Albuquerque is known for its fiery cuisine, but once the sun goes down, the club and bar scenes are just as hot as the food, and offer everything from quiet speakeasies with secret passwords and sophisticated drinks to raging heavy metal parties at concert halls and underground DIY venues. Like a mini-version of Austin, Texas, we’ve got music to gratify virtually any sound craving imaginable, and dance clubs spanning the entire metro area. If you’re a country fan, boot scoot over to spots such as Dirty Bourbon (9800 Montgomery Blvd. NE) in the Northeast Heights, or dance till you drop at Effex (420 Central Ave. SW). Effex is a three-story LGBTQ club where locals go to make friends and same-sex connections, but if you cruise Downtown Burque and ask the sexiest, most sharp-dressed people from all walks of life where they’re headed, there’s a good chance it’ll be Effex. It would be negligent not to mention three of the city’s most beloved music venues located right next door to each other at the West end of Route 66: InsideOut (622 Central Ave. SW), Launchpad (618 Central Ave. SW) and the historic El Rey Theater (622 Central Ave SW). They each have their unique perks and quirks and the cluster of party spots has the best local and touring musicians the city has to offer, bar none. For example, InsideOut has no roof – hence the name – because it was destroyed in a fire, but the owner saw a silver lining in that tragedy, and now you can drink and dance under the stars. Launchpad hosts “Night of the Living Cover Bands” every weekend in October, so you can catch the best local acts dressed up and performing as their favorite artists, many of whom have outrageous cult followings. Pro tip: there’s a speakeasy hidden underneath one of the three venues, so you might want to search around for the password and grab a smoky cocktail in that secret basement haunt. And if a little gambling might make your evening exciting, Sandia Resort and Casino on the north edge of town (30 Rainbow Rd.) and Isleta Resort & Casino on the south edge of town (11000 Broadway Blvd. SE) feature games of chance, food and drink and loads of live entertainment to choose from.
