Wander down streets with traditional adobe structures, the same streets Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa once did, and experience history, art, architecture, shopping and Mesilla restaurants bursting with flavor.
J. Paul Taylor Visitor Center
Start your time in Old Mesilla in the J. Paul Taylor Visitor Center. You will find brochures, restaurant menus and other information about the area to help assist in planning your visit to Old Mesilla. Don’t miss the Visitor Center’s collection of old photos that adorn the walls dating back to the late 19th century.
Shopping in Old Mesilla
Clothing & Apparel
Old Mesilla is home to a number of unique clothing stores and boutiques. Cheeky Chicks specializes in jeans, jewelry and accessories. In Del Sol, the locals’ choice, you will find top quality southwestern apparel, jewelry and rugs. Cambio Jeans, Double D Ranchwear, Flax and Joseph Ribkoff are just a few of the fantastic designers featured in the Emerald Isle Boutique. At Gena and Shellie’s Boutique, unique Moroccan wear awaits you. Distinctive, casual clothing for men is available in Kaya’s Cottons. Get lost in colorful clothing for travelers at La Mariposa.
Galleries and Fine Art
Whether you are looking to purchase a special piece for your home or just want to browse, the art galleries at Old Mesilla are not to be missed. View original works of art by regional artists in all mediums in Emerald Isle Gallery. Delight in folk art including Santos, retablos and crosses at Galeria on the Plaza. Owned and operated by local Mesilla artists, Los Artesanos Galeria features southwest themed paintings on wood and leather, sculptures of stone and metal, pottery and warm glass art. In Preston Contemporary Art Center LLC, you will find high-end original artwork by American and international professional artists in three interior galleries and an outdoor sculpture gallery.
Gifts, Curios & Crafts
Billy the Kid Gift Shop was the former capitol of Arizona and New Mexico and later known as the courthouse where Billy the Kid, a notorious frontier outlaw, was sentenced to hang. Now owned by a local Mesilla family, the gift shop is filled with souvenirs and Indian Arts and crafts. It is especially known for its’ large selection of handmade Native American kachina figures. Delight in an eclectic mix of local and exotic folk art at Galeri Azul specializing in Dia de Los Muertos, Santos, jewelry, masks, home décor and body products. At Nambe, you’ll find stylish and functional pieces for a modern lifestyle, from metal vases and crystal stemware, to porcelain dinnerware. Just off the Plaza, Scentchips is a store that allows you to create your own fragrance for your home. Experience the unique beadwork of renowned beadwork artist Julienne and other New Mexican artists at Julienne Jewelry. El Platero, situated in the center of the Mesilla Plaza, is one of the town’s most complete gift shops carrying Navajo, Hopi and Zuni Jewelry and kachina dolls. Old Mesilla Valley Chile Company sells authentic local recipes of unique salsas and sauces. Be sure stop by Thunderbird de la Mesilla, the oldest brick building in New Mexico, featuring a selection of Southern New Mexican jewelry, pottery and kachinas. The Mesilla Book Center, housed in an historic mercantile building on the Plaza, carries a large selection of Southwestern Americana books as well as Navajo rugs and Chimayo blankets, Indian arts and crafts, and maps.
Old Mesilla is home to selection of restaurants and cantinas. Café don Felix on Historic Old Mesilla Plaza serves Mexican cuisine, salads and sandwiches. At the Double Eagle de Mesilla, enjoy aged steaks, green chile cheeseburgers, a nationally recognized wine list and award-winning margaritas. Next to Billy the Kid Gift Shop, Wild West Express-O features a full-service coffee bar with freshly roasted coffee blends, espresso, cappuccinos, lattes and assorted cold beverages as well as gourmet pastries and deserts. Enjoy Sonoran hot dogs and other popular Mexican street food at Andele’s Dog House. Traditional Italian cuisine can be found at Lorenzo's de Mesilla Italian Restaurant.
Travel Tip
- Be sure to ask for your free sample of El Platero’s world famous Old Town Fudge.