Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Albuquerque
The word brunch first appeared in a 1895 issue of "Hunter's Weekly," according to the . In the article, which was titled "," author Guy Beringer suggested swapping out heavy, post-church meals for lighter spreads served later in the morning.
"Brunch… is cheerful, sociable, and inciting," Beringer wrote. "It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper; it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings. It sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week." As a post-script to the piece, he writes that at brunch, "Beer and whiskey are admitted as substitutes for tea and coffee."
Fast forward 130 years, and brunch is now one of the most popular meals in the U.S. According to a 2025 industry report from Bar & Restaurant News, for both Gen Zers and parents: 39% of the former go out to eat during that time, and 47% of the latter.
Many brunch locations offer the same type of spread Beringer promoted in his article—pastries and marmalade, coffee and tea (or beer and whiskey), and main courses that include fish or other meats. However, a host of other trends like internationally inspired cuisines, pizza, and mimosa flights have come along to add a little variety.
Whether your preference is for a classic brunch or something with a little more spice, compiled a ranking of the highest-rated brunch restaurants in Albuquerque using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a restaurant with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Most chain restaurants were excluded from the ranking. Data is as of Sept. 16, 2025.
Read on to find out if your favorite local spot made our list!
#28. The St. James Tearoom
- Rating: 4.6/5 (170 reviews)
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#27. Weck's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (95 reviews)
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#26. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (263 reviews)
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#25. Papa Felipe's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (280 reviews)
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#24. Flying Star Cafe - Rio Grande
- Rating: 4.2/5 (277 reviews)
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#23. Garcia's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (301 reviews)
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#22. Cafe Lush
- Rating: 4.6/5 (117 reviews)
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#21. Weck's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (309 reviews)
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#20. Sadie's on Academy
- Rating: 4.3/5 (277 reviews)
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#19. Cervantes Restaurant & Lounge
- Rating: 4.2/5 (443 reviews)
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#18. El Pinto
- Rating: 4/5 (2664 reviews)
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#17. Sawmill Market
- Rating: 4.4/5 (136 reviews)
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#16. Garduno's - Hotel Albuquerque
- Rating: 4.1/5 (716 reviews)
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#15. Duran Central Pharmacy
- Rating: 4.3/5 (268 reviews)
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#14. Vic's Daily Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (181 reviews)
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#13. Mary's & Tito's Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (420 reviews)
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#12. Owl Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (668 reviews)
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#11. Church Street Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (2886 reviews)
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#10. Sadie's of New Mexico
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2040 reviews)
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#9. Frontier
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1996 reviews)
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#8. 66 Diner
- Rating: 4.2/5 (847 reviews)
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#7. Range Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1194 reviews)
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#6. High Noon Restaurant & Saloon
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1057 reviews)
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#5. Monroe's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (952 reviews)
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#4. Central Grill and Coffee House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (332 reviews)
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#3. The Original Cocina Azul
- Rating: 4.3/5 (672 reviews)
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#2. Vinaigrette
- Rating: 4.4/5 (664 reviews)
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#1. The Grove Cafe & Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (801 reviews)
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