The places in El Paso the guidebooks miss.
The places in El Paso the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
Cafe Mayapan at La Mujer Obrera community centre on Texas Avenue is El Paso's best-kept culinary secret, serving pre-Hispanic dishes including nopales.
Order: Nopales taco or tamales with atole on Saturday mornings
Why locals love it: Operated by a labour organisation, not promoted through restaurant channels; no signage visible from the street
Tip: Look for the La Mujer Obrera entrance on Texas Avenue; the cafe is inside the building. Saturday 08:00 for tamales and atole.
ELEMI on Eastlake Boulevard is El Paso's most significant restaurant in terms of national recognition, yet most visitors skip it because it sits 20.
Order: Chef's daily selection of heirloom corn masa dishes
Why locals love it: Located 20 minutes east of downtown in a commercial strip; most visitors never make the drive from the city centre
Tip: Worth every minute of the drive. Take a rideshare from downtown; parking is easy but the return trip is easier via app.
EP Tasting Room hides inside the Lucchese Bootmaker store on West Mills Avenue: walk through the boot shop and ask for the back room for a speakeasy tasting.
Order: Guided tequila or mezcal flight with food pairing
Why locals love it: Accessed only through the Lucchese Bootmaker store with no external signage; invisible from the street to first-time visitors
Tip: Walk through the boot store and ask at the back for the tasting room entrance. First-time visitors always miss it on the first pass.
Old Sheepdog Brewery on North Oregon Street pours sour ales, wheat beers, German-influenced styles that are technically the best at their style in El Paso.
Order: Gose or the tart wheat beer seasonal
Why locals love it: Overshadowed by DeadBeach in press coverage; the sour and wheat beer programme is superior
Tip: Dog-friendly taproom; the least crowded on weekday afternoons when the quality-to-crowd ratio is at its best.