Whenever I’m visiting a city I’ve been to before, I really try to balance enjoying my favorite things with trying new things and eating at new places. El Paso always seems to have plenty to enjoy, so here are 10 things you should add to your bucket list for your next visit to El Paso, TX!
See a Show at the Plaza Theater
The Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso, TX is an all around great place to visit. When it was built, it was designed to mimic open-aired theaters where people would perform. This Spanish colonial style theater features an intricately painted ceiling, mimicking the stars with clouds above. It also has greenery around it to add to the open-air feel. Historically, it was home to burlesque shows as well as movies and plays. Today, its used primarily for plays and musicals (I saw Hamilton there) but it does occasionally show movies. Interestingly enough, it’s also allegedly very haunted! Stop by and see a show at this beautiful and historic theater and maybe also a ghost.
Eat a Croissant from Bella Cora Bakery
I cannot rave enough about Bella Cora Bakery! Hands down, they have the absolute best croissants I’ve ever had. We’re not just talking grocery store croissants, either. I’m talking as in I’ve-never-had-this-good-of-a-croissant-from-a-French-bakery-before good! They have a crispy, flaky outside and a buttery, delicious flavor. And they are big. If for some reason, bread isn’t your thing, or like me you just want to indulge in all the tasty baked goods, they have plenty. Their macarons are one of my favorite sweet treats, but they have a variety of others. They also sell loaves of fresh bread. This is a can’t miss El Paso destination!
See the Poppies
If you go in later winter or early spring, and I highly recommend that, you absolutely must visit the Franklin Mountains and view the Mexican Gold Poppies. Of course, things like precipitation and timing matter a lot, so when I was there I only saw a few. Given the right conditions, however, the mountainside is filled with color. Even a few days before our visit the view was filled with poppies as far as the eye could see! The Franklin Mountains are filled with undetonated artillery, so you can only recreate in areas that have been thoroughly swept, but fear not! The El Paso Museum of Archaeology has a great trail to view them from. Each year in March, they also host Poppies fest throughout the month on every Saturday.
Shop for Local Art at Chuco Relic
I visited several art shops during my most recent visit to El Paso, but none of them were as darling as Chuco Relic. It’s located in a small plaza that features converted shipping containers, giving it an artistic and industrial vibe. As for Chuco Relic, itself, they had the best art I found. While I only came away with a pair of really cute earrings, I could’ve happily purchased everything in the store. They have greeting cards, jewelry, textiles, t-shirts, art prints and more…all from local artists. You definitely want to add Chuco Relic to your El Paso bucket list!
Look for La Equis and Learn About Chamizal
Chamizal is a place along the Rio Grande that honestly, I didn’t even know was a thing until I visited Chamizal National Memorial. Its sordid history was caused by the changing paths of the Rio Grande causing confusion about boundaries between the US and Mexico. The memorial celebrates the peaceful treaty between the countries, giving the land back to Mexico.
As of 2013, there has been an art installation in the area called La Equis, which is Spanish for “The X”. Its a large reddish X and is meant to be a symbol of the cross between indigenous and Spanish roots that make up the culture of Mexico. It also displays as a memorial to Mexican President Benito Juarez, who was part of the Chamizal treaty. You technically have to cross the border into Mexico to be up close to it, but you can view it from El Paso too! Chamizal National Memorial is also located in El Paso.
Have a Bloody Mary at Another Broken Egg
I like brunch because I don’t really like breakfast, and the brunch at Another Broken Egg is simply delicious. While it is a small chain, there aren’t many of them in the West so this was my first time eating here. The food was great but their cocktails were really wonderfully crafted. I had their Abe’s Famous Infused Mary and it was so good! I have a love-hate relationship with bloody Mary’s. They never quite seem to scratch the itch, but this one was spicy in all the best ways. Another Broken Egg really delivers with its fun, seasonal menu, too!
Grab a Book at Margin Notes Bookbar
If you’re looking for a good book and a little treat, look no further than Margin Notes Bookbar in West El Paso. This is the cutest little shop where you can buy books, read books, and even go on a blind date with a book. Its not just books though – they also have a selection of wines and coffee, with some tasty morsels, too! Being me, I wanted to buy every single book, but instead I ordered toast with prosciutto, goat cheese, and fig jam and a side of chocolate milk (don’t judge!). This is definitely a bucket list worthy stop for any folks who like a good read.
Take a Historic Tour
Tours are a great way to learn about a city and El Paso is no different. After convincing my friend, Melissa, to take a ghost tour of El Paso with me, we both learned so much! No, we didn’t see any ghosts, though the tour guide did say she saw a shadow in one of the buildings. Ghosts aside, we learned so much about outlaws, brothels, movie stars, and even firefighters! THIS is the tour we went on, but there are plenty of other types you can find. There is even another ghost group (TAPS) which does ghost tours of El Paso.
Visit an Oddities Shop
El Paso, TX has a number of oddities shops and they all have such a different vibe I can’t help but recommend them all! Tooth and Veil Oddities & Macabre really has a little bit of everything. There’s antiques, jewelry, wet specimens, taxidermy, incense and the list keeps going! The Red Door Vintage & Horror was also a fun shop and really hit home on the horror theme – definitely the place to get your horror movie fix!
If you want to add some ghostliness to your oddities shop, I highly recommend Dave’s A Pawn Shop. I know it doesn’t sound odd or macabre in any way, but he has the wildest collection of things – not just your typical jewelry – but items from Nazi Germany, mummies, taxidermy and the list goes on. Its no wonder that it’s also reportedly very haunted. This is actually the place our tour guide saw the shadow walk across the aisle!
Eat at Cafe Italia
Cafe Italia never ceases to impress. If you are looking for a farm-to-table homestyle restaurant that serves delicious food, then Cafe Italia should definitely make your El Paso bucket list! All of their bread is homemade and both times I’ve eaten there, I cannot get enough. I highly recommend their Gracie’s pizza, but you honestly can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. They have pasta, calzones, pizza, caprese, and then of course their pane rustico – a charcuterie board. The vibes are immaculate, the food is great and you must stop here!
There are so many fun things to do in El Paso, but I think these are all worth a visit when you’re in the city. The food is great, the people are really nice, and yes – you want to go in the spring! Let me know what you think of my picks for your El Paso bucket list down below!
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