El Paso

Texas is cool, even West Texas. Hours away from most of the big gay hotspots, El Paso has a lot going on and the scene, especially for bears, easily transcends the border to include the Mexican city of Juarez. See Bear Border Community for more about the links between the two sides, and lists of Mexican bars and events.

Getting Here, Getting Around

The El Paso International Airport is the gateway to West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico, with passenger services on six major airline carriers.

There are hotel shuttles, taxis and Sun Metro buses to and from the Airport 7 days a week between the terminal building and Downtown Plaza, with a stop at Bassett Center Shopping Center, 601 Santa Fe St. For getting around town, day passes can be bought on any bus for $3.50, or a week of rides for $12. See the website for routes and schedules.

Distances are great in western Texas, so you’ll definitely need a car to get around in the later hours, or beyond the immediate city.

Neighborhoods

The majority of El Paso’s gay establishments are located within a few blocks of one another in downtown.

Resources

The El Paso GLBT Community Center (216 S Ochoa) has information about the local scene. It also houses the De Ambiente Café, serving sandwiches, soups, and desserts (until 3am Friday and Saturday). Other community events here include special dances, plays, film nights, and parties. The Generation Q Pride Store is here, plus a drop-in lounge/TV area, internet access stations, and gay library resources.

Visit El Paso, the website of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau, has general tourism info.
 

Going Out

Alive (610 North Mesa), new "alternative night club" in Pride Square, with dancing, drag shows, patio.

The Briar Patch (508 N Stanton St) mixed gay cocktail lounge with patio, open daily - noon to 2am.

Chiquita's Bar (310 E Missouri Ave) men and women, dancing to Mexican beats on the juke box.

Club 101 (9515 Viscount Blvd) "the best place to shake your booty" dance club, women/men mix, bands, comedy nights, retro nights, patio.

M's Lips (510 N Stanton St), progressive music, arts & culture events, all ages and types of people.

Tanya’s Gridiron (4620a Dyer St), gay-friendly mixed sports bar, a dozen draft beers, micro-brew bottles, snacks and BBQs, military, patio, pool games, WiFi.

The Tool Box (506 N Stanton), bears, Latino cowboys, men, women, pool tournaments, patio. DJs spin House, Electro, Latin House, Mash-Ups, Disco House.

Whatever Lounge (701 E. Paisano Dr) new lounge from the OP folks, with happy hours, drag shows, karaoke.

For a sampling of El Paso restaurants, from Mexican and American, to Italian, Vietnamese and Thai, see our map & listings section.

Accommodations

The Camino Real Hotel (101 S El Paso St) downtown El Paso grand old style, European or Mexican manner not new and sterile; full services and good restaurant, the Dome.

Doubletree Hilton Hotel (600 N El Paso Street), large modern hotel just off I-10 downtown, full services, heated rooftop swimming pool, fitness & business centers, restaurant and bar.

The Wingate Hotel (6351 Gateway West), conveniently near airport; contemporary American-style, fitness center, hot breakfast, Wi-Fi.