El Paisano Hotel
Why we keep stopping at Marfa’s historic Hotel Paisano, from its courtyard and architecture to its connection with the movie Giant.
If you're ever out in West Texas — and hopefully a few of our posts will make you want to go there — one of the places you need to stop is the El Hotel Paisano in Marfa.
Marfa is a unique town, and the hotel fits right in. The town itself seems to be a gathering place for artistic types. There are galleries, outdoor art, and plenty of things that make Marfa feel different from most small West Texas towns.
The Hotel Paisano has a pretty rich history of its own. When Giant was filmed around Marfa in 1955, the hotel became headquarters for the cast and crew. Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean were among those who stayed and gathered there, and director George Stevens even used the ballroom to screen the day's filming. Texas Government
The hotel itself is beautiful. It was completed in 1930 and designed by the El Paso architectural firm Trost & Trost in a Spanish-influenced style centered around an interior courtyard. El Hotel Paisano
Inside you'll find Saltillo tile floors, a few shops, and an open courtyard with a fountain that feels almost removed from the West Texas landscape outside.
Every time we go through Marfa, we make a point of stopping and seeing the place again.
A note before you go: As of fall 2026, the El Hotel Paisano is undergoing renovations following a change of ownership. The reopening is happening in stages, with hotel rooms expected to return in spring 2027. If you’re reading this after June 2027, check the hotel’s website for current information rather than relying on this note.
