Wesley Geyer became a concierge by accident. “I was working at Hertz car rental, renting cars to guests on the Plaza,” Santa Fe’s history-and-tourism nucleus in the center of town, he says. One of the head concierges at La Fonda, a nearby hotel, liked the personalized advice Geyer was giving guests and offered him a job on the spot. “Hotels had never been part of my path,” the native New Mexican explains, “but I absolutely loved it and still do.”
After two years at La Fonda, he’s now at the Inn of the Anasazi, a Rosewood stunner where the big bright rooms have beam-lined ceilings and adobe beehive fireplaces. When he’s not bragging about the hotel’s new restaurant or in-room spa treatments, here is where Geyer sends his guests—in his own words.
Top Picks
Best New Restaurant: “Georgia is the new side project from [Lloyd Abrams, the] owner of the very popular Geronimo. It’s a wonderful contemporary American restaurant where the locally-focused menu changes pretty regularly, so I always go with anything they have on special. They have a great bar scene and a patio that’s perfect for long leisurely dinners.”
Green Chile Burger: “The green chile cheeseburger is probably one of the best ways to introduce everyone to our unique addiction to green chilies here in New Mexico, and every local has a different favorite. Mine is the Mother Burger, a mixture of beef and buffalo topped with green chile brie and truffle oil on a pretzel bun, at Cowgirl BBQ.”
Art Curator: “Phillip Payne name creates a really personalized experience at the Signature Gallery. Whether he’s showing sculpture, paintings or jewelry, he knows each artist very well and displays his own works here too. There’s also a viewing room that can be lit all differnet ways or completely blacked out if someone is interested in a viewing a particular piece. He really makes it a special.”
Spa Experience: “On the road leading up the mountain to Santa Fe’s ski area, surrounded by piñon, juniper and pine trees, Ten Thousand Waves is a Japanese-style spa that feels completely removed from town. They have the best therapists who specialize in Eastern treatments, and the wood soaking tubs are imported from Japan.”
Shopping Spree: “The Plaza is completely saturated with mom-and-pop stores and great artisans, one of which, Santa Maria Provisions, just opened within the past six months. They have such unique, high-quality goods: textiles, jewelry, candles, a little bit of everything the owner finds interesting during her travels all over the country. It’s a tiny little store but you could be in there for an hour.”
Cocktail Destination: “My favorite place for drinks is the Coyote Café. They have a really creative, innovative cocktail list utilizing seasonally changing [ingredients], liquid nitrogen, fire, house-made liquors and infusions from a master mixologist. I get something different every time I go.”
Side Trip: “You can see three different areas outside Santa Fe in a good most-of-the-day trip. I would start by driving out to Chimayo, a northern New Mexico settlement with a famous sanctuary, then head to San Indelfonso, which is well-known for its black pottery, and finally Bandelier [National Monument] for some light hiking. The scenery—ancient ruins, cliff dwellings—is incredible along the way.”
Locals’ Secret: “Santa Fe has some of the best chocolate shops in the country, and my favorite, Kakowa, is out on Canyon Road. They use the best ingredients to create drinking chocolate elixirs based on century-old recipes—like Thomas Jefferson’s.”
Must-Have Souvenir: “Whether it’s a piece of jewelry, a painting, sculpture or a craft, artwork is the thing you need to take home from Santa Fe. On the Plaza, Rainbow Man is a great shop that leans toward Spanish and Mexican pieces.”
Best Room in the House: “Our beautiful weather is an essential element for a Santa Fe visit, and our Anasazi Suite has a balcony that lets you enjoy it. The view is of Washington Avenue toward the Plaza, the best streetscape of any room.”
Speed Round
Age: 27
Neighborhood: Albuquerque
Minibar temptation: “Any sort of chocolate-covered nuts, especially cashews and peanuts”
Favorite hotel in the world: Rosewood Mayakoba in Riviera Maya
Next vacation: “Making a road trip and vacation out of helping a friend move to the Bay Area”
Most outrageous guest request: With very little notice, chartering a helicopter to take a few guests out to a mesa for overnight camping under the stars
A great concierge is: a good listener.
A $10,000 Day
We asked Wesley Geyer to plan us a single, singular day in Santa Fe. Here’s what he came up with.
You will start the day off on a high note with a hot-air balloon ride over spectacular northern New Mexico. Johnny Lewis with Santa Fe Balloons, who is one of the most colorful and highly respected balloon pilots in the industry, will greet you with a traditional Champagne brunch for your journey over Las Barrancas (‘the Ravines’). From your balloon, you’ll see three different mountain ranges and several extinct volcanoes. There is interesting scenery all over, and beautiful, beautiful views.
Back on solid land, you’ll head back to Santa Fe for a leisurely stroll on Canyon Road, known for its fabulous art galleries and boutiques. I mentioned that everyone should bring back some form of art from Santa Fe, whether it’s a piece of fine art, sculpture or jewelry. You’ll work up an appetite gallery hopping, and during a fun hands-on cooking class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, you’ll learn how to make traditional Southwestern foods, such as chile rellenos, salsas and maybe even a green chile cheeseburger. After class, relaxation is just a short walk away at Absolute Nirvana Spa & Gardens, where your massage will be inspired by traditional Balinese therapies.
At night, the Anasazi Restaurant’s talented chef Juan Bochenski will cater a special dinner for Santa Fe Opera tailgating. This is unlike any other tailgating experience in the world. We’ll set you up with nice wines and linen tablecloths, and be sure to bring a costume based on that night’s opera. As you enjoy chef’s handmade empanadas, a selection of cheeses and custom sandwiches, the sun will begin set behind the mountains, cuing the opera to begin. It’s a truly magical—and very Santa Fe—evening.
Fortune’s Concierge Black Book is an occasional series in which we interview guides in the world’s most desirable locations. For more, visit fortune.com/tag/black-book
