Albuquerque/Santa Fe
 

My sister and I have planned a girls weekend in Santa Fe. Will fly into Albuquerque on Thursday Morning and rent a car. Leave out on Sunday mid day. We are going to have some spa treatments done and we have reservations for the Sky Railway Stargazer trip.

Is there a not to miss lunch spot in Albuquerque?

Any must sees or must eat while we are in Santa Fe?

If we like it, may take husband so I can do Los Alamos.

TIA

I think there is a tram to ride in Albuquerque with a nice view at the top and restaurant.

Sandia Peak tramway. . Never taken it in the summer.

The Shed is an institution and pretty good SW food, they have a sister restaurant, La Choza, not too far away that is easier to get in and great as well. My opinion says this is a must eat for casual dining.

For nicer meals Geronimo was great the last time we were there, as was the Coyote Cafe.

These are all in Santa Fe. Absolutely love that part of the country. Enjoy your trip.

El Pinto in Albuquerque for Mexican Cuisine, The Frontier on Central across from the University is also a great place set up for students, order at the counter and pick up at the window.

Taking the Scandia Peak Tramway https://sandiapeak.com/ to the top of the mountain and having drinks or dinner as the sun sets at Ten3 restaurant https://ten3tram.com/ is an incredible experience. I highly recommend it. If you're really lucky and chance into one of the thundershowers they have about once a decade down there, you can look down on the thunderclouds as it rains on the desert floor below. Either way, an incredible view.

The Tram is pretty nice to see. Some like Albuquerque old town https://www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/ but it is pretty hot to walk around in the middle of the day...and some the National Nuclear Museum https://www.nuclearmuseum.org/

There are lots of nice SW restaurants. It depends if you want something touristy or a dive with great cuisine.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep them coming.

The tram and restaurant looks great. I've sent that to Sis for approval.

I am looking for great meals. Food is a huge part of travel for me.

I looked at Geronimo but their reservations are full for the weekend. Coyote Cafe has a roof top cantina and I thought that would be good before the train. That said, there is no reservations for the cantina and I am unsure how long of a wait it will be.

It's my understanding Santa Fe is the home of the first breakfast burrito, so I'm pretty sure I can't leave without trying one.

Plus one on El Pinto. Great place.

Add to that the Owl Cafe in Albuquerque. The original Owl is in San Antonio near where the atomic bomb was tested in WW2. Story is that Openheimer and the boys would go to the Owl for the green chili cheeseburger.



In Santa Fe: Plaza Cafe on the town square.

Tomasitia's New Mexican - where you catch the train that goes from Alb to
Santa Fe

Throw a pizza on the roof of Walter White's house. (Don't do it)

Also worth a trip to the Loretto Chapel to see the miraculous staircase.

https://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase

While in Alb and Santa Fe look for Abbey Ale made by actual monks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Brewing_Company

And also Alien beers with a Roswell theme.

Some folks like the outdoors...and might like a look at the Petroglyph National Monument (one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America). https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm It is close by, but if you hike (anywhere), wear sunscreen, a hat, and take water. In fact, try to drink an abnormal amount of water in NM regardless. The combination of altitude and sun works pretty quickly.

When I was a kid my parents took us to the staircase.

Geronimo and Coyote are kind of "meh" especially if you've dined in bigger cities. They seem to do serviceable but unadventurous food at pretty high prices. Nice spaces, don't get me wrong. One place we like in SF (open your wallet) is Santa Cafe. Nearby is La Boca which is a solid tapas joint.

Frankly I get more pleasure from the breweries and "normal food" places. In SF, Rowley Farmhouse Ales has really good food and is very chill, also featured in Guy Fieri's "triple dees" show and run by a PhD chemist at Los Alamos. Horseman's Haven is a NewMex diner with chile that can hurt a person - if you ask for the "hot" they'll only serve it on the side. The SF plaza area/central city can be a zoo, especially in the summer "market" season (Folk, Indian, Spanish and probably more), and will bring you full hotels and parking lots.

And do come to Los Alamos! We have a nice little museum attached to the lab and another historical museum with exhibits and you can tour Hans Bethe's house for a taste of Manhattan Project living. Bandolier Nat'l Monument is nearby of course and we have Bathtub Row, the nation's second co-op brewery. We're a similar elevation to SF but it seems to not get as hot up here (79F at the moment - 1:45pm).

Farm to Table and Los Poblanos up in the N Valley of ABQ are worthy IMO, and for more NMex diner vibe Mary and Titos closer to downtown has won James Beard awards and has killer red chile. I'd skip El Pinto up there though it's a beautiful place - just touristy and not really memorable.

The Sandia tram's pricey and you can drive up the backside and hike to the restaurant if you like.

Dunno of it's open at the moment but "tent rocks", now Kasha-Katuwe Nat'l Monument is between ABQ and SF. Slot canyons and alien inspired rock towers. Most people from around here have never been there which blows my mind. Check their site though - they're either on Cochiti pueblo or just past it and they're still kind of locked down from the 'rona.

If you like casinos, there are several Native American casinos between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. One of the nicest is enroute, just outside of Albuquerque. We used to go there for concerts when we lived in Albuquerque...but they have gambling, spas and restaurants. You can often see a small herd of buffalo on their grounds (across the road).

You are too early for balloon festival https://balloonfiesta.com/ , but you might see some almost any time there. They usually are seen on the north end of town, near Balloon Fiesta Park https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/parks/balloon-fiesta-park.

The hike to the tram restaurant on the front (west) side in Albuquerque is killer...largely due to altitude/oxygen. It starts at the place you might board the tram. Don't attempt unless you are in great shape and have plenty of time. Take a lot of water/sunscreen. Watch for the occasional tarantula, scorpion, and rattlesnakes. Your cell may or may not work over the entire trail. Stay on the trail. Make sure someone knows you are on the mountain...and your timetable.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cibola/recarea/?recid=64610

In Albuquerque, no. Although New Mexican food is different enough from other Mexican food that anyplace you go will seen exotic. Tomasitas is good food, not much atmosphere. El pinto is better atmosphere, food not as good. I like the burgers at the Monte Carlo steakhouse, but places with a package store in front are probably not what you are after

In Santa Fe, Clafoutis is a very nice breakfast (French, with of course very nice bread and pastries) . Go as early as possible. Zia 356 meets there for breakfast a couple times a year.

If you don’t mind driving, and it’s a very interesting and pretty drive, Rancho de Chimayo is very good food, and good atmosphere.

I don’t do spas, but my girls both like 10,000 waves, and Ojo Caliente

If you are looking for outdoors, you really can’t beat Bandelier national monument. It makes a very nice loop from Albuquerque, to San ysidro, to Jemez, to Los alamos, bandelier, then down the hill back to Santa Fe, and abq . Some very good Porsche roads!

Sandia Peak is nice, but I do not really care for Albuquerque. Santa Fe is where I would spend my time to wander and eat.

I haven't been there in twenty years so no specific places to recommend, but the Tramway is phenomenal.

There are some amazing drives south. Leave early for Socorro, hit route 60 to Quemado, north on 36 to 117 then I 40 or rural roads back.

5 and 1/2 hours total. You'll drive by the VLA. Amazing roads and country. Back for lunch.

BTW, the 603 is also a great drive but it is dusty, as in dirt. I'd do all the roads I mentioned again tomorrow.

I pass through ABQ fairly often. Love the old town. Padilla's for fine, local Mexican food.
Also, not unlike many places, lots of drug crime these days there - practice situational awareness, esp. at night.

S/F and Taos - where it's at!