Route 66 at 100
9 places
Route 66 turned 100 on November 11. It came through Albuquerque in 1926 on Fourth Street, moved onto Central in 1937, and lined the street with motels, diners and neon. When I-40 opened in 1968, trouble was on the horizon, and in 1985 Route 66 was decommissioned. This year Lindy's and Kap's closed. These nine are still open, starting with the oldest.
KiMo Theatre
1927. Oreste Bachechi's KiMo opens in the Pueblo Deco style, the start of Albuquerque's turn from railroad hub to city. It lost its neon in 1960, the city bought it in 1978, and the sign came back in 2011. Catch any show just to sit in the room.
The Nutcracker runs Dec 12–14 and Dec 19–20.
El Vado
1937. Route 66 moves onto Central and motels sprout along it, El Vado one of the first. It closed in 2005 and reopened in 2018 with its 1937 adobe, a food court and a taproom. Come at night, when the neon sign lights up.
Live music every Friday and Saturday night.
Duran's Central Pharmacy
1942. Duran's opens as a pharmacy with a soda fountain, which grew into a full restaurant famous for its red and green chile. Pull up a stool at the counter for chile-stuffed sopaipillas or carne adovada.
They ship their red and green chile.
66 Diner
1945. A Phillips 66 gas and service station goes up on Central. In 1987, two years after the road is decommissioned, Tom and Christy Willis turn it into the 66 Diner. Pumpkin pie is on the menu through December, and the shakes spin on the original 1950s machines.
November's shake of the month is the Dirty Chai.
Dog House Drive-In
Around 1948. Frank and Viola Meade open the Dog House at 10th and Central, and in 1962 it moves two blocks to this spot. Snap the animated neon sign, then walk up to the window for a foot-long chili dog.
Closed Sundays.
Mac's La Sierra Coffee Shop
1952. Mac's La Sierra opens, and the family still runs it. The Steak In The Rough has been the signature since opening day.
New Mexican breakfast all day.
Monte Carlo Steakhouse
1970. Greek families ran 34 businesses on Route 66 by 1930, and the Katsaros family carries that on here. Cut through the liquor store to find the bar and steakhouse in back.
Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Frontier Restaurant
1971. Larry and Dorothy Rainosek open the Frontier across from UNM. Tear into one of the gigantic sweet rolls, or stay for a breakfast burrito or a bowl of green chile stew.
Open 5am to midnight, every day. Order at the counter and listen for your number.
Loyola's
Still on the road: a Route 66 diner with a balloon mural on the wall. Try a smothered breakfast burrito. The green chile brings real heat.
Breakfast and lunch only. Closed Sundays and Mondays.