Inside the Government Center · right by Civic Plaza Mon–Fri from 7:30am (505) 659-2429
Downtown Albuquerque · Breakfast & Lunch

Green chile before nine.
Philly by noon.

Made to order, every morning, right by Civic Plaza. A New Mexico-raised, French-trained, Romanian chef runs the kitchen, which is how a breakfast burrito and a green chile Philly cheesesteak end up on the same menu.

Checking…
See the menu Order online Questions? Call us
Coffee, counter, cold case Grab-and-go drinks and snacks up front
4.2 on Google
Open since 2021
A new special every day
Most of breakfast $8 or less
The Specials Board

Five days, a different board every day.

Breakfast and lunch both change every single day, posted on the board at the counter each morning.

This Week at the Café
Every weekday
A new special every day

Posted on the board at the counter each morning, breakfast and lunch.

Open Mon–Thu 7:30am–3:00pm, Fri 7:30am–2:00pm.

Ask what today's special is
Off the line

What it actually looks like.

No stock photography. These came off the counter on a normal weekday.

The one people order

Philly Cheese Steak

Thinly sliced sirloin, sautéed mushrooms and onions, provolone on a toasted sub. Add green chile for a dollar.

Off the specials board

Blackened Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Linguine in creamy pesto, basil, roasted pine nuts, blackened shrimp on top.

We Cater

Weekday catering, no matter how small.

Office meetings, workday lunches, a small group in a conference room: tell us the date and the headcount, and the same kitchen that feeds downtown every weekday will take care of it.

There's a food truck, too. When your event wants the cooking done on site, Desert Sky on the Fly brings the kitchen to you.

Call (505) 659-2429 Send a catering request →
The Chef

Romania, New Mexico, and a French kitchen.

Chef Ilie Spilca was born in Romania, raised in New Mexico, went through the New Mexico Military Institute, and trained in classical French cuisine. In his own words, he's living the American dream, out of a café counter downtown.

It explains the menu. Green chile is a default, not an add-on. And the sauce work under a $10 sandwich is the part you taste but can't quite name.

Born Romania Raised New Mexico NMMI Alumnus Trained Classical French
Two cooks at work at the flat top and prep line in the cafe kitchen

The kitchen at work, cooking to order.

Regulars

The downtown lunch crowd keeps coming back.

4.2 on Google Read and leave a review
The breakfast burrito was absolutely spectacular!! I got it with chorizo and red sauce. The server was kind in suggesting the difference between the red and green sauce & helped my friend in deciding what coffee to get… Lexi F. · Google review
This was maybe the best breakfast I’ve ever had. The breakfast burrito was massive. I’m a big dude and I couldn’t finish it. The hashbrowns with green chili though was maybe the most pleasant surprise of all… Jay D. · Google review
This café is hands-down one of the best spots in downtown Albuquerque. The food is consistently delicious and the entire menu is outstanding! The space is warm, cozy, and inviting. This café is a local treasure. Hannah T. · Google review
Breakfast bowl with hashbrowns, cheese, eggs over easy, red chilè, and chorizo. Is it the perfect breakfast? Yes it is. It's absolutely delicious, cooked to order, and pretty affordable. Ryan W. · Google review
Nice little place tucked inside office buildings of Albuquerque. Prices are very reasonable. Good ambience considering it's a quick grab/bite place. People are very polite and friendly. Would visit again. Sharat C. · Google review
The Room

Light, plants and a lot of glass.

The cafe dining room: rustic wood tables and black chairs along a wall of atrium glass, columns and skylights
The dining room
Potted plants, a small yellow toy truck and ceramics lined along the ledge between the tables and the lobby glass
The ledge
The snack and drinks corner: coolers, snack racks and shirts under yellow walls and papel picado ceiling flags
Snacks and drinks
Cafe tables along the atrium glass, with plants, a wooden American flag and a Biergarten sign on the ledge
The window tables
Desert Sky on the Fly

The café has a food truck. It caters.

Same chef, same green chile, on wheels. Desert Sky on the Fly caters offices, weddings and events across Albuquerque, and brings the kitchen to you. Its menu and schedule live on its own site.

Start a catering quote Visit the truck's site →
The Desert Sky on the Fly trailer, its sunset wrap painted with a roadrunner and a Zia symbol, parked with the order window open
Look for the sunset wrap
Find Us

Right by Civic Plaza.

We're inside the Government Center downtown, open to everybody, not just the people who work upstairs. Walk in, order at the counter, and it's usually out in five or ten minutes.

1 Civic Plaza NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 · Downtown
  • Monday – Thursday7:30am – 3:00pm
  • Friday7:30am – 2:00pm
  • Saturday & SundayClosed

Online orders close at 2:30pm Monday to Thursday and 1:30pm Friday.

Orders are placed online or at the counter, not over the phone. For anything else, call us.

Questions? (505) 659-2429 Get directions

Coffee, a cold case, and a full kitchen behind it

Grab a drink and a snack on the way through, or order something made to order and take a seat. Gift cards and a loyalty program run through our online ordering.