Entry No. 23 — the Albuquerque file — filed under: haunted
Church Street Cafe (Casa de Ruiz)
Operating inside Casa de Ruiz—a 1700s adobe hacienda considered Albuquerque's oldest continuously standing residence—this cafe is haunted by former matriarch Sara Ruiz. Local lore claims her spirit threw utensils and shouted at contractors during 1990s renovations, creating a lasting tradition where patrons say 'Goodnight Sara' upon leaving so her ghost doesn't follow them home.
The story
Casa de Ruiz was raised in the early 1700s out of terrones adobe bricks across from what is now San Felipe de Neri church, making it Albuquerque’s oldest continuously standing residence. For nearly three centuries, a single family held the deed. That lineage ended in 1991 when ninety-one-year-old Rufina Ruiz passed away, leaving the U-shaped hacienda to be bought by local restaurateur Marie Coleman. When Coleman brought in contractors during the 1990s to convert the home into Church Street Cafe, the structure pushed back. Tools vanished, doors slammed shut, and workers reported a woman's voice yelling at them to get out—disruptions blamed on Rufina’s late mother, Sara Ruiz, a curandera born in 1880 who apparently hated seeing her family home gutted.
The renovation hit an even stranger snag when crews pulled up wood floorboards to lay tile and unburied a casket. In Old Town’s early centuries, families buried deceased relatives directly under their property for protection. Rather than prying the box open, Coleman called a priest to conduct a blessing over the site before construction continued over it. Today, Sara’s spirit remains woven into the venue. In the entryway display case, vintage dolls shift positions or turn around behind locked glass overnight. Staff and regulars maintain a strict ritual every evening: as you head out through the main exit, you whisper 'Goodnight Sara'—unless you want her ghost following you home.
What it's like
Walking into Church Street Cafe feels less like visiting a restaurant and more like slipping through an 18th-century private home. Low doorways and thick adobe walls separate small rooms outfitted with wood-burning stoves and antique furniture. Skip the interior tables if you can and head straight for the brick-paved back patio, surrounded by stone walls and a trickling fountain. It gets packed during peak weekend lunch hours, so aiming for a quiet weekday meal gives you room to breathe. Order traditional New Mexican dishes like red chile enchiladas or chile rellenos served with warm sopapillas. Just make sure to say 'Goodnight Sara' as you pass out the main door—you'll notice the staff doing the exact same thing.
The move: Dine on traditional red chile enchiladas on the brick patio and remember to audibly whisper 'Goodnight Sara' as you exit the main door.
- 📍 Old Town Albuquerque
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2111 Church St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Back Alley Brujas — Located a minute's walk away in Old Town, this alley shop's talismans and witchy wares complement a visit to a historic hacienda haunted by a 19th-century curandera.
- American International Rattlesnake Museum — Pair your historic adobe meal with a quick walk around the corner to inspect the world's largest collection of live rattlesnake species.
- Hotel Parq Central — Extend your haunted Albuquerque tour with a stop across town at this 1920s former railway hospital converted into a boutique hotel.
- Albuquerque Press Club (Whittlesey House) — Pair your 18th-century ghost story with a drink at this 1903 lava-rock log villa on the mesa edge, another famously haunted historic haunt.
Good to know
Who was Sara Ruiz?
Sara Ruiz was a curandera (folk healer) born in 1880 whose family occupied Casa de Ruiz for centuries. Her spirit is said to haunt the building after 1990s renovations altered her former home.
Why do visitors say 'Goodnight Sara' when leaving?
Local lore claims that audibly saying 'Goodnight Sara' as you leave the café acknowledges her resident ghost and keeps her spirit from following you home.
Was an actual casket found under the floor?
Yes. During 1990s renovations to convert the residence into a café, workers pulling up floorboards uncovered an unmarked casket. A priest was brought in to bless the grave before tile was laid over it.
What kind of food does Church Street Cafe serve?
The café serves traditional New Mexican plates, including red chile enchiladas, carne adovada, chile rellenos, and sopapillas.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · newmexico.org · jackalope.sfuad.edu
last checked: 2026-07-21