A quaint little dive bar, this place does not deserve the recent negative reviews that nearly kept…read moreme away from visiting. The bartender was attentive, poured good drinks, and refused the clearly drunk patrons who tried to enter (who likely left the bad reviews). I couldn't imagine trying to run a bar as bartender, waiter, and bouncer on a slow Monday night never mind when it gets busy. It's a swell place to get drinks with a few laughs and I'll be back.

Tiny lil bar and quite packed. Nice drinks and funny sarcastic bartender. Great for late drinksread more

Went for a happy hour after work and I loved the ambiance! Dark and cozy with a speakeasy vibe…read more Once I entered it was easy to forget it was still sunny and hot outside. The menu was listed as cast of characters/script, which was lots of fun. Our group was about 20 people, which I'm sure was a challenge, but our server was great and kept us all with full glasses and no waiting. There is a small parking lot with free parking. It was full by the time I got there, but it was easy and free to park on the street nearby. They had a great selection of local beer, wine and creative cocktails. Didn't really try the food but the drinks were great. Would definitely go back!

I had not been to this place for many years. It used to be a dive bar for unm students. It was…read moreredone apparently 7 or 8 years ago and is a cool place to go too. When you go in the entrance the bar is to the left and is now kinda of a speakeasy. It's dark, nicely done, music playing and fancy cocktails being made. They don't have a huge menu but you can get some appetizers, sandwiches, etc. We had some non traditional nachos which were very good. The service was also very good. When we left the bar, I checked out the restaurant that was to the right when you walked into the front door of the Copper Lounge. It's has a very nice ambiance and it's not dark like the bar was next door. Don't have any other info on it but looked very nice. I would recommend checking these places out if you are looking for something very different from the usual places.

Zéma Vinyl Lounge (Inside Hotel Zazz)…read more Absolutely loved this hidden speakeasy! Located inside Hotel Zazz, Zéma Vinyl Lounge feels like a secret. To enter, you tap a banana sculpture three times in the hotel lobby and a hidden door opens -- such a fun and unique way to start the night. Inside, the vibe is intimate and stylish, with high-end vintage audio gear Macintosh receivers and vinyl playing moody lighting, and a super clean art deco-inspired restroom. The bartender was friendly, the drink I ordered was fantastic, and the whole experience felt like stepping into a curated piece of the past. It's cozy, creative, and executed with care. Hotel Zazz (Same Property) Unfortunately, the hotel experience didn't live up to the lounge. The room had issues: the fridge didn't work, the sink was clogged with hair and candy, and I had to unclog it myself. Cleanliness was below even basic motel standards -- not what I expected given the boutique vibe they're going for. The staff were polite but clearly not trained properly, especially around handling payments. When I checked in, they charged me $12.92 for parking. At checkout, a different staff member realized the lot was empty and tried to refund it, saying I shouldn't have been charged at all -- but instead, they charged me again. Now I've been charged twice, and despite calling twice and leaving messages, no manager has returned my call. It's a shame -- the hotel has so much creative potential, but it's not being managed properly. Zéma Vinyl Lounge: 5 stars. Hotel Zazz: 1 stars. Needs serious attention to staff training, guest communication, and basic cleanliness.

Always fun to find a speakeasy, especially when the entrance has some sort of hidden clue to get…read morein. The place is nice, eclectic, with nice seating area and fun decor. The menus are on a vinyl, to match their theme. And their drink menu is fun. What was disappointing was that 1. we had to wait 25 minutes for a bartender to show up and get our orders, then another long time to get the drinks. After the wait, a second drink was out of the question. 2. This is a vinyl lounge, and even though they had a setup for a DJ, there was no one playing but a speaker. 3. Some or our drinks did not come out with all the "frills" and effects as described on the menu, so we missed part of the experience. Not sure if it was an off night for them but my experience wasn't great.

I had forgotten this place was around, when it popped up on Yelp in a search for local nachos. Asa…read morebig fan of Copper Lounge, I excitedly encouraged the spouse to try it out. Upon entering, I was delighted by the marvelous decor and ambiance... terrific artwork and well appointed with tropics-themed cane furnishings. Very romantic and chic. Also, very dark. The lighting was so dim we had to illuminate the menu with the ol phone flashlight. How glamorous! Well, it was also nearly too dim to eat by. Admittedly, middle aged eyes are less keen than youthful ones, and yet... truly, I will go back in daylight hours next time, when the gorgeous skylights can compensate for the scanty lighting. The server was prompt and perfectly modest in zeal and conversation. He saw to it that we received our order in appropriate time. Now, this is a tequila and mescal place, but I ordered from the specialty Michelada list, a cucumber lime version that sounded divine. I do love a Michelada, but sadly, this one was so abundantly salted that I couldn't finish it. (And I'll finish most beverages.) Very big disappointment. I'm sure any number of drinks on the menu are fabulous, but I can't recommend this one. I ordered the tuna tostada, and my husband got the birra nachos. The tostada had fresh tomatoes and cilantro, and the fish was very good and fresh (poke style). The seasoning left something to be desired, though. It was spicy enough, but I do wish there'd been salt and pepper shakers on the table. My guacamole-averse husband gave me the spoonful from his nachos, so that livened it up. As for the nachos, he seemed to approve. It was mostly cheese and meat (minus the spoonful of guac), but he said more ample tomatoes and jalapeños would have overpowered it anyway. I'd describe my food as that sort of high-society modest flavor - minimalist seasonings in favor of purist flavor from the base ingredients. Indeed not comfort food, but great for a lighter mouth and tummy feel. All in all, the flavor experience was so-so. However, the atmosphere is super solid. For that, I'd go back and try something new. During daylight hours, that is.

So I hadn't been to Los Conejos since they very first opened, but I was pleasantly surprised to see…read morewhat they have done with the space. The decor is absolutely beautiful, we spent a good amount of the time there discussing how cool the art was and how great the space looked overall. I tried two different drinks, first a mango michelada and then the pink man's last word (I think that was the name) and I enjoyed them both. The second was definitely more my preference because it was fruity and sweet but also had some smokiness from the Mezcal. The nachos were absolutely amazing. I will be back for those alone. We tried the Al Pastor and seriously they were the best nachos I've had in a long time. I do wish they would expand their cocktail menu just a little bit. I am a sweet drinker and would love to see a few more options. Service was great, I don't remember the name of our bartender, but he had longer hair and he was very attentive.

Great servers! Everyone was helpful and kind so front of house manager must be doing their job!…read moreFood was delicious. Crispy Brussels sprouts had great flavor but way too much cayenne pepper (which adds nothing but heat) my husband ate them but said he would prefer less heat. I had 2 bites and gave up. Baked brie was amazing I loved the granny Smith apples! My husband loved them too. We also got the hummus duo which has dates on it and I used a date in the brie that was fantastic! I'll ask for that next time! It was the bomb. Hummus duo was good the watermelon radish was beautiful on the plate but gave both hummus a bitter flavor. Shrimp and grits. We live in Alabama currently and this was our least favorite dish of the day. Shrimp were cooked well and so were the grits but there was just something else it needed. Parmesan cheese and some onions maybe. Greek salad delicious. The flash fried chick peas made it. We needed more dressing and the wait staff was prompt and sweet about it. Spicy Lime Ceasar was ok till he requested more dressing then it was amazing. I was afraid of ordering it but the dressing wasn't too spicy . White sangria I had was disappointing it was more of a 1995 wine spritzer than a wine infused with citrus which is the very essence of sangria. It was ok and had I ordered a wine spritzer I would say yummo but I ordered sangria. Pork Belly flat bread was the winner of the night the tomato jam made that dish. I would love more on it next time but we will definitely be ordering that dish again! Yes we had a lot of left over food! But I love sampling a menu and this menu has a lot to offer. We will be back to try 4 or five other things. I look forward to my return.

We were excited to try this new American cocktail bar. Shout out to Yelp again for the find…read more Moseyed in on a Saturday night and didn't have to wait for a table. In a rare turn of events, both kids got the same thing, the Korean chicken bites with the sauce on the side, which was a great decision bc it did have a kick to it. The chicken itself was a bit dry. Both adults also got the pork belly flatbread. I found it a bit unbalanced with too much sauce and not enough other toppings, and the base wasn't as crispy as I prefer. Speaking of crispy, we opted for the appetizer brussel sprouts, and they were a bit chewy and on the not so super crispy side. Service was fine, and glad to have a little break from heavier New Mexican cuisine on this night. Lots of variety on the cocktail and adult beverage menu too.

Still Spirits is definitely a hidden gem, somewhere I had been wanting to check out, but had yet to…read morehave the opportunity to. I was lucky enough to be invited to a private party at the venue and it was a great experience. It's a rather intimate venue, but they have a cute little patio and great menu. I really enjoyed both my drinks, one was a cocktail and the other was a mocktail. I started with the Tormenta Pina which was very coconut creamy and then I got a Nekked Raskolnikov which was a very refreshing coffee drink. Overall everything was great.

I had no idea this place was here. The sign is small the bartender mentioned when I asked about it…read more It's on Marble street near the same name brewery. It wasn't huge in there but it had a great bar setting, enough tables to sit at inside and out and a cool ceiling of a variety of doors, yes I said doors. It had a green area with beautiful plants . They had happy hour drink specials. A couple frozen drink options and a couple of draft beer options. But honestly it's more a distillery than a brewery for sure and I love that distilleries are becoming more of a thing in NM. Drinks were great, atmosphere and staff were great too! I'll definitely return and if you haven't tried it and you want a nice cocktail, give them a try. A nice kinda hidden gem.

Very beautiful location, tucked away inside of little bear, coffee, and downstairs…read more I can see that they are trying to capture a tiki drink vibe for cocktails here, but they fell a little short in my estimation. First off, the menus were terribly hard to read. The dim lighting, coupled with the light print on the newspaper like menus was a terrible combination. Several people in my party were pulling out their cell phones to shine the flashlight on the menu to try to read it. Next, when you're trying to capture a tiki bar type experience, that includes this expectation of fun over the top, cocktails comprised of ingredients you can't easily acquire to make it home or order anywhere else. The cocktail menu that the waiter said was "balanced" when he referred to all of their drinks, didn't really hit the spot. The flavors were pretty limited, and we're all very middle of the road. Nothing too exciting or potentially gripping. And honestly, when I come to a tiki bar I want a sugary fruit filled flavor bomb. And they had nothing like that on the menu. My husband is more of a hard cocktail drinker, and he even commented that their offerings felt stilted and not exciting. I would come back at a future date, but I would check the menu first to see if any changes had been made. Very cool location, though!

Daydream Rum Bar is hands-down one of the coolest spots in Albuquerque. We grabbed drinks at the…read moreupstairs bar and the vibe was exactly what we hoped for--totally chill, warm, and the perfect place to unwind without feeling rushed. The cocktails are phenomenal. Each one was incredibly well balanced and packed with bold, delicious flavor. Nothing too sweet or too strong--just thoughtfully crafted drinks that let the ingredients shine. You can really tell the bartenders know what they're doing. Speaking of which--major shoutout to our bartender (forgive me for forgetting his name!). He was phenomenal. Super knowledgeable about rum, clearly passionate about his craft, and gave great recommendations. The kind of service that truly elevates the experience. If you love rum or just appreciate high-quality cocktails, this place is a must. We'll absolutely be back. 10/10 recommend!

Overall: Yes, go!…read more Food: we tried several items from the appetizer menu- mushrooms: crispy, lightly battened and served hot. It was perfect. Beet carpaccio- I was really impressed with the complexity of the flavors. I'd order it again. Charcuterie board- duh, yes. It's really easy to screw up a charcuterie board, they didn't. It was perfect. Dinner was everything from a salad, to the duck, to the short ribs. Service: Great but could be better. Honestly, they were very busy and everyone was pitching in. Everyone was kind and extremely helpful and professional. I give them credit for getting everything done correctly and for doing that while they were extremely busy. Ambiance: Chill vibes, casual, some would say hipster vibes. It was such a chill environment. Perfect for dates or just sharing food with friends

I've been here twice now, and my first experience was way better than last night…read more Our waiter was pretty, obviously out of it, potentially high, and at one point her clothing actually brushed the food on the table as she went to rearrange plates on our table top. She also seemed very distracted and did not have good recall when we were putting in our orders. She came back several times to ask what our drink orders were before finally bringing over the tablet to enter in the information right in front of us. Secondly, our food took forever to come. This also happened the first time we came to eat at social house a year ago, but it felt more pronounced this time. And the restaurant was not full. Probably a third full of patrons? We were seated at 6:45 and our food did not arrive until 830. Quite the wait if you ask me. Finally, the kitchen was having some sort of smoke issue. If you've never been in an establishment where the grease smell and smoke is visibly accumulating in the air, you know it's quite distracting from a dining experience. It was so smoky inside. I actually caught myself blinking my eyes to see if it was just my vision being blurry or if it was the room. Our food was fine, the pork belly was a standout. Otherwise, I'm not sure I need to come here again. I wish that they would get a better handle on service timing, because that seems to be an ongoing issue.