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

Three bars, three dance floors, and a rooftop patio. The LGBTQ+ club downtown.

The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon

The only country dance hall in town. 1,300 sq ft floor, live bands Thursday through Saturday.

The Library Bar & Grill

Late-night dance and karaoke spot on Central. Salsa Wednesdays are the draw.

LGBTQ+ Bars

Albuquerque Social Club

Oldest LGBTQ+ club in the Southwest, open since 1983. $30 for a three-year membership.

Rocksteady's Social Club

Queer-friendly East Central bar with karaoke and a pride-flag ceiling.

Sidewinders Ranch

Leather-and-levi bar with a dance floor, pool tables, and drag bingo. RuPaul's Drag Race guests on occasion.

Cocktail Bars

Self-billed smallest and most dog-friendly bar in town. Serious cocktails, no pretension.

Hotel Andaluz's post-Prohibition deco bar. Classic-leaning cocktails.

Happy Accidents

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

Two bars in one space at the UNM-Nob Hill border. Classic cocktails (Copper) and modern Mexican agave (Los Conejos).

Speakeasies

Founders Speakeasy

Password-only speakeasy under the El Rey Theater. This week's password posts to Instagram.

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

Pre-Prohibition steakhouse behind an unmarked steel door in Los Ranchos. Knock three times. Reservation and password required.

Rooftop Bars

Apothecary Lounge

Rooftop of Hotel Parq Central in EDO. Prohibition-era cocktails, Sandia and downtown views.

Bien Shur Rooftop Lounge

Ninth floor of Sandia Resort and Casino. Mountain views, live entertainment varies.

Level 5 Rooftop

Top of Hotel Chaco in Old Town. Sandia and Old Town panorama, reservations required.

10,300 feet up, only reachable by Sandia Peak Tramway. Sunset cocktails at the literal top of the city.

Far Northeast Heights rooftop with Sandia views. Dress code, fine-dining bar.

Volaré Rooftop Bar

Seventh floor of Element by Westin in Uptown. Sandia views east, sunset views west. Opened August 2024.

Live Music Venues

1942 Mediterranean-style theater. Concerts most nights, dance club Friday and Saturday.

300-capacity rock club on Central since 1997. Indie, metal, hip-hop, garage.

Multi-room entertainment complex on Alexander. Backstage at Revel hosts the live music, with dueling pianos and concerts most nights.

Downtown live music and 40+ taps. Pinball arcade in back, 21+ after dark.

Sunshine Theater

1,000-capacity concert hall in a 1924 Trost building. Touring national acts.

Pubs

Mediterranean food and cocktails on Route 66. Upstairs and downstairs reservations.

Gecko's Bar & Tapas

First gastropub in Nob Hill. Tapas, full bar, kitchen open until 11.

Heights location of the classic Irish pub. Nob Hill flagship closed; this one's the survivor.

Two Fools Tavern

Authentic Irish pub in Nob Hill. 200+ whiskeys, 100 single malts. Fish and chips and traditional pub fare.

Dive Bars

Second-floor pool hall on Central. Vintage furniture, plants, jukebox. One of the last true ABQ dive bars.

Billy's Long Bar

30-year NE Heights institution. Three pool tables, darts, casual late-night crowd.

Overtime Sports Bar & Grill

Pachanga Taco Tuesdays. Free salsa and bachata lesson at 6:30pm, DJ Gabriel Goza after, $7 cover.

Distilleries

Hollow Spirits Distillery

Grain-to-glass distillery and restaurant in Wells Park. Regular live music and market nights.

Safe House Distilling Co.

Downtown craft distillery. Teller Vodka, LockPick Gin, Prophet Share Bourbon. Small pour room on site.

Hookah & Cigar Lounges

Da One Hookah Bar

Hookah bar inside a nightclub. Thursday through Saturday, 10pm to 2am.

Hookah Kings ABQ

All-you-can-smoke $10 deal on the far Westside. Outdoor patio, retail shop on site.

The Palms Hookah Lounge

Largest hookah lounge on the Westside. Extensive flavor menu, theme nights.