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What's New in ABQ

 

RECENT AND UPCOMING DEVELOPMENTS

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. 

Hotel Updates 

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.

RECENT ACCOLADES:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Albuquerque International Sunport

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.

Other Albuquerque Developments

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.

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.

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.

Tula's Kitchen Expands to Second Location

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.

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 Restaurant and Breweries Open Downtown

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. Sammy's Cafe and Deli is an extension of Ex Novo. Dripline Brewery also 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.

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 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 Cultural Center Opens Entrepreneur Complex

The newly opened Indian Pueblo Entrepreneur Complex at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center includes a teaching kitchen that offers exciting opportunities for students to learn Indigenous cooking techniques and restaurant operations in an engaging, collaborative environment. It also provides entrepreneurs, food truck operators and Native American food artisans with access to a commercial greenhouse and commercial kitchen. The restaurant and teaching kitchen offer culinary experiences such as cooking classes, wine pairing dinners, Feast Day meals and farm-to-fork dining.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

New Tour Offering from TourABQ

The ABQ Trolley Co. has a new tour offering. The Red Light Express tour will unveil the hidden history of Albuquerque. Learn more about some of Albuquerque's infamous neighborhoods and once-thriving red light districts.

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.

New Production Company Opens in Wells Park Neighborhood

Vault Studios recently opened in the Wells Park neighborhood. This locally-owned company has pre-visualization and post-production equipment that can be used for film, television and audio production.

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.