Lana Star
Whimsy Intern
Breaking news, there’s more to Albuquerque than the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! Cafe hopping is one of my favorite ways to get to know a new place while still getting work done (if you work remotely or are a student).
The Cafes are also a great place to go on cute self dates or first dates. They are a perfect casual second space (go-to spot outside of the house).
So, when I moved to Albuquerque I made it my mission to find a perfect go-to cafe for my time here. I was shocked by how cute all of the Albuquerque coffee shops really are. They each have their totally own vibe too so you can definitely find one that suits you best.
13 Insanely Good Albuquerque Cafes You'll Love
Here is the list of my favorite Albuquerque cafes and more about some of their best menu items and the vibe of each!
3123 Central Ave NE
2632 Pennsylvania St NE
Little Bear is definitely one of the local coffee shops here that gets the most press. The first week I was here I had like three different people recommend it to me. They have two locations and both have different vibes but are so cute.
They are both great places to get work done and can also get pretty popular. The location at Nob Hill stays open till 11 on Thursday-Mondays and transitions from a coffee shop to a wine bar so it's a great option if you are more productive in the afternoon/evening which is usually outside of coffee shop hours.
I also love that their dining menu is really simple and not overwhelming but still has enough options. They also only have one size for drinks so you don't have to choose that either!
If you don’t mind crowds, this is a great option and definitely an ABQ staple.
Their location on Pennsylvania St. also has a cute outdoor area with good views of the Sandias. The other location (on Nob Hill) is where the classic “greetings from burque” mural is so don’t forget to stop and take a picture while you’re there!
4200 Lomas Blvd
Humble has an amazing atmosphere and such good vibes! They make their chai and all of their syrups fresh in house and have a food and pastry menu that features delicious local foods. You can even buy local honey.
Plus you can buy some CUTE merch, their slogan is “stay grounded.” I am on a quest to buy one of each of their stickers each time I visit. They have two locations, one downtown and one near the University. I'm a huge fan of the Nob Hill location on lomas blvd. Filled with plants and fairy lights, the decor is so comforting and adorable. Check out their instagram for more of their vibes.
Since I’ve been here a bunch of times I’ve tried a ton of their drinks but I have to say I’m kind of obsessed with the chai with cardamom syrup. It's a great mix of the classic, creamy, comfort chai and the fun spicy chai.
It’s definitely the best chai I’ve found in this town so far. They also have good cold brew for all the coffee lovers! As far as food goes, I LOOVEE the croissant cinnamon rolls, they come in a ton of different flavors and the baklava one was insane.
202 Bryn Mawr Dr SE
1111 Carlisle Blvd SE
Another Albuquerque cafe with two locations (that’s how you know it's good right?) is Michael Thomas Coffee. I went to their location in Nob Hill and was not disappointed. There is such a cute courtyard with ivy covered walls! It was absolutely perfect for a spring afternoon. It’s hard to be upset when you are working surrounded by blooming flowers.
They have super fun seasonal syrups, the rosemary vanilla cold brew was INSANE! There’s also like three other cafes on the same block so if it's too busy there’s other options nearby! The only downside was that the wi-fi wasn’t as easy to find as other cafes. The Nob Hill location is in such a cute place to explore, there’s even a shop with local arts across the street.
1642 Alameda Blvd NW
8405 Montgomery Blvd NE
1131 University Blvd. NE
2300 Central Avenue
7600 Jefferson St NE
Satellite has a bunch of different locations in Albuquerque. It definitely has more of a chain coffee shop vibe which can be great if you are looking for a consistent source of coffee in Albuquerque. You can also order online, making it a great choice for a grab and go coffee spot.
They have their own bakery that delivers pastries to all satellite locations and to flying star cafes.
906 Park Ave SW #3045
Java Joe is definitely one of the best cafes in Albuquerque. It's located downtown and has a cute, hip vibe. There’s a bunch of murals outside and some outside seating.
They also get all their milk and creamer from a local dairy farm and get local produce whenever possible. They have a ton of options for delicious drinks and have amazing food options, including crepes. It's definitely some of the best breakfast in Albuquerque, especially because you can get breakfast served all day!
320 Central Southeast
1050 Rio Grande Blvd NW
4401 Wyoming Blvd NE
10019 Coors Blvd NW
If you are looking for a spot that is more of a restaurant than a coffee shop hangout, check out The Range Cafe. Albuquerque is a great place for New Mexican cuisine, and the range is a great place to try it out. It's among the best restaurants in Albuquerque.
The Range has a ton of super unique meal options like Deviled Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, hollandaise and green onions. Plus made from scratch baked goods and an espresso bar! They also frequently have live music so definitely check out that schedule.
3416 Central SE
8001 Menaul Blvd NE
4026 Rio Grande NW
4501 Juan Tabo NE
8000 Paseo del Norte, Bldg. D
10700 Corrales Rd
One of the best, consistent spots is Flying Star. Albuquerque is a decent sized city and so having a go-to place close to home is so nice. There are 6 different Flying Star locations and so there most likely one close to wherever you are. Each location is a bit different too and is designed to reflect the neighborhood the business is in.
Flying Star is a great place to go for a restaurant/cafe hybrid where you can get amazing food and still stay there for awhile studying.
2111 Church St NW
Another great cafe/restaurant to check out is Church Street Cafe. Albuquerque is known for Old Town, it's such a cute area filled with shops and cafes. Church street is in the middle of Old Town near lots of hotels, making it a perfect spot to refuel while exploring the area.
Church Street is known for their chili salsas!
5809 Juan Tabo Blvd NE UNIT A
Cinnamon Cafe is another great, cute cafe in Nob Hill. Their food is delicious and the cinnamon rolls are absolutely amazing! They have online ordering if you are looking for a quick option.
My favorite part of this cafe is that they have a ton of events including wine tasting and cooking classes.
413 2nd St SW, Albuquerque
Zendo is definitely one of the best coffee shops in Albuquerque. They have amazing coffee and such a cute aesthetic. It’s a great place to go get work done either inside or in the back patio area. They are intentional about making it an art space as well so there’s so many gorgeous prints on the walls and flyers for different local art events.
The whitewashed bricks with tons of plants give it a modern yet cozy vibe great for focusing on an article or catching up with a friend in downtown Albuquerque. I'm not a huge coffee person but their turkish latte was so good and their seasonal ube latte looks so good too!
3732 Eubank Blvd NE
Rust is Gold is a motorcycle themed cafe. I love the vibe and it's surprisingly affordable. I'm also a fan of their merch. They also have moto meetups in the parking lot every fourth Sunday which sounds like quite the event, and they have a racing team.
821 Mountain Rd NW
Okay the vibe of this place is unmatched. It’s in old town Albuquerque and has a perfect feel for the area. They have a coffee roaster in the cafe so it smells absolutely wonderful. They serve up New Mexico flavors with horchata and a red chile chai that is divine. While you’re here make sure to pick up some stickers or even rolling papers. The free wi-fi has a password, but it is posted so is super easy to join and work here.
727 Tijeras Ave NW, Albuquerque
One aspect of this cafe that is so strangely comforting is that the tax is included in the price on the menu. If you’re paying in cash that means no coins!! The lavender matcha I had here was one of my absolute favorite matchas I’ve had recently. They have two locations and their downtown one has an adorable, green mural (to match your matcha!!). They also have online ordering.
Another renowned Albuquerque cafe is Espresso Fino on Gold Ave but they are currently temporarily closed so I wasn’t able to check that spot out. If they are open when you are in abq, definitely check them out for me!
Now that you’ve had a quick online tour of the best Albuquerque cafes, I hope you find the perfect coffee house to be your new coffee home.