The Appeal of Albuquerque, New Mexico to LGBTQ+ Travelers
Sometimes the best destinations for queer travelers are the smaller cities or towns that are not immediately top of mind. I’ve had great, welcoming experiences not in just San Francisco and New York, but in more surprising places like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Providence, Rhode Island. Well, LGBTQ+ travelers should add Albuquerque to that list, with its great cuisine, picturesque mountains, inexpensive prices, and plenty of queer-owned businesses.
We visited the city during its Balloon Fiesta, an annual event that celebrates the city’s place as the preeminent hot air balloon launch point in the country, if not the world. In October, hundreds of balloonists converge on the city for more than a week. The experience of seeing some 500 hot air balloons lifting in the predawn sky is one you aren’t likely to forget; we found it mesmerizing.
Great Eats
The star of the cuisine in New Mexico is undoubtedly the green chile. Order an enchilada or burrito here, and most restaurants will ask you whether you want green, red, or “Christmas” on top––“Christmas” means you want both red and green. I went for the green at Queer-owned The Range Café, a 10-minute walk from our hotel. The Range is a local staple and serves delicious diner-style food —it’s located right on historic Route 66, what would you expect? Plus, it’s well known for its incredible selection of desserts, so hold back a bit on those chiles.
We also loved Campo at Los Poblanos, an organic farm just north of town that makes its own gin and infuses its lavender into many of its farm-to-fork dishes. Make sure you pick up the gift shop’s lavender skin lotion. It’s incredible. Another worthwhile meal is had by venturing to Duran’s Central Pharmacy, which is a famed local breakfast and brunch joint. Bring your appetite for this place!
And if wine is more your speed, head to beautiful Old Town Albuquerque for Sheehan Winery’s tasting room, where you can personalize your tasting, choosing six wines from a collection of more than 20 white, rosé, and red varietals. Our favorites were the Cinsault Rosé, the Aglinico, the Syrah, and the Oillphéist.
Queer Friendly and Growing
We stayed in a lovely LGBTQ-owned property that overlooks downtown, the Hotel Parq Central. Rumored to be haunted, the hotel has large rooms and a hopping rooftop lounge with a great view of the city. There’s also a complimentary airport shuttle here, as well as an onsite fitness facility, and jacuzzi.
On the west side of downtown Albuquerque, 516 ARTS is a non-collecting contemporary arts museum that focuses on diverse audiences. We really enjoyed the current exhibit (through December 30), “Fluid Gaze.” This collection celebrates 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and features artists who use everything from textiles to beaded garments to performances. There’s also an immersive virtual reality piece that reimagines the inside of a death row cell occupied by a queer inmate.
LGBTQ+-Owned Businesses
Albuquerque also has several LGBTQ+-owned businesses such as the Vintage Vault antique shop, Dry Heat Comedy Club, and El Cuervo Bed & Breakfast. And you can eat your way through more queer-owned food spots, like Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., Smokin’ Fred’s 46A Smokehouse, the Tomboy Taco food truck, Wing It Up, and even Pink Pony Soft Serve ice cream.
Albuquerque Bars & Clubs
Effex Nightclub and Sidewinders Bar & Grill are the two main gay bars in town. We spent the evening at Sidewinders after consulting with a few locals. We found it to have a diverse audience that was very friendly and willing to chat. There’s also a good amount of outdoor seating here, and every third Thursday, the club hosts a Pup Mosh from 7 to 11 pm.
One local we spoke with said that after moving to Albuquerque, Sidewinders has been their lifeline — and the most welcoming place they’d encountered in town. We heard over and over how much the city was growing because Californians and other people from other states were looking for reasonable weather, low cost of living, and tech jobs at places like Sandia National Laboratory. All factors that seem to have a positive impact on the city’s future.
The evening was full of generous drinks, as well as loud music pumped out by the DJ, and the patrons soon filled the dance floor space. With a friendly, growing local scene like this, we can’t wait to come back to New Mexico.
Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out the Visit Albuquerque website for more information to help plan a queer-friendly trip.
