First Plaza Galeria is one of Albuquerque's best kept secrets. Discovering this upscale shopping center, while strolling through the underground parking facilities of the Downtown area, can be somewhat of a surprise. Located beneath the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau offices, you can get in some shopping in the fancy art galleries or fine clothiers, dine in one of the restaurants, or plan your next vacation at the travel agency. The atmosphere is bright and elegant, and the shopkeepers' association strives to maintain a reputation of quality service and merchandise.
This two-story mall is an up-to-date and comfortable place to shop and people-watch. A food court decorated with a lot of neon offers national chains along side a few local fast food eateries. Here you will also find shoe shops, sports and novelty shops, Macy's, JC Penney, Sears and other specialty shops. This has been a favorite shopping center for decades it has been well maintained and has undergone frequent renovations.
ABQ Uptown brought an upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment experience to Northeastern Albuquerque. This area includes urban loft apartments, several restaurants, a Trader Joe's grocery store, and retail favorites like Anthropologie, Coldwater Creek, MAC Cosmetics, Apple, and Pottery Barn. The pleasant landscaping of the area also makes it a nice place to stroll when the weather is warm, and with an underground parking garage right beneath the shopping area, you shouldn't have to walk far when it's cold out. Moreover, you can spot ABQ Uptown by the big neon "Q" sign at the corner of Uptown and Q Street.
Give yourself the better portion of a day to visit Cottonwood Mall, New Mexico's largest indoor shopping mall. With as many as three shopping levels, this mall harbors just about everything you need. Anchored on one end by J.C. Penny's and on the other by multi-screen Starport theater, it will take some time to see it all. Strategically positioned in the center of it all is a huge, upstairs food court that looks up at an upside-down landscape and skyscapers of Albuquerque.