What’s cool in ABQ and Santa Fe?
April 30, 2024 10:37 AM Subscribe
Visiting for a FAST four days May 10-13, we’ll go to Santa Fe for the Georgia O’Keefe museum (studio tour is sold out BOO, TOMATO, TOMATO). What else should we do? We both like shopping local and finding fantastic food, even if it comes from a gas station. I love art, letterpress, jewelry, museums, independent bookstores, you get the vibe. We’ll have a rental car. Grateful for advice!
Best answer: I was just there for a Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul "tour" with my teenage son in March. It was great!
Meow Wolf is weird, but fun. We were a little underwhelmed but it was an experience.
I had quite possibly the best burger of my life at Realburger in Santa Fe. Place looks rundown from the outside but I can't recommend it enough.
The Old Town Pizza Parlor in ABQ was really good too.
The Hot Air Balloon museum was fun to check out too - way more history/info than I would've thought.
posted by Twicketface at 11:02 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Meow Wolf is weird, but fun. We were a little underwhelmed but it was an experience.
I had quite possibly the best burger of my life at Realburger in Santa Fe. Place looks rundown from the outside but I can't recommend it enough.
The Old Town Pizza Parlor in ABQ was really good too.
The Hot Air Balloon museum was fun to check out too - way more history/info than I would've thought.
posted by Twicketface at 11:02 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Seconding Old Town Albuquerque - spend some time wandering around the plaza and you'll get local shopping and great food (I recommend Church St. Cafe both for the food and the architecture).
posted by wanderingmind at 11:04 AM on April 30
posted by wanderingmind at 11:04 AM on April 30
Best answer: It has been many years but I still think about the breakfast burritos with green chile from the Frontier Restaurant in ABQ.
posted by hovey at 11:10 AM on April 30 [4 favorites]
posted by hovey at 11:10 AM on April 30 [4 favorites]
Best answer: The natural history museum in ABQ stands out in my memory. Also, on the way between the two cities, drive through the Valles Caldera.
posted by slidell at 11:27 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by slidell at 11:27 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I loved Meow Wolf myself.
There's a restaurant in Santa Fe called Pasqual's that's a local institution, but they're slow and not all they're cracked up to be. I'd give them a miss. On the other hand, I really like the Tune-Up Cafe.
Santa Fe has a huge number of hiking trails, if you're into that.
There's a museum complex on the east side of Santa Fe, which includes a folk art museum that I enjoyed.
There's lots of other interesting stuff nearby: Tent Rocks National Monument, the cliff dwellings at Bandalier National Monument, and the Very Large Array near Socorro.
posted by adamrice at 11:31 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]
There's a restaurant in Santa Fe called Pasqual's that's a local institution, but they're slow and not all they're cracked up to be. I'd give them a miss. On the other hand, I really like the Tune-Up Cafe.
Santa Fe has a huge number of hiking trails, if you're into that.
There's a museum complex on the east side of Santa Fe, which includes a folk art museum that I enjoyed.
There's lots of other interesting stuff nearby: Tent Rocks National Monument, the cliff dwellings at Bandalier National Monument, and the Very Large Array near Socorro.
posted by adamrice at 11:31 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Ten Thousand Waves is our family's favorite thing in Santa Fe. Spend the morning hiking in Hyde Park and then unwind at the waves. My 15-year-old visited it and decided that one day he wanted to propose there!
posted by shadygrove at 12:33 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
posted by shadygrove at 12:33 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Go to Tomasita's in Santa Fe, and yes to Frontier in Albuquerque. Also get breakfast at Weck's. Basically eat as much chile as you can, there's nothing like it in the rest of the US.
Try to acquire some carne seca, yes from a gas station or random roadside stand. I like it when it's covered in chiles, but it's good plain too.
Tamarind Lithography Studio in Albuquerque may have tours. Photo-Eye Books in Santa Fe is a special place.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 1:14 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Try to acquire some carne seca, yes from a gas station or random roadside stand. I like it when it's covered in chiles, but it's good plain too.
Tamarind Lithography Studio in Albuquerque may have tours. Photo-Eye Books in Santa Fe is a special place.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 1:14 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Best answer: the Indian Pueblo and national hispanic cultural centers in ABQ; mary and tito's there is a james beard America's classic....iirc it closes fairly early.
posted by brujita at 1:22 PM on April 30
posted by brujita at 1:22 PM on April 30
Best answer: Loved the green chile stew at La Choza. Hot drinking chocolate at Kakawa. Splurge dinner at Sazon. The Folk Art Museum was great.
posted by shw at 2:27 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
posted by shw at 2:27 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Oh! The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts was amazing, even my kids were riveted by the art!
And yes, Meow Wolf.
posted by Knowyournuts at 2:49 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
And yes, Meow Wolf.
posted by Knowyournuts at 2:49 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I liked the Santa Fe folk art museum.
posted by clew at 3:20 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
posted by clew at 3:20 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Best answer: An amazing day would be heading north from Santa Fe via El Sanctuario de Chimayo and the High Road to Taos to Taos Pueblo (check the road status on the NMDOT site here), and visiting the earthship community just west of the Rio Grande Gorge on your way back.
posted by mdonley at 4:24 PM on April 30
posted by mdonley at 4:24 PM on April 30
Best answer: It’s already been said, but warrants more emphasis: Meow Wolf.
Enjoy New Mexican cuisine at Sadie’s, Maria’s, Tomasita’s, and Gabriel’s.
When you order food you will be asked, “red or green?” The answer is “green”.
posted by ellenaim at 4:26 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Enjoy New Mexican cuisine at Sadie’s, Maria’s, Tomasita’s, and Gabriel’s.
When you order food you will be asked, “red or green?” The answer is “green”.
posted by ellenaim at 4:26 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Best answer: The best burgers are at Laguna Burger. There is one in Albuquerque, across the street from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. If you get a burger in New Mexico, you want to get a green chile cheeseburger.
Also, Albuquerque is known as the Flamenco capital of North America. You can catch a show on Fridays or Saturdays at Tablao Flamenco.
posted by NotLost at 5:03 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Also, Albuquerque is known as the Flamenco capital of North America. You can catch a show on Fridays or Saturdays at Tablao Flamenco.
posted by NotLost at 5:03 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Best answer: When you order food you will be asked, “red or green?” The answer is “green” "Christmas."
Minor edit for maximum tastiness.
Also, on the way between the two cities, drive through the Valles Caldera.
It's a small quibble, but the Caldera is further northwest, so not really on the way between the cities unless you are making a rather roundabout drive. But it's still very worth visiting, as is the nearby Bandera national monument.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:26 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Minor edit for maximum tastiness.
Also, on the way between the two cities, drive through the Valles Caldera.
It's a small quibble, but the Caldera is further northwest, so not really on the way between the cities unless you are making a rather roundabout drive. But it's still very worth visiting, as is the nearby Bandera national monument.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:26 PM on April 30 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Sazon in Santa Fe is wonderful, so one more vote for them.
La Guelaguetza in Albuquerque is as well.
I looked at several lists of recommendations and tried to make every single meal count for my whole week-long trip. I had a lot of food that was fine, and some that was pretty good, but these two places were really wonderful.
posted by stuart_s at 11:23 PM on April 30
La Guelaguetza in Albuquerque is as well.
I looked at several lists of recommendations and tried to make every single meal count for my whole week-long trip. I had a lot of food that was fine, and some that was pretty good, but these two places were really wonderful.
posted by stuart_s at 11:23 PM on April 30
Best answer: When I used to get to Albuquerque I would try to spend an hour at Mama’s Minerals . It’s where the fancy rock shops in Santa Fe buy their stuff, I imagine. And, while it’s not cheap it is cheaper.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 11:29 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 11:29 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The tamales from El Modelo in ABQ still haunt me (in the best way)years and years later. Kinda odd location down by some train tracks, extremely limited ambiance - pretty sure it’s mostly take out and we ate on a picnic bench outside. Incredible food. I remember it tasting like someone’s grandmother made it. . . Bc that appeared to be exactly what was happening
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:34 AM on May 1
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:34 AM on May 1
Best answer: For independent bookstores, check out Bookworks in Albuquerque's picturesque North Valley. Very close to Los Poblanos Lavender Farm, which has a small gift shop where you can get Kei and Molly dish towels.
In Albuquerque, try The Grove Cafe & Market for breakfast, Range Cafe for brunch, and Vinaigrette for lunch.
posted by olopua at 9:14 AM on May 1
In Albuquerque, try The Grove Cafe & Market for breakfast, Range Cafe for brunch, and Vinaigrette for lunch.
posted by olopua at 9:14 AM on May 1
Best answer: Seconding Los Poblanos ... possibly the best brunch I've ever had in my life. My best friend lives in ABQ, and we enjoy nachos and beer in the courtyard of the fabulously remodeled El Vado Motel. In Santa Fe, the Museum of International Folk Art is just so, so good. Even if you think folk art isn't your thing, don't miss it.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:11 PM on May 1 [1 favorite]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 4:11 PM on May 1 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe is awesome!
posted by matildaben at 9:43 PM on May 1 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 9:43 PM on May 1 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: best answer love because this is awesome - i'll report back
posted by ersatzkat at 6:48 AM on May 3 [1 favorite]
posted by ersatzkat at 6:48 AM on May 3 [1 favorite]
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I also enjoyed Stranger Factory, a gallery in ABQ—you’ll know from the website if you’re gonna vibe with the art there (same with Meow Wolf probably). And we also really enjoyed a spur of the moment visit to Hollywick Farms, an alpaca farm outside Albuquerque.
posted by babelfish at 10:43 AM on April 30 [9 favorites]