6 Best Restaurants in San Marcos, The Hill Country

On the main square downtown, this European bistro has a “secret garden” feeling, and not only because there is a charming outdoor garden in the back, with meandering rooftop vines, French bistro tables, stucco, and stone walls. Fresh, local, and mostly organic ingredients transform into gossamer-light crepes and Belgian waffles for breakfast, salads, and tartines for lunch and coq au vin and a French dip sandwich for dinner. The walls inside are hung with paintings from local artists, and the ambience is sweet and cozy.

Located just up the hill from Texas State University, Grins has been a favorite among students and tubers alike since 1975. They're known for their burgers (and have 12 different kinds to choose from) and crispy onion rings, as well as heaping, sizzling fajitas and frozen margaritas in several different flavors.

A cavernous open space, once a garage, now resembles a cross between a sports bar and a loft. The extensive menu—with vegetarian and vegan options—is built around the Texas Live Oak smoker in-house, and standouts (the portions are extremely generous) include brisket tacos; crispy brussels sprouts; and the fried or grilled chicken "sando" with house hot sauce, pickles, and slaw on a potato roll. There's live music on the patio most nights, which is a perfect place to nurse an oversized cocktail or local draft beer, kick back, and have a great time.

This modern curry shop is serving some of the tastiest Indian food in the Hill Country, along with 24 rotating beers on tap, and a good range of craft cans and bottles. On a quiet side street, with picnic tables in front for outdoor dining, there are classic dishes like saag paneer and butter chicken with coconut rice and papadam. They also feature Indian Tex-Mex mashups in the form of curry tacos like the curry queso, stuffed with toppings and folded into paratha tortillas. The staff will give you a warm welcome and walk you through the extensive beer list.

This breezy, red-toned pizzeria, located a quick jaunt from the main square, is the premier spot for an artisanal-style pie in San Marcos. They use all fresh ingredients and have a solid menu of specialty pies, plus salads, calzones, and meatball subs. They also feature unique vegetarian options, like the Tempeh of Doom (Italian-marinated tempeh, spinach, roasted red peppers, red onion, and black olives), and they can make any pie vegan-friendly.

This low-key café is a longtime local hangout with a fresh, seasonal menu, cheerful staff, and comfortable community atmosphere. Portions are generous, and this is real home cooking! Try the signature Beet Burger with goat cheese, pesto mayo, and microgreens on a toasted brioche bun for lunch, or the crowd-pleasing Bourbon Chicken with pecan sauce served with green beans and garlic scallion mashed potatoes. Satisfy your sweet tooth: For every homemade dessert sold, $1 is donated to the local Hays County Food Bank.