The views and people watching here were top tier. New Mexico really is the land of enchantment. We had fun driving & walking around here. You really have a good time, get your steps in & find some gems. My biggest takeaway was the traditional native touches everywhere & how friendly the natives are. ABQ has a special place in my heart. Also there's live music nightly here & it's DOPE. The performances from native blues & rock artists really blew me away. read more

See all

I see two Block by Block cleaning crews cleaning the graffiti off the glass and buildings and light poles are being painted green. Doing what they can to revive the builds in the hopes the downtown comes bald alive one day. It's sad to see any downtown with boarded up windows to avoid folks breaking them down. No idea what the downtown area looked like before the pandemic or if the mass exit and vacancy occurred before Covid. Even the Jimmy John's is closed. read more

See all

This is my 1st time traveling to Albuquerque from Georgia. We enjoyed walking and sightseeing downtown. We felt safe. The area was clean. Purchased a few souvenirs from the local vendors. I would recommend downtown! read more

Our downtown maybe smaller than most but we pack in a lot of character in those small city blocks. I love that many storefronts still bear their original names despite hosting modern restaurants and other fare. If you are looking for nighttime entertainment or a daytime cafe, you can find it downtown. But the best part is the hidden gems. You can find spray paint art on the sidewalks or murals on the walls that give true flavor to what Albuquerque is all about. It is true that there are several homeless people walking around because this is where many of the shelters are but that's true of any city and I've never had a problem. There is a greater police presence on Central as that is where they tend to train the guys in the academy. Some of the restaurants will stay open to accommodate the club crowd. Yelp is a great place to locate that late bite to eat. read more

See all

#79 for 2019 2019 Update: businesses that are no longer downtown... Asian Pear is now located near Paseo & San Pedro. Monk's Taproom is closed. I'm not sure of they have a new location. Annatoila Mediterranean Restaurant is Closed I'm not sure of they have a new location. New Move Ins: Cake Nightclub on Rt 66 between 6th street and 5th street TWIST nightclub on 4th & Central The Co-OP not sure what this place is yet. NM Helicopter Rides is open next to Silver Street Market. Inbox me with info o. newly opened downtown businesses or closed businesses so I can update my post :-) read more

See all

Always pass by these robots and never get a chance to park & take pictures. At Lomas & 4th st read more

See all

Downtown Albuquerque is a dive...no retail except a cool hat shop. It really is ghetto...a town on life support...The building owners do not invest in them because, the homeless pretty much took over, and have never left. It does not feel safe, and it smells bad... If you like the bar scene and drinking- then this is the place for you...other than that...our mayor and city council have done nothing to revitalize downtown in so many years...The police are constantly taking vagrants from the civic center where no parent in their right mind would want their kid playing on the expensive play yard that Tim built. Having gone to school in downtown when it was vibrant for 9 years...it has never come back from being the "bar and homeless scene"it became about 12 years ago...We lost the one bright place- the theatre...They did not renew their lease due to people being afraid to go down to that area...esp the transportation department which is a hangout for vagrants...not even safe at the train depot. read more

Downtown Albuquerque has its problems, but the city is trying to improve the area due to pressure from the merchants. A large homeless population is evident, and they can sometimes cause trouble. That said, there is the historic Kimo,and Century theaters, and good restaurants like Lindy's and bars with food like the Library. The police presence is being increased. Still, most good night life, including food and drink, are located elsewhere. read more

See all

I love this city. Love downtown and think if you're complaining you haven't been in a while. All cities have homeless folk and they are usually the spice (like pepper) to all cities. I am a fairly attractive 45 year old woman and I go Downtown alone and watch live shows and walk to and from my car and never have an issue. On Friday and Saturday the streets are blocked off from traffic flow and food trucks come in and are available. There are sometimes street parties with a DJ bumping up the vibe with dancing. Yes "Dancing in the Streets" is alive and well here. Lol The breweries are also on point and have awesome entertainment from a local picking a guitar to poetry reading a an open mic night and don't forget the Improv at The Box. There are even events for the non drinkers and adolescent folk at Kiva and the Jam Spot. Oh and have you seen civic plaza since the remodel?? I helped plant flowers last year before their grand opening and last years summer art exhibit was awesome. The kids have a water area to play in and a jungle gym thing called Prickly Pear Park and in the summer bring you lawn chair and watch a free movie every Friday accompanied with a play as well. There is beer at this event and food and live music. Entertainment free; food is affordable. Faith over fear; yeah someone might ask you for some change or food but homelessness is real and doesn't always equal crime. It's everywhere and if you don't like it or want to complain then DONATE!!!Be a part of the solution and help out! It is a great city and Downtown is one of the perks to being social and having fun here. Don't knock it until you try it. I've even gone and walked around on a Sunday morning before church drinking coffee looking at all the buildings. You're safer downtown than at the stinking casinos!! And our local artists need your support; as well as the businesses. read more

See all

I've just discovered what a fun place downtown Albuquerque really is. There are so many things to do and if you don't want to stay in the downtown area you can walk to the Alvarado transportation center and catch a city bus to just about anywhere in Albuquerque. You have civic plaza which has so many events to try. There are lots and lots of places to eat from the bakeries like Bosque Baking Company on Coal Ave and Roma Bakery and Deli on Roma Ave to the delicious food at Brixens and Boiler Monkey both located on Central Avenue. Two grocery stores downtown Lowe's and Silver Street Market to the convenience store Country Club Market on Coal ave. Something for everyone including the night clubs and lounges and in 2 more months I'll be able to try them out! I can't wait! Enjoy downtown albuquerque! read more

Downtown Albuquerque - Local Flavor Near Me

Downtown Duke City! The ABQ has some good vibes. Downtown is scenic, and has its own unique flavor that you don't find elsewhere. There's plenty of great, monumental works of public art around here, and the street signs have a weird, cool look to them that you don't see in places like Omaha. Just walking around, you can see all kinds of murals, sculptures, and other neat things that make the area cool to check out. Be sure to check out the exterior of the historic Kimo Theater, which is an architectural marvel of old Indian designs. The cool old retro neon signs make this place look like something out of a postcard. Route 66 goes straight through the center of downtown. It's now called Central Ave, and that's where the coolest art galleries, oldest shops, and bars are. There's food truck vendors just hanging out, and lots of ethnic food options to eat. There is a bit of a homeless situation, and a variety of bad lookin' dudes hanging out around here, but mind your own business and hopefully you'll be okay. Parking can be found in some of the city owned lots, or along the meters on the street. read more

If you've never traveled, downtown Albuquerque is a pretty exciting place, but it's really a lesser version of Salt Lake City, while trying its hardest to be Portland. There are some nice bars, restaurants, and places to shop, but it doesn't have an identity of its own. Rather than embracing the culture and making an experience that is unique to Albuquerque, it seems determined to copy other cities. Hipsters are bad enough but posing as a hipster is embarrassing. I will say it's getting better. I enjoy the rail yards, and the growers market it nice. The music scene has some bright spots, and there are some really great restaurants. Hopefully it will stay on the right track and continue to grow, but keep its identity. No matter how hard it tries this town will never be Austin, Portland, or Denver, and that's okay. read more

You Guys, I LOVE Downtown Albuquerque! But it doesn't get enough love, and because of this, it is struggling. If all the cool places which have existed here over the past few years I've lived here were still here, Downtown ABQ would be one of the hippest Downtowns around. Right now Downtown ABQ has some awesome places at which to hang out. Don't ask me to list them here. Just walk around Downtown and get to know the place. Pop your head into a storefront you wouldn't normally go into. You may find yourself a new favorite place. Heck, you have a myriad of coffee houses, sushi bars, regular bars and art galleries from which to choose. The largest growers' market is there. Don't get all sour thinking about how hard it might be to park your car Downtown. Leave your car at home and ride the bus to Downtown. There are numerous bus stops around, not one more than a quarter of a mile walk away. If you're just exploring this hip 'hood, then get off the bus at the Alvarado Transportation Center. You can begin your exploring there. You won't regret it, and you'll get a seriously nice walk in while you're at it. A serious chunk of your 10K steps for the day. Heck, Downtown is one of the very few places in ABQ where you don't need a car to get around and get stuff done. There's even a full-fledged grocery store there. It's not right in the main Downtown area, but within a short walk. And if you're like me, you'll want to live there. You can choose from a hip loft to a cute house in one of Downtown neighborhoods like Raynolds Addition. So, come on, Guys! Let's all show Downtown Albuquerque the love it deserves. read more

Downtown has become the place to be and to socialize. There have been a number of great restaurants that have moved in to the area. In a matter of months there will be a grocery store in the downtown area to that will only add to the living in the area. read more

Downtown Albuquerque - There is some great art in the downtown area. - Local Flavor Near Me

The first time I swung through downtown Salt Lake City I thought, Hey, this looks like Albuquerque. Our downtown is smaller, but it has a similar feel: a western hub that's grown too big for its bolo tie britches. And it has. Alongside the old shops of yesteryear sit posh condos and vegan-friendly cafes, gay nightclubs and smart office buildings, hip bars and some totally ugly collegiate-welcoming watering holes. There's a lot happening down here, but from an urban perspective the place still needs the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy approach: total wardrobe revamp. Scoped from the Queer Eye lens, the KiMo Theater is divine. Don't touch it. Leave the Blackbird be. Same goes for Anodyne, Sister, the Launchpad and El Rey, and Sunshine can stay, but it could use a little help with acoustics. Adieux and Zendo, they're definitely welcome to spend the night. The Box and Tricklock, the ArtBar, the Asian Noodle Bar, the Tap Room, Marble Brewery, Pasion Latin Fusion, Effex, Sushi Hana, Sushi King, the list does go on. Plenty of terrific businesses are making an impact on our little city hub. And there's reason to have hope. A cruise downtown will open your eyes to several new plots which should house groceries (finally!), more condos and some cool gardening spots. Don't forget the downtown growers market, which consistently features some of our best locally farmed eats. There's energy in this part of town... And there is desolation. For the most part, the streets are dead during the day, save those who work in offices or handle gov'ment affairs. Were I female, I would not come here alone at night. And I don't come here to party very often, either. Weekends the cops barricade the streets, because cruising (so small town) would otherwise load 'em up. Sidewalk lighting is seriously limited, which can be scary. As Bon Jovi deftly noted, we're half-way there. And like Bon Jovi, we're stuck in their era: sans light rail/subway/taxis (yes, you'll have to call one, because they don't troll), we're livin' on a prayer. It's an Old West horse 'n buggy hub that suddenly met the 21st century. Queer Eye for the Bolo Tie. read more

Downtown Albuquerque - Local Flavor Near Me

Ok. I love Albuquerque for a number of reasons. However downtown ABQ has a variety of problems. That said the potential for this town is huge. It seems that those in charge have made an attempt to revitalize, but compared to other cities of this size the homeless problem in downtown is just out of control and the crime is not conducive to revitalization. Fix the homeless and crime problem and things wIll naturally get better. Over the past few years our republican mayor just left the city to rot. Hoping the new mayor can get things stabilized. One other problem plagues the city and it has an impact on drawing any businesses here...that is the horrid public school conditions. There are a couple of good public schools thrown into a a larger number of third world level schools. It is a definite problem for attracting young talent to my company. I am hoping the city will "get this" problem and fix it. Fast. Its embarrassing to be last in nation in schools. We are showing we don't love our children much in New mexico read more

The mayor and law enforcement need to step it up in their efforts of removing the loitering of homeless! Downtown ABQ has some great local businesses, but the it needs to be cleaned up!!! And not not on Friday and Saturday night! Mayor Keller and APD you guys can do better. read more

A mini downtown compared to larger cities. Quaint, full of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, galleries. An interesting place to check out for sure. read more

Dirty. Trashy. Old and not in the historic way. Needs a facelift or rebuild. Rude or snotty people everywhere. Surprised my car hasn't been broken into when I'm in downtown. read more

Hidden charm behind every front is the best way to describe downtown ABQ. This is where judging a book by its cover won't allow you to take in all that downtown has to offer. The nightlife is definitely growing with more and more nightclubs and hidden bars. Make sure to investigate any possible bar or club as it could be popular on the inside but be camouflaged in the downtown architecture. Nightlife has a rugged feel but there is authentic charm in that. read more

I have a lot of fun in this area and it's usually where I go on the weekends and often a couple days during the week. The parking isn't too bad. I have my go to spots and my go to bars. There are a few food trucks around and some excellent restaurants. I just like people watching and the outdoor areas of the bars that open onto the main drag of central. There is also a cool old theater the Kimo. It's fun and casual and hoping nowadays. read more

Went to the Pepper concert last night at the Sunshine Theatre. That place is a shite hole. Loved the vibe in downtown Albuquerque. Dangerous and sketch to the maximum but I appreciated the strong presence of Albuquerque Police Department. I've also lived in Dallas San Francisco and New York. Albuquerque definitely has the most ignorant and violent citizens but I admit your population has the best looking populace. read more

Just the area? Help me find the library Not for books, the bar Must make this longer To become a real review Yelp dislikes haiku read more

For a city in New Mexico it's pretty good. Really has a few big streets. Central Ave is one. Very lively on Friday and Saturday but beware, places close early and odd hours on Sunday. read more

dont like downtown even if there are some good businesses are fantastic I do not feel safe at all during the day, and I dont want even try it at night all the shelters are in downtown, I wonder why? downtown is the first place that tourist will visit and they probably expect to have place where to walk and enjoy restaurants and many more businesses read more

I have fond memories from my childhood if my mom taking me downtown to shop for school clothes at Lerners. When we were done shopping we would eat lunch at Woolworths. We would sit at the counter and I would twirl on the red seat. As I grew older and turned 21 my friends and I would head downtown for a night out. So many good memories and laughs . I have worked in downtown Albuquerque for many years. Due to COVID I've been working from home since March. I miss the daily walks my friends and I would take on our breaks. Of course there are homeless people and many of them we're friends y and harmless. I miss eating at my favorite sandwich place Friends, pizza and salad at NYPD, teriyaki fried rice at Asian Noodle Bar, enchiladas from Baca Boys. I used to get my shoes fixed at the place on 6th and central. Most of all I miss walking to the library to pick up books I had reserved. I hope things get back to normal soon!! read more

I love driving through downtown. Amazing how quiet it gets after about 7 at night and before the bar rush starts. I love that they block off central on Friday and Saturday nights in the bar district and UBER and Lyft can pick up passengers on the next blocks over. It is also fun to see all the movie and TV filming downtown. read more

I've seen a few other neighborhoods reviewed, so I'm adding downtown. Say something! Downtown Albuquerque hasn't live up to its full potential, but there are a number of bright spots scattered around here that offer a glimpse of what this neighborhood could be. First off, though the downtown area can be a sh!t show and there are bars that, without exaggerating, reek of puke, there are some establishments that are among the best in the city. They are: -Anodyne, an unapologetically hipsterish bar with a splendid craft beer selection, a wealth of pool tables, and a cool crowd -Country Club Men's Salon, a classy place to get a haircut, massage, or even a manicure (for the real die-hard pretty boys) -Century 14 Movie Theater, which though not a local business, still a nice place to catch a movie -Marble Brewery, a great purveyor of craft beer with a cool outdoor area and decent bands performing most weekends -Pasion Latin Fusion, an excellent restaurant that experiments with different styles of Latin cuisine -Ibiza, a damn sexy rooftop bar that can seal the deal if you're trying to get in some drawers -The Downtown Growers Market, a cool, if expensive and somewhat limited farmer's market -The Railrunner stop, which is convenient and offers a fun and easy way to visit SF Then there are the places that aren't that great, but people like me come around to accept. They are: -The Library, for being a low-class, filthy place to go and act absurd once a year -The Blackbird Buvette, a classier version of The Library (read: frat boy-free, but heavy on the weirdos) -Tucano's, an overrated, and overcrowded Brazilian rodizio restaurant of the Olive Garden variety -Sunshine Theater, a place that gets all the good shows and thus thinks it has no room for improvement Then there are the places that should probably be zapped off of the earth. They are: -The bus depot -Bubble Lounge -Every other college bar on Central I may have made some omissions and there are some landmarks that I'm not familiar with and thus can't speak on (Burt's, Launchpad, Kimo, etc.), but I hope this serves as a decent taste of what the neighborhood has to offer. Oh, and there are some great things in the vicinity, such as the lofts going up just east of downtown and the restaurants in that area, plus the museums on the westside, and Barelas Coffee shop directly south. I think all of those are worth mentioning. read more

It's really dirty and the cops block the streets on the weekends so we can't drive down central!?? They fixed the roads witch is nice but it could use some fresh over paint on the sidewalks to cover the urinal smell lol it stinks down there read more

Downtown ABQ is full of wonderful shopping, restaurants, entertainment. I especially love Cheese and Coffee (Seared) on Central and San Pasquale, Amore, Biopark, the high rise condos, Jimmy Johns, Century 14, Freddys, Zinc, the Apothcary rooftop bar at Hotel Park, to name just a few. Don't give $$ to panhandlers!! This just encourages them to stay. It is pedestrian and bicycle friendly and has improved a lot since Mayor Keller stepped in. I would give 5 stars if it wasn't for the homeless, drunks and addicts littering the streets. read more

Downtown ABQ is a lot of fun and I highly recommned exploring the old commercial core of Albuquerque. Cafes (such as Humble and Boiler Monkey and Fino), restaurants (like Brixens, Cecilia's, Al's, and Andaluz), breweries and bars (Sister, Sidetrack, Anodyne, and Boese Bros.), and impressive architecture, movies, and the crown jewel: Kimo Theatre! Definitely worth an urban stroll; park once and let your feet lead the way! read more

Did you say "downtown" Albuquerque? There is no "downtown". There are a few ugly old buildings and a lot of cops and lawyers and very little else. Albuquerque is a dump and downtown is grease spot. There is absolutely nothing here. Stay away! read more

Small nice love it. Easy traffic way. Need lil more restaurants around and need some more local breweries.

I love downtown areas there's always something to do, always something to see, and always something going on. In most downtown's, like Albuquerque's, they offer restaurants, bars, clothing stores and in our case the old Route 66. When you drive down old 66 takes you back in time and you look at the stores that are one-time Woolworth that are now a taco spot. Our downtown is much cleaner than some of the other downtown's I've been in and it's not as nice as other downtown's I've been in. I try to go to downtown and every city that I visit. I find it that's where The Heart of the City is. On the weekends they close up Route 66 and to downtown area for special events, block parties and other various reasons. You can find variety of food trucks or the guy standing on the corner with his hot dog cart. Letsa bars downtown more for what I feel cater to the younger crowd. I love the fear of walking in downtown at night time you never know what you're going to see, who you're going to meet. Or when you need to run haha. I don't think our downtown is any worse than any other and better than some. It's a great place to go and get lots of photo ops because of the location of our downtown and with what our city has to offer you will often see a film crew blocking up the streets. Who knows you might see someone famous or someone who may become famous either way downtown is my kind of town. read more

See all

It's downtown; what do you expect? You've probably been through at least once or twice every month. If you don't like it, get over it because you'll have to go down there to do anything involving the city. Gotta pay your water bill in person? Downtown. Gotta go to a convention? Downtown. Something going on at the plaza? Downtown. read more

Did know you could review a section of town that's interesting. Abq downtown is some of the best and worst of ABQ. There is always good shows and live music, lots of bars and food, but lots of fighting and I've seen a couple people get stab. The police do their best especially Friday and Saturday night. It's just the nature of burque like it or not. Tocanos and a movie is my favorite date spot. read more

It's way too small for me and it's a very scary place to walk, there's not a lot of people that go downtown and that's what makes it scary, I would like to see more events downtown so more people go down there. :) read more

Often, better things come in smaller doses and this is true for the downtown area. I haven't been to a downtown in America that does not have a homelessness problem; Albuquerque is no exception. There are a number of reasons to visit and do business in the downtown area as there is reason to plan an outing with your family or besties. I love the bars and lounges downtown. There are some smaller, historic music venues in the area, and parking is far easier to navigate than other major US cities. Another plus to this area is the parks surrounding downtown. There are a number of dog-friendly eateries with great patios too! Civic Plaza is grand and recently re-done, so look out for their movie nights and festivals in the summertime. Want a cup of coffee? Downtown Albuquerque is home to some of the best beans in the state. There are many reasons to love (and hate) downtown, but I happen to adore this little heart of the city. read more

Night life is ok a few dive bars that I like! I would stay away from effex. Drinks are way over priced the sound is crap and the staff comes off as rude. Parking is really bad unless you want to pay a lot then even then it feels like you might get your car stolen. Some of the restaurants are ok. The movie theater is great! Seats are kinda old but not a lot of people go down town to see a movie. Free parking in a garage if you see a movie! read more

Albuquerque has a lot to offer. The crime puts me off a little but if you can get past that, the city is sort of like a small Las Vegas. There is so much to do and the scenery is beautiful. read more