Best Nightlife in Albuquerque

Sandia Resort and Casino, standing alone in its splendor, on the Sandia Pueblo reservation, with the Sandia Mountains as its backdrop, has widespread musical entertainment along with its casino and top notch dining. Just in front of the resort is the outdoor amphitheatre, which draws in big name artists for summer concerts. Inside, top notch live bands liven up the casino's main floor, playing great dance music. This sectioned off bar and dance floor can get crowded and lines can accumulate, so get there early on a Saturday night. Outside by the pool in the summer there are sometimes steel drums to fill the air. Upstairs on the 9th floor is the Bien Shur lounge, with stunning wrap around views of the mountains to the east and the city's landscape to the west. Pop and jazz bands play on the weekends and it is easier to get a table here than downstairs. There is a bar food menu here.

This comfortable neighborhood bar has been a favorite Nob Hill hangout for years and it's no secret why – friendly staff, laid-back atmosphere, long hours, good prices and a good selection of beers, spirits and pub grub. Great service and arguably the best burgers in Albuquerque!

Turtle Mountain is in Rio Rancho, just north of Albuquerque, and worth the drive. There are always the brewery's award-winning beers on tap, and many others from around the state, as well as national and international beers. The food is almost as good as the beer, and the variety of wood-oven pizzas will make it hard to make up your mind. Large TVs are usually tuned to sports, including soccer, but it's also a great place for busy, loud conversation. TMBC is the end result of way too much dreaming (and drinking) on the part of the proprietor, Nico Ortiz. Starting with a student exchange to Germany when he was 16, he has dedicated his life to the pursuit of good beer. This brewpub is the culmination of over two decades of "market research" in hundreds of restaurants, bars, brewpubs, breweries, garages, and beer festivals all over the world. The name "Turtle Mountain" comes from the Tewa name for Sandia Peak. Alfonso Ortiz (Nico's late father) was born and raised at Oke Owingeh, north of Espanola, and one of six Pueblos that speak Tewa. Nico's father's Indian name was "Oku Pin," which translates as "Turtle Mountain." As a tribute to his father, who provided the inspirational and financial means to open the pub, Nico named it Turtle Mountain Brewing Company.

Marble Brewery is a production brewery with an on-site tasting room and outdoor beer garden located in downtown Albuquerque. Marble Brewery offers a line up of seven house beers and a variety of seasonal styles in draft and bottle. The attached pub has 10 beers on tap and a 40-foot long bar that looks into the brewery. Sandwich menu is available.

Two-level local bar downtown, nicely on the divey side in a hipster kind of way. Pool tables, dark lighting, $2 PBRs. Free pool and on Thurdays all beer and well drinks are $2.75. Open until 2 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and midnight on Sundays.

Kellys Brew Pub, housed in the historic Jones Motor Company, is a great summertime hangout, as the large patio has a very relaxing feel and being popular with the younger college crowd, it is always hopping. A sports bar and place to play pool inside and a relaxing patio outside, it's got everything, including an extensive menu. You'll find appetizers, wraps, burgers, sandwiches and more. Plus you have the wide selection of the beers brewed on site. You can even make reservations to come and brew your own beer. Enjoy the old signage and decor that was kept from the original building.

Laid-back, friendly bar where you'll see bikers sitting next to business guys in suits. The bar menu is fairly standard, but the waitstaff and bartenders are welcoming and the beer selection is impressive. Lot's of TVs tuned to sports, darts, pool tables, smoking room, nice wrap-around bar (it is indeed long) and outdoor patio.

If you're into local dives, this is the place. The seats are torn, the floor is sticky and the music is live and loud. Some of the best live music in the Southwest is performed here, an eclectic mix of cowpunk/alternative. The crowd looks rough with lots of tattoos and piercings, but the vibe is friendly and laid back.

Apothecary Lounge is worth a visit for the view alone. Perched on the roof of Hotel Parq Central, Apothecary Lounge offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Sandia Mountains, downtown skyline and New Mexico's famous sunsets from its heated patio. Inside, the bar glitters with vintage apothecary bottles. Cocktails served are from Prohibition Area, making this one of the swankiest speakeasies you'll ever visit. Craft beers and fine wine is served as well, and the menu items (while not cheap) are gourmet. Perfect for a date, and better if you get a room below so you don't have to leave.

Voted "Albuquerque's Best Happy Hour" venue 3 years in a row and "Best Ladies Night Out," and now " Best Lounge" and "Best Bachelorette Party Location," this multi-venue bar is Albuquerque's most sophisticated and upscale nightspot. Offering a piano lounge, extensive wine list, media and billiards room, QBar provides a series of intimate spaces for conversation and a variety of entertainment. Great for an upscale night on the town.