Great spot if you're into dice, pool, or just a laid-back bar with a fun vibe. The tables were in great shape, and there was always a game going without feeling overcrowded. Dice games were well run and kept things moving, which made it easy to jump in and have a good time read more

Anodyne - Pool Halls Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

See all

Fav place to drink in ABQ. Super chill, cheap drinks and the ambiance is unbeatable. There's pool tables and lots of seating. So much better than Sister bar in my opinion. read more

This place had a super chill vibe to it along with a great variety of beers on tap to choose from. There's plenty of pool tables throughout the establishment as well as friendly bartenders who are more than ready to get you a little drink. 10/10 recommend:). read more

Rude ass bartender. Cursed at me when I questioned the price of drinks based off a flyer. Never coming here again. Dude needs to chill. Seems like a decent spot. Pool tables and a nice atmosphere. Don't recommend coming when it's busy since some of the bartenders can't handle the pressure. Anodyne means "not likely to provoke dissent or offense". False. False false false. I appreciated the 2nd bartender who came over to explain the situation and why the prices were not the same based off the flyer I had. The first bartender didn't have to be a jerk about it. Zero reason to curse at me. He could've taken his coworker's approach. Definitely recommend some training in customer service and anger management for that guy. read more

Shaking from my most recent experience at anodyne. I have been a customer here for 7 years and never experienced this kind of prejudice or hostility from staff. Arrived around 11:30 pm 6/27 and there was an unfamiliar bouncer. With a group of 4 women, one of them who is a trans woman, and one man. When checking my friend's ID (which is of her with a more traditionally masculine haircut but CLEARLY the same person) the bouncer was immediately hostile saying she/none of us were allowed to enter the bar. We calmly asked what the reasoning was and he refused to provide any details, again insisting we all had to leave and were not welcome at anodyne. When another staff member came to see what was happening, they inspected the ID and confirmed it was legit. At which point we tried to enter the bar and I was shoved backward by the bouncer saying again we could not enter. After this experience I don't know if I ever feel safe going back to anodyne. read more

Was kicked out for being "intoxicated" after one 16oz drink at 5% abv Don't do it. there are plenty of better bars around. read more

Absolutely badass bartender Jeanette is the best ever. Great service and great drinks. Love this place.

It's a fun place with good drinks and nice service. Get there early if you want to play pool because the tables fill up quickly when it's busy. Also, I love the plants and overall atmosphere. Definitely planning on going here. read more

Well, what's with these characters who get kicked out. Guessing they are looking for a different scene than they would find in Anodyne. Great pool, tables are always well maintained, sticks are straight (for those who need one), you can always get a bridge, usually right on you rack, lots of nine ball racks. There is an awesome selection of songs on a free digital jukebox (or, if you're lucky, you might get a Brian mix, they are AMAZING). Even when it is jamming, this place is comfortable and relaxed, a place to be cool. If you want hard core, go find hard core, don't try to bring it to Anodyne, you probably will not last. The bartenders are great, they mix great drinks and keep good track of what is going on. Treat them well. Oh, and at least for now, they have Arrogant Bastard on tap! Woohoo, it is an awesome hoppy dark... read more

this was the worst experience in all of history of going to bars in abq. The staff pepper sprayed us over a teddy bear they had for display don't pull up unless you want second degree burns and rude service from ALL EMPLOYEES. To the owner I would suggest hiring better people. Would give 0 stars. They also said one drink was enough and refused to give us another drink and we got kicked out within 10 minutes of being there. Absolute garbage. read more

Nasty service and rude lady dressed like an escort. Felt like it's going down the hill.

I keep frequenting this joint so I must really like coming here! The beer selection is best in area. Only a few on tap but then 4 displays full of bottled variety. After going a handful of times, I still have yet to try everything they have to offer, and that's awesome! I really should get the name of my favorite bartender there and put him on blast. He's the tall guy with glasses. Excellent service, every time hands down. I can always count on him to find a new beer for me to try and it's greatly appreciated. Now beer isn't the only reason I come here, it's for the pool tables! (Or my preference, the snooker table - fyi the snooker table is almost always available). For the most part, all the tables are in good to great shape. The staff does keep an eye on the tables and try to keep people from sitting on the tables or doing anything else that may put unnecessary wear on them. Take note though - My only and biggest gripe is that there isn't any chalk out for your hands. Each time I find myself in need of some and I have to use the cue tip chalk to try and solve that issue. read more

Anodyne - The row of tables with snooker table behind me - Pool Halls Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

People are friendly enough. Tables are fine. Nothing spectacular, though. The location is convenient, and it gives people a chance to do something downtown besides dance / cub hop. read more

A Pool Hall - short and simple. Yes, there is a small comfortable seating area, a juke box, a small library, and a very-well stocked bar with friendly bartenders . . . but, this really is an old-fashioned Pool Hall. No getting around it. Everything is secondary to 90% of the space being multiple pool tables that are filled most of the time. Go early. My family comes here fairly regularly. We have some serious pool players. Oh, they aren't any good, but they do love pool. And beer. And having fun together. And I like being with them, so I hold up the chairs on the side and cheer lead. And, now that I know they make a good margarita, I will not have to always drink beer . . . or water. It's a POOL HALL folks. No other reason to come here. But, it is a damn good one. We will keep going back. And I will keep cheer leading. read more

Do the owners and managers here treat the employees poorly? Because poop rolls down hill. I just got the full download. Remember a few months ago or a year ago. We couldn't go out and enjoy local flavor. I don't need to have royal treatment but being welcomed instead of being avoided would be a key element to having a relaxing time. I know how to stay home and order delivery. I think I like it more. At home no one treats me like I'm an idiot or that I'm trashy. If being treated nicely we're in a health code score. This place would get zilch. read more

I have to admit...I initially had my doubts walking into this place. Considering where it's located, you'd think it was a lot worse on the inside. To the contrary. Anodyne (don't ask...I have NO clue how to pronounce that) has many redeeming qualities. For example.. The drinks appear to be cheap. My wine was only 5 bucks a glass. Yet the entire 3 hours I spent there, I only managed to rack up a total of $23. Pretty sure the wife bought me a drink and didn't tell me, but I can't prove it. #anniversarygift I have no idea how much the pool tables are per hour because I never asked. Probably should have. Truth is...I had too fun a night to give a damn. Plus, I was more concerned with getting the wife back to our hotel room safely. Oh, yeah...that's one big caveat about this place and any others within half a mile of this block; it's located in a rather sketchy part of town. And seeing as how this place operates primarily from evening to night time, that's when the local bums become especially brazen and desperate. Just...be on your guard if you're walking home. There is most certainly a finite amount of pool tables. So if you arrive there later than sooner, expect a wait. Apparently, this place is very popular. There was a line at the bar, just to give you an idea. Anodyne is fair enough for what it is, where it is. If you happen to be staying at the same hotel as I am or any other place that happens to be less than 10 minutes walking distance from it, then I recommend it as a harmless go-to for a friendly game of pool. Only personal gripe I have is...the music sucks. I *guess* they have a juke box but...I dunno. Perhaps it's the clientele. But whoever made the playlist tonight had horrible taste in music. My wife and I brought our headphones and ostensibly kept them on with tunes the entire time we were playing pool. Trust me--the music here SUCKS! I'm giving Anodyne 3 patrons listening to their own tunes on Bluetooth headphones out of 5. read more

A hipster bar that seems to get its soul from a 1980s fern bar. Nice pool tables are an always excellent diversion while imbibing. While definitely for the younger crowd, I felt comfortable as the only older (ahem, I mean mature) person there. The music from the system played a wild mix of genres back-to-back. Prices are reasonable for beer or cocktails. Would I go back? Sure. At the top of the list? No. read more

Just as mentioned in other reviews, this is primarily a pool hall, but it is a perfect place to sit with friends and chat over drinks. Since I go to college in a smaller, liberal town some of our bars have feeling of history and quirky charm. The library and jukebox section of the bar is dimly lit with blue, purple and red lights that play off of the hanging plants above. It felt like a bar where you could get lost in someone's eyes over conversation. Maybe the cheap drinks would help with that too. For 3 mixed drinks, the total was $18 (that including one long island iced tea). There aren't that many "activities" inside the bar, but it was a great place to start the night. I felt comfortable, but didn't sit or stand by myself. We kept a close group together. The pool tables are beautiful. I would suspect they spend thousands of dollars keeping them in this nice of repair. I would have loved to play at least a game, but I didn't realize you had to put your name on a list and wait for it to be called. (I'm remembering this for the future! read more

See all

Little man working the door decided not to let me in because I was taller than him. The entire group I was with left with me and we gave our business to the bar across the street. The guy is single handedly driving down business because he's got some kind of chip on his shoulder. Whoever runs this place needs to get their boy, sit him down and have a little talk with him. I recommend avoiding this place and going to one of the better bars in the vicinity. read more

They kicked us out with ten minutes to spare, which would be fine if the waitress didn't encourage us or order new drinks a few minutes in advance. They made us end our pool game 15 minutes prior to closing. We asked them what time they closed and multiple employees blew us off giving us attitude. read more

So we decide after our meeting to visit Anodyne, the boys had been here prior and liked the vibe. Walked up a flight of stairs to the 2nd floor, good vibe, not too many people although we got there earlier than the typical crowd arrives on a saturday night. So the drinks started coming, and I was amazed that they give drinks in pints oppose to the standard cocktail glass (yeah). GOOD - great place for pool, bringing your dog (yep), laughs, and drinks BAD - no menu, music needs attention, like a real DJ UGLY - music is very loud, can tone it down a bit to capture the ambiance overall The good outweighs the not so good and I would visit again although I'd probably eat before going, and would recommend anyone not from the city to visit. read more

Anodyne - All about pool tables - Pool Halls Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I really like this place. It has a nice, comfortable vibe. Couches. Skylights. Plants. Very nice. They have lots of pool tables. The beer selection is not bad. Lots of bottles, and 6 or 8 taps. They have a full bar. I was here on a Wednesday night, so it wasn't crowded. I'm not sure what it would be like on the weekend. But, when its not crowded and crazy, this is a nice environment to just enjoy a good book and a good beer. Keep in mind that Anodyne is upstairs only. It's not the same place as downstairs. read more

Rude staff, shitty ambiance, worst juke box in history of juke boxes. Would never recommend

Worst staff experience of my life -- somehow this place managed to hire the only rude people in ABQ. Would not recommend. Also their jukebox sucks. No normal music and literally doesn't work. read more

If you like pool and you're in the neighborhood, come on down. Or should I say come on up. If you're trying to find the place it's the double doors next to the darker looking bar on the ground floor (that ground floor bar is Sister). This is a pool hall disguising themselves as a bar. The bar itself is kinda lacking if you're wanting full-bar fare but if you're just looking for some liquid courage to bring to your A-game you should be alright. Hangout tables in the back behind the halfwall if you want some privacy with your group of friends or your special "notch-in-the-belt". Yeah, that's a terrible euphemism. I prefer Sister to Anodyne but if you're looking to do something and unplanned and fun downtown Anodyne is a good place to start. read more

Located in Downtown Albuquerque, Anodyne is on the 2nd floor of the building. It's a chill spot to hang out with friends and grab a beer. They have a TON of bottled beer to choose from, and 15-20 craft beers on draft. They also have a lot of pool tables if you'd rather keep busy, but all of the pool tables were already taken by 10:30pm on a Saturday. It was pretty crowded, but we were able to find one of the last open tables. Beers are pretty cheap here, and you can get an entire PINT of a barrel aged beer for less than $10- unheard of in the Bay Area! They have a large bar area, but it's really packed on that side. I would definitely return to Anodyne if back in Albuquerque. read more

After fleeing Blackbird Buvette... I got dragged here... Twilight Zone... checked. Music: not my style / type Crowd: hipsters (wannabe?) I was so out of my element that I ended up just drinking water... I didn't want to take a chance. Outcome: coming from SF / LA / Maui... Realization hit me: if I ever live in ABQ... I think I'll end up drinking at the comfort of my own house because I'll be forever doomed with the lack of variety they call bars. Good luck folks... I suggest just getting a bottle of wine or a case of beer and drinking at your hotel or house... really. read more

Right in the middle of the downtown is this nightclub, the service on the bar is quick and friendly. Cocktails are hit!!! Do try the snake charmer. You will see happy people around , the club usually has metal bands playing. read more

This is a great college styled place to unwind and play pool. Everything in this bar looks like its been there since the 70s and has some charm to it. It gets really crowded on the weekends and is hard to get a table to play pool but is definitely a good stop if you are into the drinking and nightlife crowd in downtown. read more

Absolutely the worst pool hall in America.. If your a pool player this is not the spot.. if your a banger and are there to have some beer then this is the spot. They have no food .. it's way too dirty and dark inside.. It's a shame to have many pool tables that aren't taken care off .. again if your serious about pool stay away .. this place sucks .. read more

Accidentally found them. So happy I did. As a person who's has been a bartender for 15+ years, if you treat them with respect, they will do the same. read more

The dude in the front grab my arm for no reason and then after I told him not to touch me he threw us out ... mind you I had bought drinks and had just went to snake a cigarette... our drinks are probably still sitting there... I will no recommend this place at all... if I wanted to I could had pressed charges but I'm not that type of person... thank god I didn't pay my bill. read more

We stopped here on one of our many stops for drinks last night and they make one of the best margaritas! Not too badly priced either. Had a busy, yet still nice atmosphere. Lots of pool tables, although I don't play pool, I thought that was cool! Keep in mind, it's upstairs above Sister Bar. Very nice guy at the door and also nice bartenders! I would definitely come back. read more

This place is one of the last bastions of that old Albuquerque cool. Be prepared for pirate ship vibes and lots of (secretive) inside jokes. The juke box is a treasure trove for hardcore music nerds and stoner metal aficionados. The drinks here aren't poured for flavor so much as they are poured to get you loose enough to get on the pool que, and on that note, this is a pool hall. But you'll also find snooker and pinball towards the back. Feel free to peruse the library where you'll find all sorts of quirky books. Staff are friendly and attentive but be prepared for long lines Thursday through Saturday night at this hotspot. I recommend coming in during the afternoon when they open to admire all of the beautiful hanging house plants and enjoy the plentiful natural light. read more

I am no longer a "Let's go down town to hang out" person. We were on a double date had finished a movie now wanted drinks and something to do. Our friends had heard about Anodyne from a friend, good place for pool which is what we were looking for. I dragged by feet and resisted but glad I joined. So we split up headed down town and had ourselves a great night. Just a note it's actually upstairs lol be sure to have IDs out as they carded all of us To get a table you have to go to the bar far left where there is a board, they write down your name and you wait. It's $6 an hour no matter how long. Good thing about where you put your name for pool, you can also order drinks. I asked for a vodka tonic but their tonic hose was down, the bartender (wish I got her name cause she rocked) volunteered water or sprite. I declined and decided I'd go for the gusto... Tangeray gin martini, straight up with 4 olives. She got it PERFECT!!! She even helped my sister find a beer she'd like. The price for 4 drinks (2 beers and 2 mixed) was super reasonable beyond belief and that excellent service wow. We found a table to hang out by - they have plenty of tables but with no limit it can be a while. We chatted caught up. Probably 20 minutes and we got called. From there it was nothing but fun. It wasn't super loud so me and my sis could chat while the guys played. We do wish there was a food truck around. We were starving!! The bar downstairs had tacos we brought up no problem but maybe advertise as an option or food truck. We easily would have stayed longer if there was more food options. I can't wait to go back honestly. Just the idea of parking yuck. read more

I have a lot of fun just hanging out here and almost always get the $3 beer special of the night. It's fun and makes the choice easier. Their mixed drinks are also very strong and a great value. I enjoy playing pool here a lot and the tables are a bit needing maintenance but decent. It's a very long wait however on a weekend. It's best to go during the week if you want to get a pool table. read more

I'm guessing most #Burqueños have one, or a few, or perhaps endless pseudo-memories of this place locked in their craw. I certainly do. I celebrated my 21st birthday here (as well as more than a few other downtown bars, most of which no longer exist) just months after I moved to Albuquerque. That was five years ago. Not. It was a long f#cking time ago. Back then, Anodyne owned three righteous claims to fame in the entire metro: 1) Best jukebox 2) Best beer selection 3) Best pool tables. Fast forward five or twenty years. All the same is (somewhat) true. The music still wins. The beer selection is still international, craft and unique, but it's hard to own the beer throne in a city that's recognized as a microbrew stalwart. And the pool tables remain what they were: professional grade, bigger than those crappy tables you stumble upon in everyday dive bars, bouncy bumpers, newish felt. Same goes for the polished well-kempt pool sticks. Can you read that I'm a billiard aficionado? Damn skippy. I love a game of 8 Ball, and this is the place to rack 'em. But there are so many more reasons to love this bar. If you want to chill at a booth, check out those themed plasticized tables. Play some pinball. Sip a watery, staggeringly heavy cocktail that doesn't aspire to the modern artisan mold. Don't ask that person in the stall in the bathroom why they're sniffling. Just sayin'. On weekends, this place can be overrun by the collegiate crowd, but that's cool, I remember how that went, just five years ago. Anodyne likely owns the very best, longstanding heavyweight title for The Bar That Survived in downtown ABQ. I have blurred, but beautiful memories of each and every night. I heart you, Anodyne, I cannot tell you how many times you have made my life in this town better than I ever imagined. I met my wife in your dark corners. read more

Heading back here on Saturday, I was reminded of all the things that make this place great and decided it really deserves five stars. The beer selection is out of this world and I could spend every day of the week here just trying different beers. Just to give you an idea of how comprehensive this place's selection is: I had a Hitachino White (from Japan) and a bomber (C'mon, what bars sell bombers?) of Dead Guy Ale from Rogue in Oregon--- not exactly your run-of-the-mill beer options. Plus, my cousin was happy to sip on the MacAllan 12 year all night and between the two of us we threw back three or four of these, plus the aforementioned beers and a Stone Porter and our bill came out to $44! That's fourty-four! Cuarenta y cuatro! Incredible. Oh, and lest I forget, we played pool for over an hour and paid all of $8. This is where I will take all out-of-town guests from here on out. read more

Some things never change! This place has been around for years and I was sad I didn't see Mickey at the door to greet us like back in college. lol The beer selection is always on point and always have something new that you can't get at other bars. Lots of pool tables and nats because of the large variety of plants that they have in the place. Would return for a nice beer and game of pool. read more

I think if I ever end up in heaven, it will look like this. Which is weird, because...Albuquerque. BUT HEAR ME OUT YELPSTAZ: 1) DOGS. There were between five and ten dogs here the night I stopped by. Which was a Monday. We asked the bartender: "What's the deal with the dogs? Can anyone bring theirs in?" to which he replied, "Yeah, only the cool ones though." Giving credence to his statement was the enormous St. Bernard belly up to the bar. He was a cool dog; in retrospect, I should have bought him a shot. 2) BOOKS. The bar was separated into several really cool nooks, including one with these great retro wrap-around Tony Soprano booths and rows and rows of bookshelves. 3) BOURBON. Ok, I love me some bourbon. My liver...not as much. However, I told him to STFU because there was $6 Woodford Reserve to be had. Of which we had a lot, expertly made into a very good Manhattan. 4) CLIENTELE. Everyone there was super chill and having a great time. We struck up a convo with the lady next to us at the bar and she was super kind and gave my friend and I numerous recommendations to try in Albuquerque. Yay! Bonus points: Free jukebox with lots of music, none of which I was hip enough to know. But if you're a ~cool~ hipster type, you'll probably love it. I would go back to ABQ just for this bar. And I drink a LOT, and in a LOT of places. They're doing it right. I think it's the dogs... read more