This New Mexico City Is on the Rise, Thanks to Great Restaurants and New Boutique Hotels Like This One

• Arrive Albuquerque, from trendy hotel brand Palisociety, is now open and located in the heart of the city.
• The 137-room hotel has chic design inspired by the high desert—expect earthy tones, wood accents, and fun pendant lights.
• There’s also an on-site restaurant, Dwtnr Cocktail Bar & Lounge, specializing in craft cocktails and light bites.

Palisociety, known for its chic, effortlessly cool boutique hotels, just opened its latest outpost, this time in the Land of Enchantment. Arrive Albuquerque is now one more reason to book a trip to one of New Mexico’s most exciting cities.

Arrive is located in downtown Albuquerque across from Robinson Park on Central Avenue, what was once old Route 66. There are 137 guest rooms spread across six stories, a seasonally open pool (plus a swim club), and an on-site restaurant, Dwtnr Cocktail Bar & Lounge. 

The building that now houses Arrive was constructed in 1965 and was originally named the Downtowner and, later, Hotel Blue. The Hotel Blue property joined Palisociety’s portfolio in 2021 when the brand acquired Arrive Hotel & Restaurants. Palisociety then spent roughly a year thoroughly—and thoughtfully—renovating the property, transforming it into a modern hotel and injecting a little joie de vivre back into downtown Albuquerque.

“The city is ripe for a creative boom,” said Avi Brosh, Palisociety CEO and founder, in an interview with Travel + Leisure. “We’ve met so many interesting place-makers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives since we’ve been working on the hotel, and we are excited to be at the forefront of the downtown core’s next chapter.”

On the exterior of the building, you can see an expansive mural created by local Diné and Chicana artist Nani Chacon. The mural is reminiscent of the original artwork that once graced the front of the building and prominently features a candy-red lowrider among blooming nopal cactuses.  

Within the hotel, guests will find warm, minimalist interiors and a soft pastel color palette inspired by the hues and tones of New Mexico’s high desert and the organic design movement of the 1970s. It’s the first property under the Arrive umbrella with design completely overseen by Brosh and the in-house team. You’ll spot things like pendant lights, wood accents, plush lounge seating, and tilework in earthy ochre, white, and brick red across the common areas.

“We paid homage to the city and its southwestern locale, but in a way that feels authentic, creative, irreverent, and unexpected,” Brosh told T+L. “I think it blends classic New Mexico-inspired influences with the youthful aesthetic that the Arrive brand delivers seamlessly.” 

There are four different room types at Arrive Albuquerque: King, Double, Suite, or Accessible. Regardless of what accommodation they pick, guests will be able to enjoy rooms decked out in the property’s signature eccentric aesthetic, Victrola Bluetooth speakers, a curated minibar, soft robes, and Grown Alchemist bath products. A reservation here will also get you access to the 24/7 fitness center and the Zia sun-shaped pool.

Albuquerque is certainly having a culinary moment, with a few ABQ chefs making the James Beard semifinalist list this year, including Kattia Rojas of Buen Provecho and Sean Sinclair of Hotel Chaco’s Level 5. However, you don’t have to take a single step out of the hotel to find phenomenal food. Simply head to Dwntr Cocktail Lounge & Bar, specializing in American and Asian American comfort food. Some highlights on the menu include coconut shrimp toast with tom yum seasoning, green chile smashburgers, and char siu ribs. Don’t skip on the fun cocktail menu with inventive drinks like the Rhinestone Cowboy (a mixture of yuzu liqueur, sparkling sake, and Champagne) or the Eastbound & Down, a refreshing little number made of gin and grapefruit juice.

Nightly rates at Arrive Albuquerque start from $185.