Why this guide exists
Locals have long joked that Marfa runs on "island time," guided more by the idea of mañana than a predictable schedule. Some businesses are open 7 days a week, while others close two days a week, but which two days varies from place to place. Hours change with the wind. The best burrito in town has no website, by design.
For years, there has been no reliable way to know what was open, what was happening, or whether something was worth the drive. Travel sites describe a Marfa that existed five years ago. Instagram only tends to show you what photographed well. Nobody mentions that much of the town rests on Mondays and Tuesdays.
We created the Field Guide to change that. We aspire to always offer honest & current advice you would get from a friend who lives here. Because that is exactly what we hope to be.
Frequently asked questions
Are you an artist?
Maybe. But you do not have to be an artist to live in Marfa, visit Marfa, or have a drink while staring thoughtfully into the distance. Plenty of people here make things. Others fix things, grow things, cook things, sell things, or simply have very strong opinions about anything and everything.
What is there to even do here?
More than you think, less than you might be used to, and not necessarily when you planned to do it. There are museums, galleries, shops, restaurants, live music, long drives, excellent sunsets, strange lights, and a whole lot of sky. The trick is to slow down. Marfa is not a checklist town.
Are you from here?
A complicated question. Some people were born here. Some arrived decades ago. Some came for a weekend and never left. Ask politely, listen to the answer, and remember that living somewhere is not the same thing as discovering it.
Why is the business I really want to visit closed even though it said it would be open? GAH!
Welcome to Marfa. Hours here are occasionally more of a hopeful suggestion than a legally binding agreement. A family matter, a supply run, the weather, a staffing issue, or life itself may have intervened. Check Instagram, call ahead, keep a backup plan, and try not to take it personally & for the love of god, please do not leave a negative review.
BUT WHERE IS PRADA MARFA?!?!?!
Not in Marfa. Prada Marfa is about 37 miles west of town, just outside Valentine, Texas. Put it into your map, bring water, fill up your gas tank, and prepare to pull over on the side of the highway for a building you cannot enter. Yes, that is the point.
Hey! I want a poster for my business!
Of course! We made the Marfa Field Guide to support the small local businesses that make Marfa and the surrounding region so special, while hopefully saving you a little time and visitor-question fatigue. ;)
Send us an email and we’ll get one over to you. Hang it somewhere people will see it and point visitors to the website when they want to know what’s going on, what’s open, and where to go.
Contact, corrections, submissions
Spot something wrong? Hosting an event? Want to send us a tip?
Or email us directly: hello@marfafieldguide.com