Endless Road Trip Marfa: Hotel Paisano
Marfa’s Hotel Paisano is a very special place. Not only is it a gorgeous historic building with an ultra-classy patio & bar, but it’s also the location/headquarters of the 1956 film Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. Film, architecture, and a stiff drink? Count me IN!
As I mentioned, Paisano, on the National Register of Historic Places, is a beautiful building. After its silver screen heyday it sadly started to fall into disrepair, but luckily it was purchased by new owners and restored to its original splendor, plus renovated to include modernized rooms, shops, etc. Just look at it:
That last photo is the aforementioned patio courtyard, possibly the best place to sip a drink ever. My friends and I popped in before dinner to check out the architecture and grab a cocktail; we heard from all sorts of people in town that Hotel Paisano has the best margaritas in Marfa.
When I asked the bartender (who turned out to be the bar manager – we loved her), she made no bones about it: “My Margarita Verde is the best margarita ever. You will love it, it’s so good.” Now that’s what I like, a little confidence! And she was right. Served on the rocks with plenty of fresh squeezed lime juice, in-house jalapeno infused tequila, and tons of fresh basil & mint, this drink was not messing around. I like a strong marg and the Margarita Verde definitely delivered. I think between the sun and the tequila (despite being jalapeno, it wasn’t too spicy, just had a nice little kick to it) we were all feeling a little buzzed walking out of that courtyard.
