Old Mesilla Village Reviews

There are numerous artisans, musicians and shops in the area. Stop at La Posta for a fabulous meal, expect to find high quality jewelry at reasonable prices.

From having breakfast, lunch or dinner at La Posta Mexican Restaurant a must in Mesilla to shopping in the plaza. I'm a shutterbug, so photo ops were plenty. The merchants are all great and the history is priceless....a must do and see while visiting Las Cruces, New Mexico

Depends on what is going on in plaza as to how much there is to do. Some shops were open earlier when we were there. We found a couple of shops to walk through. Parking a challenge.

It’s a small Plaza, but is really well taken care of! There’s several gift shops, restaurants and interesting buildings one had to do with Billy the Kid, today is a very amusing gift shop/store where a great variety of items are available, across the street is the oldest building made of brick of New Mexico. At nights (Friday) there’s live music and a lovely environment to spend a good time with friends and family. I was so impressed by the restaurants nearby, they’re huge inside and have amazing decorations!

It does not take long to walk around and sample the area. Kind of underwhelming in fact. Quite a few restaurants and tourist shops which were mostly closed. Even on a Saturday night, there was not much activity going on. It is a must see attraction when in Las Cruces - unfortunately, not much there.

This is a wonderful "village" to view and walk around in. Old village that as it was over a hundred years ago. You'll see beautiful adobe buildings, art galleries, great bars and a lovely museum.

But parking is almost impossible if you're looking for something in the shade. Shops are a mixture of high end and cheap duplicate souvenirs. The Chocolate Lady candies are high quality and pricey but worth every penny. The Basilica is worth a stop.

If you stop in Las Cruces and like shopping, Old Mesilla is a must see. The shops range from nicknacks to clothes and jewelry to home decor and books. Make sure to stop in at La Posta. Their Mexican food is very good.

Although this square is much smaller than Santa Fe's, there were some cute shops and all the people were very friendly. We were told there would be venders on Sat morning, but when we went at 2, there weren't any. So not sure if they shut down early. Some historic buildings that are neat to read about.

The Mesilla Plaza and village area is relaxing, interesting, and very photogenic.

This trip, the kids played in the central Plaza, we went in a few stores, went to the Fountain Theatre, and ate at La Posta. It's a safe, clean, wonderful place to visit at any time.

We drove to Albuquerque and made a quick tour of the old Mesilla village.I was not really impressed.

This is the real New Mexico Southwest. La Posta is an amazing restaurant, the plaza (especially around Christmas) is beautiful, and there are plenty of local businesses offering unique gifts and art. Take your time and go for a walk through the neighborhood, too!

Primary purpose of trip was to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park and decided to loop around the back through Carlsbad, Cloudcroft, Alamogordo, and Mesilla/Las Cruces.

I didn’t research Mesilla much, just showed up at the comfort inn near mesilla because hotel had good prices and great ratings.

Hotel clerk gave me recommendation to eat at Andele Mexican restaurant and walk around, so we stumbled into a great little old town with some history and a gem of a plaza.

Food was great, then we walk to the plaza, sat down and had a drink with a live duo singing Mexican songs, walked around and bought souvenirs.

It’s awesome when you accidentally have a great time.

Always like to go back to La Mesilla at different times of year, The ambiance always changes and so do the performances.

Enjoyed a walk around the square in a few shops and into the beautiful church Basilica of San Albino. Volunteer in the church gave us some history. Looks to have some interesting restaurants. Very nice to have close parking at the Mesilla Town Hall. Just a couple of blocks to walk from there.

This little town is full of character. I liked the plaza, good place to sit around and just watch everything. The usual shops aimed to lure tourists were around, of course, but if you don't give in and just choose to walk around, it makes for a nice, little day trip, good for a couple of hours or so.

Interesting historical zone in Las Cruses. They clearly import lots of tourist nicknacks but the book store there has an excellent selection and the theater is worth checking out. Great way to spend and afternoon.

Old Mesilla Village is a bonafide historic attraction, and has a long colorful past dating back to the sixteenth century. It is also delightfully quaint and charming, with a beautiful little Mexican-style plaza surrounded by 19th century buildings, numerous jewelry and wine shops, fine restaurants, and the San Albino Church. We arrived in the evening to enjoy a fantastic Mexican feast at La Posta de Mesilla (especially the Margaritas!), and had a few moments to take a few pictures of the peaceful calming plaza and Church. We were so enchanted by the atmosphere, we returned the next day to do more sightseeing and some shopping – we visited several lovely shops, then my wife discovered sublime happiness with the beautiful earrings and necklaces handmade by bead artist Julienne at Julienne’s Jewelry, one of the many shops right on Mesilla Plaza. Then we enjoyed another fantastic dinner at the (beautiful upscale and allegedly haunted) Double Eagle de Mesilla restaurant, famed for its aged steaks – which, we can now confirm, are indeed exceptionally tasty and delicious! Parking is quite easy – but the shops tend to close around 6 pm; the restaurants close much later, but reservations are a good idea. We highly recommend visiting this delightful and historic village, just a few minutes away from Las Cruces NM.

Quaint Mexican/ Hispanic plaza and village with restaurants, shops, and churches. Small scale Santa Fe. Check out the centenary about 4 blocks South of the plaza.

Touristy?? Yes! Historic?? Yes!! We took all 9 sets of guests there. Great wine tasting and a challenging geocache to boot! Good place to find gifts to take back to relatives and friends.

I love to see the history of places I travel to on business, so I went to Mesilla when in Las Cruces. One thing I was hoping to see is St. Albino church, but it was locked. The central plaza is uninteresting; half of it is a parking lot, which is free. But, there are a lot of kitch shops selling Mexican pottery, metal and textiles...and of course tee shirts. The other businesses I noticed were a couple cafes, a massage parlor, a community theatre, and a couple silver jewelry shops.

The only saving grace for this place was La Posta de Mesilla, a very large and well appointed Mexican restaurant south of the plaza. I decided to stop in just to see it, but decided to have a beer or two in their interior outdoor courtyard. it had plenty of shade, service was excellent, and two Santa Fe brewed "Monks" ales cost a whopping $6.50! I'll be going back there for dinner sometime this week and will post about that.

I was very impressed. The area looks like it is in the 1800's. The church was closed that day. The shops were open and I especially remember getting Native American tea and rubbing creams for different ailments. A wonderful way to pass most of the day.

Before going home from my business trip last March, I had a fortunate opportunity to visit this enchanting city. I loved how it maintained it's old village feels, it feels rustic and historicaal. In other words I have an old soul and I loved what I saw here.

I recently came to Old Mesilla for the first time after 25 years and the nostalgia it has brought back so many memories of walking around the shops with all the art galleries and small gifts shops. Candy and ice cream shops are the best. We happen to make it out there on a Sunday when all the vendors were selling there items under tents. what a display of Jewelry and art and all sorts of handmade items....We had a great time. The music was in the center stage and the breeze was cool and inviting. People are friendly and sweet and it hasn't changed in 3 decades. La Posta is the same....An authentic Mexican restaurant. Love the live Parrots in the Lobby and the fish tanks. The fountain is gorgeous still and its like stepping into an old adobe. with the stone floors and clay walls and perfect lighting. The homes around the area are simply breathtaking with the style for that period. Just be mindful and watch where you park..its good to come early to get a space. and bring your walking shoes. so much to see and take in. I would recommend this as a stop driving anywhere in the southwest. Some great hotels around as well, and El Paso is only 40 minutes away, Las Cruces is a short trip as well....we will be returning....

The plaza in Old Mesilla Village is the highlight of this place. There are a few shops and relatively plentiful parking available. Many historic buildings present. We toured the Basilica on the north end of the square as the blessing of the animals was taking place on the feast day of St. Francis

It is a beautiful little historic gem. However, it will take you an hour or so to explore. Just a bunch of shops and restaurants. The church is a main attraction if you like that sort of thing. . Be prepared to go early. Everything closes at 4pm and Tuesday is their Saturday - Nothing is open and its a ghost town. We went during the week of 4th of July and was hoping there would be more to do other than shop. Wish there were more events happening in this area.

Go immerse your self in old world culture, pick out some authentic jewelry, interesting food and great gift options like NAMBE silver

We visited Mesilla Village for a couple hours on a nice sunny day. There is plenty of free parking available. It is very easy to walk the area around the plaza. There are plenty of place to eat, shop for touristy things, art work and even a Nambe store. We walked down to Spotted Dog Brewery and enjoyed their IPA. They serve food which looked delicious. It is worth the walk or drive. Travis B was our server and he was great!!

This was a fun afternoon for us - walking around the quaint square popping in and out of boutiques and shops. Fun clothing, lots of turquoise and silver jewelry, beautiful leather cowboy boots, and handicrafts - glassware, crosses, mirrors, tiles, art, the list is endless. It was here that Billy the Kid was jailed before being broken out the night before his hanging. The lawman who tracked him down once ran with him it's said, so knew where to find him to put an end to him. Pancho Villa and Gernonimo are also said to have been in the village once upon a time.
When you are in the shops don't forget to look up at the interesting ceilings, which are exposed to show the construction of the buildings - which all date back to the 1800s. Shop owners are invaluable sources of local history and happenings, and seem to enjoy chatting up tourists.
Our only regret is that we did not visit over a weekend, which sees lots of entertainment on the square. I would have loved to have gone into the cathedral, too, but time ran out on us.
There are candies and ice cream for those not looking for lunch or dinner - - and some great restaurants right on the square.
Fun visit - would love to return and visit the shops we missed.

Beautiful little plaza. Great shops! A must see!! Lots of shopping and food choices. Great vibe! Stop and see the Double Eagle restaurant, it is stunning!

Pretty little town square. Actually has grass and nice souvenir shops for anything u may need. Nice bar el patio on the corner and cool looking church

Easily my favorite smaller town in New Mexico. One very much feels they are in Old Mexico. Nicely maintained plaza, plentiful shops and restaurants, and a great historic and cultural vibe.

Nice place to relax and spend a couple hours roaming the streets and looking through some really good art galleries.

This little Village is a must to visit when in the Las Cruces area. They have everything. Lots of shops for gifts and memories of your visit or clothing, rugs, silver jewelry, the list goes on. Many great places to eat and the town square often has happenings during the weekend. Don't miss this quaint Village.

We walked around a little and went in most of the shops. A few of them are very nice with local crafts but there are several cheap/junk stores that sell imported garbage you could get anywhere that has "New Mexico" generically written on it. Don't plan on spending more than a few hours here - worth it to see but not absolutely essential. Both La Posta and Andele restaurants are here and both are excellent.

What a neat place! It has a town square with trees and park benches. There was band playing one day and an arts and craft market the next day. Cool little shops and restaurants. Definitely worth the visit.

Loved my day in Old Mesilla! The people were very friendly and the area was clean and beautiful!! Will be going back again!

Great shops and restaurants with a lot of history. You can learn about how New Mexico joined the US and see where Billy the Kid once was.

Charming little town with quite a variety of shops. People were very friendly. Just a very nice day.

We found the main square to be nice and containing mostly nice shops, only a few were tacky/touristy. We had hoped to visit Bosque Park but it was disappointing to read of a 4:30pm closing time.
It was easy to park, we were there late afternoon at the end of March.

The shops are very unique and the prices are lower than when you go to other shops throughout the state and on Saturday they have vendors outside also. The shops open late so don't go early.

This is a great little town in . Its claim to fame is Billy the Kid was arrested here then shipped of to Lincoln County. This is a small town with shops and restaurants. It is a very smal town a couple hours you have seen it all. The only disappointing thing here ... progress. The jail is now a shop.

Old Messilla Plaza is a great place to drink in a bit of Hispanic culture and a great place to watch people. Plaza is charming with a Basilica at one end and interesting shops and restaurants surrounding the plaza. Historic markers help fill in its place in the history of New Mexico. Some very good food and drink available here.

Went with a friend who lives in Las Cruces, had a wonderful lunch at El Portal - strolled the streets and soaked up the culture and the pecan groves

The two of us roamed about Old Mesilla. The central square is wonderfully maintained. The church, gazebo, and other buildings are pristine and historic. The book store is worth a visit. We enjoy returning annually.

This area is historic, well kept and interesting stores/sites for everyone in your group. A good way to spend about 2 - 3 hours and have a nice meal.

Cool little old town but not allot to do - one- two hours is all you need —-Billy the Kid store nothing but a store and not much to do with Billy the Kid- skip and head to White Sands

It was fun to see the square and all the shops. Billy the Kid was here! The corner store has neat toys the kids like and pretty jewelry i like :) So fun. The Sunday market has nice local things to see and buy.

Cute and quaint town just outside of Las Cruces. If you're in the area, I'd definitely stop by Mesilla for a few hours. We took a walk around the plaza and stopped into a few shops. Loved reading about the history of the area, chatting with the locals, and seeing the cute homes in the area. Mesilla is great for a quick escape.

We didn't spend a lot of time here. Most of the activity is centered around the plaza. It is either touristy stores or restaurants which apparently locals frequent. The architecture is very unique. The area would benefit from historical plaques which make up a walking tour. We did return in the evening to have Mexican food at Andele Dog House which was great.

park and then walk to all the blocks surrounding the church. buildings themselves are interesting and the shops and galleries are nice quality. fantastic book store!

Big surprise to discover the rich history of this area. We spent most time enjoying the best food in town. Enjoy walking around the plaza.

My husband and I visited Old Mesilla around 9 years ago when we first moved to New Mexico and were charmed by it's overall historical feel. This time, it just felt different - more touristy I guess. Or, perhaps we've been spoiled by the many "old towns" existent throughout the state that are better kept with more shops selling authentic New Mexican/Native American goods. There are some good restaurants and the plaza is a nice place to sit and observe. Shops are filled with things one can buy anywhere but as is true throughout the state, everyone is genuinely friendly and helpful. If you've not visited other New Mexican "old towns," then you will probably be impressed and in truth, it's still worth a visit.

On my way to Las Vegas, Stopped to shop at the Heart of the Desert pistachio store. My sister and I were pleasantly surprised at all of the different stores in the square. Plan to stop again to explore the cathedral.

Beautiful church that makes you feel a sense of peace when you walk in. The altar was grand and very beautiful! I recommend it to anyone!!!

It's a beautiful old Village ! You will discover the House of Billy The kid. You will discover so many artifacts hand made. The people are really nice and worm !

If you come in the weekend is better cause they have little vender selling nice little items you may not find in the stores. Not to many shop around but you may find something you might like. A lot of history here and if you ever have the chance to come on Christmas eve they have a beautiful celebration that is a joy to watch. If you want to visit the church you have to check there hours of operations.

My second time visiting this square and now having lived in NM for 8 years, I found it a bit wanting. Perhaps I've grown accustomed to the plazas of the SW.
The buildings are still quaint, but the number of shops have diminished. Vendors were in the square and live music was playing which made for a nice atmosphere.

A visit to old Mesilla is like stepping back in time. Our dinner at "La Posta" was excellent!! I highly recommend it for the food and atmosphere. Then take a stroll about the square.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of Old Mesilla. I recommend going on the weekend when there is more going on in the square.

Every year my fiance' and I make it a point to stop at the Old Mesilla Villiage. It's atmosphere is that of quaint, cozy and you feel as if you've been here all of your life. It's small, but there are so many great shops to browse, nice people all around and the fudge/brownie shop is a must. Just sitting on a bench in the town square watching the people and activity is enjoyment enough.

Very friendly on this Sunday afternoon, locals and tourists alike. Today had arts and craft fair which added to our enjoyment. Recommended for sigles, couples and families.

Wonderful little Square with great restaurant choices and lovely little shops (especially Del Sol), often entertaiment on Friday evenings in the summer months

We enjoyed walking around the square and visiting the shops. Unique items in the shops, grab a cup of coffee and relax on the square.

Very quiet on Mondays, the day we visited and not everything was open. Still enjoyed walking the streets and seeing it all. Impressed! Hope the revitalization continues.

We go here all the time to get pecans. Our out of town guests love to go here too. Just bought a pair of earrings made of Coral that are gorgeous. Love the atmosphere.

This area is quite a gem in Las Cruces.
It is an historic several block area that is very accessible on foot. Parts of it would be a challenge for those in a wheelchair.
There is a square with informative storyboards, many shops and eateries.
Be sure to dine at the historic LaPosta Restaurant. This is definitely a must see when in the area.

Nice place to walk around. Lots of "mom and pop" shops. Good places to eat. Historic area with interesting things.

There is an exquisite church on the sparse plaza and numerous small shops for visiting tourists, more than you might care to visit in an afternoon. We stopped into a charming bookstore, a large gift shop, and several specialty food shops. We felt welcomed and wanted to return for gift shopping in the future.

Great place for local history, food and shopping. Fun to walk the town and see the traditional architecture.

A very nice walk though the town square. First time we’ve been here that there wasn’t a festival or something going on that didn’t create obnoxious crowds. Did a bit of light shopping before heading back to the hotel.

We were there on a Sunday afternoon and most of the shops were closed. This place doesn't really feel authentic and the number of tourists made it feel worse.
It is nice for a stroll but that's it.

Walking through historic Old Mesilla Village is like walking right back to the old West. You almost expect to see Billy the Kid round the corner and wink at you! The shops are nice to walk in and out of and there are a few eating establishments to stop for a drink or meal.

We enjoyed walking around this place. It's New Mexico True. We got a tip from some locals to reconsider eating at La Posta. They steered us to a local eatery - "Andele's Dog House". It was delicious.

Several nice little shops around the square as well as several choices of restaurants . A must visit if in Las Cruces

Friends took us out to Old Mesilla from El Paso. Took about 45 min on a back road which was great. Lots of history here. Fun shops and history. Quite the art town as well. Well worth the stop.

It was quiet in the plaza and not a lot going on. There is some cool history to check out which caught our interest..Billy the Kid, Fountain Theater, Basilica San Albino, etc. The plaza was decorated for Christmas and there was a beautiful Christmas tree lit up in the park area. The shops in the plaza sold unique items and gorgeous jewelry. There were also some craft booths set up and they had some interesting items for sale too. We heard about La Posta (good and bad) so we went to check it out. We loved the food and the service. All of these things made for a fun couple of hours.

This is good for a quick view into the past. The place still has the atmosphere, architecture and history of Billy the Kod.

In my humble opinion Old Mesilla is over rated. Its a tourist place, the prices of everything are a little higher just because its a tourist place. We did eat ae a decent restaurant where the owner gave me a Swedish Kaffe Mug just because she had it and whats a Swedish Kaffe mug doing in a Mexican restaurant lol :) but the food was ok. the décor of the restaurant was interesting.

We always take a little walk around this square when in the area and always find something new to look at.

As a self-described Mexican food aficionado, I highly recommend La Post for some of the best in America. Very historic area with some nice places to visit and shop. BTW, Billy the Kid was considered quite the hero in these here parts.

I arrived in Las Cruces during their Cinco de Mayo fiesta weekend. The fiesta was held in the old town on the plaza. It was filled with vendors selling everything from food to jewelry to crafts. There were bands playing all types of music and contests for young and old. It was a great weekend to be in Las Cruces.

The sight of the signing of the Gadsden Purchase.
Home to La Posta Restaurant, The Fountain Theater, and San Albinos Catholic Church.
A must stop if you are in Souther NM or West Texas

The Adobe buildings and cobblestone streets make you want to take a walking tour of the area. Parking is tight but worth the effort - ditch your car and take a walk around the shops, restaurants and museums. Several streets close on Wed or Sat mornings for the local Farmers Market. Great buys for local items- New Mexico Made.

Mesilla is loaded with history. Billy the kid. Gun fights between the Democrats and Republicans in earlier history. Great bookstore where you can find the history. Las post a was the stage coach STOP.

My husband and I went the Old Mesilla Village square on a Monday afternoon. There was plenty of parking and the square was beautiful. There were small shops and restaurants along the squares and within two blocks. The old San Albino Church is on the north side of the square. The historic Butterfield Overland Trail went through the square. There were plenty and benches and trees in the park. One historic building (currently a gift shop) on the corner of the square was the past capitol of Arizona & New Mexico, then a courthouse where Bill the Kid was tied and sentenced to hang. The Old Mesilla Village square is a neat place especially if you are interested in history.

Even though it was a hot day I decided to wander around the streets of Old Mesilla. I love history and enjoying the architecture and it was well worth the visit, plus there are some cute little shops on the square and so it was interesting to chat with the owners of these places.

Be sure to check out the beautiful and historic (but active) Catholic Church in the square. Del Sol has great prices on gifts and souvenirs. Also check out the historic Fountain Theatre still in operation.

This is a very charming old mission town the Spanish established in the 1500's p. The Plaza(main square) has an old bandstand at its center, and it is still put to use during fiestas. The shops surround the plaza. Chocolate to silver bangles! Don't forget to stop in and see the old church.

I really enjoyed this walk trough time in a village still very much alive. Pay close attention and capture fantastic architectural shots. The town is small and you can walk basically every square meter in a matter of minutes if you hurry, by why hurry?

Went here twice while in las crueses. First evening went there and lots of artists in the square selling things. Ate at la posa, delicious food and wonderful atmosphere. Great drinks too! Went another time during the day, visited the beautiful church and julieans? And got fresh pecans... and had a ice cream cone in the square. Love this place so relaxing and peaceful! Feels so authentic and genuine. Everyone was so friendly.

Lots of cute shops located in historic buildings, a central square and old church. Worth a quick visit and a stop for lunch or dinner.

We loved walking around the village but also exploring the nearby neighborhood, which is filled with beautiful houses. La Posta and Andele were both fantastic Mexican food experiences. Once while we were there there was a couple playing traditional Mexican music in the courtyard, which was really cool.

Beautiful old church in the middle of town very cute and quaint shopping this town has historical events like where Billy the Kid was tried and convicted for murder before he was transferred to a jail and he escaped

A great way to experience " Old Mexico" be sure to be there when the locals have their arts and crafts for sale in the park.

We started our walk around Old Mesilla Village at St. Albino Basilica. It was built before New Mexico 🇲🇽 became a state! We walked around the town and saw a building that dates from 1850 and once housed the Capitol of Arizona and New Mexico. Later it was the Courthouse in which Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang. Today it is a cute Gift Shop. The Butterfield Overland Trail went through the town which was the precursor of the Pony Express. In the middle of Town Square is a Bandstand that commemorates the Gadsden Purchase in 1854.

Fortunately we arrived just as the stores were opening. At that time there was room to park. Fun little shops to walk through and some eating places too. An hour and 1/2 would be enough time if you just check out the stores and not dauddle.

Neat little plaza with a bunch of quality gift stores, coffee and tea. Bonus is having several quality places to eat all within walking distance of the Plaza.

This is a lovely little town that gives an historical feel to your shopping. Parking can be difficult but not impossible. Best Silver Shop in town is Silver Assets!

Lovely church in the center of town with local merchants open around 11 am. Walked around the area early in the morning and enjoyed the ambiance. The church has a mass at 9 am with a speaker outside. Pleasant morning.

Old Mesilla is iconic at Christmas, Christmas eve is our very favorite time to visit.

The plaza offers restaurants/cafes and shopping within a variety of price ranges.

A chill Southwestern feel.

This village was incorporated in 1848...I recommend that you read up on the history a bit before your visit.

Old Mesilla is a small but picturesque square surrounded by shops and restaurants with a Church at one end of the square. We went on a Sunday and there were several art and craft vendors. Many displayed beautiful pieces of jewelry and artwork too. We also ate lunch here. There are many fine restaurants from which to choose, one of which I’ll review after I finish this one. All in all a pleasant Sunday in old Mesilla. Oh, I almost forgot. Billy the Kid was tried and convicted and sentenced to hang here.

We arrived late afternoon on a weekday with no crowds and the market square was packing up, We made dinner reservations at a nearby restaurant and wandered around the buildings reading the inscriptions of historical significance on the buildings now occupied by souvenir shops. The Basilica of St Albino was very interesting, this is a minor basilica designated by the pope, where there are fewer than 100 in the US. The interior is well appointed with interesting and colourful stained glass windows. We chatted with a volunteer worker who was rebuilding the confessional and he was quite willing to show us around. The square had some significance to the tales of Billy the Kid, and was a stagecoach stop for the Butterfield stage coach company. The sunset and quiet streets were perfectly giving us the feeling of the history and the many ghosts that have passed by this historic village.

A historical town where Billy The Kid was once incarcerated, a few community-style bars, great restaurants, a beautiful San Albino Church, and a plaza with many weekend activities. A great family destination.

Nice little area with lots of cute gift shops. There’s also a church there, the inside is stunning… we walked in and there was a volunteer there that gave us the history of the church. That was a surprise.

I learned alot about Mesilla during our visit. This village has a long history under Spanish, Mexican and finally American rule after the Gadsden purchase in 1853 and ratified in 1854. I had no idea that the Butterfield Stage route ran through Mesilla on the way to Tucson. We enjoyed dinner at La Posta de Mesilla

shopping galore. I am not one that enjoys vacation shopping but found the tea shop and chocolate shop very unique. Cute women handbags within a shop that pulls you in with music. Great idea for it seats back from other stores. People were friendly and although we did not eat in this area we heard food was extremely delicious. The town square was a nice area to enjoy ice cream and a cool drink.

Went here for the afternoon on the suggestion of hotel staff. Some very nice shops mixed with the more traditional shops. We did not eat here but looks like they had several nice restaurants. Lots of pecans of different varieties and blankets and jewelry.

We drove around in the very narrow streets west of the main plaza. The neighborhood has many, many old adobe homes.
The quaint main square plaza has informative plaques to read. Lots of history here.
There are many little shops to wander through and a few eateries.
Although prior to ten o'clock in the morning, almost everything had not opened for the day. The Basilica of San Albino was closed, which was also disappointment.
The corner building on the plaza which served many purposes, but was also the very courtroom that Billy The Kid was tried and sentenced. I would have loved to go inside, but that too was closed.
So, take a couple of hours to visit but don't arrive till the afternoon.

We stopped here for an hour or so and it is beautiful. A lot of Mexican style buildings and southwestern influence. A few restaurants and wineries in the area along with gift shops and a square for gatherings. My only complaint was nothing was open. We were there Monday morning at 10am and it was a ghost town. I wished we could have went in a few places.

A mini-Santa Fe? Nice to stroll the streets, pop into the book store, enjoy a margarita at La Posta and do some shopping. Charming plazas, adobe buildings and interesting history.

After eating at La Posta de Mesilla on a weeknight in early May I decided to take a stroll around Old Mesilla Village. It seemed like most of the places were closed. The only people in the square were there for a high school chorus performance that was going on. It was a nice area but it’s probably best to visit during the day or on a weekend.

Love this little town... Have to occasionally go to El Paso from my home in Ohio and it is such a treat to drive over on the back roads through the almond orchards to get here... Sure, it takes a little longer than getting on the interstate I-10, but the views of the orchards and the farmland are a treat. Once you arrive, I recommend heading directly to the Town square for shopping and then visit their quaint little eateries and shops that Branch out for a block or two. You could be there for an afternoon to explore and not get bored. We were staying at the aloft in downtown El Paso and asked the receptionist a good day trip and her recommendation was exactly what my wife and I were looking for... We popped the convertible top on the rental and headed for Mesilla, then went on to watch the sunset at White sands national Park for the perfect day trip.

Old Mesilla is a fun place to visit. They have a lot of gift stores where you can buy great souvenirs, clothes, and food. There are several high-end restaurants to eat...all of the restaurants served "excellent" Mexican food and if you like to eat steak, they have those as well. La Posta is my favorite place to eat Mexican food whenever we visit Las Cruces and the Double Eagle a high-end steakhouse is great to have dinner...serves the best steaks. The Double Eagle is a beautiful Southwestern style restaurant and historic. Visit Old Mesilla Village...you will enjoy shopping and eating.

Very well preserved historic village with adequate shops, restaurants and beautiful town square. Very enlightening, history wise, and a must visit when in the area.

cool place to hangout. friendly people and good bars with great drinks. The area is authentic with some nice buildings.

Sweet place. Easy access and easy getting around. We went for brunch at the Double Eagle which is fabulous and very historic. Service is very good. They are very proud of their community.

Before taking a nice relaxing stroll around the plaza and side streets, I recommend getting a walking tour pamphlet so that you can see just how historic this place is. Fun shops and excellent dinning all within a 300 yard radius. Check out the many festivals Mesilla has year round.

Beautiful, friendly people and fun souvenirs (my son bought a bat sling shot which he loves). Loved all the town pride everyone exhibited.

Terrific place to stroll. Lots of dining options, local wines, live music make this a calm but very entertaining place

This was our first trip to the Las Cruces area. Several people recommended that we visit Old Mesilla. We spent a nice (hot!) afternoon enjoying the historical plaza, shopping, eating, and talking to locals. We left with some nice gifts and even nicer memories.

Cool square, shopping area with all kinds of shops and you must go inside the church! Also all kinds of restaurants in the area!

A wonderful place to visit is the old village. From the stage coach stop to the Billy the Kid shop where the courthouse where he was convicted to hang one stood. It is a great place to walk around and enjoy some of the old west. A good place for family or by yourself and a camera capturing the scenes.

Lovely part of Las Cruces. Great restaurants and a beautiful square and church. Want to go again! The church has beautiful chimes and looks like a great wedding location. The old stagecoach spot is a fascinating piece of history.

On our recent visit to New Mexico we returned to Old Mesilla, a place that always gives us a strong sense of the past and how things were in the early history of this area. Walking around the old village plaza always offers up some delight, whether food, or books, Southwestern jewelry or clothing. It has always been the next thing to a "comfort place" for me in my travels through the Southwest.

It's really all about shopping. Lots of shops and places to eat. The church on one end of the plaza is beautiful. We visited on a Monday afternoon and it wasn't crowded. The plaza has a bandstand, benches and shade trees, which were nice in the heat.

This walk captures the spirit of a Spanish Colonial town. Now largely populated with a tourist shops, the old church, plaza and buildings and the surrounding neighborhood are still discernable.

I spend a delightful day sightseeing and browsing the shops. There is a beautiful town-square with benches and shade trees. Several art galleries and lots of restaurants. I recommend La Posta & Josephina's.

Good parking situation; good places to eat; fun shops to visit; nice square; we visited at the end of October and there was a Dia de los Muertes thing going on in the square. It was fun to wander around and see the altars.

It is great visiting a very quaint part of the city with a nice park, shops, and an old Catholic Church.

The Old Mesilla area surrounding the plaza could not be more lovely. This small town is the best of the Southwest. The small family-owned shops, galleries, and restaurants are all extremely welcoming and offer great products of all kinds with New Mexican flair. I loved the bookstore, La Posta Restaurant (decorated so beautifully inside!) and several gift shops where I bought some unique housewares. I took tons of pictures of the shops because they are so cute!

This charming old town is full of history and the original buildings which now house various little shops and restaurants.

Even though we were traveling on Mothers Day and figured we would have a very long wait, but they accommodated us within 25 minutes. Food excellent, drinks very good and service good.

I enjoyed visiting Old Mesilla Village several times when I was in Las Cruces. It was nice to visit the square, read about local history, visit the church and shops. It was an easy, unhurried few hours.

I love Old Mesilla! The restaurants are great and the area has great history. I spend a couple hours each Saturday in this area!

What a quaint beautiful village. The catholic church is breathtaking and the tour guide is delightful. We very much enjoyed watching a large Hispanic wedding taking place in the park and visiting all of the local shops.

My work team visited Old Mesilla Village after work one evening. It was a nice little stop to enjoy old New Mexico. There is convenient free parking in the square. The historic buildings and structures are beautiful and very interesting. We purchased gift items in the little shops and candy in the candy store. The store staff provided information about the buildings and the area. We had dinner at a different restaurant each night: Chala's Wood Fire Grill, Andele! Restaurante, and Luna Rossa Winery an Pizzeria. We were pleased with all of our meals at these restaurants (see individual reviews in Restaurants).

We enjoyed visiting this little town and learning about its history. We visited the Plaza only. There are several shops and restaurants but not all were open on the Tuesday we were there. It was not crowded at all in early May, but we were told that it is busy on the weekends. I especially liked Julienne's (a jewelry and clothing boutique). We ate dinner at La Posta and also at Peppers Cafe located in the Double Eagle restaurant. I recommend both, as they are quite different in food and taste.

A quick stop into shops on our way to dinner. Very nice folks. Lovely square. Nice area to walk around.

This is a great spot to visit! There are plenty of fun shops & lots of restaurants! Our favorites are La Posta, Andeles, and Double Eagle. There is a lot of history! Visit the church and read about the Gadsden Purchase. Don't miss Mesilla!

We did not think this was worth the trip but we read a little about it and went. Glad we did, on a Sunday, shops around the historical center open, good prices if you take the time to shop, a market of vendors on the plaza. Capital of Az/NM territory after Gadsden Purchase and same building where Billy the Kid was tried and convicted of murder.

We went before lunch and few shops were open. Maybe better in afternoon? Needed a restroom and the facilities were below standard of a quality tourist spot. Dark and needed more lighting at 11am!!! The soap was out so we used a bottle of hand sanitizer someone left in an ash tray. Seriously OLD Mesilla?

What a cool place! I loved just wandering around. It’s not a huge district but it’s hard to poke your nose into all the neat little places, shops and restaurants. I’ll be back to see the rest!

First, I got confused by going to Mesilla St, but the correct place is Calle de Guadalupe near Avenida de Mesilla. On the correct place, I felt back in the Wild West. It was a neat feeling to be on the Old Mesilla village: the architecture, the church and the courtroom that was transfomed into a gift shop.

There was a huge lack of information about historic context. I recommend a read before go to Mesilla.

Also, there was not much to do there. Just gift shops and restaurants. It's a place to go with a wife and children.

Arrived on a Monday for lunch at Andele. Drove a few blocks to twin tower basilica.
The vendors at the park just started packing up, however there are plenty of boutiques open for (Christmas-) shopping. Quality native jewelery, pottery,
baskets and Indian blankets. There was plenty of parking available.

An authentic area that has not been over gentrified. Lovely sense of the Mexican culture and architecture. Nice stores and restaurants. Fun to walk around.

On our way to Tucson we wanted to find some local history in the Las Cruses area. We stopped at the Old Mesilla Village and I have to say there is a lot of potential here but it is in need of a promotion and PR boost as well as a little upgrading. Very nice, historical.....especially if you are a Billy The Kidd fan. Lots of old west history here and worth the stop.

Beautiful old church, plenty of benches to sit in square and shops to browse. Choice of restaurants by the square or on Avenida de Mesilla.

This is a great place to walk around and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a small, but historic town. We try to go here often to get away from the congestion of city life. Our family's roots and our great recipe's originated in this area. We just made our traditional and homemade food more accessible to the general public by placing the El Patron Cafe on Solano Ave.

Walk around and simply enjoy your time here,

Add in the opportunity to have dinner and to enjoy the music of this very historic area and you have the reasons to have be here.

We were fortunate to come on a festival day and enjoyed wandering through the shops around the village square. Julienne Jewelry was one of my favorites (Julienne is so beautiful) as well as The Chocolate Lady who make their own delicious ice cream.

We went through all the streets in the center. Nice Spanish style plaza in a more simple execution. Good place to spend a couple of hours

It was a long but worthwhile trip from El Paso. We rode our tandem bicycle there. The priest was blessing a long line of Harley motorcycles. We got in line and got blessed too.

Excellent visit to old Mesilla and the beautiful church and historic square. The shopping was fun and many local gifts.

We made a point of checking this area out given the high rating here. Disappointing, especially after having been to Old Town in Albuquerque. A few shops that were OK, not great.

Interesting history and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon...quaint and charming......visit the Billy The kid shop...where he was actually sentenced!

Shops do turn over, but Del Sol is always the place to go for gifts. The jewelry store next to it has good quality with great prices. There is tea at Old Barrel on a side street. Mateo's Jewelry inside La Posta is great for unique items of all prices. Across the corner from Don Felix cafe is a really neat shop that has Mexican tin art in the form of cathedrals, Christmas Trees and has copper shade wood lamps with inset tourquoise. This is worth a day trip, look for parking behind the church and right off the main street.

A variety of great little shops surround this quaint village square. Lots of history here and some friendly and helpful shop keepers. Great way to spend a few hours any time you are in Las Cruces.

Very nice shops surround the old Square. Choose from several nice jewelry stores, clothing, antiques, to basic souvenirs. Also Art Gallery's.

Fun shopping from seniors to teens. We had a group that included myself, a teen, a college student, and two seniors. We all had a great time shopping at the quaint shops in this historic village. They have artsy shops and touristy shops and a book store. We also found a great tea shop just off the square. Parking was fairly easy to find and free. In addition to shopping we enjoyed the historical aspect of Billy the Kid and the charming architecture of the old southwest. Highly recommend stopping here and spending the day.

My wife wanted to see the church and we did, we had to wait a few minutes for it to open but it was worth it. We talked to one of the docents and he gave us some of the history about the church which was interesting. It was a beautiful day to walk around the square.

This a great spot to stop and spend the afternoon or most of the day if you want.
Adorable shoppes, great food, plenty of easy parking.
But the special bonus everyone that we talked to was so pleasant, shops were helpful but not pushy. So many wonderful items. Food choices we plentifull and mouth watering. Wine that rivalled it maybe NY State wine tour.
Erin the time plus some.

This is a historic place with some attractive establishments (shopping, food, spa), and some original buildings from past centuries. I enjoyed the visit and a stroll by the canal to a local pecan grove.

A nice little square with places to sit. There were lots of stores but I am not a shopper so only went in one or two.

I visited Old Mesilla Village on a Friday afternoon and found it to be a lovely historic area. The Square had little booths set up with local wares and most buildings had signs with information that was helpful.

The cutest little New Mexico town you will ever see, with restaurants and bars and all kinds of shopping. Walk around the town and soak in the atmosphere.

Interesting history and old buildings and church. Fun shopping and enjoying ice cream sitting in the town square.

We strolled around Old Mesilla Village on a Wednesday evening, just after 5 PM and found everything except for a couple of restaurants to be already closed. The main town square is quite nice, but didn't really find anything else of much interest.

Mesilla is a very quaint and picturesque town, lots of stores to shop and restaurants to enjoy while visiting

Came here for dinner with the wife on a recent trip. We found the village to be a very interesting place to eat and to walk around. The plaza and the buildings around it are very interesting.

We headed to Mesilla early Saturday evening around 7 pm looking to take a nice walk and stop in for a tea and desert. We were disappointed. There was no one around and the area didn’t “feel” quaint and interesting. A few “larger” restaurants were open but everything else was closed. If you are looking to visit Mesilla to shop or stop in for a quick meal or dessert maybe you will have more luck in the daytime.

there's so much to see and the people are very friendly. prices at the shoppes are great. they have an eclectic array of souvenirs.

This is a very quaint old town with brick streets & lots of history. There's some cute shops & a beautiful church in the plaza. There's several restaurants, wine tasting, & ice cream shop.

Old Mesilla is a sweet little New Mexican town, located next to Las Cruces, NM. It is full of Southwestern charm and has everything you could want to buy, in the center of town, from Native American Pottery, Rugs, to beautiful Southwestern Jewelry. Also, there are many good restaurants and La Posta, rated one of America's 10 Best Restaurants, in a National Historic Building. If you're in Southern New Mexico, then Mesilla is a must do

The Church is amazing, truly breathtaking, the immediate area is fun, but typical "touristy", expect mass produced pottery, so-so sterling jewelry, and shops touting Billy the Kid was there. Definite worth an afternoon, and on Sundays after Church lets out around noon, the square is filled with vendors- a lot of fun to check them out!

Great place to browse shops with great regional gifts and decor. There is also the Billy the kid shop that has great gifts for travelers and kids love it! Near this area is Pepper's and Double Eagle resturant. Not very far from here is La Posta as well. Great place for families to hang out and often there are activities or festivals in this area.

Very few shops of interest. Nothing very special. The outside market was minuscule but it was the off season.

It’s got potential, but they have put some effort into it . We went on a Saturday, most of the shops were closed. It looked like a ghost town.

I enjoyed walking around to all of the mini shops in this area. It is pretty small though, so don't plan on spending a whole day there. At max, plan for a couple of hours.

We love everything about Old Mesilla Village. The beautiful Basilica de San Albino, the restaurants and the stores. Great place to spend the day!

We live about 20 minutes from Mesilla so it’s almost in our neighborhood so to speak. But we go there often, maybe 3-4 times a month because we enjoy so many things about it. Great restaurants, fun shopping for so many different things & just plain fun! Whether you go for shopping, dining, learning about the great history or just plain fun, Mesilla is worth the time to visit.

We visited Old Mesilla Village for food and (a few days later) the fiesta. A great and friendly fiesta; Mexican, English, Native Americans selling food, drinks, and goods and milling in the dense crowd, chairs many layers deep surrounding the old plaza. Lots of colour; excellent music and dance; the HEART of this community was on display for all to see, and all to share. We had a great time at the fiesta, eating and drinking locally.

The Plaza itself has many historical signs, helping us place Mesilla in history - Mexican-American, Wild West, Civil War (I never would have guessed), and much more. Lots of shops in old buildings with all types of merchandise. Colourful and clean, we're glad we extended our stay in the area to share in the fiesta here. Definitely worth a visit. And who would have known the area is surrounded with pecan trees and farms?!

So, yeah, it's a little interesting, walking around. But mostly just jewelry and leather and souvenir shops.

Our main goal was to visit the Basilica of San Albino. Unfortunately we were only able to take a couple of photos of the exterior of the church because it was locked. I also thought there might be some grounds around the church that would provide an atmosphere of peace but there weren't. There were some shops that weren't open and some restaurants that were open. Determine what you want to see and experience and call ahead to determine if the sites are open.

This is always a nice place to come on Sundays when they have the local market with local products and veggies... so full of life and culture

We were last here 6 years ago, and it was a thriving, bustling little village of shops, restaurants, and old buildings to visit. Unfortunately it seems most of the shops are empty and what remains are pretty much stores that have the same items, with a sprinkling of a unique item here and there. Although we did go there mid-week, it was around the time people would or should be out shopping for the holidays. There was just a smattering of people walking around...and this was at lunchtime. Was happy to still see The Double Eagle was still open for business. This place is truly a gem. Food is excellent as well. The history of this building is priceless and should be preserved at all costs. It’s history & existence is essential to Old Mesilla Village.

This is a good place to spend a few hours. Interesting and varied shops (silver jewelry, western-wear, Nambe factory outlet, pecans, and more.) Historic buildings.

Great little village with a gazebo and great shopping in historic places. Very New Mexico feeling. La Posta is a premier Mexican restaurant.

This charming, historical Mexican village is on the outskirts of Las Cruces at the junction of I-10 and I-35 going north into New Mexico. The little village includes the courthouse where Billy the Kid was jailed which is now a souvenir shop. The old post office, La Posta, is a very good restaurant. Up the street is Double Eagle restaurant which was the governor's mansion. His wife took a pair of scissors to a maid her son was interested in, and that was the end of the young girl. The room is said to be haunted with silverware being rearranged and furniture moved. There are many good quality dress shops and souvenir shops lining the plaza, and the cathedral at one end. An old cemetery with highly decorated tombstones is up a side street. It's charming, rustic, always an interesting place to visit.

We've been to the village a couple times and actually were sort of disappointed. Around the plaza there were just a hand full of vendors (were told it was bigger on Sunday and went back but again, not much more). The church was not open to the public; that was a disappointment. Most of the shops are pretty much alike and things are over priced; sort of touristy. I'm comparing this to Tubac, AZ and it just doesn't stack up. There is one public restroom, one block off the square and it's not so nice. It would be nice if the village would spring for a large, better lit public restroom.
It is a quiet, slow paced place and the traffic was reasonable with plenty of places to park during the week.

Old Mesilla Village provided hours of shopping (great shops for jewelry, crosses, Native American and South American art, holiday decor, and local food treats). The local shop keepers were extremely friendly and helpful. Enjoyed lunch and dinner along with the stroll around the square, where musicians played all afternoon. Loved the old-world feel of this town. Old Mesilla (and Las Cruses) are now at the Top of my list of favorite cities followed by Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Loved the old square with it’s historic church. Such interesting shops and nice dining experiences. Very relaxing and fun atmosphere. There’s a wonderful vendor’s market on Sundays. We spent lots of Time walking around, shopping, eating and walking the dogs. Met many interesting and nice people on our visit.

We checked out Mesilla and enjoyed wandering around the town. Neat shops and restaurants. Pretty area with a nice town square.

It is lovely but many of the stores are very very expensive. We had our active 2.5 year old. Certainly not a place for him even when we went to the Brew Pub. There was no high chair. Not very welcoming

We went to see Old Town but arrived to early and shops were all closed. We wandered into the church and were so moved by the beautiful sanctuary. The stained glass windows and images of the saints are a work of art but the altar gave me goosebumps.
Please excuse the vacuum they stopped cleaning so I could take a picture. Linda

Part of the general Las Cruces metro, Mesilla is a separate town that has been designated as an Historic National Landmark.it’s history dates back to at least the 16th century. It officially became a town in 1848 after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. A classic New Mexican town, it has the traditional plaza with a church on one side, filled with great shops and incredible restaurants, this is a must-visit town in Southern New Mexico. Attention has been paid to the historical nature of the town, so the architecture will transport you back to another time. Don’t miss visiting La Mesilla, also called Old Mesilla.

The only bummer was I rocked up at 5pm and that's when most shops closed (I'm leading with this bc another review also mentions 5pm but doesn't mention that detail). Otherwise, my walk around the plaza and the shops that were open was quiet and peaceful, with lots of history from plaques on walls and interesting historical buildings. I enjoyed looking at the shops through windows, even if they were mostly closed.

For a woman traveling alone, I felt safe walking around this area during the evening. There are also several restaurants to choose from.

Quaint area to walk around with some interesting shops. The tea shop there was nice and it was good to have some tea to walk around with.

The San Albino Cathedral was stunning and worth the drive to the area. A nice park in the center to relax. Otherwise either over priced shops or cheap T-shirts / rocks in a bag.

Nice place to relax & walk around the old town. Seeing the beautiful old church, town square & the building that used to house the courthouse where Billy the Kid was sentenced (now a gift shop) was fun. And lots of shops there are!

As a native of Mesilla, I can say that every shop, restaurant, cafe or bar, has that 'I'm at home feeling". Every bartender, server, and sales staff treats you with kindness, and make you feel pampered. Plus the history behind Mesilla, is just fascinating. A must visit!!!.

Stopped as a layover for the day. Walked thru and loved it. Very historical, especially if your interested in Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Nice shops and very friendly people. Great place for souvenirs.

Nice place to stroll during the day or at night. Plenty of places to eat, drink, shop. Lots of history and character.

Very nice area to stroll around. Everyone was friendly and the shops were interesting to visit. Beautiful buildings. Nice history.

Nice little plaza surrounded by shops and restaurants. We went on a Tuesday afternoon in April and it seemed that not all shops were opened. Not sure if it was just off season, an off day, or if they were going out of business. There still was enough for us to do for several hours between a wonderful lunch (see separate review if La Posta), visiting the church, or going through the shops and art gallery.

small square with centerpiece being the church pictured and the other sides of the square have small shops. parking is limited and most of the streets are small/tight and are one-way.

The shops were delightful and everyone took great care for your health and safety during this Covid pandemic. Parking was convenient across the street. Easy to get to and I found a nice souvenir to take home. Many restaurants, but we did not partake. A real square with a church anchoring it at one end. Plenty of shops to meet anyone’s fancy.

Yes, it’s a bit of a tourist trap. But who doesn’t like shopping for and buying local fare in a quaint little Spanish plaza? Great selection of shops, and a beautiful church at one end. Honestly, the prices are not that inflated. Some of the best restaurants are in and around the plaza.

We wanted to visit the open market place. Vendors are there only on Saturday in October. Did return on a Monday to the Nambe store and was very pleased with the items I purchased. Stores beyond the square, like Silver Assets, also have a nice collection of jewelry and New Mexico craft items.

Such a quaint old town. Loved the older couple singing together! So sweet. The are a few shops to visit. We enjoyed lunch at La Posta.

just take a walk through the old Mesilla Village each building has a story behind it and the food is amazing. the structures of the buildings reminded me of down to earth and History you can really tell how the people put there love into there shops.

Lovely community Christmas event - candlelight service, probably over 250 people singing carols, church bells ringing. The plaza is ringed with luminarias, light poles decked with evergreens plus red chili peppers. Mayor of Old Mesilla expressed gratitude to first responders. Hot chocolate and cookies. Friendly shops around the plaza stayed open til 5 or 6 pm with samples of unique local tastes like pecan pie horchata tea and green chili pistachio brittle. Great book shop with old and new books, highlights include local lore and women’s empowerment.

We went to Old Mesilla Village expecting some nice Southwestern architecture. What we found was a small town in fair shape that is really just a bunch of small shops and restaurants. If you are just looking to shop you will likely be happy. I can’t see how it can be the number two thing to do in Las Cruces area. Normally I take hundreds of pictures a day. Today I took 4.

Must see stop if visiting any town near Mesilla or Las Cruces! original small streets and buildings. Just FULL of history and little shops. I could spend a full week here.

The square has benches in the center under trees. Around the square are various shops with native New Mexico arts and crafts items and local food items like green chili sauce, etc. A church with interesting architecture takes up one side of the square. An ice cream shop and other snacks are available. A good Mexican restaurant nearby - La Posta De Mesilla.

A fun area to walk around and learn its history. Don't fail to eat at the historic Duuble Eagle restaurant. Be aware that there are two restaurants in one, casual patio dining or formal gourmet steak house. The buildings history is worth the visit alone.

The day we spent here we attended church at the Basilica, then they had a market in the square. Vendors with crafts and products lined the square, large variety of items. Stores around the square have a great variety of New Mexico art and wine. Double Eagle restaurant was very popular.

We drive over for dinner and much of the town was closed (seems to be a constant). The center of the town was fun to tour, one could do it quite quickly. We ate dinner and then made our way back to our hotel! We did get eaten alive by some bug bites on the grass, so beware of stepping on the grass too long.

Visited Old Mesilla Village on Cinco de Mayo. It was a disappointment. There were far too many vendors crowded onto the square, thus making movement slow and tedious .

Not so much to do in Mesilla, but this cute little Plaza is worth seeing. A few quaint shops and a little church around the parameter, just like so many old towns in the southwest.

Best place to walk around the square. Great shops, food, and churches. A little farmers market was going on with honey, crafts, jewelry, books, etc.
Well behaved dogs allowed.

We went here Christmas Eve. Every year they have a Christmas Eve celebration on the square. Music, singing Christmas carols, Church bells sounding. It was a wonderful way to spend the evening while being away from family on Christmas. We went back a couple days later to tour the town shops & galleries. Worth taking a trip to this old historic town.

Exactly as expected - an old town square, clean, good signage, and great history. Had authentic (old) old-west adobe architecture, and many nice shops with varying levels of souvenirs & art. Spent about 1.5 hours walking around; several restaurants and bars in the area.

If you are driving on Interstate 25 and pass a sign that points toward Mesilla, STOP! This is a wonderful place to visit. The residents have preserved the tiny plaza and surrounding buildings so that the ambiance is that of earlier days. Park in the small parking lot by the plaza, then walk in the steps of Billy the Kid, Civil War generals and numerous heroes and villains. Have lunch or dinner at one of the wonderful restaurants or spend the night at a near-by B&B. Hear the history of the place by a real live guide who has live in Mesilla for many years.Call Priscilliana @575-647-2639. And SHOPPING! Great little bookstore that features local books of all sorts and be sure to look at other stores featuring silver jewelry, and unique clothing as well as souvenirs.

I don't understand the rave reviews. Yes, it's quaint and historic, but unless you're a shopper, it will take about 15 minutes to see it all. My wife and I are both retired and are into downsizing, so we may do some window shopping occasionally, but seldom are we actually looking for something to buy. We enjoy experiences - the vibe of a place is important. We visited on a Friday evening and there was no vibe. We both agreed that we find Old Town Albuquerque much more enjoyable. We had dinner at La Posta de Mesilla. Again - nothing to write home about. Very fast service but the place was very noisy and food just OK. The building itself is something to see - rich in history. Recommend you walk through it and keep going....

What a wonderful time we had walking around sightseeing & shopping. So much to see and do. Great for the old & young.

Charming historic district of Mesilla Village. Some parking in Mesilla, other parking adjacent to the village. Imagine stepping back into time to the 1800s. Mesilla has a rich history and it's a pleasant walk around the square to stop in local shops. Visit the oldest building in New Mexico as well as the old courthouse where Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang.

I did not even know what Mesilla was until we were looking around TripAdvisor some pit stop options on the way home. I could not be more pleased! I love history and photo opportunities and shopping, and this place had it all. Not to mention some fantastic food and drinks. What an amazing little village. A true piece of American history. A+!

Mesilla is a very picturesque and historical place to visit. The 168 year old Catholic Church. Small shops and many restaurants make for a nice tour,

High priced merchandise is found here. This was rated as a must see area and it was close to our hotel and we had some extra time to spend before checking into our room. Do not bother to see this place.

Another good stop on our adventure. Retired so no more vacations just daily adventures. Lucky go there during the Cinco de Mayo weekend celebration. Great entertainment with singing,dancing,and food. Nice shops there year round. Ate at one of the oldest restaurants in the southwest, and food was very authentic.

There are several fun, funky and exciting stores in the area. I particularly enjoy Silver Assets and the other jewelry stores. El Patio bar is the oldest established bar in NM. You can choose from any number of restaurants in the area. Several stores sell momentos and pecans! Legacy Pecans has wonderful pecan brittle.
Wear your sunscreen, it can get brutal. This place has such charm and appeal for the Southwest lover in you.

This is a beautiful old village very reminiscent of New Mexico during the Lincoln County War days. A lovely old adobe church along with a few great restaurants and interesting shops grace the plaza.

The plaza area is a low-key, but interesting area -- especially for those who are interested in Old West History. It includes the court house where Billy the Kid was convicted (now a gift shop) and a Butterfield Stage stop, and several good restaurants (including the La Posta).

This is a great place to find some hidden away shops in Las Cruces. Make sure you compare prices, as some of the shops have the same items. We paid $39 for a lamp that was $59 literally at the other end of the block.

Quaint and colorful town. Enjoyed the open air craft market/vendors. The people are very friendly. Spent over an hour talking with a local artist.

Interesting place, but we walked through the old town area in one hour! There were a few historical landmarks like the church and the Old courthouse/jail that were fascinating. There were also a few shops that are worth checking out. We had homemade ice cream in the chocolate shop and it was just okay. For a central old town attraction, this one left much too be desired. Afterwards, we drove down the road to see many pecan groves and that was awesome!

The old buildings and atmosphere are welcoming. Friendly people and locals. The church is beautiful! Just sitting in the square and enjoying the weather was great too!

Visiting family in Las Cruces. A touch of local history. Cute shops and village square. The unique architecture is interesting inside the stores. We came back for dinner that night.

My friend and I visited the plaza. The beauty of the area and old architecture is very interesting. I’m sorry I didn’t have my camera. We visited the shops around the plaza. Clerks were friendly. The shops contained clothes, jewelry, Mexican items, souvenirs, etc.

Visited this plaza on my recent trip to Las Cruces, very Spanish looking. There was a Roman Catholic Basilica in the middle of the plaza. Quaint little shops surrounds the village/plaza itself. Not much people though considering it was a Saturday unlike other old towns I have been to.

You can't visit Las Cruces without spending part of a day in Old Mesilla! It's a one stop place for all your souvenir shopping needs. Shops carry everything from the typical junk (t shirts, shot glasses, post cards) to more traditional south western items like blankets, rugs, home decor, pecans, pistachios, turquoise and silver jewelry, etc. The village itself is from the 1800s, and many of the buildings are the same ones that stood 200 years ago! My personal suggestion for lunch in the village is La Posta!

A nice place to wander around on a Sunday afternoon. The church is pretty but quite modern as it was remodeled. There are many shops around the square with jewelry, clothing and souvenirs. In the plaza some stalls offered goods for sale. Several restaurants are in the area.

Town area is small, good area for some pictures. Like the way it’s maintained as a small town look. Lots of shops, it get pricey. Definitely not a place to stay long with young kids.

Even though the buildings are occupied by souvenir shops and restaurants, visiting Old Mesilla is completely worthwhile. We never fail to enjoy the stroll. Also, a very old Mexican restaurant, La Posta, is just around the corner.

We wanted to check out the area based on local recommendations and glad we did, if only just to check it off our list of things to do while in Las Cruces. We went around 2 in the afternoon on a Friday and found shops and eateries open and serving a moderate number of women and couples while city workers gathered in the plaza to prepare for the evening Christmas tree lighting.

Shops have an interesting variety of local arts and crafts, textiles by artisans, textiles done in Southwest motifs but made in India, and textiles from Mexico. Add to this shops with lots of jewelry, women’s and Steampunk clothes, and all with at least a small area devoted to pecans and powder mixes for spreads or soup, and some wine shops. Restaurants/bars are mixed in between the shops; two recommended were La Posta and the Sunday brunch at the Double Eagle.

Saint Albino Church is at one end of the central plaza area around which the shops are located but it was closed at the time of our visit. The area is interesting to see and wander in and out of shops but frankly, if this is something you like doing, I would recommend a more fulfilling experience in Santa Fe. Nevertheless, if in the area, go and wander the streets for an hour or two.

Due to an early departure from Tucson we arrived while the town was sleeping. Except for mass that was just starting in the nearby church there was not many people around nor any stores or restaurants open. Street parking all around as well as a small lot next to the plaza.

The plaza itself was clean and nicely maintained. It was being mowed at the time. Numerous signs and markers sprinkled throughout the plaza and posted on buildings. Small town history with famous link to Billy the Kid, the Pope or a little tragic for the oldest brick building.

We completed the walk around to stretch our legs within 30 minutes and headed on our way to El Paso.

My husband I have gone shopping in Old Mesilla Village and had great results, shirts, hats, jewelry, household items, food, you name it. The prices were fantastic and so many unusual things. Also, they have some great restaurants right in the Village. We spent the day shopping, eating and then Friday night they had free music in the little plaza. What a fantastic day we had.

Going to old Mesilla Village is always a favorite outing of mine. If you want to relive the days of Billy the Kid, stroll through a quaint historic village, and enjoy a delicious New Mexico meal, this village is a most see. There are 2 favorite restaurants of ours: La Posta, and Double Eagle in Old Mesilla. Both of these restaurants are outstanding, in ambience and cuisine. On the weekends the square is usually bustling with music and activity. We were there for Los Dios de Muertes.
The Day of the Dead celebration. The colors and the memorials were
Amazing. It was a day we will always remember.

Mesilla has a fascinating history. Today, the village retains much of that old Spanish character. The village has a nice variety of shops and restaurants from traditional to modern, touristy to local. This is an essential visit for any first time visitor to Las Cruces.

We are in las cruces for one night but we were early enough to visit the village. Interesting and nicely maintained.

We loved the farmers market and especially the mix of cultures. Shops were cute and appealing to tourists. We always stop here.

This tiny village (pop 2500) has so much history packed into it; it's hard to believe it all happened here and not many people know about it. The former territorial capital of Ariz/New Mexico, a Butterfield Stage Coach stop, home and place of incarceration for Billy the Kid, and the location for the signing of the Gadsden Purchase (remember it from high school history?). The plaza is small and charming with San Albino's Catholic Church on one end and El Patio Bar on the other. There are plenty of tourist shops and place to eat plus the Fountain Theatre (a historic movie theater) which shows lesser known but critically acclaimed films. Just walking around is a delightful experience and there are plenty of festivals on special days to raise the level of entertainment. A great place for families.

Girls day from ABQ to Mesilla Went down for Las Cruces Farmers/Craft Market and then to Mesilla to shop around, Cutest little town, old town style -lots of cute shops, history, great restaurants , the day we went happened to be British antique auto show in plaza- BONUS! A bit long for a day trip from ABQ but if you are in the area a great stop.

I always go to Mesilla when I am in Las Cruces to see my mom. It is a quaint little village with nice shops and friendly people. I have made several purchases of very good quality merchandise. I love going there.

A small plaza. Several nice gift and jewelry shops. Easy drive from Las Cruces. The people are friendly in the stores.

Loved wandering around this beautifully maintained old town with an incredible story to tell. Hospitality and friendliness of the locals was so nice. A great place to wander around to learn the history of the area and the food we had there was awesome. Loved the live music on the square. Like going back in time . . . a wonderful time.

Old Mesilla has a wide variety of shops featuring jewelry, Native American pottery and blankets, as well as inexpensive souvenirs. I love the old buildings and history. We missed the Sunday market this time due to a music festival, but that is also extremely enjoyable. Great food is available at several restaurants as well.

We visited Old Mesilla on our way to White Sands Missile Ground. We had been to Las Crueces before and never knew this old plaza was there. There is a great Mexican Food restaurant, a wonderful book store, a very good fudge shop and a interesting church on the plaza. If you have been to Las Crueces and haven't visited Old Mesilla, you've missed something!

We were on our way back home, and decided to visit this little area. I was most excited to see the church, but we ended up walking around a bit. There were crafters out today, and we found some amazing gems. We visited the Church gift shop too and it was beautiful.

This was the whole purpose of our recent 3 days in Las Cruces. Lots of little shops, craft market on the plaza, beautiful old Catholic Church, great restaurants, including the Haunted Double Eagle.

Checked out this area while in Las Cruces. An old time square with many old building now containing shops and restaurants. History is displayed on various boards around the square. A beautiful church as well. Not a lot of walking to do unless you wan to explore the surrounding streets.

Don’t miss this great little spot just outside Las Cruces. There is so much history here and some great shops and restaurants as well. We were staying at Hacienda RV Park and it was about 5 minutes away. Have lunch at Peppers on the Plaza and you will not only have a great lunch in a historic building, but you will also learn more about the significance of this area that once was part of Mexico. The basilica is beautiful, unfortunately the door was locked and we didn’t get to see inside.

Nice place to eat & browse thru shops. Lots of nice jewelry is available for purchase. Benches are located along the Plaza. Be sure to visit the Basilica of San Albino & the gift shop across the street...located to the south of the basilica. Very relaxing atmosphere!

Visited this place twice this year.
Nice place to stop to walk, eat, and stretch during your road trip.
I hope to come back during the winter holidays.
Recommend it even if you are not interested in shopping.

A wonderful walk through some history and in such a quaint neighborhood. The surrounding residential area is also really lovely. Well worth a stop.

I loved my dining experience at La Posta! It was all decorated for Day of the Dead, but I think it must always be a "trip" to see their decor! There are tropical birds making lots of jungle noise, high ceilings loaded with memorabilia and art and glittering festive lights. The ladies room is like 1930's Hollywood.
I also had so much fun wandering around the historic plaza and side streets, taking photos of the rustic beauty.
Shopping was excellent. There was plenty of original and unique stuff. I found a couple of art galleries open, and the local art was very high quality with reasonable prices.
I also ate at Don Felix cafe, and enjoyed everything so much! My favorite was the Cocoa Flan dessert! They have a wonderful courtyard for outdoor dining and they played current popular Mexican music that was really good!

It’s a cute adobe little village. Nice ice cream n gift shop and interesting adobe buildings. It’s got a cute factor. I would definitely take visitors, especially if they don’t live in the southwest.

i went on a weekend, they have many wonderful artist /activities in the square. some things very reasonablly priced and unique. spinner rings, light fixtures made with cans and beautiful scarfs/windchimes. Local honey is also great!! the book store is amazing and the restuarants with eclectic history and wonderful food! all will enjoy this trip. look for the pirhanas!!

Very nice area, great shopping 🛍, several restaurant options ! The plaza is just soooo cute and relaxing 😎! Our family had so much fun

Fairly touristy, pretty old adobe buildings. a few good restaurants and a number of shops. Close to Las Cruces.

This is such a wonderful place to visit. You really get a sense of the history of the town and there are lovely walking areas in close proximity. There are shops there, but it is not offensively "touristy." Many interesting old architectural buildings and some nice places to eat.

I have loved this place since I was a little girl now I have the privilege to take my son and enjoy this wonderful place ! It is a little old town that makes you get away from all the commotion from a city . It has a good amount of stores with so many cute , fun and cool items it's even hard to choose . The people that work at the stores are very friendly and nice. It also has a beautiful Catholic Church. It also has a couple restaurants the one I enjoyed the most was La Posta. This place really gives you a feel of how it was in the past If you are in the area I definitely recommend to come here

We have been here many time when visiting family in Las Cruces. Some very good shops Great place for lunch or dinner.

It's right in the plaza, next to stores. it's peaceful on the outside and inside. It's not always open you have to see when the doors are.

Never been to Las Cruces and had no idea what it offered. Was pleasantly surprised. The Old Mesilla Square is adorable with small shops, town square and history. Cute picture spots and good places to eat.

Old Mesilla is a gem of a little city adjacent to Las Cruces, New Mexico. The town square and shops provide a plethora of history about this City. Las Posas is a great spot for authentic mexican food.

I love the bandstand in the middle of the square. They frequently have live music or a little art festival with local hand crafters. Lots of restaurants to choose from at different price points.

My family and I visited Old Mesilla for lunch today. Love this place, but it closes too early. We had a late lunch and when we came out, the outdoor vendors were gone.

I highly recommend that you visit Old Mesilla but I also recommend you make it an early visit.

Driving through Las Cruces, I stopped at Old Mesilla village for a bite and some culture. Lovely old town NM style buildings and roads and in the center is the plaza with a kiosk and a church.
Parking can be tight. Nice place to walk out and buy some nick nacks from vendors that fence the plaza. Nice shopping and restaurants arounds too.

Did not expect much at all from a little town, but was pleasantly surprised! Dinner at Chala's Wood Fire Grill was amazing!

A great and popular restaurant is in the village and some great gift shops. Parking is easy and free. Square is nice. Easy to roam around for an hour or so.

Mesilla is a quaint old town with an interesting heritage. We were disappointed after driving there it is mostly shops. The church is the focal point. Parking was difficult. The shop owners were really nice, friendly and helpful. There was a good variety of merchandise. There’s a great (Huge) pottery place on the East Sadie of town. There are a few restaurants near the square and places to stop and get a drink.

This is a fun place to wander around. The plaza and Catholic church are beautiful. There was a small farmers market the day we were there. The streets are lined with shops. Most of them are very touristy, others are rather interesting. Be sure to stop in the Billy the Kid Gift Shop. This building used to be the old courthouse.

I toured the area after eating lunch at tone of the local restaurants. It's very well-kept, and although it was well over 100 degrees, there were plenty of local shops to duck into. well worth your time!

Please come. It's always wonderful. The lights, the atmosphere - just great. The plaza looks fabulous around Christmas with all the lights

The main part of Mesilla is the town center. This was where the Gadsen Purchase was signed between the US and Mexico. A lot of history happened here and many of the original buildings are still being used. Billy the Kid was offen in town as well as several of the well known lawmen. During the various seasons many activities are performed on the square. Cinco de mayo and Christmas are the most popular events. Various shops provide local goods and various restaurants provide great food and entertainment. The Double Eagle-Peppers was the headquarters of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Come down and enjoy the beautiful plaza that was the focal point of Life. The basilica is a wonderful church to top off all the local culture.

If in Las Cruses than Old Mesilla Village is a must see! Similar to old town Albuquerque, Lots of excellent restaurants and shops to explore. This area is known for it's pecans and pistachio's and you can buy them here. One store is where Billy the Kid was tried. Interesting and fun. Be careful on side streets as their are some big drop offs.

La Mesilla is an old village near to Las Cruces. Over the years, Las Cruces has grown so that La Mesilla is really just a Las Cruces neighborhood. But it's a quiet hamlet in a bustling city. La Mesilla's focus is the plaza with its bandstand. On one end is an old Catholic Church. Around the Plaza are all sorts of shops. These are what has been updated. None of these were here when I went to school here years ago. The shops are an interesting way to spend an afternoon. They have some unique and interesting items.

On the side is the Double Eagle. Years ago this was a 'special' place for a college student to take his special girl. Don't know if it's still good. But it was a very good steak house in the day. Just off the Plaza is La Posta. Still a very good place to eat (we had lunch before touring the Plaza).

Well worth a visit.

We happened upon this little village on a Saturday. Artists had many crafts and paintings for sale. The stores also had local artists jewelry, pottery and paintings. We bought several items at reasonable prices. Fun! Entertainment in the center!

Nice small town with lovely square. Weekly markets and lots of touristy stores. Two of the best restaurants in the Las Cruses area.

One shop after another. Thought we would see historical venues. We did spend time in the Billy the Kid gift shop and picked up some nice t-shirts for the grandchildren.

I visited on a Wednesday afternoon. The town is old and historic. There are a lot of restaurant and shops. The streets are narrow, so on a busy day, I would suggest you park at the city municipal building/courthouse and walk over. If you're in the Las Cruces area, this place is worth a visit.

We're from San Antonio, TX. Home of Mexican Restaurants, historical sites, and a Spanish Cathoic Cathedral n Missions. Yet we love Las Cruces, it's people n food! Spent military tours in El Paso n Alamogordo! Home away from home.

We parked two blocks away and walked into Old Mesilla Village. The surface was not smooth enough for my mobility scooter. Traffic is an issue in the area. Cars are parked everywhere, when in my opinion this area deserves a more pedestrian friendly area. The shops were very nice, my wife bought several small hand made jewelry items. Food was a little spotty with selections seemingly more geared to local traffic. The historical nature seemed too need more emphasis. Then I am spoiled by the care that historical areas are treated in San Antonio. A pleasant visit with good shopping opportunities. I watched many buildings being renovated. This area will improve over time.

This is a nice area to walk around and visit the shops. However they seem to be a little on the high priced side and a lot of shops have the same merchandise. Double Eagle is a nice place to eat in a landmark. There are also a few other restaurants in the area that are good. It is always a nice place visit when in Las Cruces.

The history of this village and it's square is all that is interesting about it. There isn't much left but an old church and an historical gazebo marking the Gadsden Purchase. Other than that, it's shops selling touristy stuff and restaurant with a Northeastern American's idea of Mexican food... think Chi-Chi's. It's a great place to go for La DIa de el muertos, 16 de September and Cinco de Mayo.

If you're looking for a bit of New Mexico, they have it all here. Nick knacks, arts, wines, pottery, food and drinks. Great little shopping stop to find New Mexico memorabilia.

We go to the Old Mesilla (pronounced meh-see" ah) frequently, since we live in Las Cruces. It is actually located there. Billy the Kid, the old La Posta restaurant (since 1939) and the plaza are among the many places with a history back to when the area was part of Mexico. Lots of shops and the San Albino Basilica, a historic church still active. Many activities also take place there.

They say Las Cruces doesn't go to Mesilla. Well that's not a problem because having it all to yourself suits us just fine.
We spend a little of every weekend in downtown Mesilla. Get some coffee or artisan chocolate. Grab a glass of wine and a cigar, check out some very eclectic shops and hang out in the plaza in front of the beautiful church. There's a small market on Friday and a bigger one on Sunday. Stay at Hacienda de Mesilla and grab a bite at FARMesilla or one of several eateries including the historic La Posta. A fun albeit touristy Mexican restaurant with a mind blowing jewelry store inside. Lots of other jewelry stores with native offerings. Mesilla is one of the best things about Las Cruces.