Downtown Historic Bed and Breakfasts of Albuquerque

I absolutely loved this little venue. I had my wedding there July 2015. It was amazing. Kara and Steve are wonderful people. They provide the day before the wedding for rehearsal, the full day of the wedding and a room for the couple the night of the wedding. The backyard was set beautiful. It had a lush backyard and lights that added to the perfect mood. They also provided a wedding plan to help with the wedding details.
It was great when Kara was helping as the wedding planner. However when she went with another lady it wasn’t as pleasant. The one lady made it hard to meet with her and she did not communicate with me regularly. Once I spoke to Kara everything was taken care of. I would say that was the only downside.
I would recommend this place for a wedding and a place to escape here in town. Everyone at my wedding had such wonder things to say about the venue. Some people did tell me that same wedding planner was rude to them during the wedding and reception. I would say talking to Kara is what make the difference. She wants everyone to enjoy themselves and make it as wonderful as possible.

We stayed in October during the Balloon Festival weekend, and the bed and breakfast was full to capacity. We were never inconvenienced nor did it every get noisy or seem like there was anyone else there. The staff is amazing and catered to our every need, the offered full turn-​down service even though it was not expected.
The food was excellent and the host even provided delicious breakfast burritos for times where we could not be there for the traditional breakfast.
The accommodations are first rate, and our bed was very comfortable. The entire place was spotless and very clean, bathroom was first rate and there was fresh soap and shampoo available every day.
We staid 3 fabulous night, A++++, highly recommend!
We recommend the Holy Cow restaurant nearby for GREAT burgers, Beer and atmosphere!

Great b&b. This was our 2^nd time at Steve & Kara’s b&b and we stayed in the separate unit — the Carriage House (functional kitchen and separate living room space). The breakfasts are definitely worth sticking around for and the hosts are very accommodating– eg during the Balloon Festival they had breakfast burritos and fruit/​yogurt and coffee for those having to leave very early (like 4am!) to attend the morning balloon Ascension. The Carriage House was stocked with coffee, fruit, sodas, water and yogurt. If we visit ABQ again we’d definitely return to this B&B. Plus it’s walking distance (2 – 8 blocks) to some great eateries. Our favorite is the Grove (local, homemade, organic) which we ate at 3x while we were there!

We arrived early and was cheerfully greeted by Steve. He took us inside and showed us around a bit, then took us upstairs and allowed us to occupy our room a few hours ahead of time. After a few moments of settling in, we took our lunch to the backyard and sat at a nice patio to eat. They were setting up for a wedding the next day, and were also preparing for a catered murder mystery dinner theater that evening. Despite all the activity, Steve and Kara were attentive and caring to us, giving us some local tips of points of interest. After a a quiet, comfortable nights rest we were treated to a delicious and healthy, wholesome breakfast. We recommend the Downtown Historic B&B, and give high regards to the owners and their staff.

We rented out the rooms in both of the houses and held our wedding in the backyard. Everything was perfect. Having all our family in one place, and having each person be able to retreat to a private room made all the difference. Steve and Kara are amazing people who take care with everything they manage and they manage a lot between the houses, the guests, the amazing breakfasts, their fabulous family and their church.
Internet access is fast and reliable.

We stayed in the Rosenburg Room in the Spy House. The whole place is just beautiful! Our room was cozy and inviting. The sheets smelled wonderful! Be careful on those wood floors as they are quite smooth and slippery with socks on. :-) One thing we would have liked is a water glass in the room. I was not going to traipse downstairs (in my socks), in the dark, in an unfamiliar place for a water glass. Small issue comparatively! Breakfast was tasty! We had a Mexican Souflee Cup and a multi grain pancake of some kind and they were delicious! Steve and Kara had a lot of knowledge about the houses and have obviously done a lot of work here! They should be proud of it! Definitely a great choice for us!

We recently traveled to Albuquerque for a family event and stayed at this charming B&B for 3 days. Arriving late the first night, we were psyched to be able to arrive at our lodging, find cold beverages and snacks, and get to bed. The next morning we awoke to the incredible beauty of this restored house, with rooms fastidiously furnished and decorated in Victorian style, creating a very pleasant contrast to the «Southwest» awaiting us. Not only did we find comfort and warmth in our lodging, but loads of history in the story of the sister B&B next door called The Spy House. Taking a tour of The Spy House, we heard first hand the incredible work that goes into restoring such historic buildings. It is evident from speaking with the owners, Steve and Kara Grant, that the B&B’s are a labor of love. Kara does much of the building work herself, in addition to decorating, and making the decorations, i.e. the quilts, curtains, and the meals. If you are interested in stories and preserving buildings, you must stay here. You will be comfortable, and will be in a good place to take walks and explore the area. We found a great coffee place and yoga studio within 5 minutes. It was like being home! Btw, we stayed in the Rose Room — big bed and an ante-​room to hang out and read… oh, and a TV, too! And buy Kara’s cookbook — great breakfast recipes using the wonderful green chilis from NM!

Tucked in a quaint neighborhood in historic downtown Albuquerque is this Bed & breakfast. We stayed in the Rosenburg Room in the Spy House for 2 nights. When you walk in the door it straightaway takes you back to simpler times.
The décor is old school with little hints if updated appliances. There are circular stairs that lead to the kitchen, hardwood floors are true to when the house was built, kitchen has up to date appliances but the simple island and pantry and tile countertops bring it back to its roots. Bathroom shower has a rain faucet head so it felt like I was washing my hair in the rain!
Our room was very luxurious and true to the pictures on their website. I loved their shampoo and conditioner «BeeKind». Great smell, kind of like a spa. The bed was very comfortable too so it was hard to get out of bed in the morning!
They have soda in the fridge and crackers and cookies and fruit to munch on whenever which was nice and amazing coffee in the morning!
I walked away from this stay feeling extremely refreshed, relaxed and more connected with my fiancé. Such a great stay. I recommend staying two nights minimum to get the whole feel and ambiance of everything :) 5 stars! Bravo!

Everything was excellent: the room, the breakfast, the grounds, the location, the proprietors and innkeeper, and their handling of the wedding we attended in the backyard. Stay here, you will not regret it!

Several friends of ours, wonderful friends that we don’t get to see as often as we like, all decided to get together and rent out the Spy House for a Christmas dinner party, and 4 of our couples booked the rooms to stay the night.
Talk about character… this historic house-turned-B&B is loaded with it! It is called the «Spy House» because this is where military secrets were traded back in the 50’s. The Grant family have lovingly kept that bit of history alive with framed original newspaper articles, photos, and an informative tour, should you request.
All wooden floors, beautiful furniture, and warm, undeniable coziness makes this house ooze with charm and you find your self feeling instantly comfortable and at home.
I have a hard time sleeping on certain types of beds, so I was concerned if the mattress was quality or not — no worries there. I had one of the best night’s sleep in quite sometime. I do not recall the exact brand Mr. Grant mentioned when I inquired about it, but he said all of the beds were from a line from Denver Mattress called «Doctor’s Choice». I would have to say that they’re appropriately named.
We woke up to the smell of homemade cinnamon pancakes, bacon, and a delicious egg entrée that I know I won’t be able to do justice in describing because I’m a guy — but basically it was a poached egg resting on a lightly cooked bed of cheese and spices. Again, I can’t explain it except that it looked amazing and WAS amazing!
The Grants have put a lot of love and care into the maintenance of this house with extra attention to the preservation of it’s historic unique-​ness.
Be warned — if you stay here, you WILL be creating a tradition for you and yours that you’ll want to repeat again and again!

Wonderful place, not to be missed. Walking distance to the University of New Mexico and historic downtown.
My wife, grown daughter, and I stayed two nights in the upstairs front bedroom of the Heritage House and enjoyed ourselves so much we came back after several days touring north of Albuquerque to spend our last evening in the first floor of the Spy House.
Breakfasts each morning were unusually good: eggs with chilies from Hatch, NM, french toast, blue corn pancakes, fresh fruit, coffee, tea. The proprietor, Steve, was very helpful, adjusting the menu for gluten and lactose allergies and even serving breakfast early one morning so I could make it to a morning meeting at UNM.
Very comfortable rooms; antique furnishings; quiet; historic neighborhood; self-​serve tea, cookies, and crackers available at all hours; lovely backyard; and a very nice host family. Just a great stay in all ways and at a very affordable price. We’ll be back!

My husband and I chose this B&B (our first!) based on the great feedback from other Unilocalers and they did not let us down!
We took the train out from Los Angeles for a long weekend on a whim and we’re really glad we did. Not only were we greeted with the incredible hospitality of the Grant family into their wonderful establishment, but we were treated to excellent breakfasts, and plenty of handy tips for getting around the city and choosing our outings wisely. About those breakfasts, I was amazed at what magic Kara and Steve could do with eggs and how they can make a breakfast standard like french toast into a breakfast event. Yum!
Kara helpfully suggested we try the Central bus line (66), which is a block and a half from the B&B and $ 2 for a day pass. It runs about every 20 minutes and gets you up and down the main drag (aka Route 66) the charming Old Town area, through Downtown (where the B&B is located) to the University and Nob Hill neighborhoods.
We took the sightseeing trolley on the advice of a fellow overnighter (and our great experience with them in other cities) and got a great overview of the city, which we found to be steeped in great history and stories and populated with incredibly friendly people!
But back to the B&B (which itself has some fascinating history — a must stop for spy enthusiasts)! The accommodations were comfortable, welcoming and roomy. We choose the Ivy room for its extra space, though you can opt for more basic rooms. The floors were satisfyingly creeky (as any classy old house worth its salt ought to have!), the décor attractive and homey and the kitchen well stocked with the essentials (bottled water, soft drinks, a cheese plate for each room, crackers, some light sweets and tea).
We would definitely stay again next time we are in Albuquerque!

This was an amazing surprise — surprising to find such homey hospitality in a downtown district. The quality of my stay was tops, and the price was so reasonable. I stayed in the Spy House which became more and more fun as I learned from their library about the history of the real spies who lived there and passed on atomic bomb secrets to KGB contacts. Steve and Kara have fixed the place beautifully. It is squeaky clean and nicely appointed.
I was in town for a Presbyterian Church Educators conference at the Convention Center. It’s only a half mile away so I brought my skateboard to commute. It took less than 3 minutes to roll over to the convention center on nice, quiet, residential streets (take Copper St.). The place was very comfortable and I stayed plenty warm even though the temps in Albuquerque dropped to the lowest in recorded history. It’s the first time I’ve ever skateboarded in –11 weather; I was weaving between ice patches. But upon return at night the dining room and kitchen were stocked with hot drinks, snacks, cookies, cheese & crackers, anything you could want, and the house was toasty. The breakfasts were impressively artistic and delicious. I took a picture of the breakfast each morning and by the end of the week my friends at the bland Hyatt were asking to see the pictures and hear the story of the morning’s feast. The eggs were fresh from their own chickens.
Steve was super accommodating about check in, check out, and making sure I was comfortable and cared for.
If I come back to Albuquerque I can’t imagine staying anywhere else. I’d like to bring my family back and use the house as as base camp for exploring New Mexico.
If you have to spend a week at the Convention Center, this is DEFINITELY a better way to go.
Thanks to the Grants for such fine hospitality.

If I was not a hotel point nut, I would probably stay at the Spy House every time I came to Albuquerque. I love love loved my stay last week. Steve and Kara gingerly snuck out of their house with kids watching movies, at 10:30 to meet us at the B&B. This spotless treasure is quite historic, we found out. I wish I stayed longer to read the cool articles on the nuclear bomb and crazy communist jazz that went on within those walls.
Our room provided more space than we even require with lush bedding and appointments. At breakfast, we made new friends: some groovy archaeologists from France who want to do a house swap with us, and a cool military couple who are relocating to the «Crackie.» Lots to like here. I have stayed at hotels for 40 nights in the last year and never got this engaged with my fellow human as I did at Steve and Kara’s.
The icing was meeting their kids! Four genius, polite moppets, two of whom donned tuxedos on their way to a music performance. Another check in the charming box.
We will surely be back to meet more French archaeologists and finally read all the history.

I had a really fabulous experience here. I stayed in the Pansy room which was perfect for me (comfortable, roomy, with a window that overlooks their pet chickens and sheep). The fridge always had some fresh fruit salad and organic Hansen’s soda, and I came back each night to find a cheese plate waiting for me!
The breakfast is great and Kara and Steve were very accommodating with substitutions to fit your diet (I had all vegetarian meals here). All their eggs come from their pet chickens!
I would definitely recommend staying here over the larger corporate hotels downtown. It’s about a 10 – 15 minute walk to downtown and is definitely a nicer place to stay if you are in town for business (a few conference-​goers came by to see the houses and were quite jealous I was staying here while they were stuck at the Hyatt).
Overall, I had a really great experience.

On a recent college road trip, my wife, my daughter and I happened to stay at this adorable spot in downtown Albuquerque. What an awesome place to stay. Steve and Kara are a fantastic team and their family is such a treasure. They treated us like family making sure every aspect of our stay was comfortable and memorable. Fantastic breakfast, spot on advice, and always great company in the morning. We will definitely make this our home away from home in ABQ.

4.5 stars
I can’t believe I had to manually add this place to Unilocal!Not only is it a favorite on several Bed & Breakfast websites, it’s also a gem of place (a hidden one, apparently).
This B&B is actually two houses (Heritage House & Spy House) located next door to each other on a pretty little street in a historic neighborhood famous for beautiful examples of East coast style architecture due to a flood of transplants about 130 years ago. They were turned into a B&B by Steve and Kara Grant — a super sweet couple with really adorable kids.
I stayed in the Heritage House, which is this gorgeous Dutch Colonial house that dates from the early 1900s. The Spy House is Craftsman style. Kara, who is an architecture and interior design buff, has completely restored the inside of Heritage House to Victorian splendor. My room, which was called the Secret Garden, actually had a four poster bed and a little secretary desk and hand-​sewn curtains with botanical prints to match the bed spread and the trim on the walls and the window sheers in the bathroom.
Half the fun of staying at either of the two houses was walking through and seeing all the beautiful colors Kara had painted and the personal touches everywhere. Spy House actually has a full suit of armor and red banners on one wall. Very ‘Hogwarts’-esque.
In terms of my stay, when I arrived I enjoyed a cup of tea and plate of cheeses that the Grants had left for me in the fridge. There was a binder that explained logistics of the neighborhood and where to eat. I sat on the porch swing outside and played with their friendly marmalade cat before walking a couple blocks down the street to eat a bite at the Artichoke café. Later in the evening I strolled out to the twinkling gazebo and lay out on a recliner by the koi pond to try to see the Perseid meteor shower in the big New Mexico sky. As a side note — I have to say that the Grant’s back lawn is so green it’s almost technicolor. Kind of freaky.
Breakfast the next morning was definitely a highlight. I had a bowl of fresh fruit, a tomato stuffed with eggs, cilantro, onions and green chile, and a granny smith apple pecan upside-​down pancake with maple syrup. YUM!
If it weren’t for the fact that parking is a bit tricky and the rooms are a just a tad small, they’d get 5 stars for sure. I’m already thinking of coming back for the Albuquerque international hot air balloon festival.