Nightlife in Albuquerque
36 VENUES · 10 CATEGORIES
36 hand-picked nightlife venues across Albuquerque — dance clubs, cocktail bars, rooftops, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ bars, live music rooms, pubs, dive bars, distilleries, hookah lounges. Open tonight unless noted.
Dance Clubs
Effex Nightclub
Downtown
Three bars, three dance floors, and a rooftop patio. The LGBTQ+ club downtown.
The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & SaloonNE Heights
The only country dance hall in town. 1,300 sq ft floor, live bands Thursday through Saturday.
The Library Bar & GrillDowntown
Late-night dance and karaoke spot on Central. Salsa Wednesdays are the draw.
LGBTQ+ Bars
Albuquerque Social Club
EDO
Oldest LGBTQ+ club in the Southwest, open since 1983. $30 for a three-year membership.
Rocksteady's Social ClubEast Central
Queer-friendly East Central bar with karaoke and a pride-flag ceiling.
Sidewinders RanchEast Central
Leather-and-levi bar with a dance floor, pool tables, and drag bingo. RuPaul's Drag Race guests on occasion.
Cocktail Bars
Bar Uno
Downtown
Self-billed smallest and most dog-friendly bar in town. Serious cocktails, no pretension.
G. TotiDowntown
Hotel Andaluz's post-Prohibition deco bar. Classic-leaning cocktails.
Happy AccidentsNob 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 LoungeUniversity
Two bars in one space at the UNM-Nob Hill border. Classic cocktails (Copper) and modern Mexican agave (Los Conejos).
Speakeasies
Founders Speakeasy
Downtown
Password-only speakeasy under the El Rey Theater. This week's password posts to Instagram.
Teddy Roe'sNob 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 SpeakeasyNorth Valley
Pre-Prohibition steakhouse behind an unmarked steel door in Los Ranchos. Knock three times. Reservation and password required.
Rooftop Bars
Apothecary Lounge
EDO
Rooftop of Hotel Parq Central in EDO. Prohibition-era cocktails, Sandia and downtown views.
Bien Shur Rooftop LoungeNorth ABQ
Ninth floor of Sandia Resort and Casino. Mountain views, live entertainment varies.
Level 5 RooftopOld Town
Top of Hotel Chaco in Old Town. Sandia and Old Town panorama, reservations required.
TEN 3Sandia Peak
10,300 feet up, only reachable by Sandia Peak Tramway. Sunset cocktails at the literal top of the city.
Vintage 423NE Heights
Far Northeast Heights rooftop with Sandia views. Dress code, fine-dining bar.
Volaré Rooftop BarUptown
Seventh floor of Element by Westin in Uptown. Sandia views east, sunset views west. Opened August 2024.
Live Music Venues
El Rey Theater
Downtown
1942 Mediterranean-style theater. Concerts most nights, dance club Friday and Saturday.
LaunchpadDowntown
300-capacity rock club on Central since 1997. Indie, metal, hip-hop, garage.
Revel ABQMidtown
Multi-room entertainment complex on Alexander. Backstage at Revel hosts the live music, with dueling pianos and concerts most nights.
SisterDowntown
Downtown live music and 40+ taps. Pinball arcade in back, 21+ after dark.
Sunshine TheaterDowntown
1,000-capacity concert hall in a 1924 Trost building. Touring national acts.
Pubs
Central Bodega
Nob Hill
Mediterranean food and cocktails on Route 66. Upstairs and downstairs reservations.
Gecko's Bar & TapasNob Hill
First gastropub in Nob Hill. Tapas, full bar, kitchen open until 11.
O'Niell's PubNE Heights
Heights location of the classic Irish pub. Nob Hill flagship closed; this one's the survivor.
Two Fools TavernNob Hill
Authentic Irish pub in Nob Hill. 200+ whiskeys, 100 single malts. Fish and chips and traditional pub fare.
Dive Bars
Anodyne
Downtown
Second-floor pool hall on Central. Vintage furniture, plants, jukebox. One of the last true ABQ dive bars.
Billy's Long BarNE Heights
30-year NE Heights institution. Three pool tables, darts, casual late-night crowd.
Overtime Sports Bar & GrillNE Heights
Pachanga Taco Tuesdays. Free salsa and bachata lesson at 6:30pm, DJ Gabriel Goza after, $7 cover.
Distilleries
Hookah & Cigar Lounges
Da One Hookah Bar
Downtown
Hookah bar inside a nightclub. Thursday through Saturday, 10pm to 2am.
Hookah Kings ABQWestside
All-you-can-smoke $10 deal on the far Westside. Outdoor patio, retail shop on site.
The Palms Hookah LoungeWestside
Largest hookah lounge on the Westside. Extensive flavor menu, theme nights.