Anodyne

Dog shit. Three different times in a span of an hour and a half. Big piles of dog shit that the owner/​owners didn’t even bother to pick up until the door guy went and found them to clean it up. Clearly that happens often.
I was on a date. One of the piles of dog shit just so happened to end up under our pool table. The date ended at the exact moment we realized that a dog had taken a shit underneath our pool table.
No, there will not be another date.
I get it… they like dogs. It’s dog friendly. And the people there seem perfectly ok with dog shit.
Thanks Anodyne, and go fuck yourself.

Anodyne is really a staple bar in downtown. They have a very interesting environment. There are pool tables, LOTS of them, lots of seating and very interesting décor throughout the bar. It looks like someone who had a lot of nicknacks and hobbies made this place and used their stuff to decorate everything. Not in a bad way, it’s really cool and gives the place a cool vibe.
Head to Anodyne any night of the week and you’ll find a lot of people having a great time. I will admit, however, that sometimes I don’t feel like I’m not hipster enough for this place. Anyone can have a good time here, but the bar definitely attracts a more hipster scene than some other bars.
Getting a drink can take awhile sometimes, due to the size of the bar. They sometimes have table service, which helps, but otherwise you’ll be standing in line for a few min. They have lots of beer, which is awesome. I’ll always be thankful to Anodyne for introducing me to my favorite cider, R.K. Scrumpy’s, which may by $ 9 a bottle, but it’s totally worth it.

I am super excited to find Anodyne. I had heard good things but it took me far too long to actually get there. The atmosphere is perfect. It has this the «it» factor that I’m always looking for in a bar: cozy and dimly-​lit. There are tucked-​away booths, a long row of pool tables, plants galore hanging around a skylight, a free jukebox, and pinball machines in the back. The bar has a wide variety of beers between what they have in cans, bottles, and on tap, and they have liquor as well. I’ve never seen a drink menu, but from what I’ve seen ordered I think you can get just about anything unless you wanted, like, a frozen daiquiri. Anodyne can get extremely crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, but that’s true of any bar. I normally don’t like crowded places, but Anodyne feels right and, as crowded as it gets, my friends and I have always managed to find a place to perch. New favorite [foodless] spot.

My night started off rough because I was supposed to meet people here and I went into Sister bar by mistake. The sign is not clear at all. So for new people going here, it is NOT the bar with the pretty store front. It is the discreet double doors that lead to a poorly lit staircase.
The cocktails were gross and poorly made (but only $ 5). They had a pretty large beer selection. But if you are looking for quality cocktails, this is not the place. It is pretty much half booze of some kind, half soda of some kind in a pint glass, regardless of the cocktail. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a lemon on your glass.
The music was decent, and the pool tables are obviously the main attraction. The problem is that if too many people stand around the bar, they start encroaching on the pool table space. The bar itself is so tiny and there are only ever 2 bar tenders working so you end up with like 30 people standing around trying to get a drink.
My favorite part was probably all of the neat plants they have hanging in there.
Kind of cool atmosphere, but the Nob Hill bars are waaaay better. I may return to play pool, but this is not my favorite bar.

A great place for hanging out with friends offering a full bar, music, and pool. Anodyne has been around for many, many years while other bars in the downtown area have come and gone. Highly recommend for a fun night out– in addition to the bar area, there are several tables (comfortably seating 5 – 6) tucked away in a dimly lit area off to the side, counter height bar tables (2 – 3 rotating) near pool tables, a big couch area– a variety of options to hang out.

This is the trendy hipster college bar of Downtown ABQ. Crowd tends to be pretty young. This bar gets packed pretty much every night, so go a little early if you want to be able to get drinks without waiting 20 minutes.
Beer selection is really good for domestics, if you want craft beer this should be right up your alley. Not a whole lot of imports. They have Weihenstephaner which is excellent, but they don’t have many pilsners or other euro beers which is a bit of a let down. Prices aren’t bad on spirits, but you’d probably be better off getting them cheaper across the street at the Distillery if you can handle the scummy vibes there.
Decour is pretty good, I really like the tables with Action figures and other nicknacks encased in them.
This bar has lots of pool tables. Cooler than that though are the pinball machines. Addams Family and Monster Bash, both classics. The music played at the bar is alright, lots of indie rock with a few punk and metal albums mixed in.
Bar tenders are kinda boring in my opinion, but the bouncer is a good guy.
I’d give this place 4 stars despite it not being my scene, but I strongly dislike how crowded it tends to get and I think the awfulness of the smug upper middle class college kids that patronize it warrants removing a star.

Good tables and interesting drinks (I tried a hard pineapple cider). Not super loud, just a nice place to play a few games. Will definitely come back whenever I’m back in the area.

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 21^st 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.

Lots of fun!!! Awesome pup named Darby makes all new pups feel welcomed. Smells like smoke inside but I guess that can’t be helped. Good pool sticks could use baby powder or hand chalk I didn’t see any.

Oh Anodyne, I have I had the best and the worst of times here. I would best describe this place as my real life «MacLaren’s» from How I Met Your Mother. I’ve been coming here for a few years now and it is still one of my favorite bars in ABQ.
This is a college aged/​hipster mecca type of place. Definitely a bar for twenty somethings. You walk in to see the many pool tables that you pay per hour to use. They also have booths/​tables you can sit at and some couches that look like they’ve been around for 20 years. It’s fairly dimly lit and can be very loud. It is a very casual bar; the ONLY dress code rule they have is that white shoes aren’t allowed.
I would love to give this place a five star rating since it is after all one of my favorite bars, but the drinks just aren’t up to par for that. Some drinks can be very good from here, while others are terrible. Some of my favorites are grasshoppers, moscow mules and the baby Jesus (which is an Anodyne creation.) The bad drinks I’ve had were just too strong. They free hand the amount of alcohol they put into the drinks, which could explain the bad and the inconsistency in the drinks.
They do allow dogs here. I see this as a good and bad thing. It’s nice for people to be able to bring their dog in when it’s not busy, but I’ve seen some dogs become terrified because of the noise level. Please leave skittish dogs at home because it can get very busy here.

Great drink prices and lots of pool tables. The atmosphere is perfect for a chill night with friends. The stairs are extremely steep so please do not attempt to walk up them if you are already under be influence. There is a lot of tables and seats too which is prime for any place especially downtown.
Also, came last night with some friends and realized how generous they are with alcohol. LIKE EXTREMELY GENEROUS! So either take advantage of that or just be careful, single shots are like doubles and doubles are triples ;)

Great place to get together with friends for drinks. Jukebox with great music selection. Great selection of beers. Although they don’t serve food, there are food trucks located outside on weekends. Staff was more than happy to allow outside food in. Great view of Central as well!

Best White Russians this side of a Big Lebowski convention!
Great jukebox and an all-​around good vibe. Can’t go wrong with a drink here if you’re downtown!

I just LOVE this bar! For many reasons, everything from the random dogs always wandering around looking for someone to pet them; the free pour drinks that are never disappointing; the decently cared for pool tables and hipster crowd that always makes for some great people watching.
I really can’t think of a negative thing to say about Anodyne!

I think if I ever end up in heaven, it will look like this. Which is weird, because… Albuquerque. BUT HEAR ME OUT UnilocalTAZ:
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…

This place is tite. A long room lined with full size pool tables. I’m used to playing on small tables for $ 1/​game, so this was refreshing. Lots of space, nobody solicited unwarranted pool advice, and the bar service was nice. Also, they had $ 3 Ace Cider (Pineapple) at the bar! (I’m from Texas and the cheapest I ever find it is $ 5.) Had a great time here.

I’m definitely a fan. The bartenders are good as well as the ladies who come to the table for drink orders. Those ladies do real good at keeping the cups from accumulating. Very laid-​back atmosphere, good for playing pool or hanging out in the many lounge places. The lounging places make waiting for a pool table much more enjoyable. Fav drink — try Janet’s Juice :)

One of my favorite bars in Albuquerque!
Anodyne is so fun because it can be whatever you want it to be; you want a laidback atmosphere where you can drink a beer or two with your friends? You got it. You want to have a rowdy night with drunken pool? You can do that too. I like that it accommodated us, whatever mood we were in.
Speaking of the atmosphere, that was pretty cool. I loved how unique the place is. The tables alone were enough to piqué my interest. They have themes! The bar also had books, which was an interesting touch.
Overall, a great bar! Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

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.

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 2^nd 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.