Although historic Route 66 spanned the entire state, I’d argue that it’s nowhere more visible in the present day than in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque. Neon-lit motels and diners once lined the street along this stretch of Central Avenue, beckoning travelers to stay awhile; many of their signs still flicker on at night, turning the scene into a postcard of yesteryear. The neighborhood is now packed with some of the best dining experiences New Mexico has to offer, whether for a stylish night out on the town or a gourmet hangover cure the next morning. Here are just a few spots carrying Nob Hill’s torch into the twenty-first century.

Mesa Provisions

Sometimes Albuquerque can feel like a small town, but a restaurant like Mesa Provisions is a reminder that the more cosmopolitan pleasures can be found here—and in a form that’s uniquely of this place. Recently relocated into a large and elegant space right on Central, the restaurant had its start a few blocks farther east in 2021, and quickly garnered attention on the local front and in the larger culinary landscape, with Chef Steve Riley earning a spot on the short list for the 2024 James Beard Awards and again named a semifinalist in 2026.

Riley, an Albuquerque native, has a knack for using ingredients in ways you wouldn’t expect and achieving a result that feels somehow inevitable—as in their perfectly savory smoked beet tostada drizzled with pecan salsa macha, which I expect to start seeing copycats of imminently. If you or your dining companions tend toward the vegetarian end of the spectrum, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the care and originality that goes into their salads and veg dishes; it’s a part of the menu that some fine dining restaurants tend to phone in, but not so at Mesa Provisions. And their desserts are as inventive as the rest of the menu, and as seasonal: In the winter, I ended my dinner with a persimmon cake elegantly dressed in coconut milk icing, lime zest, and black sesame seeds. You’ll likely encounter a very different menu when you visit in spring—but I can guarantee it’ll be just as good.

Teddy Roe’s

The noir-esque delight of slipping into an unmarked door in a back alley and finding a glamorous, dimly lit speakeasy will never grow old for me. Teddy Roe’s has dialed in more than just the aesthetic, though: The bar invisibly tucked into the space behind M’tucci’s Bar Roma makes a mean cocktail too. The menu combines Prohibition-era classics like the Corpse Reviver #2 with more modern takes such as the Witches & the Bees, a lithe mix of chamomile-infused mezcal, Strega liqueur, and rose water. Pair any of them with a dish of their sweet-and-salty fried olives, a perfectly luxurious barroom snack.

The Shop Breakfast & Lunch

The noir-esque delight of slipping into an unmarked door in a back alley and finding a glamorous, dimly lit speakeasy will never grow old for me. Teddy Roe’s has dialed in more than just the aesthetic, though: The bar invisibly tucked into the space behind M’tucci’s Bar Roma makes a mean cocktail too. The menu combines Prohibition-era classics like the Corpse Reviver #2 with more modern takes such as the Witches & the Bees, a lithe mix of chamomile-infused mezcal, Strega liqueur, and rose water. Pair any of them with a dish of their sweet-and-salty fried olives, a perfectly luxurious barroom snack.

This series is brought to you by the New Mexico Tourism Department.