Albuquerque Visitor Itinerary for the Culinary Connoisseur

Albuquerque is home to authentic New Mexican cuisine, of which chile (red or green) is the defining ingredient. For those that aren’t fans of spicy foods, the city’s restaurants run the gamut from comfort food to global fare and satisfy a diverse spectrum of tastes and styles.

A bowl of posole sits on a blue and white plate with a tortilla on top of a New Mexican table runner adorned with New Mexican salsa and chiles

Four women sip wine at Casa Rondeña during a Vino Vans tour.

One-Day Visit

Start the day with breakfast at Monroe's Restaurant, where you can try a traditional New Mexican breakfast or stick to classic American favorites.
Stroll through Downtown and EDo (East Downtown) to explore eclectic shops, galleries and hundreds of public artworks.
In Albuquerque’s North Valley, savor lunch and the views at El Pinto Authentic New Mexican Restaurant and take home a jar of their popular salsa or red and green chile sauce.
Enjoy an afternoon tasting of locally produced wines at Spanish Colonial-inspired Casa Rondeña Winery.
Head to Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm and take a leisurely stroll around the property, which is home to fragrant lavender fields, organic produce farm and unique New Mexican architecture.
- Stop by the Farm Shop and pick up a bottle of hot sauce or lavender honey.
- Dine at the on-site restaurant, Campo, where seasonal menus are curated using ingredients from their own farm.
Wind down with a beer at Steel Bender Brewyard; with mainstay brews like the Compa Los Ranchos Lager and a rotating selection of seasonal favorites, this brewery is sure to offer a beverage to please any taste.

If You Have More Time

With an official cuisine all our own, you can bet that we have food festivals, wine and beer festivals and growers' markets to explore. Visitors love sampling the flavors of New Mexico through culinary events.
- Visit in spring to experience the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show and the Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest.
- Summer is an ideal time to visit to take in a variety of growers' markets and beer and wine festivals, from the Albuquerque Wine Festival to the Downtown Growers' Market and Rail Yards Market.
Download the Albuquerque Craft Beer Trail pass or the Albuquerque Wine Trail pass to explore some of the city's top wineries and breweries.