A Weekend in Albuquerque

Friday Evening

Start your stay in Albuquerque by checking in to one of Route 66’s renovated motels for a dash of retro vibes along with all the modern amenities. Options include the historic El Vado Motel, Albuquerque’s first drive-up motor lodge (circa 1937) on the newly rerouted Highway 66 along Central Avenue. El Vado is remarkable for its early adoption of regional architectural traditions as a marketing point for travelers, with real wooden vigas and smoothed adobe walls. Today, El Vado and its neighboring sister-motel, Monterey Motel, have been revitalized and upgraded with a walkable plaza, taproom, lounge and a shopping center. 

Shot by Dominic Valdez

Closer to Downtown is the recently renovated Imperial Inn, a boutique hotel where the decor is a quirky blend of mid-century Jet Age styling with contemporary flair. It offers an on-site cocktail lounge, coffee shop and food hall as well as an outdoor pool. In the Nob Hill neighborhood, Hotel Zazz is colorfully curated to ensure an entertaining stay for all. Features include a daily Popsicle happy hour, a hidden speakeasy lounge, and movies by the outdoor pool in the summertime.

After settling into your room, head out to dinner. Wine and dine at M’Tucci’s Bar Roma in the historic Jones Motor Company building, a Streamline Moderne service station constructed in 1939. M’tucci’s is a luxurious Italian dining experience in the heart of Albuquerque’s Nob Hill neighborhood, complete with an Art Deco-inspired cocktail bar. Nob Hill is the site of the first suburban addition in Albuquerque after the AT&SF railroad boomed the population and automobiles began to dominate the way Americans traveled. Some of Albuquerque’s beloved Route 66 neon signs are in Nob Hill! As the evening sky transforms the Sandia Mountains into their signature shade of pink, watch as the neon lights of Nob Hill light up Central.

Saturday

Rise and shine! With so many retro diners along Central Avenue, there is no shortage of great breakfast on Albuquerque’s Route 66. For your first day in the Duke City, Duran’s Central Pharmacy will satisfy your New Mexican culinary cravings. Don’t be fooled by the name – the building not only houses a pharmacy, but also includes an expansive gift shop full of local goods and a restaurant. Get started on your souvenir shopping and take home some local chile and piñon coffee. 

Work off your breakfast by exploring the city’s outdoors. There are plenty of options for outdoor adventures where the Rio Grande intersects Route 66. Explore the Paseo del Bosque Trailhead to experience the unique ecology of the storied river or bike down to Tingley Beach. The ABQ BioPark Botanical Garden and Aquarium are other great spots to spend the day enjoying Albuquerque’s plentiful sunshine.

For dinner, head to 66 Diner, a rehabilitated gas and service station that is now a local favorite. Since 1987, the Willis family has lovingly tended to the white adobe walls and vibrant neon of 66 Diner, accumulating an impressive collection of Route 66 memorabilia, road signs and genuine vintage hardware – right down to their soda fountain. According to the owner, Summer Willis, a hydraulic lift is buried underneath the hopscotch tiles in the main dining area!

For late-night cocktails, head to the Apothecary Lounge, a rooftop bar atop Hotel Parq Central. Enjoy the view of the city lights while you enjoy a signature Prohibition-era cocktail, a glass of wine or a local beer. The hotel is a historic gem that will celebrate its centennial in 1926, making it the same age as Route 66 itself. Originally built as a hospital for railway employees, Hotel Parq Central was meticulously restored into a stylish boutique property with custom touches throughout the buildings and the grounds.

Sunday

Breakfast at the bustling Grove Cafe & Market, which features fresh, local ingredients, is always a treat. Another great option is Flying Star Cafe in Nob Hill, where the expansive breakfast menu and delicious pastries are sure to please everyone in your group. For an authentic New Mexican breakfast, try Barelas Coffee House, located on 4th Street along the original (pre-1937) alignment of Route 66. A plate of their mouthwatering huevos rancheros is essential.

Next, head to the Old Town Plaza, the original townsite of Albuquerque, founded by Spanish settlers in 1706. Visit the historic San Felipe de Neri Church and unwind in the Rose Garden. The plaza is full of nooks and crannies at every turn with plenty of adobe benches to cool down on. Enchanting blue and turquoise doors open to boutiques, art galleries and artist studios rich with culture and creativity from all over the world.

After shopping and sightseeing in Old Town, stop at Lindy's Diner in Downtown for a refreshing milkshake or ice cream float. Lindy’s is New Mexico's longest-operating Route 66 diner (going on 100 years in 2029!).

Downtown Albuquerque is where the 19th-century AT&SF railroads cross the 20th-century Route 66. Here, the city’s rich history of commerce overlaps itself, observed best at 4th Street and Central Avenue where the two alignments of Route 66 intersect. Just a block over on 5th Street is the iconic KiMo Theatre, a unique Pueblo Deco building that begs to be photographed.

Later, grab a snack at 505 Central Food Hall and then get front-row seats for the lowrider cruise along Central Avenue while sitting on 505 Central’s patio. It’s a chance to see remarkable works of art on wheels as they roll through Downtown. The cruise begins around sunset every Sunday and continues into the night.

If you’d rather cruise Route 66 yourself, drive west on Central Avenue. Snap a pic at the West Central Route 66 Gateway for that polychrome desert vibe, day or night. Then pull over at Nine Mile Hill on Route 66 to view the entirety of the city and its panoramic mountain range. This is a view that impresses during both day and night. The steep, sandy incline on the edge of the city has a deep automobile history, from youth races in the 1940s to car cruises today. Even the king of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, pulled over his pink Cadillac at Nine Mile Hill at night to admire the city lights of Albuquerque on his way from Los Angeles. Watching the glow of the city lights is the perfect way to end your Route 66 weekend in Albuquerque.