My stay at Albuquerque’s most-haunted former brothel

My recent road trip around New Mexico started in Albuquerque, where I was lucky enough to score a room at the haunted Painted Lady Bed & Brew, a former bordello (brothel) just a few blocks from Albuquerque’s popular Old Town center.

What was once an old brothel is now a “Bed & Brew”—a bed and breakfast with a microbrewery.

The history of the Painted Lady

The story of the Painted Lady is shrouded in mystery. Originally constructed in 1881, the property has a colorful past marked by knife fights and shootouts, with notorious figures like Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett rumored to have been patrons. The building first appeared on Sanborn Fire Insurance maps around 1900, when Cesario “Sario” Gonzales operated the Swastika Saloon. Advertised as a dance hall with a “wine room” (code for brothel), it thrived during a time when the local ratio was five men for every woman.

Despite Albuquerque outlawing prostitution in 1914, the Painted Lady reportedly operated as a brothel well into the 20th century. Sario eventually turned to moonshining during Prohibition, running illegal booze to Juarez, Mexico. After his death in 1927, the establishment transformed into Charlie’s Grocery, which also maintained its brothel ties until it closed in the late 1970s.

In 2015, the property underwent a significant transformation under new ownership, reopening as the Painted Lady Bed & Brew on International Beer Day in 2018. This unique establishment is the first of its kind in New Mexico, combining a microbrewery with a bed and breakfast.

The “Lizzie Suite”

I stayed in the one-bedroom “Lizzie Suite”, which was cozy and comfortable. The room is decorated with original brothel items and decor, like framed wallpaper and the old tile floor.

It had a bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a bathroom, and a large living and kitchen area. Everything was both ghost- and beer-themed—how fun!

Painted Lady hauntings

Today, the Painted Lady Bed & Brew is not only known for its unique history and craft beer but also for its reputation as a haunted establishment. Guests often report strange occurrences, from disembodied whispers to sudden drops in temperature. The lingering spirits of the building’s past seem to roam the halls, with many believing that the painted ladies who once inhabited the brothel never fully left.

One particularly popular ghost story involves a mysterious woman in a flowing white dress, often spotted in the dimly lit corridors and near the bar area, where the original saloon once thrived. Some guests have claimed to feel a gentle tug on their clothing or an inexplicable sense of being watched, adding an eerie thrill to their stay.

Did I have any paranormal experiences? I was woken up in the middle of the night to a loud sound, which sounded to me like the abrupt snap of a retracting tape measure (specific, I know…), but who knows? I slept soundly (mostly) and woke up the next morning ready for some blue corn breakfast enchiladas and left with a great story to tell.

I suggest parking your RV somewhere for the night next time you’re near Albuquerque and booking yourself a stay here. There are just a few rooms and they book up quick, so plan your trip and book your stay.

And if you can’t, or don’t want to (scared?) stay overnight, you can still join them for “Hoppy Hour” at the saloon and explore the grounds.

Visit the Painted Lady Bed & Brew website here. Have fun and happy hauntings!

All photos copyright Emily Woodbury, 2024

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