Plus appréciés Shopping à Albuquerque

The historic Nob Hill area along Central Avenue (Route 66) in Albuquerque's university area is home to a recently revitalized community of local boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and bars. Some local favorites include Papers!, a stationary and art supply store, Beeps, a novelty gift store, and the Flying Saucer, one of the city's best coffee shop cafes. Visitors to the area will also find plenty of antique shopping, bookstores, and specialty shops selling everything from yarn to groceries. Many of the local restaurants and bars host live music events, and each year in December, the district puts on a Shop & Stroll holiday entertainment event.

Bookworks is a bookstore with an excellent selection, but it is also much, much more. Somehow this small independent store manages to sell almost anything you might be after, while remaining cozy and manageable. There are quality notebooks, calendars, diaries, day planners, cards, magazines, fridge magnets, mugs and humorous gifts. A unique selection of CDs are stocked, and concert tickets may be purchased in advance here, often cheaper than at the door. Both famous and unknown authors regularly hold readings, signings and question and answer sessions. A fire burns in the fireplace throughout the winter and store encourages the visitor to linger and browse.

Layer by layer, history unravels itself in the charming Old Town Albuquerque. A locus of the city's cultural, architectural and historic tenor, Old Town has been the focal point of community life since 1706. The winding alleys of this neighborhood are dotted with traditional houses awash in lovely Pueblo-Spanish architectural influences. This quaint quarter was laid out in the quintessential colonial way, and is home to a string of notable landmarks which attest to the quarter's historical and cultural importance, for example the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, the historic San Felipe de Neri Church and the Plaza, which is perhaps the cultural and communal nucleus of Old Town. Here, wrought iron and adobe bancos (benches) rest under the shade of the plaza, offering a respite from the usually balmy weather year round. Unique items from around the world, as well as those distinctively Southwestern are sold in an array of quirky shops and boutiques. Soaked in old-world charm, Old Town is a part of the city, which can never be forgotten.

You will find a treasure chest full of traditional and contemporary Native American jewelry at Bien Mur Indian Market Center store. Owned by the Sandia Pueblo, this shop is full of exquisite works of art that comes directly from the Indian artists to this market. The pottery, Kachinas, rugs and fetishes are masterfully created and designed with respect to the rich, traditional pueblo influence. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful in insuring customer's satisfaction in quality and service.

Located behind San Felipe de Neri Church, this delightful shop is five connected rooms filled with beautifully crafted gift items, all made by senior citizens. The non-profit Assistance League of Albuquerque operates the Blue Portal, which has generated over a million dollars for community programs since it opened in 1985. It is not charity, however, that prompts the visitor to buy, but the beauty and craftsmanship of the pottery, wood sculptures, quilts and other products on display. A warm and enthusiastic welcome from the volunteer sales associate is part of the package.

Since 1946 this store has been the leader in men's and women's head wear, offering custom fitting, accessories, cleaning and hat blocking. Choose from straw hats and Greek Fishermen's hats, Kangol Caps and French and English Barrettes, and of course cowboy hats. People in New Mexico know if they are looking for a cowboy hat this is the place to go. This shop is easy to find. Located in downtown Man's Hat Shop sits on the world-renowned Route 66.