# Nightlife in Albuquerque

Hand-picked nightlife venues across Albuquerque — 36 spots covering 10 categories from dance clubs to rooftops to dive bars.

## Dance Club

- **[Effex Nightclub](/venue/effex/)** *(Downtown)* — Three bars, three dance floors, and a rooftop patio. The LGBTQ+ club downtown.
- **[The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon](/venue/dirty-bourbon/)** *(NE Heights)* — The only country dance hall in town. 1,300 sq ft floor, live bands Thursday through Saturday.
- **[The Library Bar & Grill](/venue/the-library-bar/)** *(Downtown)* — Late-night dance and karaoke spot on Central. Salsa Wednesdays are the draw.

## Lgbtq Bar

- **[Albuquerque Social Club](/venue/albuquerque-social-club/)** *(EDO)* — Oldest LGBTQ+ club in the Southwest, open since 1983. $30 for a three-year membership.
- **[Rocksteady's Social Club](/venue/rocksteadys/)** *(East Central)* — Queer-friendly East Central bar with karaoke and a pride-flag ceiling.
- **[Sidewinders Ranch](/venue/sidewinders-ranch/)** *(East Central)* — Leather-and-levi bar with a dance floor, pool tables, and drag bingo. RuPaul's Drag Race guests on occasion.

## Cocktail Bar

- **[Bar Uno](/venue/bar-uno/)** *(Downtown)* — Self-billed smallest and most dog-friendly bar in town. Serious cocktails, no pretension.
- **[G. Toti](/venue/g-toti/)** *(Downtown)* — Hotel Andaluz's post-Prohibition deco bar. Classic-leaning cocktails.
- **[Happy Accidents](/venue/happy-accidents/)** *(Nob Hill)* — Kate Gerwin's distillery-bar in Nob Hill. Most spirits made in-house. Forbes Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar 2022; 2024 Bar of the Year (Bar and Restaurant Expo).
- **[The Copper Lounge](/venue/copper-lounge/)** *(University)* — Two bars in one space at the UNM-Nob Hill border. Classic cocktails (Copper) and modern Mexican agave (Los Conejos).

## Speakeasy

- **[Founders Speakeasy](/venue/founders-speakeasy/)** *(Downtown)* — Password-only speakeasy under the El Rey Theater. This week's password posts to Instagram.
- **[Teddy Roe's](/venue/teddy-roes/)** *(Nob Hill)* — Hidden in the alley behind M'tucci's Bar Roma. Two-hour reservations, live music or burlesque or magic on the schedule.
- **[Vernon's Speakeasy](/venue/vernons-speakeasy/)** *(North Valley)* — Pre-Prohibition steakhouse behind an unmarked steel door in Los Ranchos. Knock three times. Reservation and password required.

## Rooftop

- **[Apothecary Lounge](/venue/apothecary-lounge/)** *(EDO)* — Rooftop of Hotel Parq Central in EDO. Prohibition-era cocktails, Sandia and downtown views.
- **[Bien Shur Rooftop Lounge](/venue/bien-shur/)** *(North ABQ)* — Ninth floor of Sandia Resort and Casino. Mountain views, live entertainment varies.
- **[Level 5 Rooftop](/venue/level-5/)** *(Old Town)* — Top of Hotel Chaco in Old Town. Sandia and Old Town panorama, reservations required.
- **[TEN 3](/venue/ten-3/)** *(Sandia Peak)* — 10,300 feet up, only reachable by Sandia Peak Tramway. Sunset cocktails at the literal top of the city.
- **[Vintage 423](/venue/vintage-423/)** *(NE Heights)* — Far Northeast Heights rooftop with Sandia views. Dress code, fine-dining bar.
- **[Volaré Rooftop Bar](/venue/volare-rooftop/)** *(Uptown)* — Seventh floor of Element by Westin in Uptown. Sandia views east, sunset views west. Opened August 2024.

## Live Music

- **[El Rey Theater](/venue/el-rey-theater/)** *(Downtown)* — 1942 Mediterranean-style theater. Concerts most nights, dance club Friday and Saturday.
- **[Launchpad](/venue/launchpad/)** *(Downtown)* — 300-capacity rock club on Central since 1997. Indie, metal, hip-hop, garage.
- **[Revel ABQ](/venue/revel-abq/)** *(Midtown)* — Multi-room entertainment complex on Alexander. Backstage at Revel hosts the live music, with dueling pianos and concerts most nights.
- **[Sister](/venue/sister/)** *(Downtown)* — Downtown live music and 40+ taps. Pinball arcade in back, 21+ after dark.
- **[Sunshine Theater](/venue/sunshine-theater/)** *(Downtown)* — 1,000-capacity concert hall in a 1924 Trost building. Touring national acts.

## Pub

- **[Central Bodega](/venue/central-bodega/)** *(Nob Hill)* — Mediterranean food and cocktails on Route 66. Upstairs and downstairs reservations.
- **[Gecko's Bar & Tapas](/venue/geckos/)** *(Nob Hill)* — First gastropub in Nob Hill. Tapas, full bar, kitchen open until 11.
- **[O'Niell's Pub](/venue/oniells-juan-tabo/)** *(NE Heights)* — Heights location of the classic Irish pub. Nob Hill flagship closed; this one's the survivor.
- **[Two Fools Tavern](/venue/two-fools-tavern/)** *(Nob Hill)* — Authentic Irish pub in Nob Hill. 200+ whiskeys, 100 single malts. Fish and chips and traditional pub fare.

## Dive Bar

- **[Anodyne](/venue/anodyne/)** *(Downtown)* — Second-floor pool hall on Central. Vintage furniture, plants, jukebox. One of the last true ABQ dive bars.
- **[Billy's Long Bar](/venue/billys-long-bar/)** *(NE Heights)* — 30-year NE Heights institution. Three pool tables, darts, casual late-night crowd.
- **[Overtime Sports Bar & Grill](/venue/ots-sports-bar/)** *(NE Heights)* — Pachanga Taco Tuesdays. Free salsa and bachata lesson at 6:30pm, DJ Gabriel Goza after, $7 cover.

## Distillery

- **[Hollow Spirits Distillery](/venue/hollow-spirits/)** *(Wells Park)* — Grain-to-glass distillery and restaurant in Wells Park. Regular live music and market nights.
- **[Safe House Distilling Co.](/venue/safe-house-distilling/)** *(Downtown)* — Downtown craft distillery. Teller Vodka, LockPick Gin, Prophet Share Bourbon. Small pour room on site.

## Hookah Cigar

- **[Da One Hookah Bar](/venue/da-one-hookah/)** *(Downtown)* — Hookah bar inside a nightclub. Thursday through Saturday, 10pm to 2am.
- **[Hookah Kings ABQ](/venue/hookah-kings/)** *(Westside)* — All-you-can-smoke $10 deal on the far Westside. Outdoor patio, retail shop on site.
- **[The Palms Hookah Lounge](/venue/the-palms-hookah/)** *(Westside)* — Largest hookah lounge on the Westside. Extensive flavor menu, theme nights.