Nob Hill occupies a stretch of Central Avenue (the old Route 66) east of the University of New Mexico, roughly from Carlisle Boulevard to Washington Street. It has the most concentrated collection of independent restaurants, vintage shops, galleries, and bars in Albuquerque — the kind of neighbourhood that develops when a university is nearby. The mix changes constantly but the general character has been maintained for decades: walkable, eclectic, and distinctly un-chain.
The UNM campus just to the west is worth a quick walk through — the architecture draws on Pueblo Revival and Spanish Colonial styles, making it one of the more cohesive university campuses in the Southwest. The UNM Art Museum has good collections including 19th-century prints and contemporary New Mexican work, and is free. Central Avenue through Nob Hill is the best stretch for walking, people-watching, and finding a restaurant without having to think too hard.