[photo (by WDFloyd): courtyard at El Hotel Paisano. Videos (by WDFloyd): Room 205, and the hotel lobby]
by WDFloyd
If you are heading to Marfa, Texas, then you should reserve a room at El Hotel Paisano. Walking into this historic hotel feels like stepping back into a past era out of West Texas lore. Maybe it was the courtyard, the tiled lobby, or the animal heads mounted by the door which added to this vibe. I'm not sure; I just know it was cool. Furthermore, the hotel has a connection to American cinematic history. James Dean, Rock Hudson, and Elizabeth Taylor stayed here during the filming of Giant.
We found that much of Marfa was within easy walking distance of the hotel. This included plenty of shops, galleries, and restaurants. And, more importantly, Padre's Marfa bar was an easy walk from the hotel.
Rooms available at the hotel range from small (w/ a queen size bed) up to several spacious suites. My friend Dustin stayed in Room 205 (see video above), a large suite with a kitchen and a private rooftop patio overlooking the pool. What made the patio even more fun was the fact that is accessed via a secretive walkway attached to the wall above the pool. Once you reach the patio, you have the use of both a couch and a breakfast table. While this was a great set up, it appeared that the Rock Hudson suite's patio was even larger and was equipped with an outdoor fireplace.
Prices at El Hotel Paisano are very reasonable. Queen size rooms start at $99/night, while the highest price quoted to me was $220/ night (for the Rock Hudson suite). Room 205 was $169/night.
