Known for its incredible views, surrounding surreally beautiful landscapes, and of course, being the city where the hit TV series “Breaking Bad” was set, the quirky-cool spot is well worth a visit.
It’s New New Mexico’s largest city starting as a Spanish colony way back in 1706. Make sure you check out the Old Town filled with historic adobe buildings, shops selling Native American handicrafts, and its great museums. Also, make sure you stay somewhere equally as awesome! From intimate boutiques to trendy and modern, here are the best cool and unique hotels in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

- +1 505 242 9090
- 125 2nd Street NW


Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque, Curio Collection By Hilton
Downtown Albuquerque, just a few yards back from the famous Route 66 is the good-looking Hotel Andaluz, constructed in 1939.
The hints of pueblo styling on the outside are continued inside with heavy, carved wood, Spanish arches, and earthen tones mixed cleverly with modern touches creating a soft, calm atmosphere throughout. Guest rooms and suites are spacious, comfortable, and tastefully furnished in similar natural tones to reflect the glorious landscape around Albuquerque.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants on nearby Central Avenue and it’s only a couple of miles to the Old Town for the full street experience of Nuevo México.
In the modern hotel, there’s an excellent tapas restaurant serving locally sourced foods, some very nice alcoves in the lobby for cocktails, and an excellent small rooftop bar for views of the beautiful desert sunset.
Pros
Earthen tones and modern touches
Glorious natural landscape around
Tapas Restaurant with local cuisine
Excellent small rooftop
Cons
Only valet parking
Some noise at night
Hotel Chaco, Old Town
Generally fêted as one of the best hotels in Albuquerque the Hotel Chaco rests just 100 yards north of the Old Town. It is a beautiful minimalist building of different levels, reflecting the glorious rock stacks and mountains in the Rio Grande.
Inside it is frankly exquisite with repeated themes of tactile stone enhanced by stylish furnishings with drizzles of Native American design. Everything has been stunningly curated to produce neat, comfortable, restful spaces. From the smallest room to the biggest suite the design theme continues flawlessly.
The pièce de resistance must be the restaurant on level 5 with fabulous local cuisine consumed against a background of stunning panoramic views of the Rio Grande Valley and Sandia–Manzano Mountains beyond the city. There’s a good fitness center, weekly yoga sessions, and a lovely, big outdoor pool.
Pros
Trendy modern-minimalist design
Full American breakfast daily
Outdoor swimming pool
Quiet and laid-back atmosphere
Cons
No bar service at pool
No on-site restaurant
Hotel Parq Central
In the neighborhood known as Huning Highlands on the eastern side of the city center is Hotel Parq Central. Parq is presumably a reference to the small Highland Park behind the hotel and Central refers to Central Avenue (Route 66) that runs past the front.
With the Pan American Highway passing the eastern side this, like much of Albuquerque, is not a place to stay without transportation of your own; local amenities, like bars, restaurants, and markets are close by but hard to reach on foot. Externally the hotel is a pleasant sandy pueblo-style building with a homely appeal.
Inside it doesn’t disappoint it grows in charm as you uncover the delightful guest rooms, suites, and public spaces all coolly styled in understated, traditional desert tones with an occasional nod to Nuevo México heritage.
Then there’s a lovely relaxing courtyard, a fitness room and outdoor jacuzzi to discover; and finally a truly splendid rooftop bar and bistro plus breakfast to die for.
Pros
Outdoor jacuzzi area
The Apothecary Lounge
Free shuttle service to airport
Cons
Restaurant menu needs variation
Only one elevator
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
On the edge of Albuquerque Old Town is the imaginatively named Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town with its high pueblo-style tower and jagged balconies dominating the skyline. Not the greatest-looking exterior, but the interior is cleverly styled to create a cavernous central atrium in a Native American/Mexican style, which continues into comfortable open courtyards.
The public spaces are big, yet warm and homely, with a welcoming ranch atmosphere. The rooms and suites continue the theme with interesting unpretentious furnishings and warm earth tones. There’s a very good outdoor, seasonal swimming pool and jetted hot tub, and a nice patio restaurant serving the famous, traditional local cuisine.
It’s a very short distance to the historic Old Town, founded in 1706, now the center of Albuquerque’s cultural district, with numerous museums, shops, galleries, and restaurants, and just across the street from the trendy Sawmill Market with its many cafés, restaurants, and small shops. Overall, this is a good hotel in a great location.
Pros
On-site gourmet dining
Stylish QBar and historic landmark-turned nightclub
Jetted hot tub
Near the Old Town
Cons
Rooms need better soundproofing
No breakfast included
Isleta Resort & Casino
Twelve miles to the south of Albuquerque, the Isleta Resort & Casino is a self-contained resort complex aimed at guests who intend to stay on-site for the duration. There’s golfing, gambling, swimming, bowling, billiards, a music theatre, bars, shopping, a spa, and, of course, plenty of eating options.
There’s even an entire section of the estate for recreational vehicles to park up and camp. The resort towers above its surroundings like a colorful glass and Lego pastiche of quirky shapes and attractive blocks impressing, but not overwhelming, the visitor.
It is presented as a bright palace of fun throughout the shared areas, with 201 subdued, simple guest rooms and suites in restful beige and brown to add calm after a full day of fun. Overall, an excellent, polished resort suitable for singles, couples, families, and even people who don’t like resorts.
Pros
On-site music theater
Plenty of eating options
Recreational vehicle park
Bright interior design of rooms
Cons
Furnishings need upgrades
Late check-in times
Bathrooms need better lighting
Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn
A converted 1930s collection of artists’ casitas in a beautiful adobe-style compound on the edge of Albuquerque Old Town – this is not your standard hotel. Set amid exquisitely tended gardens and architectural delights, that hit you as soon as you arrive, this is a fabulously quirky collection of rooms offering an almost traditional cultural experience with a few mod-cons shoe-horned in.
The twenty casitas vary in size, all have separate seating areas or rooms, and some have indoor hot tubs and private patios. Everywhere is furnished in comfortable New Mexico designs and styles with a mix of Spanish and Native American influences.
Casas de Suenos has a great breakfast and is only a few blocks from the museums, arts centers, and Old Town Plaza shopping district, with alfresco dining at one of the many restaurants.
It’s the perfect location for a stroll through the Old Town Historic District, or just relax in the beautiful garden compound with its unique architectural art and gazebo. Worth a visit if you want something different.
Pros
Adobe-styled beautiful artists’ casitas
Hot tubs and private patios
New Mexico and Spanish design
Beautiful garden compound
Cons
Some bathrooms need a bit of updating
High beds
Nativo Lodge, Academy Acres
Eight miles north of Downtown, between a residential neighborhood and industrial estate is the Nativo Lodge, overlooking a major intersection of the Pan American Highway.
Many of the rooms and suites have balconies, those at the rear have views of the mountains and get some protection from the noise of the highway.
Everywhere is presented in vibrant pseudo-native styles, and many of the rooms have been decorated by Native American artists to produce a particularly unique experience. There is no restaurant on-site, but there is an exaggerated lobby bar with a few snacks and a small fitness area with a nice indoor-outdoor pool and hot tub.
There’s plenty of modern native art dotted around to create a contemporary feeling and demonstrate that the culture is current. There is even a tepee in the grounds with seating.
Pros
Decorated by Native American artists
Teepee in the grounds with seating
Indoor-outdoor pool with hot tub
Cons
No on-site restaurant
No complimentary breakfast
Needs some refurbishment
Painted Lady Bed & Brew, Wells Park
On the northern edge of Downtown, around 1½ miles from the Old Town with plenty of bars and restaurants in between, is the unique Painted Lady Bed & Brew.
Originally built around 1881 as a brothel, it now hosts a row of spacious suites decorated in quirky eclectic styles which adjoin a shared terrace with a cozy, community feeling.
Each early evening has a “hoppy hour” of beer tasting around an eccentric trolley bus on the grounds before guests head out to pick from the myriad of local restaurants and breweries.
A unique establishment that needs to be savored. Painted Lady Bed & Brew has no fitness center, no pool, no breakfast buffet or valet parking; but it does have tons of charm, character, and originality that creates a truly original, unforgettable experience.
Pros
Quirky eclectic style
Cozy and comfortable shared terrace
Eccentric trolley-bus tour
Detail-oriented historic charm
Cons
No fitness center
No swimming pool
The nightlife is not vibrant
Red Horse Bed and Breakfast, South Valley
On the western side of the Rio Grande lies the significantly more rural Albuquerque town of South Valley with Red Horse Bed and Breakfast nestling on its oasis of farmland. Part vineyard, part organic farming, some livestock, a ceramic workshop, and an art studio sit comfortably alongside the four guest suites of accommodation.
There’s a small pool, plenty of recreational areas, a gift shop, and lots of opportunities to participate in farming life take classes on this historic smallholding, or just relax in the shade of cottonwood trees.
It’s less than 6 miles from the heart of Downtown and Old Town Albuquerque but feels like an entirely different world away from the city streets.
The suites are individually and traditionally styled with charming, homely furnishings and each has a private patio where breakfast is served each morning. Red Horse Bed and Breakfast will even provide lunch and dinner if requested, using their fresh organic produce. What’s not to love?
Pros
Located along the Rio Grande
On-site farm with friendly animals
Great breakfast with Full English/Irish and American options
Ceramic workshops on-site
Cons
No indoor pools
Not for lovers of modernity
Far from Downtown Albuquerque
Monterey Motel, Old Town
Bordered by the iconic Route 66 on one side and the Rio Grande on the other, the West Park neighborhood is a small green pocket in the heart of Albuquerque; home to the Country Club, BioPark, public gardens, lakes, and many hiking trails along the banks of the river. Monterey Motel is uniquely placed equidistant between the culture of the Old Town and the nature of the Rio Grande.
A smart-looking motel that retains the spirit of classic accommodation, but with an upgraded, tasteful edge. The rooms, suites, and shared spaces are impressively decorated in a modern take on simple New Mexico style, using earth tones and Native American designs to produce a welcoming feel everywhere.
There’s a lovely small pool and a good bar serving local cocktails and spirits, and it’s an easy 10-minute walk to the restaurants, bars, and museums of Old Town. Highly recommended as somewhere that will change your perception of motels forever.
Pros
Tasteful New Mexico style
Beautiful small swimming pool
Nicely remodeled
Cons
Limited staff overnight
Spotty internet
Hyatt Place Albuquerque Uptown
Halfway between the Sandia Mountains and the city center in the small neighborhood known as Uptown is Hyatt Place Albuquerque Uptown. The district is largely composed of shopping malls and drive-thru’s only accessible by car, which is a necessity as it’s 8 miles from Downtown.
Externally the hotel is a safe replica of most out-of-town 1990s utilitarian buildings. Inside traditional Hyatt corporate design abounds with plenty of dark wood and beige carpeting. Recent refurbishment has added yards of grey bouclé to spice up the décor and create a feeling of being in a Hyatt.
Rooms and suites are similarly styled with the familiar dark wood, grey and beige, and large windows with views across the parking lots to the mountains or city beyond.
There is a fitness center, a small outdoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and plenty of meeting rooms. Everything you would expect to find at a corporate business hotel anywhere in the world.
Pros
Lively outdoor swimming pool
Well-equipped fitness center
Dark corporate design interiors
Close to shopping malls
Cons
Limited selection of breakfast
The bathrooms are small
Small parking lot
Sandia Peak Inn – Albuquerque
Just across the Rio Grande in Atrisco on the famous Route 66 is the peculiar budget-range Sandia Peak Inn.
Nowhere near the peaks of Sandia, but probably visible in the distance if you stood on the roof, this odd, red-colored motel features uncomfortable painted statues and a fountain to greet you in the car park.
A traditional US two-story motel around a courtyard of car parking with laundry facilities and a sometimes-open indoor pool, all at genuinely affordable prices – because it’s not the nicest neighborhood in Albuquerque. The place was presumably furnished and decorated before the millennium in a mixed brocante style (which could not be described as eccentric or eclectic) and is hopefully due for refurbishment sometime soon.
For such good value accommodation, it’s very well located with the Old Town, Downtown, and parks along the Rio Grande, all less than 2 miles away. Probably the closest you can find to a genuine road-trip motel.
Pros
Year-round indoor pool
Electrical vehicle charging station
Mixed old style furnishings
Close to Old Town
Cons
A little renovation is needed
Not ultra-luxurious
Top 12 Hotels in Albuquerque Compared
The table compares the top 12 cool and unique hotels in Albuquerque. The table offers comprehensive information regarding the hotel’s location, fitness facilities, price range, proximity to attractions, and nearby dining options, granting you the freedom to structure it according to your preferences:
Hotel Name Location Price Range (per night) Fitness Facilities Distance to Attractions (km) Nearby Restaurants
Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque, Curio Collection By Hilton 125 2nd St. NW $249-$352 No 2.8 3
Hotel Chaco, Old Town 2000 Bellamah Avenue Northwest $329-$532 No 2.6 3
Hotel Parq Central 806 Central Avenue South East $213 Yes 3.1 2
Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town 800 Rio Grande Boulevard Northwest $253-$311 Yes 2.6 3
Isleta Resort & Casino 11000 Broadway Southeas $186-$229 Yes 16.0 3
Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn 310 Rio Grande Boulevard South West $223-$283 No 3.0 3
Nativo Lodge, Academy Acres 6000 Pan American Freeway NE $159-$229 No 10.0 2
Painted Lady Bed & Brew, Wells Park 1100 Bellamah Avenue Northwest $478 No 2.5 1
Red Horse Bed and Breakfast, South Valley 2155 Londene Lane SW $373 No
8.0 3
Monterey Motel, Old Town 2402 Central Ave SW $248-$420 No 0.95 3
Hyatt Place Albuquerque Uptown 6901 Arvada Avenue Northeast $301-$471 Yes 9.0 3
Sandia Peak Inn 4614 Central Avenue Southwest $162-$324 Yes 2.6 3

Michael Cowley – writer and photographer
Ever since he was knee-high to a grasshopper Michael has always had an affinity for adventure. Growing up he was lucky enough to live in a handful of exotic far flung locations including Hong Kong, Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania and since then he’s continued seeking out new places and cultures. In his spare time he explores everywhere from the sizzling street markets in Bangkok to random back alleys in Sri Lanka and everything in between! He also has a special fondness for Cohibas, trying all kinds of street food, playing carrom with random strangers, and fine wine – he knows his clarets from his chiantis. He counts Cuba, Amsterdam, Indonesia, Goa, Cambodia and Italy as his favourite destinations. Find Michael on Instagram or Twitter.
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