Dollar bills cover the walls and ceiling at this Cloudcroft bar, turning a simple drink stop into a room worth looking around. The money is stapled up in layers, giving the place a lived-in, distinctly unpolished Western-saloon look that suits a mountain-town evening.
This is an adult bar first, with a casual local-hang energy and enough going on to keep a visit from being just a quick beer. A pool table, dartboard and jukebox provide the familiar diversions, while the bar gives locals and travelers an easy place to settle in and talk.
It can get lively, and at busy times the room may be louder than a quiet dinner spot. Conversation still has its place, but this is more a gather-around-the-bar setting than a hushed restaurant.
Come for a drink and find a full kitchen
The surprise here is the food. The kitchen makes burgers, sandwiches, steaks, tacos and appetizers to order, with the substantial portions that make it easy for a stopover drink to become dinner.
Green chile appears often enough to give the menu a Southwestern thread without taking over every dish. The green chile cheeseburger is a natural starting point, especially with an order of tater tots alongside it. Sweet potato fries are another side worth considering when the table wants something beyond the usual basket of fries.
Burgers and cheesesteaks have built much of the kitchen's following, but the fish sandwich has its own appeal. Paired with sweet potato fries, it makes a good alternative for anyone whose group has already ordered enough beef.
A Reuben with a Cloudcroft accent
The Southwest Reuben takes the familiar rye-bread formula in a different direction: sliced pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss and Thousand Island dressing meet green chile. It is a hearty sandwich by design, with the chile adding a regional note to a classic bar-menu favorite.
The Philly cheesesteak is another item that invites a little customization. It has been served on a garlic-butter-toasted bun with seared steak and vegetables, and green chile can step in for green peppers for a more New Mexico-minded version.
For a simpler meal, beef tacos come in soft or crunchy shells. Taco Tuesday is a recurring draw, though its specials and pricing can change, so it is worth checking the current details with the bar.
Snack food with some range
The appetizer list covers the bar-room essentials without being overly narrow. Fried mushrooms, wings, chips and queso, and a separate queso order give a group plenty to pick at while a game is underway or drinks are still arriving.
The wings have been served with dry hot sauce on the side, which lets diners control the heat rather than committing to a fully coated batch. The queso has a more flavorful profile than a plain melted-cheese dip, making it a reasonable choice even when it is not merely a prelude to the main meal.
Beer, bourbon and a broad back bar
Beer on tap, craft selections, mixed drinks, wine and a broad liquor selection cover the basics for a varied crowd. Bourbon deals have also appeared among the bar's offerings, a useful detail for drinkers looking beyond the standard well pour.
The business includes a liquor-store component as well as the bar service. That combination fits the practical, no-fuss character of the place: a stop can be dinner, a drink, a game of darts, or a chance to pick up something for later.
A natural stop in town
Cloudcroft visitors can work this bar into an afternoon or evening around the town's shops and mountain scenery, or stop in after a round of golf. Indoor dining and bar seating keep the focus close to the action, and outdoor seating has also been available at times.
The crowd tends to blend regulars with people passing through, which gives the room its communal feel. It is a setting where a stranger can order a green chile burger at the bar while the next table is absorbed in a pool game.
Parking in Cloudcroft's tourist area may mean leaving the car a block or two away and walking past town storefronts. During crowded periods, the bar can be busy and meal service may take longer. Current specials, drink deals, seating options, pet policies, hours and payment arrangements are best confirmed directly before a visit.