The Best Restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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The Duke City has long been a place for hearty home-style cooking in big portions, and to this day it's easy to find great steak-and-chops houses, retro diners, and authentic New Mexican restaurants. The trick is finding them amid Albuquerque's miles of chain options and legions of dives, but if you look, you'll be rewarded with innovative food, and generally at prices much lower than in Santa Fe or other major Southwestern cities.

In Nob Hill, Downtown, and Old Town many notable new restaurants have opened, offering swank decor and complex and artful variations on modern Southwest, Mediterranean, Asian, and other globally inspired cuisine. A significant Vietnamese population has made that cuisine a star, but Indian, Japanese, Thai, and South American traditions all have a presence, making this New Mexico's best destination for ethnic fare.

Farina Pizzeria & Wine Bar

$$ Fodor's choice

A stellar spot for truly artisanal thin-crust pizza, Farina draws loyal crowds inside an old-school former EDo grocery store with hardwood floors, exposed-brick walls, a pressed-tin ceiling, and simple rows of wooden tables along with a long, inviting bar. This spirited place serves up exceptional pizzas with tastily charred crusts and imaginative toppings; the Salsiccia, with sweet-fennel sausage, roasted onions, and mozzarella, has plenty of fans. Start with a satisfying caprese salad or antipasti, finish with rich butterscotch budino (Italian pudding), and take note of the extensive, fair-priced list of local craft beers and wines by the glass.

510 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, USA
505-243–0130
Known For
  • Award-winning pizza and Italian favorites
  • Contemporary art-filled atmosphere
  • Creative pizza toppings
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.

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