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. 

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 bar and second-floor rooftop bar will be reopened with new concepts during the renovations, and a lobby bar will be added as well. 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

New Coffee Shop Open in the North Valley

La Luz Coffee is now brewing in the North Valley. This community-focused coffee shop offers fresh-brewed coffee drinks inspired by Albuquerque.

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 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.