In May of 2021, our San Francisco landlords informed us that they were selling the house we were renting. That phone call was the start of many stressful days, but also gave us the opportunity to choose whether we wanted to stay in The Bay, or move to Cameron’s offices in Albuquerque.
After MANY back and forth discussions, we chose New Mexico. We didn’t quite know what to expect from this eclectic city. On one hand, it has one of the highest rates of auto theft in the country, on the other hand there is clearly a rich culture full of welcoming people, great food, and a vibrant music scene.
Here are some of our favorite spots in Albuquerque we’ve discovered this last month.
Farm & Table
“A truly magical place” is the first thing that comes to mind. We’ve been here 3 times now. The service is amazing, with knowledgable, interesting, attentive staff and great food for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Get there at sunset so you can walk around their little farm, and then dine under the ambiant lights to the trickling sound of the fountain.
The Bike in Coffee
A biker mentioned this place to us in passing as we got onto the Rio Grande trail and I’m so glad they did! This casual spot is relaxing and full of energy at the same time. There are tables sprinkled under the shady trees with a little stream running through the center of the seating area. We grabbed some delicious bites from the food window, pull up a chair and smiled through not one, but two amazing live music sets. We’ll definitely be back. Oh, and they’re dog friendly!
The Fork and Fig
We stopped here for a quick bite and were pleasantly surprised! Although they are right next to a gas station, they had trendy outdoor seating, nice staff and the food was great. Their salads were delicious. Cameron, being a vegetarian and great cook is often left wanting with restaurant salads. These were full of wholesome goodies and unique flavors. You can also add a protein on top if you’d like.
Apothecary Lounge
What a find! This rooftop bar is a great place to get a birds-eye view of Albuquerque and the amazing weather that rolls through the valley at sunset. They have some interesting drinks, and although they were overpriced, you’re paying for the view. It is worth it.
Sawmill Market
This trendy market has a lot to love. We’ve been here a good amount over the last month and it is always buzzing with a ton of people. They also have fantastic music on the weekends. You can get dinner, you can get beer/wine, shaved ice, ice cream, flowers, art, on-tap cocktails. They even have ping pong and an outdoor bar. I will say that we’re coming from San Francisco and even we were a bit shocked at some of the prices. And some of the food vendors can be a bit disorganized and slow, so don’t come in a rush š
Old Town Albuquerque/Old Town Plaza
Old Town is so quant and lovely. We stumbled upon it on one of our bike rides through the city on a Saturday night when we followed the sound of some fun sounding live music. We were shocked to find a packed full plaza lit by beautiful soft string lights. We learned that there is live music Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the summer. Bring your own chairs and your dancing shoes!
Tin Can Alley
This place is pretty much an upscale food court and I LOVED the vibe. It’s super laid back, made up of shipping containers. There is another similar establishment called Green Jeans.
Rio Bravo Brewing Company
If you can’t tell already, we love live music. This brewery has a pretty large indoor area and an even larger back patio where we rocked out into the evening. They have a good selection of beer, although there were a lot of sweet options, which we’re not into. They also have some really great tacos, however, they are lacking vegetarian options.
Rail Yards Market
We just attended the farmers market last weekend and really enjoyed ourselves. There is a variety of different artists offering jewelry, leather goods, pottery, metal work, and more. And, of course, there were local vendors offering fresh veg, prickly pear preserves, baked goods, fire roasted peppers, and cold drinks.
Places I still want to check out…
- The Copper Lounge
- Casa Flamenca
- Los Campos
- Curious Toast Cafe
- Flying Star Cafe
- Bosque Baking
- Level 5
- Marble Brewing Co.
We also biked through the trail system the winds its way though the dried up areas of the Rio Grande. If you have a hybrid, mountain bike, or some good walking shoes, I’d highly recommend exploring that area. We entered the dirt trail system by Tingley Beach.
The Wanderings of Two 