M A R F A
Where To Eat & Drink in Marfa
Before exploring the always magical & mystical Marfa, check out the hours of operation for your desired eateries & galleries online. Your options Monday- Wednesday will be limited so I recommend first time visitors plan their Marfa travels between Thursday- Saturday.
Margaraet’s
Located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Marfa (The Brite Building), Margaret’s is a small and sophisticated dinner spot. The simple build out feels peaceful, and the food is served in small yet satisfying portions.
Vibe: Sophisticated & Airy
Marfa Spirit Co
Distillery and tasting room serving signature cocktails and desert spirits. Their spirits are also available for purchase in stores in TX, CO and KS.
The Sentinel
Home to The Big Bend Sentinel and Presidio International, The Sentinel is a coffee shop, restaurant, bar and event venue supporting local, independent journalism in Marfa, Texas.
Breakfast starts at 8am; lunch starts at 11am. Brunch on the weekends. Coffee and cocktails are served all day until 3pm.
Open late for Sentinel Saturdays, only during busy season.
Pizza Foundation
Located in a minimalistic warehouse, Pizza Foundation offers homemade pizza, beer and wine Friday through Saturday. You can order at the counter, call in for pick-up, or enjoy pizza by the slice. Sometimes I purposely don't call ahead. I grab a bottle of red wine, sit at the folding tables, and decompress.
Vibe: Super Casual & To-Go Orders Common
Marfa Wine Co.
This bottle shop and patio is the perfect place to check out if you’re a fan of natural wines. With a thoughtfully curated and ever-growing selection, you can trust that you’re getting a wine that’s delicious, sustainable, and high-quality.
303 E El Paso St. in Marfa, Texas. Open Tuesday - Saturday.
Big Sandy Coffee
This coffee spot originated in an airstream trailer before moving into an old automotive shop. Started by the owner of a favorite Austin roasting company, this shop has quickly become a favorite for high quality coffee drinks.
Vibe: Texas spin on classic third-wave coffee culture
Convenience West
Texas-style barbecue, smoked low and slow. Hours are: Friday – Saturday – Sunday, 5pm – 9pm (or till sell out). Located at 1411 west San Antonio street Marfa, Texas
Saint George Restaurant & Bars
The Saint George Hotel, the newest of the Marfa hotel offerings. Well designed & executed with an extremely well-curated bookstore- any Marfa first-timer should check it out.
The Saint George restaurant has good food, cocktails, and most importantly... is almost always open- a rarity in Marfa.
Vibe: Chic & Everyone Welcome
The Get Go
Small Curated grocery store. Sophisticated offerings considering how remote Marfa is. They carry everything from essentials (olive oil, eggs, butter) to unlikely Marfa finds (wide selection of Kombucha, specialty hummus). I am always pleasantly surprised to find all ingredients to make an impressive charcuterie board at The Get Go.
Vibes: Trendy Grocery Store Vibes
The Water Stop
The spot for brunch in Marfa. Get their freshly squeezed orange juice and chicken and waffles. Open every day from 11 am to 3 pm, or until they sell out. So go early and get it while you can.
1300 W. San Antonio St. / Hwy 90 Marfa, TX 79843.
Bordo
Italian deli producing stone-milled heirloom flours, fresh pastas, seasonal gelato, and sandwiches from wood-fired bread on premises. Also available are Imported olive oils, herbs, spices, conservas, charcuterie and specialty cheeses.
Vibe: Authentic, Fun, Counter Service
Para Llevar
While probably best known for their wood fired pizzas, Para Llevar has a range of offerings, from sandwiches and salads to margaritas and more. Open 11am - 8pm every day.
Cochineal
Would likely be considered one of the nicest restaurants in Marfa. Owned by executive chef Alexandra Gates (2020 James Beard Award Semifinalist) and her husband.
Open for dinner Wednesday - Saturday. Reservations recommended. Delicious food.
Vibe: Sophisticated & Sleek
Planet Marfa
This gem of a watering hole captures funkiness in all the right ways. It leaves 'Marfa Minimalism' for its neighbors and embraces the 'more is more' motto reminiscent of Santa Fe. Planet Marfa has a menu that always hits the spot. A ring toss, school bus, large teepee, and ping pong table are among its many attractions. Note - not open year round.
Vibe: Light Hearted & Super Casual
Aster Marfa
Breakfast/brunch/lunch restaurant open Wednesday - Sunday from 9am - 2pm. Online ordering available for takeout, or you can dine in on the patio or indoors. House made baked goods made fresh daily.
215 N Highland Ave Marfa, TX 79843
What to Do in Marfa
The Chianti Foundation
Most recognized for Donald Judd's 15 works of concrete, The Chinati Foundation is what put Marfa on the international art scene. The Chinati Foundation opened to the public in 1986 as an independent, non-profit, publicly funded institution. Located on 340 acres of land on the former site of Fort D.A. Russell, The Chinati Foundation provides a truly unique experience for art enthusiasts as well as active artists through their internship and artist-in-residence programs. A notable addition to The Chinati Foundations collection: Robert Irwin's 2016 Untitled (dusk to dawn). Guided Tours available. Check Foundation hours prior to visiting.
Marfa Lights
Since the 19th century, accounts of strange and unexplained source-less dancing lights have mystified visitors and generations of West Texas natives. The official Marfa Lights Viewing Area is located 9 miles east of town on Highway 90, towards Alpine. The Marfa Visitor center recommends you bring an open mind. Read more here. Additionally, the Marfa Lights Festival takes place on Labor Day weekend each year with food and craft vendors open around the historic Presidio County Courthouse.
Ballroom Marfa
Visual arts, music and film event center. Ballroom Marfa is particularly interested in helping artists and curators achieve projects that have significant cultural impact but would be impossible to realize in a traditional gallery or museum setting.
108 E. San Antonio St. / Highway 90 West, and open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am-6pm, and Sunday, 10am-3pm.
Annual Events & Weekends in Marfa
Trans-Pecos Festival Weekend
Fall
Each year, a group of intrepid wanderers convene at El Cosmico for a weekend of live music, sandlot baseball, workshops, vendors, and much more in the majesty of Marfa. Tickets go on sale on El Cosmico's website, where you can buy a Music Only band, or a Music and Camping band. Be sure to grab yours before it sells out!
Agave Fest
June
Agave Festival Marfa is an annual festival celebrating the agave and its influence on culture through food, film, music and science. The Festival treats the agave as the indicator species for a region that is binational, multilingual, and deeply informed by indigenous history. It brings communities together through outstanding free and accessible programming including talks by preeminent historians, botanists, artists, anthropologists and archaeologists. Films, exhibitions, and tastings with agave spirit producers as well as unforgettable dining experiences are offered to everyone. Performances by leading artists in contemporary and regional music add dimension to the lively 5-day event.
Chinati Weekend
Once a year, the Chinati Foundation facilitates a weekend with open studios, gallery exhibitions, speakers, mercantile events, and performances throughout Marfa. The Chinati Foundation offers free admission to its permanent collection, exhibitions, talks and music, and welcomes all to experience the contemporary art on display.
Where to Stay in Marfa
Thunderbird
The minimalist Thunderbird hotel is a renovated ‘motel-style’ property (all doors exterior facing into central courtyard). The décor is true Marfa Minimalism- concrete floors, colorful Mexican textile accents, mid-century modern furniture. Clean, walking distance to most all locations, typically reasonably priced unless its an exceptionally busy Marfa weekend, and cool courtyard vibes.
El Cosmico
Ahead of its time in the ‘glamping’ arena, El Cosmico has been creating unique tent/ TP/ airstream experiences for its guest for roughly 10 years. At El Cosmico, the appeal is less about the place you are sleeping and more about the property as a whole. There is an incredible amount of freeness in the air. I find it hard for anyone to compete with Liz Lambert, founder and owner, when it comes to setting a mood and tone. As trendy as El Cosmico has become, the magic hasn’t exited the quirky ‘campground’. Live music at the mini stage 3-4 nights a week and a truly awesome gift shop makes El Cosmico unlike anywhere I have visited previously.
The Brite Building
The El Cosmico team also rents out an upstairs loft in the Brite Building. If you have the opportunity to stay there, is beautiful and arguably the best location in town.
Hotel Saint George
The Saint George Hotel, the newest and 'fanciest' of the Marfa hotel offerings, feels like it could be located in a number of cities across the country. Well designed & executed, but not particularly 'Marfa' in any way. For those who travel to this part of the world often, it is a great addition. It is clean, high quality, and offers more services than any other hotel in the area. However, if you are looking for a one time only true Marfa experience, this is probably not your best option.
Hotel Paisano
The historic Paisano hotel was at one time, Marfa’s crown jewel in hospitality. While younger and prettier hotel options have invaded Marfa, Paisano still holds its own. Clean but dated rooms, decent restaurant, and multiple gift shops.
The Lincoln
Set off US-90, this low-key guesthouse is a 5-minute walk from the Marfa Lights viewing spot, 2 miles from Vizcaino Park and 26 miles from the Alpine Amtrak station.
Corte Del Norte
A private compound of two houses (plus one next door) within walking distance to all of Marfa's shops, galleries and restaurants