Sandia Peak Books

Sandia Peak Books has been the literary heart of Albuquerque's eclectic Nob Hill neighborhood since 2006, serving a diverse clientele of UNM students, Route 66 travelers, and lifelong New Mexicans. The store takes its name from the Sandia Mountains visible through the east-facing picture windows, their granite faces turning watermelon pink at sunset in a daily show that stops customers mid-browse. The New Mexico literature section spans from ancient Pueblo oral traditions to contemporary Albuquerque noir, with a particular strength in the state's thriving science fiction community, which counts George R.R. Martin as a resident. The Southwest cooking section features chile-centric cookbooks that range from traditional Hatch chile recipes to modern New Mexican fusion cuisine. The in-store cafe serves green chile lattes and biscochito cookies, cementing the store's identity as a thoroughly New Mexican experience. Owner David Montoya hosts a popular monthly reading series that has launched several New Mexico authors to national recognition.