Things to Do in Abq Uptown

Catch a rooftop film at Flix Brewhouse

Reclining seats throb with bass during previews. Servers glide, balancing green-chile burgers and house-brewed IPA. Between films, step onto the terrace. City lights flicker below. Far-off fireworks crackle from Isotopes Park.

Sample small-batch gelato at Pop Fizz

The horchata gelato tastes like cinnamon toast. It arrives in a fluorescent papel picado cup that stains fingers. Kids debate Sandia-chamoy or avocado-lime. Mexican Coke bottles clink like bells.

Browse Southwestern indie designers at Park Square Market

Silver concho belts clack against wood tables. Vendors explain how local turquoise gets its chocolate matrix. Tanned leather mixes with mesquite from the candle stall. Chipotle-dusted pecans leave smoky heat.

Kayak the Rio loop at dusk

Push off from the beach near Paseo del Norte. Glide under cottonwoods where cicadas crescendo. Bats flick overhead. The water smells faintly of algae and rain. City lights shimmer like spilled coins.

Take a salsa lesson at Hiland Theater

The sprung wood floor bounces under quick footsteps. Neon bar signs glow through fogged windows. Beginners count one-two-three. The room smells of rosin, cologne, and copper from vintage microphones.

Hyatt Regency Uptown - request a Sandia-facing room for sunrise alpenglow

Marriott Pyramid where the lobby smells faintly of cedar and the pool overlooks I-25

Extended-stay suites on Louisiana for longer digs and kitchenettes

Boutique B&Bs in North Valley, ten minutes west but feels like orchards and acequias

Casitas near Winrock Center if you prefer mid-century neon to chain polish

Budget motels on Menaul - clean, basic, and half the price of anything on Jefferson