Over the next few minutes we will cover the best things to do on a date in Albuquerque with both date night ideas and more fun things to do when the sun is out discussed. Many of the top options for local date nights could also work during the day and vice versa so try and be flexible.
Our first section will be all about the most romantic restaurants in Albuquerque for a date night and there are plenty to mention, particularly around Old Town or Nob Hill. Up next we will dive into other fun things to do on a date night near you with a focus on the many live entertainment venues in town before we pivot to the daytime.
Table of Contents
Expect to find a list of cool outdoor places to hang out like parks and hiking trails, indoor spots like museums and art galleries, and of course some places to grab drink or a bite to eat like brunch restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, and sweet shops.
Unique entertainment venues that probably combine alcohol and some sort of game or activity will get a shout out too. There will even be a couple sections on the most expensive and high end options or on how to plan a cheap date in your area at night or during the day as well.
If you happen to be a single man reading this be sure to check out our post on meeting ABQ girls near you which mostly focuses on the local nightclubs and bars to meet women. Ending your date night at dancing at one of the spots in that post may not be a bad idea either so you may want to check it out even if you are already partnered up.
Romantic Restaurants For An Albuquerque Date Night
Here are some of the best romantic Albuquerque restaurants for a date night:
- Vernon’s Speakeasy at 6855 4th St NW
- Vintage 423 at 8000 Paseo Del Norte Blvd NE
- Ten3 at 30 Tramway Rd NE
- Campo at 4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos
- Farm & Table at 8917 4th St NW
- Antiquity Restaurant at 112 Romero St NW
- Seasons Rotisserie & Grill at 2031 Mountain Rd NW
- Seared Bistro at 119 San Pasquale Ave SW
- Fork & Fig at 6904 Menaul Blvd NE C
- Monte Carlo Liquors & Steak House at 3916 Central Ave SW
- The Copper Lounge at 1504 Central Ave SE
- Sister Bar at 407 Central Ave NW
- Echoes at 313 Gold Ave SW
We have tried our best to order those from most expensive at the top to cheaper date night restaurants or cocktail bars at the bottom. Check out their menus to budget accordingly.
Vernon’s Speakeasy is probably the highest end option as their main courses might cost anywhere from $30 to $100 while Vintage 423 and Ten3 have mains ranging from around $30 to $80 and Campo and Farm & Table can be done for $30 to $65. Antiquity and Seasons will run you around $30 to $50, while everything below those will be quite a lot cheaper.
Echoes is a good spot for craft beer and wine but they don’t really have full meals, and at Sister Bar you are probably only going to find sandwiches and snacks.
There are also plenty of bars and cheaper restaurants for a date night at Sawmill Market. You can find some of the best views of the city and the great sunsets at The Apothecary Lounge at Hotel Parq Central as well.
Live Entertainment On A Local Date Night
See who is performing at these venues before your local date night:
- The Box Performance Space at 114 Gold Ave SW
- The Sunshine at 120 Central Ave SW
- The Historic El Rey Theater at 622 Central Ave SW
- Revel at 4720 Alexander Blvd NE
- Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at 2101 Louisiana Blvd NE
- Dry Heat Comedy Club at 521 Central Ave NW G
You may also want to know that the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Planetarium has their popular Fractals planetarium shows which generally run hourly from 6pm to 9pm. KiMo Theatre opened nearly a century ago, and The Box has live improv comedy every Friday and Saturday starting at 8pm.
Even the ABQ BioPark has live music on Friday nights from 6pm to 8:30pm. Don’t forget that we linked you to the top nightlife spots in the intro if you want to grab some drinks and dance to round out a date night in your area.
Planning A Date During The Day
These are some of the best outdoor places to go on a date during the day:
- Rio Grande State Park
- Los Altos Park
- ABQ Botanic Garden
- Mariposo Basin
- ABQ BioPark & Zoo
If the weather is convenient we highly suggest you spend at least some of your time outdoors together, a sunny day is as likely to put them in a good mood as anything. Old Town or Nob Hill are always a solid option for shopping, restaurants, and cafes.
The ABQ Biopark is great with a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium so you can see a lot of cool stuff in a short amount of time. Take the tram to the top of the Sandia Mountains and bring a basket for the Elena Gallegos Picnic Area, or Tingley Beach is also a great place for a picnic.
Get alcohol involved early by sampling locally made wines at Casa Rondeña Winery, D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, Gruet Winery, or VARA Wines. Or just relax at The Pool Bar at Sandia Casino.
You should also be on the lookout for the International Balloon Fiesta which goes down each October.
For some more culture and sophistication on a date during the day in Albuquerque head to:
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
- International Balloon Museum
- Albuquerque Museum
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
Grabbing a quick meal, drink, or some sweets at one of these spots would also be a good idea:
- The Grove Cafe & Market at 600 Central Ave SE #A
- Cafe Lush at 700 Tijeras Ave NW
- Vegos at 4003 Carlisle Blvd NE
- Swiss Alps Bakery at 3000 San Pedro Dr NE
- Zendo Coffee at 413 2nd St SW
- Cafe Bella Coffee at 2115 Golf Course Rd SE #102
- St. James Tearoom at 3 0 Osuna Rd NE #D
- Keva Juice at 11201 Menaul Blvd NE
- I Scream Ice Cream at 2000 Carlisle Blvd NE
- Rude Boy Cookies at 1916 Central Ave SE #E
- The Candy Lady at 424 San Felipe St NW
For a full meal you may want to stick with one of the romantic restaurants near you from the date nights section as most should have a lunch menu and they will often be a little cheaper before dinner. That list we just shared is more like brunch spots, healthy bites, cafes, and bakeries or ice cream parlors.
If you are on a budget avoid the St. James Tearoom, they offer a high end British tea experience and it definitely will cost you.
Cheap Date Ideas In Albuquerque
Now we have some quick free or cheap date ideas for Albuquerque, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is excellent and won’t break the bank while the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science only costs $8 to enter.
Remember that Sawmill Market has a lot of bars and cheaper restaurants where you can wine and dine her without putting too much of a strain on your wallet. Sister Bar is another cost effective restaurant but they really only have sandwiches, wraps, and snacks.
A quick trip to El Paso could make for a nice romantic weekend together, or if you are reading this as a single guy you might be able to go hook up with Phoenix women.
We Hope You Have A Great Time Together
You and your partner should have a great local date night together if you go to the right places to set the right mood. Anyone that is single and reading this may want to log on to Adult Friend Finder to find someone to take on a date, or maybe to invite straight over to your place because that site is all about easy hook ups. With that said often times what starts as a quick hook up can lead to more serious dating in your area down the line.
Well guys, you just read about the top romantic restaurants near you along with entertainment venues, outdoor places, museums and art galleries, and some cafes, brunch spots, and sweet shops and should be as ready as ever for what comes next. Hopefully this post on the best things to do on a date in Albuquerque at night or in the daytime has been helpful.
