  | Downtown Restaurants in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico Albuquerque - DowntownGold Street CaffèMon 7 am-4 pm.
Tue-Sat 7 am-9 pm
Sun 7 am-4 pm (subject to change)
Gold Street was cool before Downtown was cool, but now that Downtown is cool, Gold Street is even cooler. Open for breakfast and lunch (and now dinner service on the weekends!), this charming café has pet-friendly sidewalk seating and serves up a menu of homey breakfast favorites like waffles and sophisticated lunches. It shouldn’t surprise you that the place with the Best Bacon in our restaurant poll also makes a memorable BLT. If you’re really lucky, they’ll have freshly baked cupcakes or a slice of flourless chocolate cake waiting for dessert. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 5 ]  The Grove Café and MarketTues-Sat: 7am-4pm
Sun: 8am-3pm
Closed Monday (subject to change) $$$ • Vegetarian Available • Booze Served • Wine Bar • Catering • Outdoor Patio • Wireless Internet • Dog-Friendly Full review: Twenty more years (9/21/2006)
This ray of sunshine in Huning Highland serves gourmet breakfast and lunch, sells house-made English muffins, and has a mini-shop filled with goodies like honey, jams, mustards and vinegars, not to mention non-edibles like cook books, serving vessels and cards. A tiny wine list is just as chic—five reds and five whites are marked on a chalkboard, and all are constantly changing. This list is extremely well thought-out and offers a sampling of some of the most esoteric varietals and brands available in Albuquerque. There’s also a large, shaded patio, incredible house-made cupcakes and too-cute French
macarons. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 5 ]
The defunct Bob’s Fish and Chips on Central has been reborn as the newest burger joint in town. The N.M. grass-fed Holy Cow burger comes on a brioche bun. An ahi tuna sandwich, veggie club, no-cow eggplant burger and dinner salads offer plenty of choices for bovine-averse diners. Beer and wine, plus shakes, malts and floats, are available with your Holy burger. (Alibi Staff, September 1, 2011) Add a Review Ibiza (Hotel Andaluz)Cuisine: American
Offers small plates, artisan pizzas and desserts to go along with your cocktails. (Alibi Staff, October 10, 2012) Add a Review According to one of our readers, Java Joe’s is “the last of a dying breed.” There are indeed “few choices left to get that cool Haight-Ashbury ’60s feeling.” Don’t get the wrong idea, though, this neighborhood coffee shop isn’t overflowing with hippies. It attracts a diverse crowd of cyclists, artists, musicians, hipsters and grownups just looking for a cuppa joe (albeit one with in-house roasted beans). The food is simple and satisfying, from freshly baked scones to waffles, burritos, sandwiches and salads, and the sidewalk seating is definitely for the dogs. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review JC’s New York Pizza DepartmentSun-Thu: 11am-midnight
Fri-Sat: 11am-2:30am (subject to change) Cuisine: Pizza
Get your late-night pizza fix and a pint on Downtown’s favorite patio. It makes a perfect vantage point for people-watching until 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 4 ]  La Esquina Restauranté and CantinaLunch: Mon–Thurs: 11am–2:30pm Fri: 11am-8:30pm
Happy hour: Thurs: 4–7pm (subject to change) Cuisine: New Mexican Full review: Pretend it’s not in the mall (8/10/2006)
Everybody has salsa in New Mexico. It’s in restaurants, sold by the pint or glass jar, and your neighbor’s mom makes it, too. La Esquina’s salsa stands out from the crowd because it just tastes so darn fresh—so fresh, you’d have trouble believing it’s not sold at a roadside stand. But owner Roy Venaglia makes it every morning, and he must be an all right guy because his staff has been working for him since the ’80s. Go for the salsa, stay for the flan, and don’t be frightened that it’s in the Galleria. Oh yeah—and happy hour rocks. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review La Quiche is an authentic French bakery from husband-and-wife team Sabine Pasco and Bruno Barachin. (Bruno is from Bordeaux, where he achieved Master Baker status years ago.) In addition to a large menu of sandwiches, pâtés, soups and stews (the
bourguignonne
is served in a house-made pastry shell), La Quiche sells loaves of country bread, fantastically complicated bread showpieces and
viennoiseries—
flaky, buttery pastries like
brioche
,
croissants
and
pain au chocolate
that traditionally came from Vienna. They use imported French butter, and it shows. The fruit tarts are the best in town. You'll also find a catering menu and a variety of quiches, ready to go for Downtown’s abundant supply of workers with little time for a proper lunch. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 8 ] The Library began as a concept bar a few years ago in Tempe, Ariz., catering to the lunch and dinner crowd, transforming in the later hours of the evening into a nightclub. The food is pretty standard bar fare with burgers and the like—but at least in this case you’ll be served by Catholic schoolgirl-attired waitresses, who, at prescribed times during the night, will dance on the bar mere inches from your taco plate. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review We like Lindy’s for their retro-ish décor, Downtown convenience and $5 pitchers of beer. The food here is pretty typical diner fare with a good amount of New Mexican and Greek specialties thrown into the mix, served in hefty portions. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review  LuciaBreakfast: Mon-Sat: 6:30am-10:30am
Brunch:
Sun: 10am-2pm
Lunch:
Mon-Sat: 11am-2:00pm Dinner:
Mon-Sun: 4:30-10pm (subject to change) Full review: My, how I do like them oysters (1/21/2010)
Downtown's Hotel Andaluz and its restaurant, Lucia, seem like they were designed to make you feel cool. The dining room is dimly lit by low-volt lamps hanging from paper ceilings and the occasional flash of fire from the open kitchen. Mediterranean fusion fine-dining begins with grilled artichokes smothered in saffron butter and capers, or heavenly grilled oysters with smoked chile-chive-oil mojo (a kind of Caribbean mayo) and pancetta on pea greens. Once you’re fully rested after a night of cocktails and herb-crusted rack of lamb, come back in the morning for fluffy, toothsome lemon-ricotta pancakes and organic breakfast burritos. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 2 ] If jocked-out Humphrey Bogart and sorority-girl Lauren Bacall had to pick a spot in this town to stare dreamily into each other’s eyes, and then polish off a plate of sliders, they’d probably do it at Maloney’s. Located smack in the center of Downtown, this pub and eatery boasts a movie star-themed menu, rock-star music and one of the the most popular patios in the Burque. Check out their Sierra Nevada-battered onion rings with chipotle ranch dressing or their signature “spuds Maloney” loaded potato skins. And with no cover charge, even Sinatra’s limo driver can afford to roll on in. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 10 ] Marble Brewery opened its doors in the spring of 2008, and since then it’s become a favorite haunt of Burque beer fans. Go in for a flight—10 little glasses of every beer on tap—and taste the meticulously brewed rainbow, each beer distinct and complex. Six-packs, bombers, growlers and kegs are good to go. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 2 ] We like to wobble over to Milton's when we’re all hungover and scarf down a killer breakfast burrito or Monte Cristo. They’re not an all-night diner (contrary to their “always open” signage), but the 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours serve us just fine. Delish. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 1 ] A good bet for Greek/American in the heart of Downtown’s bustling Fourth Street business area. Take a break from your hectic work schedule with a nice, hot cup of lentil soup, a burger and a big smile from the friendly staff. Low carb options are abundant. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review Despite the massive reconstruction work that's been done on the inside of this second-story restaurant-lounge, you won’t be able to keep your eyes off the epic views of the Sunrise Bank building and Route 66 one story below. Up front, there's a curved black-and-gold granite bar that’s custom-built for fabulous cocktails—One Up infuses several of its liquors and hand-muddles fresh fruits and vegetables. Leather lounge settees are staggered throughout the wide-open space, staging several opulent but comfortable conversation zones. Top-of-the-line professional pool tables line the back the room. On the food side, a large menu of tapas (kobe sliders and fried goat cheese among them) and more substantial entrées rounds out your evening. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) View/Add Reviews [ 1 ] P'tit Louis BistroLunch:
Mon-Sat 11 am -5:30pm
Available for private parties evenings and weekends.
Email for information: info@ptitlouisbistro.com (subject to change) Cuisine: French
A bright blue, turn-of-the-century Parisian bistro that’s in the heart of Downtown. With only 10 tables, the hand-carved art nouveau bar, tile floors and tin ceiling have been lovingly crafted by the chef/owners. The menu reflects traditional bistro selections including three variations on mussels, salads, cheese plates, savory crepes and charcuterie (pâté with cold cuts). Dishes are served full of flavor and without embellishment, and there’s plenty of good wine and bread,
bien sûr
. (Alibi Staff, September 16, 2010) Add a Review  Pasion Latin FusionMon-Fri: 11am-2:30pm
Sat: 9am-2pm
Closed Sunday (subject to change) Cuisine: Latin American, Cuban, Fusion, Caribbean/Cuban, Marsicos/Mexican Seafood, Mexican, South American, Spanish Salsa night/ Live Music: - Read more: Locovore: Pasión is a green-chile-infused tour of Latin America (2/16/2012)
Elvis is in the house—Chef Elvis Bencomo, that is. With co-owners Monica (Elvis’ wife) and Orlando (his brother), Pasión Latin Fusion serves up dishes found throughout Latin America with Elvis’ own creative flair. Monica runs the front of the house and her gracious, lively style makes you feel right at home. To eat, there are fish tacos crusted in banana, garnished with pickled onions, avocado and sauce. The succulent carnitas tacos and George’s pescado à la Veracruzana are spectacular. The “croque señorita” is Elvis’ version of a croque-madame—a seared pork chop, fried egg and Swiss cheese served over tacu tacu (Peruvian rice and beans, similar to Cuba's moros y cristianos) with a huacatay (Peruvian mint) cream sauce. (Alibi Staff, September 1, 2011) Add a Review Plaza Eatery, steps away from Civic Plaza, is an ideal location to eat lunch and spot your local elected government officials, whether it be city councilors or the mayor himself. With some of the lowest prices Downtown and a large menu of tasty American, Greek and New Mexican lunch specials, and lots of fresh baked goods, Plaza Eatery is one of Downtown’s best-kept secrets. Try a chicken walnut sandwich, served on a croissant with grapes, and get an iced sugar cookie for dessert. Or try the Spanakopita—delicious homemade spinach pie served with pita bread, tsatsiki sauce and a green leaf salad on the side. Plaza Eatery also offers a sizeable breakfast menu. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review The Red Ball CaféTues-Fri: 7:30am-2pm
Sat: 7:30am-1:30pm
Closed Sunday & Monday (subject to change)
J. Wellington Wimpy said, "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Now, we don’t condone cattle rustling, but Red Ball Café’s famous "Wimpy" burger is only 99 cents, so give yourself a full stomach and a full wallet at the same time. This Barelas landmark has been around for 80 years, but old timers and newbies alike can dine like it’s 1939. Try the tacos, eat the enchiladas and bite into the Brutus burger for posterity. (Alibi Staff, August 11, 2010) Add a Review | 
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