An Insider’s Guide to Midtown Ruidoso

Nestled in Ruidoso’s downtown, Midtown is the village hub for dining, arts, and shopping. Stroll through Midtown and enjoy a great selection of restaurants, boutiques, wineries, brewpubs and cafes.

A vibrant Midtown is one more reason Ruidoso is a favorite New Mexico vacation destination.

A street perfect for people watching, Midtown is Ruidoso’s main street and is the heart and soul of the village — and has been for decades! Here, in the center of the village, locals and visitors stroll the sidewalks, linger on public benches and restaurant patios, shop their favorite stores, and stop to watch local musicians perform. In springtime, fruit trees planted throughout Midtown bloom with pink and white blossoms. It's tough to predict when the buds will bloom at their peak, but it usually happens around mid to late April — and it is a sight to see!

For Families

Whether you're looking for souvenirs at The Ruidoso Trading Post, shopping for vacation clothing, enjoying a frozen yogurt or smoothie at Chill Out by Simple Sugars or posing for selfies in front of one of Ruidoso’s public murals, Midtown is just the start of what do to in Ruidoso with kids.

For Shoppers

Midtown is for the type of shopper who enjoys a break from the generic franchise stores and wants to support local merchants. Outdoor buffs will find a great selection of active lifestyle retailers and fashionistas will find everything from vintage-store steals to boutique one-of-a-kinds.

Not a Shopper? There are plenty of sunny (or shady) places to sit and wait. You won't be the only one! You'll see lots of people just hanging out, watching the locals and enjoying the sunshine.

For Art Seekers

Midtown has many local artisan shops and public art to entertain the eye. Bonus: View our Midtown Gallery Walk for a walking tour of midtown's art galleries.

For Foodies

Midtown is home to brewpubs and wineries, pizza and burger joints, and some of Ruidoso’s best restaurants. If you want to bring some of the foodie goodness back home with you, stop by local favorite Cafe Rio for seriously awesome pizza. Homemade, fresh, and delicious. Yum! Don’t miss Hatch Chile Country’s two downtown store locations for delicious Chile Products Directly from the Farm in Hatch, NM.

For History Buffs

From prohibition-era gambling dens and bootleg bars, Ruidoso’s downtown history is infamous. Fun for family and friends is Midtown’s Escape Room Prohibition Bar, a real-life escape game.Discover more Ruidoso historic experiences in our History and Culture Guide.

For Live Music Fans

Ruidoso's live music scene is hotter than ever. On Saturday afternoons during the height of the summer the Free Music in the Streets live performances light up Midtown. Midtown venues like The Hidden Tap, Sacred Grounds, Win Place and Show, The Quarters, and Tall Pines Beer and Wine Garden, to name a few, host live music most weekends. And, just up the road in Alto, you'll find the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts. As Ruidoso's largest performance venue, the theater offers great live music, film and comedy performances.

Winter in Midtown

Ruidoso’s Midtown is a magical place in winter. Holiday lights twinkle all up and down the street every evening, coffee-shop windows beckon you in for a cup of hot cocoa, and independent retailers mean you could shop all day long. A string of special holiday events kick off in November with the Ruidoso Christmas Jubilee and continue with Festival of Lights Parade and After Party. If you’re lucky enough to visit during this special season, be sure to check out our Winter Trip Guide for ideas

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• Learn more about Midtown programs and initiatives at the Ruidoso Midtown Association.