If you're looking for a place where a fella or gal can get a drink, Albuquerque has you covered. We've got countless great bars here, but narrowing that massive selection down can be a little tricky, so, separated by category, here are the best bars in Albuquerque:
Upscale and inviting is a tricky balance to find, but Slate Street Cafe pulls it off. Somehow classy and homey at the same time, Slate Street Cafe offers smoked salmon and ahi tuna alongside one of the best seasonal wine selections in the state. They brand their menu as "contemporary comfort food." This means it'll look great on your Instagram account, but it's filling and tastes great all the same. Gluten-free options, and vegetarian-friendly.
515 Slate Ave. NW
(505) 243-2210
Yelp: 141 reviews, 3.5 star rating
We'd be hard-pressed to choose just one beer bar in Albuquerque, but the Nexus Brewery is one of the very best. The Nexus serves housebrewed beers like cream ale, chocolate porter and honey chamomile wheat, alongside a menu of great soul food with a Southwestern kick.
4730 Pan American Freeway East
(505) 242 4100
Yelp: 348 reviews, 4 star rating
Howie'sHowie's Sports Page has everything you want from a sports bar: beer on tap, great food, friendly people and a fun atmosphere. The website advertises the bar as "Cheers... only with no Shelley Long" which is pretty much what you want from a sports bar.
12500 Montgomery Blvd NE Ste 133
(505) 292 4263
Yelp: 16 reviews, 4 star rating
The Two Fools Tavern is an Irish bar with a Celtic decor, the largest whiskey selection in the city, and Guinness on tap, alongside some great ales and stouts with a European flavor. All this, and great Irish food, too.
3211 Central Ave NE
(505) 265 7447
Yelp: 242 reviews, 4 star rating
There are plenty of great places to grab a beer after work, but our favorite may be Anodyne, in part for its convenient location at 409 Central Ave. NW, right in the heart of Downtown. A wide range of brews, an inviting atmosphere and pool tables, all in a location that's probably on your way home from work, or at least not too far out of the way.
409 Central Ave NW
(505) 244 1820
Yelp: 97 reviews, 4 star rating
When you're looking for a great dive bar, you're after cheap beer, a really laid back atmosphere, and maybe a couple negative reviews from yuppies who can't appreciate the working class charm of a place like this. Carraro's has all of that and more. Take this review for example: "This seedy little place is almost dangerous where its located!" In other words, it's an authentic dive bar, and one of the best, not a hipster haven dressed up to look a little rough around the edges.
108 Vassar Dr SE
(505) 268 2300
Yelp: 18 reviews, 3.5 star rating
We know this word sounds silly, but it's the only one that fits the Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro: Swanky. The live entertainment including jazz and blues performances, exquisite food and elegant atmosphere make for maybe the very best cocktail bar in the city.
3009 Central Ave NE
(505) 254 9462
Yelp: 209 reviews, 4 star rating
Albuquerque is not as famous for its music as, say, Nashville or New Orleans, but there is nevertheless a strong musical culture here. The Sister Bar draws acts from around the globe, everything from jazz and blues to hip hop, with Naughty by Nature headlining as of the time of this writing.
407 Central Ave NW
(505) 242 4900
Yelp: 53 reviews, 4 star rating
Kelly's Brew Pub has probably the very best outdoor patio in Nob Hill. Friendly crowd that loves good beer, great staff, good food, and some really awesome locally brewed beers, like oatmeal stout.
3222 Central Ave SE
(505) 262 2739
Yelp: 249 reviews, 3 star rating
Pelican's is on the pricey side, but worth every penny. The restaurant/bar has two locations, one at 10022 Coors Blvd NW, and one at 9800 Montgomery Blvd NW. An impressive selection of wine, beer and cocktails, with some of the best seafood in the city.
9800 Montgomery Blvd NE
(505) 298 7678
Yelp: 40 reviews, 3.5 star rating
Source: flickr.com
It's a little out of the way from central Albuquerque, located in Bernalillo, which wasn't even part of the Metropolitan area a few decades ago. All the same, no bar in the area defines the Albuquerque experience like Silva's Saloon. The bar dates back to the bootlegging days, and is rumored to feature an underground tunnel from its bootlegging days.
955 S Camino Del Pueblo Bernalillo, NM 87004
(505) 867 9976
Yelp: 3 reviews, 5 star rating
We often think of bars as a nighttime, after-hours thing, but there are some great daytime drinking bars in Albuquerque, like the Savoy Bar and Grill, which offers plenty of lighter ales for the daytime, with a great lunch menu. The perfect spot for a midday break.
10601 Montgomery Blvd NE
(505) 294 9463
Yelp: 94 reviews, 3.5 star rating
An eatery/art gallery/bar with a California wine country-inspired design, the Artichoke Cafe is a little piece of the West coast right here in the heart of the American Southwest. A great, pleasant, casual little place to take a first date.
424 Central Ave SE
(505) 243 0200
Yelp: 173 reviews, 4 star rating
In some ways, Albuquerque feels like a city out of time, but they've kept up with health trends, and at the Squeezed! Juice Bar in Nob Hill, you can enjoy juices made without concentrates, sugar or preservatives, alongside smoothies and a healthy lunch menu.
3339 Central Ave NE
(505) 717 1407
Yelp: 31 reviews, 4.5 star rating
Source: flickr.com
One of the most welcoming little joints in the city, the Albuquerque Social Club, AKA "the Soch" has been around since 1971. A not-for-profit club, the bar offers a friendly spot for LGBTQ folks in the city with a casual-glam decor and drag and ladies night.
4001 Central Ave
(505) 262 1088
Yelp: 1 review, 1 star rating (this is just one reviewer so take it with a grain of salt. Check out the Facebook page for more reviews)
Source: flickr.com
Albuquerque is rich with history, so it's easy to pick any of the decades-old dives, lounges and clubs as your go-to, but there's some fresh blood on the scene, too, and the Q Bar at the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town shows a lot of promise. With plush booth seating and upscale eats, this might just become your favorite.
800 Rio Grande Blvd NW
(505) 222 8718
Yelp: 23 reviews, 2.5 star rating
