Ambar Restaurante is a modern mexican fine-dining restaurant in Downtown, El Paso.
Ambar Restaurante in the Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park is El Paso's most ambitious dining room with an open wood-grill kitchen and 1,100-plus agave spirits.
Editorially verified June 26, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Wood-grilled whole fish with heirloom corn tortillas and an agave flight
Tip: The agave spirits curation is among the largest in the United States. Book the Thursday jazz evening for the full experience.
Address: 106 W Mills Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
1700 Steakhouse inside Hotel Paso del Norte in downtown El Paso serves prime dry-aged beef under chef Andres Padilla, in the 1912 hotel's restored marble.
Order: Prime dry-aged ribeye with bordelaise sauce
Tip: Reservation required for Friday and Saturday evenings. The bar area can take walk-ins for a la carte steak orders.
Cafe Central at 109 N Oregon Street in downtown El Paso has operated since 1918 and earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its wine list, pairing.
Order: Miso Chilean sea bass or the dry-aged New York strip
Tip: The Wine Spectator award list covers over 500 selections; ask the sommelier to guide by region.
Casa Pantera on Pershing Drive brings elevated contemporary Mexican to Five Points with premium beef over a wood grill and an Oaxacan mole selection.
Order: Mesquite-grilled tomahawk with agave-morita glaze and roasted bone marrow
Tip: Book the outdoor grill-side seats. The chef-sourced mezcal list rotates monthly.
ELEMI is the James Beard Award semifinalist restaurant of chef Emiliano Marentes in east El Paso, centred on daily-ground heirloom corn masa and craft.
Order: Chef's selection of masa-based dishes with heirloom corn tortillas, or the braised short rib taco
Tip: Walk-ins welcome but dinner can fill on weekends; arrive at 17:00 for best selection.
1700 Steakhouse inside Hotel Paso del Norte in downtown El Paso serves prime dry-aged beef under chef Andres Padilla, in the 1912 hotel's restored marble.
Order: Prime dry-aged ribeye with bordelaise sauce
Tip: Reservation required for Friday and Saturday evenings. The bar area can take walk-ins for a la carte steak orders.
Cafe Central at 109 N Oregon Street in downtown El Paso has operated since 1918 and earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its wine list, pairing.
Order: Miso Chilean sea bass or the dry-aged New York strip
Tip: The Wine Spectator award list covers over 500 selections; ask the sommelier to guide by region.
