Westside El Paso El Paso, TX

The Outer Westside area and much of the Rio Grande Valley has been occupied for millennia by Native Americans. The area also saw traffic from Spanish explorers in the 1500s along the El Paso Del Norte or the pass to the north. More Europeans followed, and after the settlement of the American West, El Paso found itself on a hostile border and was shaped by the creation of Fort Bliss in 1849. During World War II, the city saw intensified trade and manufacturing, and prosperous residents sought the quietude of Outer Westside and nearby areas. Downtown El Paso has a number of museums that document this history and showcase art inspired by the border region. The El Paso Museum of History displays exhibits tracing the last 400 years of the area, and the El Paso Museum of Art shows works by and about the people who live in it.

Nearby North Resler Drive hosts the majority of the area’s dining and nightlife. Snag a pie and eat outside at Ardovino’s Pizza — the Joanna comes with spinach and, interestingly, no red sauce. Other unusual edibles include the four seasons with a different topping in each of the four quadrants, including green chili ricotta and spinach with garlic. The wine cellar feel at this family-owned Outer Westside eatery makes it an unusual addition to the high desert, serving the thinnest crust in town.

A specialty upscale bakeshop and bistro right at home in the area, Pastry Chef Café sells sophisticated breakfast items like eggs Benedict and pastries. Its most sought-after specialty are perhaps the authentic old-world holiday cookies baked by a European-trained pastry chef and add classy spice to area celebrations.

Ripe Eatery is an amalgamation of cuisine from all over the world. Swedish meatballs and Vietnamese banh mi are both popular items from very different places, and this family-owned eatery also features their own creations like green chili chicken and dumplings, served with a selection of local and specialty brews. Locals rave about the brunch, and the owners often stay on-scene.

Although a quiet part of El Paso, the Outer Westside does have nightlife options, also along North Resler Drive and further south on North Mesa Street, usually populated by UTEP students and their ilk. One of the most popular nightspots, Aceitunas Beer Garden and has outdoor space with live music and a relaxing view. Koi ponds and hardwood furniture add to the atmosphere and drink specials can be very cheap at this unpretentious bar.

Residents head west to Cinemark West and XD for movies in a modern, traditional setting or Cinemark Movie Bistro to catch flicks while dining on gourmet fast food.

In addition to its isolation from the stress of the city, one of the reasons residents choose the Outer Westside is its fast freeway access. Downtown sits just minutes away, accessible via Interstate 10, and most residents of the area drive to jobs closer to the center of town. Sitting at the base of the Franklin Mountains, through traffic remains nonexistent, free parking abounds and residents walk the safe streets while taking in the expanded view of the Rio Grande Valley. Shopping will have to be done primarily by car, as most shopping centers sit a mile or more away, but the Sun Metro bus line provides access to downtown and the rest of the city for $1.50 via the number 19 and 14 routes in the Outer Westside.

Taxis won’t be found patrolling for fares in the area, but Uber and other car services stay readily available with a quick call or click. There isn’t a designated bike route to downtown from the neighborhood, but cyclists strap their bikes to racks on city buses to access the network of dedicated bike lanes around the center of the city.

Recreation opportunities abound on the Outer Westside, embraced by the Franklin Mountains to the east and north, and the Westside Open Reserve to the west. Admission costs $5 daily in the Franklin Mountains, and camping is a popular activity in this state park. Those willing to hike up earn a view of hundreds of square miles, and the unwilling can take the aerial tramway and see it anyway. Free city parks are also in abundance, and the Westside Open Reserve’s hundreds of acres of grass and desert hills accommodate dogs and include a community park with activities and structures for kids like a skate park and baseball field.

Just a few miles south, the yearly Sun Bowl draws football fans from around the southwest during December for one of the most-watched college athletic events of the year. The city hosts a number of activities during the week of the game — not all football related — that include specials on museum visits and dining in sunny El Paso.

Average rent in the area for a one-bedroom residence sits well above the city average at $825. Residents pay a premium for cool foothills temperatures and an expansive view, with fast access to downtown. The price of a beer and a meal at $6 and $10, respectively, also sit above the city average, and contribute the cost of living in the area — also higher than that of much of El Paso. Gas in the area runs about 9 percent cheaper than the national average. The city’s Sun Metro bus network allows easy access to all corners of the city, a one-way ticket costing $1.50.

Outer Westside residents do the majority of their shopping in the city proper, but nearby establishments include upscale jewelry boutique Susan Eisen Fine Jewelry and Watches. Susan’s attention to detail and on-site jewelry fabricating facility have made her locally famous, but one of her lesser-known specialties is doing jewelry makeover and redesign. Area residents bring in pieces they no longer care for, and work with Susan to design a new look so it can have a new life.

Be the star at your next meeting by bringing snacks from boutique bakery The Bagel Shop. It creates original combinations of time-tested flavors, and locals love to grab a jalapeño bagel with strawberry cream cheese to fuel further shopping, Have this couple-owned shop cater an early staff meeting, or order lunch specials like turkey and avocado with bacon on a bagel. Musicians and parents in the area turn to White’s Music Box for instruments and rentals. It carries a selection of new and used instruments for band and orchestra, and features reasonable monthly rates that most families can afford.

Residents doing a remodel stop by Adam’s Moulding to get attractive wood fittings and stairs for attractive interiors. This family-owned establishment has been in the area for over 20 years and many homes of the Outer West Side have its custom arches and other elegant additions on display.

Residents shop for household items at two nearby Walmart Neighborhood Markets and also an Albertson’s. Sam’s Club exists nearby for members buying bulk, and the downtown El Paso Artist and Farmers Market features art and produce from local creators and cultivators each Saturday all year. Enjoy the sunshine and live music while you see what natives of the city have to display.