When I planned my trip to Marfa, I wanted to stay at Hotel Paisano. However, due to the holidays and my tardiness in setting things up, all rooms were completely booked. That didn't stop me from checking out the hotel. Located in the heart of Marfa, Hotel Paisano has a decorated history and old school charm. The architecture of the hotel reminded me of something straight out of Casablanca. As you enter, there is a nice patio where the restaurant/bar is located. The interior is as impressive as the exterior and the hotel is famous for the movie Giant. Parts of the Western featuring James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor was filmed at the hotel. This is an elegant hotel and I highly recommend staying here if you're visiting Marfa! read more

Hotel Paisano - Coolest hotel in Marfa. - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

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(I sent the review below to the hotel's front desk hoping for a response, explanation, or an apology. I did not receive even the courtesy of a return note. I am sharing it here because I think how an establishment handles difficult situations speaks to how they also treat you when things are good. There remains no excuse for how we were treated, ignored, and embarrassed by the service after bringing our friends to Jett's on a trip from New Orleans. The situation described was in March. I will not return, and I have been going there a long time. - James Moore, Austin) I have been to the Paisano many times since the early 80s. My wife and I have celebrated anniversaries in the courtyard and spent long weekends there. We love the history and the architecture and always find the long trip from Austin to be worth our time. We have also enjoyed meals at Jett's, until last night. We had brought another couple with us, friends from New Orleans, who were excited about the history and our recommendations. Our reservations were for 7p, and we were promptly seated. After almost 90 minutes, we were informed that our burgers were going to be slow coming out because of a ventilation system. No one had bothered to tell us anything for that period of time. A manager also came out and apologized, but the lack of information was simply thoughtless on the part of your staff. Three of us ordered burgers and my wife was waiting on cheese enchiladas. When the burgers were served after two hours, my wife's plate was about ten minutes behind. The server had forgotten and had not placed her order. Her food was awful, in fact, embarrassing. It was clear it had been produced at the last minute, and someone laid two tortillas together, put hot sauce in the middle without cheese, and lightly sprinkled what cheese must have been available on top of the tortillas and poured weak sauce over the top. Her beans were tasteless and clearly came out of a ranch beans can, and the rice was also old and cold. Everything on her plate was served cold, and we should have sent it back. I realize there are challenges with staffing these days but there appeared to be plenty of waiters and others in the room. We felt sorry for our young waitress being caught in the midst of such incompetence, and tipped her more than 20 percent even though we had been waiting without information or food for two hours, and when it was finally served, the burgers were overcooked and dry and my wife's enchiladas were disgusting and cold and not even close to being enchiladas. Of course, we were charged full price for bad fare. You ought to be ashamed. If you can't meet basic standards, don't open your restaurant. I will never recommend the place again. Sadly, we are done with the Paisano as a consequence of inconsiderate service. read more

This elegant hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and it deserves the honor. The Paisano opened in 1930 and achieved fame during the filming of the movie, 'Giant', in 1955. The entire cast stayed here. Fast forward to the 60s and 70s and the building fell into disrepair. Fortunately, it was restored starting in 2001 and, while the granny chic of the individual rooms and zillion pillows on the beds could use a contemporary rethink, the rest of the place probably looks as good as it did in the 1930s. If you're not in Marfa to see the art at the Chinati Foundation and you're not a rancher then you just might be here to sit in the lobby or outdoor courtyard with a good book and read the weekend away. The Paisano makes that a smart option. read more

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Great environment and great food. It was lunch time so not many people in the restaurant. The service was good.

Horrible! March 18th, 2024. I took my parents and boyfriend for my parents anniversary to have dinner for our first time and let me tell you! We made dinner reservations for 4 @ 6:45 we did NOT get our food till 9:15pm, our steaks were charred and had absolutely no flavor, my dr.pepper was flat. The appetizer was burnt "artichoke hearts" hardly any hearts. The mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes were the only good thing on our plates. We tried to order dessert placed the order but yet again another 45 mins go by and still no dessert so we told Marc to cancel our desserts and to give us our checks. I'm certain the cook "bald gentlemen" was indeed intoxicated, kept going to the kitchen and then returning to the bar and having a seat then made his way back to the kitchen. I do not recommend this restaurant for food. Truly dissatisfied and very disappointed! They also only had one waiter poor lady she was very sweet, but they definitely need to hire more help and a new cook preferably one that knows how to cook. read more

Thouroughly enjoyed our stay at a hotel Paisano! We were traveling through and stayed one night on our way to Terlingua. Our room was comfortable and roomy - the beds were very nice and we slept well during our stay. Our room overlooked the main road, so we heard some 18 wheelers and the train go through in the middle of the night, but felt that added to the ambiance. The only negative was that the shower head just about sandblasted the dirt off of you, but it wasn't a deal breaker. Geeked out on the original fixtures in the bathrooms. The hotel itself is beautiful, and the absolutely loved the history behind the movie Giant as well as what transpired with the property in the following years. Can't wait to return. read more

The hotel is an official National Historical Site, built in the 1930's in classic western style and decorated with the film "Giant" memorabilia including iconic black and white images. classic We reserved the Elizabeth Taylor suite, a corner room with two small balconies, #21 however our room AC doesn't work. The half the room lamps won't turn on and the electrical outlet next to the bed had a metal prong stuck inside the opening. Otherwise, our suite was roomy, and comfortable. PRO TIP: If you want to sleep before midnight, ask for a room that DOES NOT overlook the hotel fountain because Jett's Grill serves drinks and dinner very late. The voices carry directly to the room. read more

I love the flat enchiladas with an egg on top. Great place. Only negative was he hostess was rude and dismissive, but everyone else working there was awesome. read more

We enjoyed our stay and the staff was very accommodating. They were masked when engaged by customer; however, anytime I saw housekeeping or desk staff not interacting with a guest they we not following the posted mask requirement. This lack of concern during our 4 day stay, is the only reason I did not give them the highest rating possible. read more

Hotel Paisano - Covid-19 precautions at front desk. Guest required to mask on premises, apparently not the staff. - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

We didn't stat here, but it's a very cool and historic hotel. Nice to visit. I didn't see a bar or restaurant , but if they have either I think it might be a nice place to chill for a bit. Interesting history here. read more

Adorable and quaint. Friendly overall, the food is okay except the sopapillas. The sopapillas are so so good! Definitely recommend those. Our room was big and we had internet and cartoon channels on the TV. read more

Great place great service and great drinks! The restaurant had a lot of character, there's a lovely shopping area there I loved it. read more

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You could travel the world and not find a more charming destination! You not only get to stay in a slice of Americana but the staff is absolutely fantastic. From housekeeping to the front desk you just don't find such caring and friendly people. Heck most hotels can't find ANY people. The fact that the hotel is so deeply connected to the Academy Award winning film Giant is just an added bonus. To sit out in the courtyard with a glass of wine in Marfa weather is nothing less than enchanting. If you're lucky you'll get to stay in James Dean, Rock Hudson or Elizabeth Taylors room! read more

I absolutely loved this hotel. It was late leaving Big Bend and we found this gem. I loved having real keys! My only complaint was their WiFi wasn't working when we paid $300 a night. I didn't have cell service inside the hotel either so I missed out on work emails/calls. The concierge said it happens a lot when she's on shift too. read more

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Beautiful from the outside and a great photo op. Inside not so much, the bar and restaurant had no character and the outside patio was devoid of anything. The gift shops had no Giant memorabilia so I settled on some burro Christmas cards. read more

Only stayed for a night but thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a truly beautiful building! All of the amenities were wonderful, and the shopping area and happy hour specials were above and beyond! $6 margs (with flavor options!) and outstanding soup and salad. Say hello to James Dean while you're there; I felt his presence big time in our room that was his when he stayed there! read more

Second visit here. First time actually staying in the hotel. It's been wonderful. We are hauling a trailer and the staff was great about parking. The atmosphere is so great for this historic movie city. Love the breakfast burritos in the morning!! We are staying in an incredible suite and are in movie heaven. The bathroom towels are SUPER SOFT! The room we are in has a fully stocked kitchen. So nice since we are traveling and bringing our food. We did stop by the hotel bar for drinks and sat outside the fire place for a nice evening. I will definitely stay here again. read more

Hotel Paisano - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

This was a great place to stay. We only stayed one night but the staff was great, room was very clean and tidy. We had a burrito at Jets Grill the next morning which was delicious. read more

Excellent all around. Staff (born and raised in Van Horn from what I remember) was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Rooms were excellent and the "Giant" photographs decorating the walls were completely amazing. I'm glad they held onto the history of everyday Marfa and when Hollywood came to this small West Texas town. Would definitely stay here again. read more

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What a gorgeous old hotel! We didn't stay here, only stopped by for a look. Their lobby has comfortable furniture for lounging on, making it a great place to escape from the summer sun. There's no air-conditioning down here so the windows and doors are wide open. With breezes coming in, it's really quite cool inside. The staff didn't seem to mind that we parked ourselves here to rest awhile. Did you know that the cast of "Giant" stayed here during filming? The hotel has a whole wall of autographed photos. There's also a small room dedicated to all things "Giant": old press articles & photos, and souvenirs (mostly featuring James Dean) for sale. The absolute best part is the area set up like a screening room: you can turn on the "Giant" movie yourself, settle back on the leather chairs and watch the whole thing in comfort. It's free. And a fantastic way to spend a brutally hot afternoon while getting a taste of old West Texas. read more

We stayed at Hotel Paisano after two nights of camping and it was a refreshing change of pace. The historic hotel has a charming atmosphere and the rooms are full of character. Most suites give you access to a rooftop patio the overlooks the pool or town. And, they have super comfy patio furniture. We had a suite with a king bed and sleeper sofa. Be forewarned, their sofas need some TLC. Ours was actually duct taped on the bottom so it wouldn't collapse - not what I was expecting from a room I paid $200 for. My friend ended up folding up the couch and sleeping on the cushions instead because it just wasn't sleepable no matter how tired you were. It's a cool hotel that's worth checking out - it just needs a little love. read more

Hotel Paisano - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

The stay in Hotel Paisano was pretty great, all things considered: great staff (very friendly), easy parking, beautiful rooms, in the center of town so you can walk in any direction to find activities to do. Though there isn't any typical hotel "continental breakfast" they do have fruit and coffee available in the mornings in the lobby. Dining is available for several hours in the evening, though I didn't try the fare, and the bar is open a little later (I believe I was told until 10 or 11pm). However, you have to remember that it's an old hotel with renovated rooms (the room I stayed in had obviously been 2 singles converted to a larger one with a wall knocked out) so things aren't as modern as you may be used to. Bathrooms are tiny and some don't have ventilation besides an open window; there was no elevator that I could see so we had to heave our suitcases up the stairs; and this the biggie... the walls are not at all thick, so every conversation held at normal volume (or louder, as the case may be) out in the hallway can be heard inside the rooms. My bed's headboard was right against the wall facing the hallway and staircase so it was like people were in the room with me. All of this can be rectified with a good pair of earplugs, so I'm not too fussed, but if you're not prepared, I could imagine it as pretty annoying. read more

Good things: lobby is nice and Giant movie display interesting. Staff was friendly and helpful. Location is central in this small town and walking to breakfast is easy. Jett restaurant worth a look and cocktails or appetizers. Concerns: Once past the lobby, this historic hotel is showing some serious age issues. Our bathroom was among the most cramped I have ever seen. Shower gave me straightjacket feelings. No breakfast or lunch on property. No refrigerator in our room. TV picture quality is vintage 1975. Bottom line: not too many choices in Marfa. Had we to do it over, we would have booked a yurt at Cosmic for at least one night. This place is acceptable so long as you are a history buff and can deal with an aging hotel in need of serious room renovation at a price higher than you should be paying. read more

This restored relic from the 1930s is best known for where Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean lived while filming GIANT. Partially due to its location in the center of town, partially due to its history, Hotel Paisano retains old-school chill better than the Thunderbird Hotel and all its hipness. Excellent patio with fountain for drinks when the hot sun goes down, and during the day, the cold stone floor mixed with shadowy environs from the lobby to the rooms makes it a great place to get your nap on. Jett's Grill, adjacent to the lobby, is a staple with a great bar when other restaurants are closed. A nice step back in time. read more

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I am going to break this down into positives and negatives of staying at this hotel... Positives: I love historic hotels and this was a lovely one to visit. The actual hotel is beautiful with a beautiful courtyard, fountain, era appropriate updates and details found in the room. After reading yelp reviews, I booked a room with a patio so we would have our own fireplace outside. I enjoyed this very much and the staff did provide us with matches and an extra log. I liked having the patio seating and the view was pretty and interesting from our room. I loved the french doors. I liked the remote control for the thermostat. They had adorable bathroom toiletries. The towels were soft and clean smelling. I was grateful for fresh coffee and fruit that was provided in the lobby in the morning. I was pleased with the exercise facilities (though only one treadmill became a problem as it filled up with more guests). Parking was not a problem and there were gift shops inside the hotel. Negatives: The room was small but this was clearly advertised when booking (seems a tolerable negative). The room was extremely un-private. Every sound could be heard from both outside and inside the room. The maids' vacuums were very loud and very early in the hallway. Loud children and families lingered in the hall outside our room which felt awkward and disruptive to our rest. The bathroom door did not close fully nor did it have a lock. The bathtub did not drain ... Almost at all. It was one of the worst I had ever seen as far as draining problems. The staff at the front desk were sometimes absent and were not very friendly. The room seemed to be priced a bit high for what it was. read more

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This is a beautiful historic hotel located on the main drag in Marfa. The pool area is just so peaceful and relaxing. The bar was okay, but our drinks left something to be desired. Their pet policy is $20 per pet for the entire trip. We have three dogs so that could've been a little bit pricey. Luckily the person checking us in thought the $60 for one night was exorbitant so he gave us a break. If we were staying here a whole week $60 wouldn't have been bad, but $60 for one night was a little pricey so I'm glad he helped us out. Overall, I'd come back here. We stayed at El Cosmico in a trailer for a few days as well, but it sure is nice to have an indoor shower! Spring for a pricier room next time, so that we could have our own patio. read more

Hotel Paisano - Pool area. - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

One of the sites to see while passing through Marfa, TX This historic landmark hotel was the where James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor stayed while filming the movie 'Giant'. Decorated with Texas and the Southwest in mind, this interesting little hotel is visually pleasing and unique. The large fountain located in the courtyard makes for a comfortable lounge area at the end of a long day. There is a bar in the Hotel, just of the courtyard which they say is quite nice. read more

We stayed here over Memorial Day weekend and loved it. Very very very friendly staff! The rooms are on the smaller side but that's to be expected bc it's an older hotel but with that come charm. I'm glad we booked the room with the outside patio bc it gave us more room to hang out in. We brought a bottle of champagne and enjoyed it on the patio one evening before dinner. The HH is great! Good food at Jett's. The hotel is within walking distance of everything. Free coffee and lemonade in the lobby. Dog friendly. read more

Can we say this is one of my favorite places in Marfa. I look forward to the daily Happy Hour at the bar. It's really a treat. The drinks are so darn good for $5. Get the prickly pear margarita. The rooms were also super clean and comfy. I can't wait to stay again. The shop has everything you would look for in a shop/boutique. read more

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We had a nice stay in the Rock Hudson Suite - the largest suite at the hotel. The suite is easily as big as someone's one bedroom apt. It has a large living and dining area, small kitchen, two baths, a bedroom, and a large study area. Best of all, a super large rooftop terrace w/ lots of patio furniture. I know that people hold receptions and small dinner parties on this terrace which makes sense b/c it is huge. The hotel itself is quaint and in keeping w/ the tradition of Marfa and is centrally located. The hotel has a pretty cool gift shop w/ lots of memorabilia from the movie "Giant" and west Texas inspired gifts. My only slight negatives: The pool was way too cold to get in beyond my waist and while the food at the restaurant was good, I thought it was a bit pricey for Marfa. All and all, a nice, relaxing place to get away for a few days and unwind. read more

Older, historic hotel leaning into its history. Beautiful stay in Marfa with cozy rooms and lovely balcony!

No phones in the rooms? What the...? Hey that's ok, we don't need in-room phones. After all it is a historic icon in Marfa and everybody has a cell phone anyway (but good luck getting a signal). The rooms are very quaint with no frills but they have lots of charm. The bar is spacious along with the outdoor sitting area, bring a jacket in the evenings. This is a typical old Texas hotel if you've ever seen one. I would definitely go back, in a heartbeat. read more

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Historic hotel in Marfa, Texas, is a lovely retreat. We had 2 rooms. Our adult kids shared a very spacious room with 2 queen beds. We were in a king room with a balcony that overlooked the courtyard. Kids room did not have its own A/C - it was shared with several other rooms with a common thermostat in the hall. When they asked the front desk for assistance at around 10:30pm, the person was unsure about how to lower the temp. As such, the room was warm and not as comfortable as it could have been. Our king room had its own A/C & it worked great! This place has awesome beds and bedding - comfy & luxurious. The pool at this hotel is not very inviting - not much space to lounge. Overall a lovely experience. Just make sure you inquire about the A/C if that matters to you. read more

Hotel Paisano - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

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The coolest hotel. Looking online, many places were completely booked. We really lucked out and found this hotel. Would definitely recommend and will definitely come back again. read more

We loved our three night stay at the Paisano. We had a room with a private patio and fireplace and a great view of the courthouse. We enjoyed lighting a fire each night, drinking wine and looking at the stars. Our room was small, cozy and comfortable. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The morning coffee served in the lobby was delicious! The hotel decor is very old fashioned, perfect for the "going back in time" experience of Marfa. There is a pretty swimming pool which looks very inviting for the hot summer months. We enjoyed sitting on the veranda relaxing and resting by the fountain after sightseeing. Fun experience in Marfa! read more

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El Paisano is a lovely period hotel. The courtyard is gorgeous, and the foyer and reception area are spectacular. We love architecture, and this place has it in spades. Our room was smallish, but workable, with a bathroom that was smaller -- but still workable. The outdoor patio with fireplace was really nice, though a fire on a late July night would be crazy! Though we didn't eat at the hotel restaurant (because the hotel was already a bit pricey. Well, not a bit...), there is a magnificent Mediterranean place one block away that was off the page excellent. Hotel staff was accommodating and most helpful, and Ms. Carmen at the front desk went out of her way to accommodate us. Two things made the stay a little less enjoyable than it might have been. First, the room is dimly lit. During the daytime, with the sun streaming in, it's great, but at night, we had to read our books by phone light.... No bulb larger than a 60 watt was available -- even for the 3-way lamps. And second, we had to switch to a first floor room for access purposes. There is no elevator, and the second floor is a full 24 steps up -- carrying luggage and everything else. Even first floor rooms require climbing six steps, so if you're wheelchair or scooter-bound, forget this happy place except to visit the lovely lobby and shops on the ground floor. Would we stay here again? Perhaps. Or maybe we'll think about something in nearby Alpine. Oh, and for what it's worth, if you're coming to Marfa for the art, don't come on Monday or Tuesday. The town is closed. Locked up tight. It's crazy!!! read more

We had such a leisurely and lovely stay at the Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas. We really enjoyed early morning coffee and late afternoon drinks on their courtyard on the front of the hotel. The staff in the hotel were so friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the pictures of James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor all over the hotel, from their time spent there while filming Giant the movie. Our room was very spacious, more like a suite. Our room also had a nice enclosed patio. The restaurant in the hotel served very good food at lunch and dinner. They also had great breakfast tacos and coffee. I highly recommend staying at Hotel Paisano if you are planning a trip to a Marfa, Texas. read more

I'm sure this place was nice... 60 years ago. We got a 2 room suite with a completely dysfunctional AC. My complaint at 2 am via email went ignored and no one has been at the front desk since. There is literally nothing about this hotel I could recommend. Coronavirus aside, their accommodation service and quality is 0/100... and my expectations honestly weren't high. read more

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Stayed two nights at the Paisano for a wedding in July 2017. Great place to stay if you're in the area. Neat history, friendly and attentive service staff, wonderful restaurant, and comfortable beds. Really enjoyed all the photos from the set of Giant. We got in late Friday night, and the waitress at the restaurant downstairs really went the extra mile to take care of my in-laws while they waited for our arrival, making sure we got to fully enjoy our meal when we made it in. And the food was delicious! Well worth a little extra money to get the full Marfa experience. read more

Hotel Paisano - View off our patio balcony -- complimentary Big Bend Coffee Roasters in every room, which was great! - Hotels Near Me - Marfa, Texas

A really nice place to stay in west Texas. The bar had good options and the courtyard is peaceful. The beds were comfortable. I would stay there again when we go back to Marfa. read more