Are you planning a visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico? We recently spent a fun weekend in Albuquerque. We’d visited the city before, but mainly as the place to fly into and out of on our way to Taos or Santa Fe. Even if you are visiting Albuquerque for only a short while before heading to other parts of New Mexico, you might want to check out these places before you go.
Here are 6 fun things to eat, drink and do in Albuquerque, New Mexico
1. Have brunch at the restaurant where all of the visiting politicians make an appearance.
El Pinto is a huge restaurant that is an Albuquerque “must-stop” for politicians of all political parties. You can see their photos while you are waiting for your table. El Pinto is known for its salsas and green chili sauces.
Our local friend Hank took us to El Pinto for brunch, served only on Sundays until 2 pm.
The breakfast burrito at El Pinto is a combination of scrambled eggs, hash browns, cheese and bacon (or sausage, which I chose), rolled up in a flour tortilla, topped with red or green chile, or some of both, as I ordered it.
This spot may not be featured on the New Mexico Tourism’s Breakfast Burrito Byway, but our Albuquerque friend Hank knows his local food when he recommends it. Simply perfection. It’s huge; I have a hearty appetite and could only eat half (I focused on the green chili half because it is most unique to New Mexico.
Mr. Jones couldn’t decide which egg to eat first: the one covered in red chili hollandaise sauce (left), or the one smothered in chile con queso. At El Pinto, the New Mexican Eggs Benedict features two poached eggs and a slice of Canadian bacon on a green chile cheese biscuit with red chile hollandaise sauce, chile con queso, and papitas.
2. Eat sushi with some green chili flavors at Japanese Sushi and Cuisine
Very close to our Albuquerque Marriott hotel, Yelp reviewers led us to the Japanese Kitchen Sushi and Cuisine– one of two restaurants across the alley way from each other — one focused on teppanyaki and the other on sushi and Japanese food. We were doubtful – Albuquerque is kind of like Kansas City — in that it is a long way from an ocean.
Yelpers were correct – the sushi rolls, (some localized with green chili), were fresh and terrific. The Japanese food was cooked to perfection. The service, well, it could have been better, but we’d still highly recommend this place.
3. Hit the highway for a half-day road trip out of town
We had a comfortable-riding rental vehicle with Sirius XM radio. We headed out of town, got coffees, (Los Lunas had the only Starbucks for miles) and drove the interstate I-25 to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Even since Taysha Ham wrote this guest post: Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I’ve been curious to visit the small city that changed its name from Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences in 1950 after a popular NBC radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards.
The highways are well-maintained and the scenery is interesting – for a little while. It was a good half-day road trip.
4. Check out the Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail
The New Mexico tourism board sponsors The Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail, a map that highlights the best place to eat green chili cheeseburgers throughout the state of New Mexico. While on my flight to Albuquerque, I pulled up the Green Chili Cheeseburger trail map, and quizzed my seatmates (who were both from New Mexico) on their favorite spot for one of these burgers. They both had several recommendations, but Blake’s Lotaburger was mentioned by both of them.
We visited the Blake’s Lotaburger while we were in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and the Green Chili Cheeseburger had the perfect amount of chili “bite.” The burger was a very thin patty, and the bun was white fluff, but the burger was stuffed with fresh veggies and plenty of cheese and green chili and jalapeno sauce. Yum, you’ve got to try one.
5. Try different wines and terrific food at Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
From our first visit to Albuquerque more than five years ago, we found the Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro in the Nob Hill district. It’s even more popular today. We loved sitting at the bar trying a number of small plates and a variety of 3 ounce wine pours from the interesting wine list. BONUS TIP: if you check in on Yelp, you get a plate of lovely chocolates on the house.
6. Enjoy an amazing sunset
Watching the sunset in Albuquerque is like looking at a beautiful painting develop.
The Sandia Mountains that run along the eastern edge of Albuquerque are the first mountains west of the Mississippi River. “Sandia” is Spanish for “watermelon;” the mountains often give off a reddish glow of color at sunset.
Have you visited Albuquerque, New Mexico? What was your favorite fun “find”? Please share in comments below.
Check out these other New Mexico travel discoveries posts:
- Weekend Wanderings – Santa Fe, New Mexico
- 7 Fun Things to Do on a Summery Day in Las Cruces, New Mexico
- 18 Fun Facts About Albuquerque, New Mexico
- A Look Inside the Albuquerque Marriott Hotel
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