Albuquerque Surprised Me: Petroglyphs, Green Chile, Old Town, and One Overhyped Stop
A solo trip through Albuquerque’s desert scenery, Old Town charm, New Mexican food, and one famous restaurant that did not live up to the hype.
I came in during Valentine’s Day weekend in February looking to check off New Mexico, get a good hike in, see the desert scenery, and experience a real taste of the American Southwest. I was already drawn to this part of the country before the trip, and Albuquerque definitely delivered on the views, the petroglyphs, the Sandia Mountains, and the New Mexican food.
But I’m going to be honest: my first impression of the city itself was not amazing.
There were parts of Albuquerque, especially around my hotel, that had some serious urban decay. That does not mean the entire city felt that way, but it was noticeable enough that it shaped my first impression. Albuquerque was quirky, scenic, rough around the edges, and beautiful all at the same time.
That is what made this trip interesting.
It was not a perfect city for me, but it gave me exactly what I came for: desert landscapes, a peaceful hike, historic Old Town, and one of the best burritos I’ve had in years.
First Impression of Albuquerque
I flew into Albuquerque on American and got upgraded to first class, which was a nice way to start the trip.
The Albuquerque International Sunport ended up being one of the more unique airports I’ve visited. It is easy to get in and out of, it has one main terminal, and from inside the airport you can see the Sandia Mountains through the windows. It immediately gives you that desert Pueblo-style feel, and it felt different from any other city I had visited on this journey.
That part of Albuquerque impressed me right away.
The city itself was more complicated.
Once I got out into the urban areas, especially near where I stayed, Albuquerque felt more underwhelming at first. There were parts that looked worn down, and it did not have the same welcoming feeling I got in places like Atlanta or Denver.
Still, the scenery was there immediately. The Sandia Mountains tower over the city, and the desert landscape gives Albuquerque a look and feel that is hard to confuse with anywhere else.
Where I Stayed in Albuquerque
I stayed at a SpringHill Suites off Central Avenue.
The hotel itself was fairly new, but the area around it was not what I expected based on how it looked online. There was homelessness nearby, a sketchy motel down the street, and the general area did not feel like somewhere I would recommend to a first-time visitor.
This is one of those travel lessons where the hotel can be fine, but the surrounding area matters just as much.
If I were visiting Albuquerque again, I would be more careful about where I stayed. I would not recommend staying along that stretch of Central Avenue if it is your first time in the city.
And yes, this is one of those moments where my Hilton loyalty started making even more sense to me, but that is a story for another post.
Frontier Restaurant Was a Letdown
After getting settled into the hotel, I went to Frontier Restaurant for lunch.
Frontier is one of the most well-known restaurants in Albuquerque, so I had pretty high hopes going in. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype for me.
I ordered the green chile omelet and a Frontier sweet roll. The omelet was disappointing, and the sweet roll honestly tasted like something that had been warmed up in a microwave. I know that’s blunt, but that was my honest reaction.
The layout also made the experience more frustrating. Even though I was by myself and it was only mid-morning, I had a hard time finding seating.
I can understand why Frontier has a reputation. It has that college-town, casual, inexpensive, local institution kind of feel. If that is your thing, maybe you would enjoy it more than I did.
But for me, it was not memorable in the way I hoped it would be.
At that point, I was almost ready to write off Albuquerque’s food scene.
Thankfully, Old Town changed that later.
Petroglyph National Monument Was the Highlight
After Frontier, I headed to Petroglyph National Monument, and this is where Albuquerque really started to shine for me.
Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in North America, with more than 25,000 images carved into volcanic rocks along Albuquerque’s West Mesa escarpment. The monument was established in 1990 and is managed by the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division.
That context matters because this is not just a place with pretty views. It is a historic and culturally significant landscape. The petroglyphs were carved into dark volcanic boulders, and many are connected to the ancestors of modern Pueblo people and other Native communities in the region.
I hiked the Boca Negra Canyon area, specifically the Macaw Trail and Mesa Point Trail
This was my first major hike with an elevation gain of around 100 feet, and honestly, it was a turning point for me. This was the moment where I really started to realize that I love national parks, national monuments, and hiking.
The hike was not just about checking off a place. It was peaceful. I was able to reflect, clear my head, and just be outside with the landscape.
The views were incredible.
From Mesa Point, you get these wide-open views of Albuquerque, the desert, and the Sandia Mountains rising over the city. It gave me that exact Southwest feeling I came for. The city may have underwhelmed me at first, but Petroglyph National Monument reminded me why I wanted to visit New Mexico in the first place.
This was easily the highlight of the trip.
Old Town Albuquerque Turned the Trip Around
Later that evening, I headed to Old Town Albuquerque.
Old Town was one of the better parts of the trip. It had that historic Southwest feel, with adobe-style buildings, quiet streets, shops, restaurants, and the central plaza area.
One thing that surprised me was how many restaurants and businesses were closed on Valentine’s Day evening. For a tourism-heavy area, I expected more places to be open later, especially on a night when people would be out. That part was strange.
But overall, Old Town gave me more of what I was hoping to feel in Albuquerque.
I visited San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church, one of the most important historic landmarks in Old Town. The original parish dates back to Albuquerque’s founding era in 1706, and the present church building was constructed in 1793 after the earlier church collapsed. Today, it remains one of the defining landmarks of Old Town Albuquerque.
Seeing a place like that gave Old Town more depth. It was not just a tourist area. There was real history there.
Church Street Cafe Saved Albuquerque’s Food Scene for Me
After walking around Old Town, I found Church Street Cafe just a block away from San Felipe de Neri.
This is where the Albuquerque food scene completely turned around for me.
I had one of the best burritos I’ve had in years, topped with authentic New Mexican red and green chile, served with rice and beans. After the letdown at Frontier Restaurant earlier in the day, this was exactly the kind of meal I was hoping for in New Mexico.
The service was outstanding, and there was a live mariachi band playing while everyone was eating. That made the whole experience feel even more memorable.
I also had sopapillas, which were good too.
Church Street Cafe had the atmosphere, the food, the service, and the location. It felt like the kind of restaurant you hope to stumble into when you are traveling.
If someone asked me where to eat in Albuquerque based on my trip, Church Street Cafe would be my first recommendation.
For me, it was a must-visit.
What Albuquerque Felt Like
Albuquerque was not the friendliest city I have visited so far.
On the trails, people were lovely. But outside of that, locals did not really go out of their way to be warm or welcoming in the way I experienced in Atlanta or Denver.
That does not mean people were rude. It just did not have the same immediate friendliness.
The city itself felt very Southwestern, but also rough around the edges. There were beautiful parts, historic parts, quirky parts, and parts that honestly made me question where I was staying.
That is the truth of the trip.
Albuquerque was not polished. It was not one of those cities that immediately won me over from the street level. But when I got out into the landscape, hiked at Petroglyph National Monument, saw the Sandia Mountains, and spent time in Old Town, I started to understand what makes it special.
This city is at its best when you lean into the desert, the history, the food, and the scenery.
Would I Go Back to Albuquerque?
Overall, I enjoyed my time in Albuquerque because I got what I came for.
I wanted scenery, hiking, petroglyphs, mountains, and a taste of New Mexico. Albuquerque delivered on that
.
Would I rush back immediately? Probably not.
It would likely be some time before I returned, but I would love to come back for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. That feels like the kind of event that could show the city in a completely different way.
I also think Albuquerque could be better as part of a bigger New Mexico trip, maybe combined with Santa Fe, more hiking, or more time exploring the Sandia Mountains.
Final Thoughts on Albuquerque
Albuquerque is not for everyone, but it is definitely interesting.
It is a city with desert beauty, historic roots, strong New Mexican food, and some rough edges. My first impression was honestly underwhelming, but the trip improved the more I got outside and the more I leaned into what makes New Mexico different.
Petroglyph National Monument was peaceful and memorable. Old Town gave the city more charm and history. Church Street Cafe saved the food scene for me. The Sandia Mountains made the whole city feel more dramatic.
This trip also helped me realize something important about how I travel.
I love being outside. I love hiking. I love national parks and monuments. I love places where the landscape feels like part of the story.
And Albuquerque gave me that.
It may not have been my favorite city overall, but it deepened my love for the American Southwest.
And if you follow Mike On The Move long enough, you are definitely going to see more of that.
Currently: 23 out of 50 states complete. 🇺🇸
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I’m currently 23 states into my goal of visiting all 50 U.S. states, documenting the real experience along the way—food, cities, hikes, hidden gems, and what’s actually worth your time.
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ABQ gets better every time you visit it. There’s a lot to love even though it’s rough around the edges!
I moved to ABQ for a year during covid and it was chock full of unexpected, delightful surprises!