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Welcome to the new Albuquerque, where millions of dollars in hospitality investments are reshaping the city’s skyline. Whether its the opening of new businesses and hotels on Historic Route 66 or exciting developments throughout Old Town and Nob Hill, there is something to explore every time you visit the city. With increased air service at the International Sunport and new direct flights, there’s never been a better time to connect with Albuquerque.
Renovations to Begin at Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North
Renovations are slated to begin at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North. The 310-room hotel was recently acquired by Legacy Development & Management. Guest rooms, bathrooms and the conference center will all get upgrades. A new restaurant and bar will be added, along with a new pool and fitness center. The renovation is expected to cost $22 million and last two years.
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.
Element Hotel Opens in Uptown Albuquerque
The Marriott Element Albuquerque Uptown Hotel is now open. It features seven stories with 126 rooms. A rooftop bar called Volaré is located on the seventh floor. It serves hand-crafted cocktails. The hotel has an outdoor pool, electric vehicle charging stations and bikes for rent. There is also a meeting room that can accomodate 50 people.
East Downtown’s Imperial Inn
The renovation of the Imperial Inn includes a new building at the corner of Central Ave. (aka Route 66) and High is complete and now open. Originally named the Imperial 400, this historic Route 66-era building has been preserved, restored, and enhanced with the addition of two newly-constructed buildings. The renovated property now hosts 52 guest rooms, 16 residential suites, and approximately 4,410 rentable square feet of commercial space.
Downtown Makes Room for Long-Awaited Upscale Boutique Hotel
The much anticipated ARRIVE Albuquerque hotel is set to be completed by the end of 2024. A historic rehabilitation of the 1965-built Downtowner Motor Inn (most recently The Hotel Blue) will transform the Route 66 landmark located at 8th and Central into a new boutique hotel, ARRIVE Albuquerque.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque
Enjoy the Land of Enchantment in the newly redesigned guest accommodations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque. Operated by award-winning Atrium Hospitality, the centrally located hotel in downtown Albuquerque has completed a four-phase, multimillion-dollar transformation of all 261 two-room guest suites.
Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn
Guests at the Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn will now be able to soak in a new Adobe Gardens Hot Tub Relaxation Area. The complimentary space is for guests 21 and older, and features year-round hot tubs enclosed in adobe walls.
Home2 Suites Opens Second Location
Home2 Suites by Hilton Albuquerque Airport is now open for business. The four-story, 108-room hotel is near the Albuquerque International Sunport, offering rooms from $159 to $259 a night.
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.
New TSA Checkpoint at the Albuquerque International Sunport
The Albuquerque International Sunport opened a new TSA checkpoint in late 2023. The new checkpoint is 50% bigger to better accommodate heavy travel seasons. The new space will also include pieces from local artists. The new TSA checkpoint is the first phase of the $87 million Dream of Flight renovation.
Delicious New Openings in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill Neighborhood
Albuquerque’s Nob Hill neighborhood is on the rise. Lucky Goose recently opened a vegan breakfast joint, Goose Nest. Mission Winery will be expanding its Nob Hill tasting room this spring. Oak & Ivy is a new lounge and restaurant open in Nob Hill.
Little Bear Opens at Sawmill Market
Little Bear Coffee is opening a fourth location inside Sawmill Market in September. It will replace La Plata Coffee.
Ex Novo Brewing Co. Opens Downtown Location
Ex Novo Brewing Co. is now in business in downtown Albuquerque. It includes a large patio, bar, cafe/deli, taproom and restaurant. The main space offers a full menu and 20 beers on tap. Upstairs offers a more intimate, nightlife-focused experience with a cocktail menu and small plates.
New Restaurants Open on Albuquerque's Eastside
Brekki Brekki is a breakfast and bar open in the Northeast Heights. Dine on a light brunch, hearty lunch or a refreshing drink. Dōrothéa Fine Greek is now open in Northeast Albuquerque. The restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by Mykonos Café. The menu includes fresh fish such as Branzino fresh from Greece.
New Restaurants on Albuquerque's Eastside
Slice and Dice Pizzeria, a pizza and board game restaurant, opened a new location on the Eastside. Garduño's opened a new location inside Nativo Lodge. Bama's 1865 opened in the former Salt Yard East location, serving Southern Creole cuisine. Popular food truck Mrs. Sprinkle's Ice Cream opened a storefront. Buffett's Candies opened a second location at Academy Rd. and San Mateo Blvd.
Tia Betty Blues Rebrands
The popular restaurant Tia Betty Blues has a new name and owner. Tia Betty Blues is now Blue Sky New Mexican Cafe. The menu will be expanded without removing the restaurant's signature dishes such as the breakfast bowls, waffles and Frito pie.
New Pizza Restaurant Opens in Albuquerque Uptown
Gimani Pizza is open for business in Uptown Albuquerque. This slice bar serves pizza made on sourdough crust, and pizza flights.
La Finca Reopens in Downtown Albuquerque
The popular La Finca Bowls has reopened in its same location in downtown Albuquerque. The revamped menu includes customizable bowls.
New Sober Bars Open
Crafting the finest, health-conscious tea-based drinks, the Lost Cultures Tea Bar menu showcases a variety of unique flavors - from fragrant teas to expertly brewed kombucha and specially crafted non-alcoholic cocktails. Whether you’re looking to relax, study, get some work done, socialize, or spend an evening out enjoying non-alcoholic cocktails, there is something for everyone. New Mexico’s first zero proof bar Luxe Lounge opened in late 2023, offering delicious non-alcoholic cocktails, wine and beer.
Bosque Brewing Opens Westside Location
Bosque Brewing Co. opened Bosque West in June. The brewery serves all of Bosque's staple and specialty beers alongside a full food menu.
New Event Space at Casa Rondeña Winery
In the midst of an expansion, Casa Rondeña Winery is doubling their vineyard acreage and adding a new event center for weddings and private functions. Due to open in early 2024, Casa Rondeña will welcome guests with another beautifully designed building and features.
Indian Pueblo Kitchen Will Soon Include Teaching Kitchen
Estimated to open in 2024, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will include a teaching kitchen that will offer exciting opportunities for students to learn Indigenous cooking techniques and restaurant operations in an engaging, collaborative environment. Eventually, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen will provide entrepreneurs, food truck operators and Native American food artisans with access to a commercial greenhouse and commercial kitchen. The restaurant and teaching kitchen will also offer culinary experiences such as cooking classes, wine pairing dinners, Feast Day meals and farm-to-fork dining.
Gruet Winery to Open New Tasting Room
The renowned Gruet Winery recently announced a forthcoming additional tasting room, offering more opportunities for wine enthusiasts to taste and celebrate their family-made, world-class wines.
Pasando Tiempo Winery Expands Tasting Room
In late 2023, Pasando Tiempo opened a larger wine tasting room to accommodate the rising number of visitors and locals eager to taste their delicious, locally made wine. In addition to individual tastings, the larger venue allows for the winery’s vintner to host wine tasting dinners, classes and lessons.
Vara Winery & Distillery Opens Nob Hill Tasting Room
Vara Winery & Distillery is expanding into Nob Hill with a new tasting room. The lounge can serve up to 70 people at a time. This is the second tasting room in Albuquerque, and the CEO says Vara is looking to expand to Uptown.
Comedy Club to Open at Winrock Town Center
The Hyena's Comedy Nightclub is bringing one of its comedy clubs to Albuquerque. The comedy club will be located next to the Tricore Winrock Labs and Presbyterian Medical Group clinic in an underground venue. Construction began in fall 2023.
Dry Heat Comedy Club Moving to Larger Space
Dry Heat Comedy Club will be relocating to The Box Annex beginning April 1. The club outgrew its former Downtown space. The new location will provide more seating, more bathrooms and more drink options.
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.
Updates on the New Albuquerque Rail Trail
A modern and artistic pathway that reflects the culture and history of the land of enchantment. The Rail Trail will transform Albuquerque’s downtown neighborhoods. The Trail is a 7- to 8-mile multi-use trail that will connect key destinations in the greater downtown area, while also encouraging economic development, healthy recreation, and cultural expression. This project balances the utility of a pedestrian parkway with bold, innovative storytelling that makes the Rail Trail a canvas for explaining how we are united in this place.
Netflix Unveils Expanded Studio Space
After purchasing Albuquerque Studios in 2018, Netflix recently unveiled its expanded studio space at the location. Netflix expanded the 28 acres of studio space to 108 acres, with three new studios, a production office, stage support buildings, solar and battery systems, geothermal heating and cooling, and 50 electric vehicle chargers. Officials say this is the first phase, and Netflix aims to have over 300 acres of developed studio space in Albuquerque.
Ex Novo Opens New Downtown Location
The Downtown location of Ex Novo Brewing Co. opened its doors in early August. The taproom is located along Central Ave. in the Downtown core. Award-winning Executive Chef Marc Quiñones heads culinary operations.
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