Downtown Nightlife

12 VENUES

12 hand-picked nightlife venues in Downtown: 2 dance clubs, 2 cocktail bars, 1 speakeasy, and 4 live music venues.

Dance Clubs

Effex Nightclub

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

The Library Bar & Grill

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

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.

Speakeasies

Founders Speakeasy

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

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.

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.

Dive Bars

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

Distilleries

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.