Location: Carlsbad
Top Restaurants in Carlsbad
Top Things to do in Carlsbad
- 1. Carlsbad Museum and Art Center
- 2. Sitting Bull Falls
- 3. Carlsbad Caverns Natural Entrance Tour
- 4. Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park
- 5. Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
- 6. Bat Flight Program in Carlsbad Cavern National Park
- 7. Brantley Lake State Park
- 8. Pecos River Flume
- 9. Pecos River Antique Mall
- 10. Carlsbad Water Park
Most Popular Restaurants in Carlsbad
The internationally known Carlsbad Caverns are the biggest tourist draw in this city on the Pecos River. But before or after you've experienced the magnificent caves, you can round out your weekend with some wonderful above-ground sights and activities. If the thought of caves conjures up visions of narrow spaces and dark, cold clamminess, the comfortable year-round 56-degree climate, wide-open spaces and magical underworld of naturally created sculptures will amaze and enthrall you. In the summer, you get to see another natural wonder - some one million bats taking to the skies from the cave entrance every evening at sundown. Hardier cave explorers can take a side trip to the wilder Slaughter Cave for a down and dirty ranger-led tour. Come out from under to the zoo at Living Desert State Park for a glimpse of Chihuahuan Desert wildlife - everything from mountain lions, buffalo, bears and coyotes to reptiles, prairie dogs and roadrunners. Head over to the Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area for river swimming and waterskiing or to Guadalupe Mountains National Park for hiking trails with diverse terrain and incredible views.
Things to do in Carlsbad
1. The Trinity Hotel Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 680 reviews
Reviewed By tripsforwalters - Orlando, Florida
Very disappointed after reading good reviews. Slow service - no one greeted us after we were seated for 10 min. Only beer and wine, not a full bar, so we ordered iced tea and that came quickly. Goat cheese and crackers, small portion for $10, came reasonably quickly, but then our entrees didn't come for an hour. The waitress put in my order for the wrong cut of steak, so when we finally got our meals I had to wait another 20 min. while she reordered. Even with a "rush", it still took 20 min. to cook a thin filet mignon medium well? To her credit, she admitted her mistake immediately and took the meal off the bill; but after she had talked me into ordering medium rare, I was surprised that the steak came with a medium well indicator. It was still tender but the preparation, a special which sounded good enough, was no more than a steak on top of a few portobello slices and smothered with a thick layer of tasteless cheddar. Not an inspired prep. Husband's pork chop had more bone and fat than meat. Accompaniments were okay, not exceptional. Not expecting a Cordon Bleu-trained chef in Carlsbad, but after the TA reviews, I was expecting more than we got.
I am marking the restaurant "expensive", not because it was really expensive but because it was pretending to be an upscale establishment with much higher prices than it warranted. And it is the first time I have ever marked service as "terrible".
2. Blue House Bakery and Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
Reviewed By Juanito_Hayburg - El Paso, Texas
CarlsbadNM is likely the capital of the booming oil & gas/energy market, with massive development of the accompanying supporting businesses, so when I pedaled into town, there were few vacancies available for a budget minded traveller like me. No matter; I was acutely aware of a fabulous eatery highly spoken of by Debbie at the Cornudas Cafe, and, regardless of where I stayed the night, I was determined to eat there—even though neither its name nor location could be recalled except “across from The Albertsons.” Well, after entering that fine store and consulting with employees Tamara & Kenneth, I learned that this mysteriously well-regarded eatery was three blocks South On Canyon Street—which did intersect in front and is named the “Blue House Bakery and Cafe”.
Hallelujah!
Elated and ready to finally eat real food, I pedaled to the only crowded with (motor) vehicles and new that was it. I pushed my Doublevision up over the steep curb, into the welcoming environment.
Inside the immaculate re-purposed home, I met the friendly waitress. She kept my Brekkie ticket open—my privation of the previous night and the anticipation of the immediate evening certainly encouraged me to consume calories. I also recharged my electrically devices. I was so appreciative of this extremely fine restaurant, and it certainly does have my “Wheel of Approval!”
3. YellowBrix Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 840 reviews
YellowBrix is a bistro style lunch and dinner venue. Our lunch and dinner menus are both available during all hours of operation,11am-9pm Sun.-Thurs. And 11am-10pm on Fri.&Sat. The menu consists of salads, sandwiches, pastas, and many steak and seafood options from the grill including a 24 oz. Cowboy ribeye. Our signature sauce selections are great compliments to our steaks! Upon request, our chef will "whip up" alternatives for the vegetarian and vegan guest.
Reviewed By Rex G - Rapid City, South Dakota
We ate here on a Wednesday night. Very expensive menu entrees are about $25 and up. The service was Extremely slow there was 6 of us and no one finished what we ordered. It is in an older house and nothing fancy at all. I would honestly go to McDonalds next time.
4. Java Daves Coffee
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Janell H - Perryton, Texas
I love my coffee and I love it even more when it's made right. I was so happy to find this little hut in Carlsbad. It was just what I needed on a hot day....iced vanilla latte!!! Yum. They have so many different drinks and flavors to choose from. I'd love to try them all.
5. Yum Yum Yogurt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Anja H - Karlsruhe, Germany
I love Frozen Yogurt. As we passed it on our way to the zoo, we immediately decided to go there after the zoo. And we weren't disappointed. Big selection, nice location, great taste. Furniture was new and clean. Friendly staff.
6. Red Chimney Bar-B-Que
Overall Ratings
4 based on 273 reviews
We hope you enjoy our true southern style bar-b-que, prepared the old fashioned way since 1954. Our meat is slow cooked in a bar-b-que pit, using local pecan wood. We prepare our sauce, salads and beans fresh daily. Our homemade sourdough cobbler is a little slice of history, courtesy of a recipe from an old cattle drive cook!
Reviewed By crnflake - Rogers, Arkansas
Service was friendly, and we enjoyed our food; ribs and catfish were my favorites at the table, and smoked chicken not too bad either. Coleslaw, Mac and cheese, okra all delicious. My daughter thought her ham was tasty, too. Cobbler not as good as reviews would make me believe, but I’d still be a happy camper to return!
7. Danny's Place
Overall Ratings
4 based on 374 reviews
As a local favorite, Danny's Place takes pride in serving traditional barbecue in a friendly and attentive manner. Try your favorites or branch out: we offer everything from brisket, sausage, to beef sandwiches, and more.
Reviewed By tripsforwalters - Orlando, Florida
Couldn't get reservations at another place we wanted to try, so we settled for Danny's since it was right across the street from out hotel. Husband is a big barbecue fan, mainly pulled pork, and I warned him that reviewers said there was no smoked flavor in the meat. Definitely tasteless pork, sauce didn't improve things much. Sides mediocre - fried okra almost certainly a la Costco and mashed potatoes were almost certainly instant. What husband ordered first was macaroni and cheese but they ran out before our meals were plated; however, they left the up-charge for the mac and cheese on the bill. Texas toast? Toasted white bread without garlic, butter, or even a griddle. Desserts, which we didn't get, were cheesecake (likely also Costco or Sysco) and Fried Twinkles! Never heard of fried twinkies, but checked when we got to a computer and you can get those "pre-fried", so maybe also from Sysco. Or Walmart, since they carry them at my local store.
We often as not find that barbecue places are not great (though when they're good, they're often really, really good) but Danny's loses hands down (and isn't even cheap for what it is). Not sure how the meal was cooked, though certainly not smoked, but the rest of the meal was heated-up restaurant supply food. (And if they actually cooked it themselves, they should be ashamed.)
8. The Lucky Bull
Overall Ratings
4 based on 139 reviews
Reviewed By Margaret M - Burr Ridge, Illinois
This is likely the most popular place to dine in Carlsbad. Formerly called The Stockyard, it is crowded and someone is definitely in line for your table and you know it. The ribeye steak was expertly cooked with charred hatching and a peppy rub. With a huge old wooden bar, the saloon feel lets you know where you are.
9. Pecos River Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 124 reviews
Reviewed By bransom_13 - Chantilly, Virginia
Had lunch here and it was a somewhat a disappointment. Prompt seating and more than adequate service, the food was just average. For a $30 lunch for 2 we where hoping for a more satisfying meal, it was perhaps the weakest we had during our week in New Mexico.
10. No Whiner Diner
Overall Ratings
4 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By CCMH - Green Valley, Arizona
Not the best Diner we ever ate at. Cute name though! We opted for Pastrami and Turkey melts, which were OK. The soup was barely warm, and pretty bland to boot. The prices are OK, and we generally prefer to go to diners instead of the chains, but I don’t think Guy from the Food Network will be rushing to this one anytime soon.
