Albuquerque Press Club

Went with a friend and had never been. Small place but it works. Staff is friendly and the place is clean. If you're into something different, stop in and have a drink.

I went here as a guest of a member and was asked multiple times who I was with. They have a vetting process so once it's done the first time it should be good enough - I couldn't tell if they were rude or just not organized. Other patrons were friendly but I don't understand why they would tolerate the staff to be like that.Cabin was really cool, and the concept is neat but, I can't decide whether the elitism of the staff is fake and designed to be part of the exclusive type feel.... Or they're just super entitled. The people there and the overall atmosphere are the only reason it gets two extra stars. Interesting enough When my friend that was a member said I did a lot of reviews on multiple platforms suddenly everyone at the end was all smiles and you should have said something. That's not how this works and why I don't say a thingMaybe it was an off night and after a duration, I will go back and try again because we all know that sometimes staff can give a bad impression that's not the fault of the whole business.... But.. yikes

I cannot express how awfully my partner and I were treated because we were not members. Neither of us have ever heard of this place before. We found an event that was listed as public and "open to anyone" on Facebook. We arrived and there was a sign saying "members and guests" so we called to ask if the event was open to the general public were told "yes" by someone named Harry. We parked and walked up to the front only to be stopped and told we had to be members or guests of a current member. We're told we can enter if we buy a membership on the spot. I ask for details and they bring us inside to "learn more". I'm immediately told to just fill out an application with no further information, granted the application is decently informative. I decide I don't want to spend $110 for my partner and I to enjoy an event that we were told was "free" and "for the public" especially at a place I've never been to before. As we're leaving a member offers to sign us up as his guests to let us stay and enjoy the event they were hosting. We were grateful. But then, the evening proceeded to get worse by the way we're being treated as "non members". Essentially abq press club employees were trying to "kick us out" or coerce us into leaving by telling us "the member who signed you in was leaving therefore you can't be here any longer and have to leave too". And by ignoring us at the bar. We then had another member sign us in as their guests. We were shunned, scoffed at and had eyes rolled at us, for a raffle we paid to enter, because we won two very large prizes. People "jokingly" avoiding us, putting a hand up to block their face from us, or saying "oh, YOU'RE the ones who won". Our host member offered to buy us a drink. When we approached the bar the bartender asks "are you guys even members yet?" And I responded "no we are guests" he looks at the member who was ordering for us and says to him "are you even a member?!" He responds "yes I am, I have been for months." Our member tries to order us three espresso drinks that he explained the head bartender made him before. We are told they don't have espresso and they don't have any coffee to make us our drinks. The president, Will, comes up and orders two cold brews for us that staff reluctantly served us. Our host member is now furious because we were all just lied to. So our member tries to approach the head bartender named Shaun who literally says "we aren't going to serve them because they aren't even supposed to be in here!" And walks away. I don't understand how we weren't supposed to be in the bar if the policy is literally "guests of members" which we were, of several members who offered to host us as their guests because they enjoyed us there. I absolutely cannot even fathom paying a membership to a place that treated us so poorly and practically denied us service because we didn't want to join on the first night we've ever stepped foot there. We were told by many members we could be guests of the theirs any time. But we don't even want to come back!

First and foremost, you have to be a member or be with a member to come here. And if you're a journalist, membership is very inexpensive. Now that we've got that out of the way, you MUST join/come to this historic lovely cabin on the hill. 113 year old cabin does have its charms. Exposed logs, creaky floors, ducking to go downstairs, some very questionably creepy bathrooms in the basement. I mean this in the most loving way. It's weird and quirky and old... but has the most character of any building in town. And the absolutely BEST porch-sitting in the town. Tables, views, old wood rails - all wrap around the cool old cabin. In the summers, one of the members will BBQ while others bring sides. It's sort of like a second home to many that come here. Buyer beware, it's a private club and you can still smoke there. It's my least favorite part, but does take me back to growing up in a VFW or American Legion. It's nostalgic in every way. Enjoy it for what it is.

You have to be a member to really get this place... the building, the bar, the events and the people... because just one visit won't be enough to understand it's real charm. I first came here as someone's guest, and that's usually how it goes. But many people just go to the bar and, if you're respectful and decent, you'll probably going to get sucked into some great conversation and stay awhile. Everything about this place screams rustic history, and for as long as I can remember, it's been undergoing some kind of construction here and there. It's definitely worth grabbing a drink or smoking a cigar here, experiencing this little bit of ABQ history and skipping the weak club scene and the raucous rabble on Central. When you drive up to the little hilltop to the little parking area, you'll see the clubhouse among the old trees and green lawns, and you'll know it's got to be different with its wide, wrap-around porch and circular driveway. The large front door may make you feel like you're at some storybook cabin and the creaking, wooden staircases will draw-out your inner Dora. The grassy areas sometimes attract large numbers of homeless people, especially in the heart of Summer, but never once have we had any problems. Quite the opposite, in fact. Explore. Embrace. Enjoy.

Closest to private swag place you'll get. Closest to speakeasy in ABQ.I feel so cool going here, and even have gone to craft club here. Really smart, rad people, never crowded, amazing view, and you can just chill here.Cheap drinks, relatively, and warm and cozy and lots of selection for drafts (including local). It's my kinda place! Also, darts and pool and a record player and it's just a funky old house. Magical and snug.I love the Press Club!

Enjoyed a tour of the historical cabin, designed by an architect for his family and built in the early 1900's. The high vaulted and welcoming study features a stone fireplace, a collection of books and several places to read or enjoy a quiet place for conversation. The billiard room, porch/veranda, and patio areas are very inviting. The multi-level bar area is cozy and features a wide range of delicious cocktails. I am applying for membership so I have a quiet place to have a cocktail and enjoy the sunset.

I've been a guest here for a better part of a year, and I love coming. The drinks are well priced and tasty and the pool table is all sick. Bartender always says hi and has a smile. Having meetings for my organization here is very nice, almost has an older club type feel...which is the point. Makes me wish I was in the press so I could sign up to be a member.

Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. That includes the staff & membership.Well worth the membership fee in adult beverage savings alone. Outdoor patios with a splendid view all around, a large fireplace in the high-ceilinged front room, a cozy bar area and plenty of other comfortable rooms to gather a small group. Pool table, dart boards, poker table, and a huge outdoor barbecue available to members. There's a nice park next door and it's right off Central Ave.I wish I was there right now.

I rarely post reviews but if I do, I use google. This is the first time I've used Yelp. I felt compelled to review this place after reading some of the reviews. I will address the "Alex L." guy who posted on 1/5/19 with his recommendation of the APC that read: "Highly recommend this place if you enjoy frat culture, sexist pigs, and being treated like a burden." Context: There was an alleged (criminal) incident that took place at the APC. The organization reviewed its cameras during their investigation. It is petty for someone to write a bad review because of the direction of an investigation. Any responsible organization will investigate similarly alleged incidents to ensure such behavior isn't repeated by those types of people again. The incident in question is publically available information but it was so awful, in my opinion, that I won't post it here. As far as my experience - I've been a member for only a few months having just moved to New Mexico. As a professional in the communications field, I was looking for a group to join and network with. The staff and the members of the APC have been nothing but warm and friendly to my guests and I. The APC knows how to throw an event. I attended the Superbowl party and recent "Porkpocolypse" and both events were fantastic. The atmosphere is very laid back and isn't noisy or chaotic like much of the clubs or bars downtown. The crowd here appears to be progressive, between their mid-20s to early-40s. A decent mix of diverse people including White, Hispanic, Native American, African American, LGBTQ, Muslim, folks from countries outside the US, etc. The facility is historic and there is a lot of great information to learn about the place. The APC allows smoking but there are plenty of spaces to get away from smoke (I have respiratory issues and it doesn't affect me).During my first couple of months in Albuquerque, I would see at least one fight each time I went to some of the downtown bars. People get wild in many of the establishments near downtown Albuquerque. It's the complete opposite at the APC.Yes, you have to be a member to join. Membership isn't expensive. If that is a problem, there are other places in the city that do not charge for membership. To summarize: The guy who posted the one-star review because the APC decided to investigate an alleged criminal incident is a weirdo. Don't let him affect your decision to visit this gem. The crowd is very chill. The drinks are cheap. Membership is cheap. I've had some of my best experiences in Albuquerque, so far, here at the APC.