exploring the farmers and artisan markets at the Railyard. The stalls stretch farther than expected, filled with local produce and handmade art. It is easy to lose your sense of direction among the winding rows, so take note of where you park. I learned that lesson the hard way.
Overall, NOSA should not be missed. Its intimate scale sets it apart in a region already known for its vibrant dining scene. NOSA offers something different: a slower pace created with intention.
Whether you come for the five-course dinner, stay the night, or join a guided excursion, NOSA offers something truly special: a destination where food, hospitality, and setting work seamlessly together.