Update to the update: Sad to report that even the new bartenders are now ignoring non-hipsters. That's not to say that I won't go back to Sister -- there's plenty to love including the food, drinks, the video games, and the venue itself -- but I'll only go for shows or specific events. The Sister crew has made it clear that they're not interested in serving people like me, so I'll do my best to steer clear. Update: Went back last week to see a show (pretty good small show venue, btw) and there were two bartenders I hadn't seen before. Both were Johnnys (Janes) on the spot in taking care of us. Fast, friendly service, plus lots of patience in making recommendations and telling us about their new special drinks (the Thai coffee with rum is the shiznit). Was very pleasantly surprised and am updating my star rating to four from two. Best place to go if you feel like being ignored by hipster bartenders. Food is good and lots of beers on tap, which you might actually experience if you can perform the miracle of being waited on by the folks behind the bar who go out of their way to avoid eye contact -- whether they are busy or not. Don your skinny jeans and don't forget to muster all your patience, cuz you'll definitely need it. read more

Was in town for a conference and stopped in on a Tuesday night . Really chill hip vibe . Decent music , could have been a little louder though. Chill hipster vibe in a small town scene. read more

Drove down here from Denver for a show (don't judge). They have an absolute killer taplist for startlingly good prices and the service was great for how many people were there. The music playing over the speakers was also awesome, but that may have been a product of the show that night. Tens of arcade games and cool decor created a great vibe. I'll be coming back next time I'm in ABQ. read more

The kitchen is open fairly late and they sling out some killer tacos. They have a good beer selection and a pretty open floor plan. I recommend them for a late night drink and some above average bar food. read more

dude they literally have the best breakfast burritos in abq. i dream about these. they will forever be a gem to me. and the service?? phenomenal. everyone working there is top tier. hold this place dear to my heart. please stop in and appreciate it read more

Sister is definitely a cool bar. I had a great time here on a couple of nights. The bartenders are very polite and attentive and efficient, which is, in my opinion, the basis for any bar. They are terrific. The live show was fantastic, even though it was crowded and all throughout the show the bartenders where fast and efficient. I always bring earplugs to save my hearing. Trust me, you can here plenty through the ear plugs. Everyone I met was super nice. I had a great time and enjoyed playing many of the classic video games and pinball machines. I highly recommend this establishment in Albuquerque! read more

This is the most comfortable bar, friendliest staff and amazing food! Not your usual bar food! Best and most unusual tacos in town! They have a variety of live music, its my favorite live venue. Huge selection of beers on tap too! I love that i can have an artisan cocktail and watch a metal show at tbe same time! You can go here alone, downtown, and feel welcomed and safe! read more

Extremely disappointed in this place. I've had ok experiences in the past. This wknd I got off work, went out with a small group of friends.... We were completely ignored, no one was acknowledged besides the friends of the bartenders. I am not one to complain or bother people while they are busy since I know how it is being in the service industry. We went there with the intentions of spending money and having a fun time, we had to take that somewhere else. We were told to "not take it personally". read more

I'm a fan of the atmosphere, shows, food, and, for the most part, drinks. One thing brings my review down and that's the inconsistent service. Some of the bartenders are great and friendly. Some of them are downright awful. This is something I can't stand in a local joint--I'm a pretty good customer, respectful of service staff and not pushy, but when I get the stink-eye repeatedly from the same bartender over several visits and feel bad for attempting to order a drink, it makes me want to spend my money elsewhere. Also, they don't seem to understand how to make a mimosa, which is the simplest cocktail on earth. I went for brunch, and the bartender filled the glass with champagne to the top and then put a drop of OJ in. I downed half of it and then came back to the bar to ask for more OJ (to make it an actual mimosa) and the bartender (a different one this time) just glared at me and put another drop of OJ in. You're not saving lives, people. If you hate customers that you don't know personally, perhaps you shouldn't work in the hospitality industry. read more

Josh is a fantastic bartender, he helped us decided on good cockatails, and I would definitely return just for the service. You should give him a raise. He deserves is. read more

worst choice in albuquerque. got turned away/ not allowed in because the little guy at the door thought i was drunk and havent had a drop to drink. very strange. i asked the person 2 times were they serious and they insisted i was too drunk. all myself and the five person group wanted to do was go in and have some tacos and a couple beers..im 40 years old not a child. also im visiting from memphis tn and heard good things about the place. very disappointing. read more

Cool place to have a few beers and play a few video / pinball games. Crowd seemed to be 25 - 30ish in age. Nice bartenders. Small menu but food looked good. Live music at night. Stop in if in area. read more

Sister is definitely my favorite bar to hang out in on Central/in downtown ABQ. It now feels like a second home to me. When I first used to come here as a noob, I felt like the bartenders took forever to notice me and the door peeps weren't that friendly. I can see how the door peeps aren't super friendly to people coming in on central: they have to deal with downtown Albuquerque crowds and that's not always the easiest or prettiest thing to do. As far as the bartenders go, sometimes it's super busy and difficult to get their attention. Also the bartenders here probably have a thick skin just from working downtown. Be patient and assertive, and you'll get your turn to order. I especially like Sister because they have cocktails that change from time to time and you can ask for some "fancy" ones like a French 75 (Find the bartenderess named Molly and ask her to make you a killer one)! Also they have a pretty extensive beer tap collection that changes from time to time also. Oh also..since this place is one-of-a-kind for ABQ, it is SUPER packed on the Friday/Saturday, so I avoid it here during peak hours or even altogether because I already know there will be 2-3 rows of people waiting to order drinks from the bar. The tacos here are also hella good for $2 on Tuesday. They also offer vegan options which is a bonus for abq. My faves are the brisket and cauliflower curry taco! They offer things on the menu other than the tacos such a truffle tots/fries and kimchi tots/fries...and other stuff that I haven't even looked at cuz of the yummy tacos. Also their kitchen is open usually until 1am (unless there is a show or they close early?), so it's a really good option for late-night grub. The only downside is sometimes when they have live music it becomes more of a venue than a bar, and what I mean by that is the music is super loud and you can't really talk to your friends or come without earplugs unless you want to risk week-long tinnitus. They post on their Facebook page what nights they have music (and cover if the band is charging) so you can prep for that. read more

Here are the things I love about this place: i love that the space is actually open and you don't get a claustrophobia feeling. The Taco Tuesdays are awesome as you slip on one of their many crafts beers. Besides the awesome bands that play there... The one thing that keeps me coming back are the arcade games. It's somewhere that I can enjoy myself and with a pocket full of quarters I can amuse myself for untold amounts of times. What I dislike is that on a not crowed night you can have 4 bartenders but they are too self involved that you literally wait over 10 minutes for a beer. If it wasn't for that PacMan machine I could get a beer or whiskey... But PacMan and my quarters keep me coming back. read more

Pretty decent. But they serve Boddington's in cans and don't know how to pour it. This wouldn't be a big deal, but there are instructions on the can for Boddington's so it's pretty spectacular that they consistently screw that up. Once I called the bartender out and they were all "that's the right way to pour it." But I've drank more beers than them and traveled all over this great land and no it's not how you pour it. Also for their budget beer - instead of Budweiser or PBR or whatever, they chose Hamm's? LOL fucking why? Anyway, the sound is decent for live music and if they have a DJ or just the bartender playing his Zune you're guaranteed to get some good tunes. You can smoke on the patio and enjoy the nonstop parade of mental illness on Central on any given night. They have arcade games for if, like me, you want to be antisocial and have a drinking competition for one. read more

Great beer selection. Tasty, craft cocktails. Delicious food. Nice bartenders. A real good neighborhood bar. Don't miss their wonderful brunch or their video games. Oh...an excellent music spot too....that needs a little ventilation read more

Absolutely love all the arcade games! Lots of delicious drink options and the food is pretty good too. Give this place a try if you haven't already. read more

I always come to Sister for shows or dance parties. I finally decided to come in early on a Sunday night and to have some food. Decided to try their frito pie since it made with brisket. It was very good. My friends ordered some tacos. was told the salsa is made in house by the chef. If you are downtown and need some quick grub be sure to check in at Sister. read more

Sister - Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is the only bar in downtown ABQ that I feel up for. It's run by great people, has a mellow vibe, good food, greats drinks and killer shows. I recently saw Chelsea Wolfe on tour at Sister and it was amazing. This venue is large and offers indoor and outdoor seating. They have a great Taco Tuesdays deal and it includes vegetarian tacos. Woot! read more

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Such a weird place. Came here for breakfast after playing a show down the street. We ask for breakfast burritos. They are good, needs more egg tho. Too much potato. But I did get bailey's in my coffee! The venue itself is pretty crazy. Probably a good place to perform at. read more

One of the best bars in Albuquerque. Myriad beer on tap. Cheap pints. Good music. Spacious. My only complain is the lack of seating. Don't get me wrong: The bar stretches about as long as a football field with plenty of chairs. However, there are just a few tables anywhere else even though there is plenty of space. This could be a problem on a Friday night when the entire bar is taken up. read more

SO DISAPPOINTED :-( I absolutely love everything, but the Service at this place! I understand being busy, but there is no excuse for being rude and inattentive...(2nd time)I was able to get one round,was super frustrated,so fiancee had to do the ordering I went to close out my tab on Oct.29th Thrilla dance party,and this guy gives me the wrong credit card,quite a big OOPS! BTW I also work in the Service industry, so I know Customer service is EVERYTHING! read more

This place was recently named by Alibi as having the best tacos in ABQ so that's what I tried. The fillings in both were very good but the tortillas were clearly just an after thought-cold and rather stiff when the should have been warm and fresh or at least flexible. No reason for that cuz it's so easy to freshen them up in a microwave or in other ways. For some reason the Asian pork taco had about 3 times as much filling as did the other, carnitas I believe. I'll go back but will surely request that the kitchen not use stale or cold tortillas. read more

Went here to meet my wife for lunch on Friday. For the price we paid, the portions are WAY too small. We paid about 30 bucks for two tacos, fries, and a frito pie. Totally not worth it. The location is great and they have a great selection of drinks, but I definitely think they need to lower their prices for food. If given the choice for my next lunch time date with my wife, I think I will choose elsewhere. read more

I'm giving it 5 stars but I'm not entirely sure why.. oh wait now I remember why I am giving it 5 stars- I got drunk here for relatively cheap, saw a decent band, and there was lots of good people watching. read more

I remember when this place first opened! I was in awe of the beer on tap selection. Last time I was there I believe there were 48 but perhaps there are more! The owners Jesus and Samantha have been friends for years and they are excellent people to work with and work for. This bar brings an eclectic mix to the downtown scene of Albuquerque. The bar has lots of games, live music, and a dog friendly demeanor! They have an excellent happy hour and have a beer to cater to even the most extensive pallets! I'm not much for downtown imbibing but Sister is a one of a kind jewel! Recommend highly to locals and tourists of all walks!! Cheers read more

Ordered two beers, flat and warm! Please keep your drafts at the proper temp! Very dissatisfied

You like diversity when it comes to beer or liquor? What about music? They have it all and all that with a cool ambience. read more

The arcade games I played as a kid are here, pinball, pacman, AREA 51 (and you don't have to shoot off screen to reload) Lemon drops are good. Haven't tried the food yet (because the Taco Truck is across the street and their 8$ Carne Asada is just too good), but the live music last night (on a Thurs) was good. Staff is professional and kind. Bartenders are skilled. Overall, very much like this place. read more

We heard they had good food and they we're open on Sunday. The place is fairly loud. They have several pinball machines. We went in to review the menu and saw their many beer taps...things were improving. We selected a couple local IPAs, ordered a selection of tacos, a salad and a bowl of green chili stew. The salad was only OK, the stew was delicious. All of the tacos were tasty, but the only type we ordered the second time was their Asian tacos...yumm. Check this place out for a light meal and great beer. read more

When I first came here I found the staff to be a little course. I stayed away for awhile. As the years have gone by I find myself here more then almost any other local watering hole. It's one of the best places to see live music in Albuquerque! When they added the kitchen I figured it was short lived. They proved me way wrong! I have never had anything off of the menu that I didn't love. May I suggest the Asian pork tacos. Too add to all that they have pinball and classic arcade games. NBA jam anyone? They staff can be a little slow on busy nights but other then that one of the best places downtown. read more

Super cheap, good food! Had the green chili stew, vegetarian style, with a side of much needed guacamole! Super spicy chili if you're into it. If not, plenty to share, but definitely get a side of something cool. read more

Great beer selection and flavorful and creative cocktails. We will be back for other beer events and drinks. Great decor and it was easy enough to find parking. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped here during our road trip to AZ because we saw that they had vegan options. He actually went inside and ordered while I stayed with our puppy, and so I am just stuck wishing we lived closer so that we could go here all the time. The food was delicious! We ordered the frito pie and the potato tacos, and I swear I could eat 10 of those tacos. The vegan cream sauce was to die for! If i ever find myself in New Mexico again I will definitely be stopping here. read more

Low key music venue that has regular bands that play but occasionally they have random old awesome bands plays. I'm not sure if they wander through town and they have an anklet on that they track them (like from the episode of the Mighty Mighty Boosh) and nab them and beg them to play, but... however they get them to play it's great. Holiday shows are fun. They have good beers on tap. Everyone is cordial. The decor is cool. I frequent this bar. There's a stage with dance floor, bar area, sitting area. read more

Waiters are great, good drinks. If the bouncer/s catch you even tipsy they won't let you back in, even if you pay the cover. They made me walk two miles home. "Call an uber" they said. read more

This was the WORST BAR IN THE WORLD. Never go here. They were SO RUDE and the worst customer service I have ever received. This place sucks. They are so disrespectful and rude and such a shitty bar. This place sucks. Whoever the employed needs to be fired ASAP read more

I sent this letter in an email last week and never heard back from anyone so I guess I'll just leave this here. I might return to Sister bar for the music but I will NEVER support this bar by purchasing drinks again. Hello. My name is Sara Roman. I have been a longtime supporter of live music here in Albuquerque and would like to take a moment to thank you for adding to the live music experience here in Albuquerque with such a great venue. I am writing this evening to share some concern in regards to your bar staff. I was a patron of your bar last Friday. I was there to take in the Carnival celebrations and visit with my dear friends The B-Side Players. I brought many patrons to your establishment that night as I had attended the Southwest Burlesque Showcase at the Kimo Theater earlier in the evening and many of the lovely ladies featured there joined me for drinks and music after. My concern is that it did not appear that your bar staff was at all pleased to be there. I would like to bring attention to one individual in particular. His name is Ben and he was not only rude but violent to me that night. I ordered a cocktail from Ben and took it back to the booth that my party was sitting at. We were seated at the booth that opens up into the dance floor. I believe it is the SW corner of the dance floor. I got up to dance right in front of my booth and left my drink on the table. I saw a busser take my cocktail but was unable to catch him before he dumped it as there were huge crowds there that night. I went back to the bar to inform Ben that my drink had been taken by accident. I did hope that Ben would poor me another if only because he knew I just ordered it minutes before. Ben proceeded to roll his eyes at me and tell me, "Well you shouldn't have left it unattended". I informed him that I was dancing near the table and actually saw him take it. He then raised his voice and said, "Fine I'll poor you another fuckin drink" and then punched his fist to his palm as if to suggest it was my face. I never asked Ben to poor me another cocktail, yet he treated me as if I was just taking advantage of the bar and the violence he suggested was offensive and completely uncalled for. I understand that working behind a bar is not easy and dealing with many customers and alcohol can sometimes be trying, however, your business is still a customer service establishment. I know many of the promoters that work very hard to keep your venue busy and I believe that the kind of service that the bar staff delivers is a huge injustice to the work of the promoters. My experience last Friday may have been the most extreme display of horrible service that I have experienced at your establishment, but not the first time I have been treated badly. The bar staff always seems to be upset when I order drinks and it appears they do not enjoy their work. I support your venue often and it is very frustrating to buy drinks at your bar when the staff portrays themselves as self-righteous snobs who are upset that you are having a good time while they are stuck working. Some of the best shows in Albuquerque happen at Sister Bar and anyone fortunate enough to work there should show some sort of enthusiasm about it. Instead, I and many other patrons are met with attitude and bad service when we come to your bar. I tried to call the bar to pose my complaint, however, it does not appear that answering the phone is a priority of your staff either. I do hope that this email reaches the owner of Sister Bar and am requesting some sort of follow up either by email or phone. It is important to value the feedback of your patrons and I do hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Sara Roman read more

Crowded, lively and lovely. Good live music, perhaps the best ABQ has to offer, insane bar selection. Took away one star cause the staff always seems kind of on edge there and it takes for freakin ever to get a drink. I totally understand - its fuckin lit there on a good night.... and that can be harrowing for bar and door staff. And it's DT ABQ for Christ's sake. Who knows what they have to deal with. I'd say maybe bring in some auxiliary units on those kind of nights. read more

This place is just the right amount of divey for me! Went on taco Tuesday for $2 carnitas and brisket tacos - can't decide which ones I liked better. They were both scrumptious and left my mouth watering. Didn't care for the chips and salsa - the chips were too greasy. They also had $2 Rio Grande pilsner, but by the time we got there they were out (10:30). They still have plenty of other beers on tap though. If you're into pinball or video games, they've got those too! Sit inside at a table or at the giant bar, or outside on the patio. Love this place - it never lets me down! read more