Neat place! The entrance is about as incognito as it gets. Not gonna blow it up by saying what or where it is, but I thought it was very clever. I don't remember needing a password, just an ID, but maybe that depends on who is in charge for the evening. Once inside, it's all vibes and great drinks. The bartenders made me a really awesome smokey old fashioned, but the star of the show was the specialty ginger cocktail they were featuring, that right now I cannot remember the name of. Pic attached tho! It's not a big place, but there are both high tops, couches and lounge chairs, and bar seating depending on your preference. As an out of town visitor, I enjoyed it thoroughly! read more

Founders Speakeasy - The unidentified ginger cocktail that I cannot remember, but was delicious. Maybe they'll know it by sight. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Oh my goodness, I don't know how I've heard of this place for quite awhile but not how great it is. My partner and I went for a date night. We both love speakeasies. We actually did need a password to get in. Luckily, you could go to their website and request one and get it instantly by email. The facade is a real liquor store with a good selection of local and unique brews and spirits. We were led through a walk in freezer door and down a dark narrow staircase, which was fun and felt like a true speakeasy. We got to sit in the side room by ourselves the whole time, which was fun and nice and private. It's a small space with an old speakeasy type feel with neat art, wallpaper, ceilings, and such. Most importantly, the drinks are so good! We were enthralled by the fall seasonal cocktail menu, with smoked cinnamon, pumpkin, sweet potato!!, and other delectable fall flavors. The drinks all have a wild and complex combination of flavorings, and they make all their syrups in house. So yummy and such a good experience to sit and sip. Our server came to take our orders and check on us and was very nice. read more

Founders Speakeasy - The dark moody interior in the small side room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Made it a goal to try as many speakeasy style bars as I could while I was in the area. This was my favorite and top rated for several reasons. First thing there's no reservation needed. We went during the week right as it open and were able to get in easily. I also really like the uniqueness of how this is hidden away I won't go into too much detail but once you're in the liquor store, you'd never know there's a speakeasy lurking beneath. Then there is a service. The bartenders here are excellent and top notch. I don't drink alcohol, but they were more than willing to accommodate me with one of the most delicious mocktails, smoking cinnamon stick included. Then there's a space some of the other places we visited we're quite small with no space to move around. This was nice and open and had several different areas you could explore. Best ambience, best service, excellent drink drinks. Good value. Put this one on the top of your list for a must visit. read more

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This place is so cool. You go in to the EL Rey liquor store and then they take thru a door they look old like a cooler. It only holds 35 people so we had to be put on a wait list. They call you when it's your turn and you have 10 minutes to go back and check in. When you go down they will tell you where to sit. The place definitely feels like a speak easy. It's small and has a huge variety of liquors. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were really nice and told us about the place and recommended some drinks. We will definitely go back with friends. read more

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No cover charge. Decent prices. Yummy drinks. Demure, intimate vibe. Love. Check their IG for the password. *Note: I am from California read more

Founders Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Love, love, love this place! I had my first experience here on a Friday night, and it was fabulous. We arrived right when they opened- which I highly recommend, because they reached capacity by 10pm. My dad was visiting from out of town, and he was equally impressed by this tiny speakeasy. The menu is amazing! I had a banana rum drink that was absolutely delicious, along with a few other creative cocktails. This spot is perfect for anyone who loves craft cocktails and a cool, dark vibe. You enter through El Rey Liquors, and you'll need a password, which you can find on their website. The bouncer and bartender were both super kind and helpful in navigating their extensive liquor selection. read more

Founders Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I walked into El Rey Liquors in downtown Albuquerque expecting, you know... liquor. Instead, I found myself in what felt like a real-life episode of Scooby-Doo, minus the van and meddling kids. No sign, no crowd, just a lone man sitting by a freezer like he was guarding the last pint of Ben & Jerry's. Naturally, I walked up and whispered the password like I was auditioning for a spy movie. The man nodded solemnly and opened the freezer door--not to frozen peas and pizza rolls--but to a secret staircase. I half-expected to be handed a cloak and told I was going to Hogwarts. Down the stairs, I found Founders Speakeasy--a dimly lit cocktail haven that feels like a classy prohibition bunker. I ordered the New Mexico Old-Fashioned made with Taos Lightning bourbon and nearly wept. It was smoky, smooth, and tasted like a sunset over the desert. The Sangre y Arena? Like a classy fruit punch for grown-ups with good credit and mysterious pasts. With 150 spirits and a bunch of house infusions, this place is a playground for cocktail nerds. Just don't expect flashing signs or a guy outside yelling "DRINKS HERE!" You gotta earn this one. It's like Narnia for adults. Bring a password, an open mind, and maybe a friend to help you find the freezer. read more

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One of my fav speakeasy style spots I've been to. Cute vibe, delicious drinks, and friendly quick service. Higher cocktail prices than average for the town but right in line with similar downtown unique spots in other cities. read more

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While I won't tell you exactly how to find this place, I will say it's worth the tiniest bit of effort to find out. Make sure you get the password beforehand. The drinks were great, the space is just incredibly cool. You feel like you're in on something when you come here. An absolute must visit. read more

Great drinks, very cool atmosphere, and lovely bartenders. Had a great time there and would definitely go again. read more

Founders Speakeasy - Banana Bread Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Once again it doesn't disappoint. This place has a really cool vibe to come and have one of their amazing drinks and just hang out for a bit. It does get busy but, they limit the amount of people that can enter at a time. read more

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Happy hr until 8pm, solid old fashioned at 10.00 is the best in the city, presented like it should be smoked. Really fun experience if you have people visiting the lovely Q. read more

My husband and I randomly stopped in for a drink & loved the place! I'm pregnant, so wasn't expecting to get anything other than a sparkling water or so. Our server was great though and created an off menu mocktail for me. My husband got an old fashioned & said it was good too. My mocktail was ~$8. Very fair pricing for what I felt to be a nice NA drink. Great date spot! read more

Founders Speakeasy - Mocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Amazing place, incredible drinks, awesome vibes, and the bartenders have such a great vibe. Would not recommend enough. Go on a week day ! read more

The best bartenders in town! I love the ambiance and the people and the drinks are always perfect. The selection of alcohol they have is primo and the tenders always have a great recommendation. read more

I'm f#&g obsessed with this place. If you're on central and haven't been here then you NEED to go. You need a password to get in so be sure to check their website or Instagram. Founders serves some of the most innovative cocktails by some of the most talented bartenders in the city. Now, I know Happy Accidents gets a lot of press, but Founders is where it's at for speciality cocktails. You HAVE to come here for the experience. Brandon is my go to bartender. I give him 3 flavor profiles and this man brings me back something I didn't even know I wanted lol Honestly - this is one of the best places to get a great cocktail that is worth the price. My oooonnnlllly gripe is sometimes they closer earlier than their listed hours, but this (I am finding) is a common occurrence in ABQ nightlife. read more

My partner and I are frequent visitors of Founders Speakeasy mostly due to Morgan, one of the bartenders who is fabulous and takes pride in her job! She always greets us with a smile and makes excellent recommendations! I recommend the banana bread old fashioned, it is a great craft cocktail that tastes like dessert at the same time, and I am not usually one for whisky. We love the ambiance and exclusive feel of the speakeasy blended with a neighborhood hangout as we are always greeted by name as well! If you are in town for the holidays, it is an absolute must to stop in and visit Morgan. They do require a password which changes weekly, they post it to their Instagram @foundersabq If you are looking for a fun date night spot in abq downtown, founders is a perfect choice!! read more

Fun little speakeasy. Got to their website and request the password. Service was a bit slow but fun unique drinks

Every time I go to Founders it's a great experience. I'm not sure how often they change the drinks but every time I have gone there have been new drink options which is fun. They are always delicious! The bartenders each time I have gone have been fun to talk to and helpful selecting a drink. The space is small but adorable and a great place to unwind with friends over a delicious drink. read more

Founders Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Wow! What a beautiful piece of hidden ABQ with password REVERIE. Thanks for sharing your extensive crafted mixologist performances with us tonight Brenda!!! Cheers read more

Since experience bars are always on my List to visit when I travel I was told that Founders was a must. Well they were right. Before proceeding to their actual location, you should go on their webpage and get the password.... Now - Like most speakeasy bars, it's limited in seating and capacity so keep that in mind if you try to go without a reservation on the weekend.... I went in the middle of the week and was able to get a spot at the bar . This place was great. The bartender was super friendly and willing to make amazing cocktails based upon the type of drink I liked and experiment with different things that we're not on the menu.. the staff was awesome all around. Let's do a quick walk-through, you walk into El Rey's liquor store, and you give the person the password. They then move you to a downstairs location that is amazing. Prices for this type of experience bar at this location I would say are moderate and the value for what you are getting is great.. I wish I could actually give this place higher stars because it's rare you find quality products with great atmosphere and friendly employees - worth it. read more

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This is the place you MUST visit when in Albuquerque NM. Husband and I walked here from the train station. Map the exact address as the location is hidden as it is a speakeasy bar that is underground!!! Oh, and first you MUST go on their website and ask for the password as it does change and yes, they do ask for the password. They also check your ID, so no matter your age make sure you have an ID with you. As you walk downstairs get ready to enter a cool bar with wonderful people working. And WOW!!! The drinks are amazing and at a reasonable price. We went on a Monday and they were having an all night HH on margaritas, daiquiris, and Smoky old fashions !!! The place is small but it has alot of character. We went before they opened and got to spend some time talking to Joel upstairs. So glad we found this place as the drinks and people were great. read more

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Great drinks and fun time. First of all prior to visiting, you might want to visit their website to get the password. The entrance to this hidden bar is through the front of a liquor store where you check in and get on a list to enter. Joel talked us through the process as we just showed up Great drinks and talk by the folks already partaking. Key (and her Amy Winehouse 'stache) was awesome. She makes a mean smoked Old Fashion. Plenty of room to sit inside and outside the place is small, hence the wait list mentioned above. We had fun here and I'd recommend it. read more

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I wish I can say this is the first time I followed a stranger into a speakeasy... but it wasn't. While travelling I like to ask the locals for recommendation and Founders came highly recommended. Founders is a speakeasy in Old Towne Albuquerque. Extremely hidden! The main entrance is in El Rey Liquors. I hear there's a secret password but we happened to come with a royal local who was able to get us in. You enter through a secret door and go down through a stairway to the speakeasy. Love the dim lit intimate ambiance. All of the staff and bartenders were super friendly and welcoming. There was art on the walls and the vibes of prohibition. QR code for the menus are on objects at our table. I ordered from their Falls Specials menu since I have a weakness for exclusive seasonal items. For the first round of drinks I had the Gozu Mezu ($14). This comes with a Kurayoshi Tottori Japanese Whiskey, house plum oolong syrup, citris, spumato and amaro. Well crafted tasty drink and I even loved the garnish. The apple slices were nice to dip into the drinks and enjoy as a dessert at the end. For the second round I had the Batata Harvest ($15) which has a house infused spiced sweet potato American whiskey, overproof Jamican rum, house cinnamon syrup, maple bitters, topped with fresh grated nutmeg and a tasty toasted marshmallow. Yumm!! Totally my type of drink. Love the vibes of this place. Perfect for date night or friends catching up and hanging out. Truly enjoyed all of the drinks I orders and I thought it was super affordable too. Must try if you find yourself in the area. This place is so awesome it can hold up against speakeasies in LA, OC, Seattle and New York. Cheers! read more

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Very cool scenario when you need to walk into a corner store, provide a password, then be escorted into the basement. It was a cool experience, but the security guard was intense. The drinks were just okay, not worth the price to me. The basement was really dark and warm. I felt like I was in high school again drinking in my buddies basement. Def worth a try! read more

A fun place to try -- the novelty wears off pretty quick though -- I returned once after this review but probably will not return again. The neighborhood is really dicey now and the fun playfull people I met working there the first were replaced but not so friendly folks.... read more

This place is cool! Make sure to look up the password to get in! Service and ambience were great and drinks were creative and delicious.

Fun hidden speakeasy bar! Great cocktails! The staff are friendly and the decor is simple and very nice. read more

Founders Speakeasy - The Stoned Grouter. Flavorful with many layers. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Excellent place for craft cocktails in downtown ABQ. Really enjoyed the atmosphere and the experience of finding it. Bartenders were very attentive and made for great conversations. read more

Founders Speakeasy - Old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Beautiful and flavorful cocktails. We were told not to ask to order but to wait for the bartenders to come to us. We sat for 15-20 minutes at the bar-top with empty glasses waiting to order again. They took our empty glasses and didn't ask if we wanted another drink so I asked to close. They finally asked how the cocktails were as we were signing the check. I get it's busy but it's pretty disappointing to not even be asked if we wanted another drink three hours before closing. read more

Always a great spot to pop your head in after a long day!! Staff is amazing and ambiance is spot on!

Great little hole in the wall place, fantastic drinks, and friendly staff, recommend for before or after dinner drinks!

This place is super cool! First you go into a little mart and then there is a secret door that leads you to the location. You have to give the password and then they point you to the door. Once inside it's so nice. It's a dark mysterious vibe. The furniture and decor seems sort of antique. We went on a Monday where the cocktails were $10 for daiquiris and espresso martinis and I believe old fashions. I ordered the daiquiri and I thought it tasted good. The people I was with ordered the espresso martini and they stated it wasn't bad. It was pretty dead on a Monday night so the service was really on point. The bartender made sure we didn't need any more drinks throughout our time there and made sure we were taken care of. Overall I would definitely go back should I visit New Mexico again. read more

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Fun experience to enter the bar through the secret door. Drink and service were great and made for an overall neat experience.

Shhhhhh.........you must get a password to get in. Awesome place! Awesome drinks! These guys are drink artists! Order the old fashioned or Manhattan! They have a bazillion whiskeys! Pssst..... go to inststagram read more

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Do you know the password? It's a must to get in. Fantastic staff, great drinks and cozy environment. There sometimes are holiday or speciality cocktails, ask and you shall receive. The happy hour special is a good deal here too! read more

Some of the best drinks I've ever had. Truly a remarkable find and quiet little stop in ABQ. The staff was awesome too! They made great conversation with my brother and asked personal questions to nail down our drinks. I didn't expect one of the best cocktails I've ever had to be in ABQ, but the "Ruby Row" proved me wrong. read more

Founders Speakeasy - The Ruby Row: Bourbon, amaretto, giffard rhubarb liquer, fresh orange juice, honey syrup, egg white, served up in a coupe. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

First time coming here! I've always wanted to come here but it was hard to get into because it would get packed but luckily we got in tonight. I love the vibe and the bartenders were awesome! They were extremely nice and very professional. They made some yummy drinks. I got to try hot cocoa because it was so cold outside and a midori sour with egg. Never would've thought I drink one with an egg but it was delicious. I would definitely recommend coming here for a nice hang out with 2-4 friends and the drinks were awesome especially the hot cocoa! read more

Founders Speakeasy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Small and quaint. Sat at the bar and the tender was busy yet social. It wasn't busy there and I loved that. Been waiting to go again. The decor was great, lots to look at and chat about. read more

Not sure what all the buzz is around this place. We got to checkout it out this weekend and its over-rated. The concept is cool but the bartenders are unfriendly, the wait is long, its cramped downstairs and has poor ventilation. It reminds me of being in a electic, muggy, dorm room. The best thing about this place is the cocktails but if you order beer, they bring it from upstairs and its room temperature. read more

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