3 Best Restaurants in Albuquerque, New Mexico

With pink light rising on the Sandias and lavender fields aglow, dining at Los Poblanos—its menu wholly committed to finely prepared dishes made from organic and locally sourced ingredients—can be a transcendent experience thanks to the pastoral setting of Albuquerque’s historic North Valley. The seasonal menu is a tantalizing mix of distinctive farm-to-table flavors crossed with Southwestern cooking traditions that together have been become the basis for Rio Grande Valley cuisine. Start with tangy sweet potato pierogi, then move on to a superb field or lemon za'atar salad, then the braised lamb birria, beet risotto, or a special tamale adovada. Or try one of the house-made pastas (carrot cavatelli is a favorite, and, as with most dishes here, they will always accommodate non-meat-eaters with a wholly satisfying variation). Wine, spirits, and microbrew selections, local and regional, are well-chosen. Campo ("field" in Spanish) diners enter its high-ceilinged open space—brilliantly transformed from a one-time dairy barn building—through the charmingly tiled and whimsically lit Bar Campo; dining outdoors is a treat as well since the weather here cooperates just about year-round. Find a somewhat smaller menu at the bar, or come for a memorable breakfast or brunch throughout the week.

This traditional adobe eatery features New Mexican--style family recipes, which happily feed streams of hungry tourists. Locals, too, are drawn here, especially for the alfresco dining in the lovely courtyard (and in the mosaic-bedazzled great room looking out to it), amid trellises of sweet grapes and flowers, and further enhanced by the occasional accompaniment of a classical and flamenco guitarist. Buttery guacamole, with just a bit of bite, is the perfect appetizer to prep one's palate for the tender carne asada main. Try the house specialty, chile rellenos stuffed with pork and cheese, or a portobello-and-bell-pepper fajita. Traditional desserts and hearty breakfast choices are also offered.

A local standby for any meal, the Range Café has a high comfort quotient with hearty dishes like their blue corn or fresh spinach enchiladas with black beans and arroz verde, biscuits and gravy, burgers, and the generously plated salmon-berry salad. Breakfast, served until 3 pm, has fans for its house-made green-chile turkey sausage and huevos rancheros. The food is fresh and well made, with dessert options heavy on pie and cakes. The Old Town–area outpost (like its other locations around town) takes its cues from the still-supreme Bernalillo original, with road trip–inspired decor, local art, and comfy booths.