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Please use our media library for downloadable images and usage rights.With its rich history and diverse outdoor activities, Albuquerque makes a unique vacation destination for visitors of all ages. Nestled between the peaks of the Sandia Mountains and ancient Native American pueblos, Albuquerque boasts sunny blue skies more than 310 days a year, plus one-of-a-kind sites and experiences year-round.
Explore what’s new and happening in Albuquerque this summer. Check out all the ways people are enjoying the area’ s award-winning breweries, eclectic restaurants, mountain and river adventures, wide-open spaces, and guided tours.
Downtown Makes Room for Long-Awaited Upscale Boutique Hotel
The much anticipated ARRIVE Albuquerque hotel is open for business. A historic rehabilitation of the 1965-built Downtowner Motor Inn (most recently The Hotel Blue) transformed the Route 66 landmark located at 8th and Central into a new boutique hotel, ARRIVE Albuquerque. It houses the Secret Gallery, a contemporary Southwestern art gallery, and DWTNR, a cocktail bar and restaurant.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Completes Renovations
The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa recently completed a $15 million renovations of more than 300 of its rooms. The new rooms incorporate cultural elements and Pueblo-style design. Guest rooms now have new marble countertops, mirrors and more in the bathroom, and include an in-room refrigerator. Corridors also got new carpeting and textured wall coverings.
Little Bear Opens at Sawmill Market
Little Bear Coffee opened a fourth location inside Sawmill Market. It replaced La Plata Coffee.
New Restaurants Open on Albuquerque's Eastside
Tula's Kitchen opened a second location in Northeast Albuquerque. The restaurant is located off Pan American Fwy. in a space that was previously Nick and Jimmy's restaurant. Banh Me & U is a new banh mi restaurant that serves a variety of banh mis and other tea and coffee beverages.
MovieMaker named Albuquerque the best city to live and work in as a moviemaker in 2025.
Route 66 was named as one of the Coolest Travel Adventures for 2024 by National Geographic.
MovieMaker named Albuquerque the second best city to live and work in as a moviemaker in 2024.
Money named Albuquerque one of the best places to travel to in 2023.
Albuquerque was named one of the 2023 best U.S. destinations to travel to on a budget.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® was named the 5th best cultural festival of 2023.
The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden was named one of the 12 best botanical gardens in the United States.
Eater named Albuquerque one of the best food cities to travel to in 2023.
» More rankings, accolades and media mentions
New Restaurants in Old Town
Ramona's Mexican Cafe has opened in Old Town. The restaurant's second location serves spicy New Mexican food. Native Boba Tea is a new boba shop open in Old Town. Guests can order a variety of boba and other beverages.
Mac and Cheese Bar Opens in Nob Hill
Roni's Mac Bar is open in Nob Hill. The restaurant serves customizable mac and cheese bowls.
New Mexico Wine Opens Storefront
New Mexico Wine opened its first storefront and tasting room in Old Town Albuquerque this fall. The location sells products from New Mexico Wine's 50 member wineries and promote the state's wine culture and history. The Viva Vino Wine Studio The Wine Studio serves as the center for wine education and wine tasting experiences, giving guests the opportunity to explore a carefully curated selection of New Mexico wine.
New Restaurants and Breweries Open Downtown
Dripline Brewery recently opened in the Downtown area in the Wells Park neighborhood. Arepas el Pana opened along Central Ave., and serves arepas, chicken wings, empanadas and more. On The Route is now open at Central and Fourth. The restaurant specializes in Mexican and New Mexican cuisine. Taco Santo is serving tacos and tequila in east Downtown, in the location previously occupied by Holy Burger.
D.H. Lescombes Opens Second Albuquerque Location
D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro opened a second location on the Westside on Coors Bypass and Alameda Road. The bistro has seating for about 400 customers. There is a private party room and east and west patios. This is the winery's sixth location in the state, with a third Albuquerque location planned for 2025.
Hall of Ancient Life Opens at Natural History Museum
The new Hall of Ancient Life is open at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. It includes 300 fossils that have never been displayed. The hall spans the time period before the dinosaurs.
Heritage Farm at the ABQ BIoPark Botanic Garden Gets a Refresh
The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden's Heritage Farm is back open. The $14 million renovation included expanded crop gardens, a new fairy garden and container garden and rainwater collection tanks. The Farm houses more animals as well, including Highland cattle, miniature donkeys, Nigerian dwarf goats and a flock of chickens.
Flix Brewhouse Opens Second Albuquerque Location
Flix Brewhouse opened its second Albuquerque location. The movie theater is located off Tramway and Indian School. It features seven movie screens, 700 total seats, a full kitchen and a brewery.
Tent Rocks National Monument Reopens
Tent Rocks National Monument is back open. The monument has been closed for four years. Visitors must make an online reservation in advance.
Street Food Institute Moves to New Location
The Street Food Institute is now a part of the Barelas Community Kitchen. The four kitchens include brand-new equipment. There is a large shared kitchen, a demonstration and education kitchen, a dedicated baking kitchen and a dedicated vegetarian and vegan kitchen. The Street Food Institute helps support entrepreneurs looking to launch small food businesses.
Renovations Continue at Hotel Andaluz
Renovations are continuing in 2025 at Hotel Andaluz. The remodel includes an updated lobby, sleeping rooms, corridors, meeting space, second-level mezzanine and gift shop. The restaurant and bar were both renovated with new concepts. The restaurant is called Char, with a focus on live-fire cooking. G. Toti is a speakeasy-inspired rooftop bar. Renovations are expected to be finished by the end of summer 2025.
Historic Nob Hill Motel to Get a Revamp
Titan Development has purchased the Hiway House Motel in Nob Hill with plans to turn it into a boutique hotel. The vacant motel was originally built in 1959, and will be demolished with a new building in its place. Plans include about 100 guest room, a rooftop bar and meeting spaces. There are also plans to revitalize the motel's original neon sign.
Laguna Burger Opening in UNM Area
Laguna Burger will open in winter 2025 in the Bricklight District near the University of New Mexico. There will be 95 seats indoors and outdoors and will feature a menu similar to its other locations.
New Restaurant Coming to Downtown Albuquerque
Wolf N' Swallow will soon have a storefront. The husband-and-wife team behind the business is planning to open a restaurant and wine bar in the former 2G's Bistro at Central Avenue and Edith Boulevard.
Wells Park Warehouse to House New Food Spots
An old Wells Park Warehouse has been remodeled, and will soon host more restaurants. Burning Daylight Coffee Company and Cultura Cocina will join Kosmos Restaurant as tenants.
Marco's Pizza to Open Albuquerque Locations
Marco's Pizza is set to make its New Mexico debut in 2025. Two locations are scheduled to be open in Albuquerque by end of April 2025.
In-n-Out is Coming to Albuquerque
The popular burger chain In-n-Out is expanding to Albuquerque. A location is expected to be open by 2027.
Route 66 Motel Turning Into Food Court and Shopping Center
The Hacienda Motel is being transformed into the Hacienda Shopping Center. The project will include a food court, a live music space and fountain. There will be eight retail locations, seven restaurants and two bars. It is expected to open in 2025.
UNM Building Arts and Technology Center
The University of New Mexico is building a new $80 million center for the College of Fine Arts. The 60,000-square-foot center is called the Center for Collaborative Arts and Technology. The new space includes a soundstage, 600-seat performance hall, exhibition space and an arts, research, technology and science lab. The center is expected to open by summer 2026.
New Commercial Soundstage Production Facility Under Construction
Rio Bravo Studios is building a new commercial soundstage facility in the South Valley. It will include four 20,000-square-foot sound stages near the intersection of Rio Bravo Boulevard and Second Street. It is set to open sometime in 2025.
New Aquatics Center Under Construction
A new aquatic center is being built at North Domingo Baca Park. The center will feature a 50-meter indoor competition pool, a diving pool, a heated therapy pool and a recreational play area with two slides. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.
Dream of Flight: Albuquerque International Sunport’s “Once in a Lifetime” Renovation
Visitors to the Land of Enchantment will soon be able to experience a real taste of Albuquerque as soon as they deplane, thanks to an ambitious modernization project now underway at the Sunport. The new TSA screening checkpoint opened in late 2023. Future updates will include a new “mini shopping mall” highlighting made-in-New Mexico products, fresh local art installations, as well as updated carpeting and seating throughout the Sunport. Three new restaurants will be coming to the Sunport. National burger chain Smashburger will become the company's first location in New Mexico. Next to it will be Frank's Famous Chicken & Waffles, a popular Nob Hill Restaurant. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's eatery Indian Pueblo Kitchen will also have a location in the new food hall. The folks behind the renovation hope fans of the Sunport’s current Burqueño vibe will appreciate the updates to come. “We are maintaining our incomparable sense of place, the look and feel of the Sunport as we know it, by enhancing it. We’re bringing in more traditional colors of New Mexico—drawing out the turquoise and dark red hues—and offering more local flavors in both dining and shopping,” according to Manriquez.
New Retail Hub Planned in Northwest Albuquerque
A new retail hub is being planned near the Petroglyph National Monument on the southwest corner of Paseo del Norte and Kimmick Drive. The development will include a mix of retail, medical, restaurant, grocery and early childhood learning tenants. A groundbreaking is expected in 2025.
Legacy Development & Management Plans for Sunport Hotel
While it remains in the planning stages with the City of Albuquerque, Legacy has plans for a five-story hotel that will encompass 112 rooms across 73,595 square feet near the Albuquerque International Sunport. The project remains conceptual at this point, Kassam said. The hotel would be located off Sunport and University boulevards at 1500 Sunport Ave. SE, down the street from Interstate 25.
Cinelease Studios to Expand in Albuquerque
Cinelease Studios is investing $95 million to expand its studio space in Albuquerque. The expansion includes five soundstages and three ancillary buildings. It is expected to be completed in two phases, and finished by 2029.
Route 66 Turns 100 in 2026
Route 66 will turn a century old in 2026. The highway was commissioned in 1926 and connects Chicago with Los Angeles. The first route ran north to south through Albuquerque as part of a curve that connected Santa Rosa, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Los Lunas and several Native American reservations. By 1937, the road had straightened out and ran in a more east-west direction along the route we’re more familiar with today. Today, the route runs through the heart of Albuquerque along Central Avenue, leading travelers through some of the city’s most beloved neighborhoods and still serves as a jumping off point for transportation.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Turns 50 in 2026
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will be celebrating its 50th birthday in 2026. The IPCC works to preserve Pueblo culture, and provides a place to discover and learn more about Pueblo culture. It is owned and operated by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.
ABQ BioPark Zoo Turns 100 in 2027
The ABQ BioPark Zoo will celebrate its centennial birthday in 2027. The 64-acre Zoo has been offering guests close encounters with exotic and native animals since 1927.
KiMo Theatre Turns 100 in 2027
The historic KiMo Theatre in downtown Albuquerque turns 100 in 1927. It is a tribute to "Pueblo Deco" architecture and hosts theatrical performances, concerts and more.
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