Explore Albuquerque's North Fourth Street

Pre-1937 Alignment

Driving south from Santa Fe on Interstate 25, you might notice a scattering of brown road signs denoting “Historic Route 66 / Pre-1937” off each exit. That’s because Route 66 used to head north from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, instead of the straightforward east-west alignment we know today. Parts of the original 66 alignment were subsumed into New Mexico Highway 313 and U.S. Highway 85, which are still drivable today.

Along the path of the original north-south alignment is the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, an unincorporated community in the North Valley of Bernalillo County. Also called “the Village,” Los Ranchos has been home to various settlements for at least 2,500 years. Agriculture is part of the heritage of Los Ranchos, evident in the large plots of land lush with crops and greenery such as lavender, corn and squash. All of these ingredients converge into regional culinary delights at New Mexico’s famed El Pinto Restaurant, one of the largest restaurants in the nation with over 1,000 seats. El Pinto is a uniquely Albuquerque dining experience where one can smell the green chile roasting on the patio, teeming with vines and good vibes, while you explore the flavors of New Mexico.

Two people sit at a table in El Pinto Restaurant.

The Los Ranchos commercial district on 4th Street is built upon old Route 66 – the pre-1937 alignment, to be precise. You feel it when you drive past El Camino Motor Hotel and Dining Room. The authentic neon sign was featured in AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” cementing its legacy in the neighborhood and a waymarker. Early Yves Cafe puts a 1960s psychedelic twist on a historic adobe home-turned-coffeehouse, balancing mid-century modern with contemporary cool. New Mexico Piñon Coffee is another great spot for some New Mexican-inspired brew—coffee beans roasted with local pine nuts. Try their biscochito latte for a taste of Albuquerque. If your music taste is as retro as your road trip bucket list, stop by One Long Groove Records to check “crate digging” off that list with a sonic souvenir.

Then

Now

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