Part of the thrill of a Route 66 road trip is the chance to intimately experience America’s rich history. On Route 66, travelers may learn local legends, visit iconic sites and witness the stunningly diverse landscapes in the American West. Home to the longest urban stretch of the route, Albuquerque balances its reputation as a desert metropolis with a small-town sensibility.
Route 66 is as famous for its neon as it is for its roadside diners and family-friendly restaurants. Here are a few classic restaurants where you can eat like a local along Albuquerque’s Route 66.
El Camino
Go forth up north to El Camino Dining Room, a diner from 1950 that has stood the test of time on the pre-1937 alignment of Route 66. Founded by Clyde Tyler as a motel and dining room, El Camino has been serving up savory New Mexican dishes for over 70 years. You might recognize the sign out front from AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” and the diner’s interior was featured in several scenes as the place where attorney Kim Wexler would meet her legal clients.
The restaurant has a uniquely New Mexican charm: white adobe walls, vigas and an abundance of vintage signage. The Chavez family proudly owns and operates El Camino. The heart-shaped neon sign with the names “Gilbert” and “Mandy” pays homage to the restaurant’s management team, Gilbert and Mandy Chavez. Gilbert Jr., their son, greets guests with warm hospitality and abundant knowledge about the restaurant’s storied past.
El Camino Lodge (with Dining Room to the right), circa 1952. Albuquerque Museum, gift of Nancy Tucker. PA2014.007.191.
Mac’s La Sierra
Around the corner from the neon adobe arches of the Route 66 Gateway on West Central, Mac’s La Sierra is a famous spot for steak fingers and other classic New Mexican dishes. For travelers coming down from Nine Mile Hill, Mac’s is the spot for all-day breakfast and steaks. Established in 1952, the location formerly served as the La Sierra Motel and Mac’s La Sierra Coffee Shop. It was named after the original owner, Dave “Mac” McCarty, and has kept the name in its entire 72-year operation. John Miaris and family have operated Mac’s since 1986. The cow on the rooftop in this 1965 postcard now stands atop the roadside sign.
La Sierra Motel and Mac’s La Sierra Coffee Shop, circa 1965. Albuquerque Museum, gift of Nancy Tucker. PA2014.007.291.
Mac’s La Sierra Coffee Shop Matchbook, created by Republic Match Co. (Arlington, Texas) circa. 1955. Albuquerque Museum, gift of Nancy Tucker. PC2023.10.51.
66 Diner
66 Diner glows bright at the edge of the University area, west of the University of New Mexico. The skeleton of this restaurant is originally from 1945, when it was built as a Phillips 66 gas and service station. In 1987, the building was repurposed by Tom and Christy Willis to become a black-and-white checkerboard, sock-hopping ode to the 1950s diners that once dotted Route 66. Their daughter, Summer, now operates the diner. Everything in the diner was handpicked and placed by Tom Willis; some objects were donated by Route 66 visitors as a gift. The soda fountain and milkshake machines are all original 1950s hardware. Underneath the hopscotch tiles in the dining room is an original hydraulic lift from its time as Sam’s 66 Service Station.
Lindy’s Diner
Lindy’s sits in the heart of Downtown, across from the KiMo Theatre on 5th Street and Central Avenue. It is the longest continuously operating diner on New Mexico’s Route 66, serving up classic dishes since 1929. You can’t miss this vibrant building. The Bliss building was constructed in 1905, and occupied by a hotel until 1929. Originally called the Coney Island Café, this location was a neighborhood staple as Route 66 brought in travelers from all over. The name changed to Lindy’s Diner in 1964 when Narke Vatoseow bought the property. The name “Lindy’s” was inspired by the daughter of the Coney Island Café’s owner. Narke’s son, Steven, and his wife Dawn Vatoseow still own and operate Lindy’s today 60 years later. Enjoying a meal at 500 Central Avenue is to partake in a 95-year Albuquerque tradition.
Lindy’s Coffee Shop [Lindy's Diner] in the Bliss Building circa August 1979. Albuquerque Museum, gift of SMPC Architects. PA2021.095.091.
Coney Island Café [now Lindy’s] to the right circa 1950. Albuquerque Museum, gift of John Airy. PA1982.180.346.
