17 Best Bars in The Hill Country, Texas

What really puts Gruene on the Hill Country map is legendary Gruene Hall, known as the oldest continuously operating dance hall in the entire state of Texas. Many famous musicians owe their success to performances on this fabled stage, including Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Jerry Lee Lewis, and The Chicks. A trip to Gruene isn't complete without a turn on the old hardwood floors of Gruene Hall.

From the owners of Austin's popular Nickel City comes the Texas tavern Old Pal Bar. Much like its predecessor, Old Pal gives off vintage dive vibes, but it has an incredible whiskey selection and a well-curated cocktail program. You'll reach peak Texan status when you enjoy a frozen Dr Pepper alongside a beer-can chicken or Frito pie. Come hungry because this is better than your average bar food, and the fried chicken and jojos (seasoned potato wedges) are not to be missed. More nights than not you'll find live music or karaoke on stage and end up staying much longer than planned—just like you would at the home of an old pal.

It's not just a cute name, this bar is actually home to llamas and donkeys who roam the 35 acres and visit with guests who are seated in the modern-rustic outdoor beer and wine garden. You might not always experience a visit from a llama, but at least you can be guaranteed a beautiful Hill Country view, incredible sunsets, and a fun time with friends playing yard games while sampling craft brews made in Texas.

The truly honky-tonk 11th Street Cowboy Bar, with its outdoor patio and music stage, is always crammed with locals and cowboys. Be ready to look the part in some Wranglers and boots, and perhaps be prepared to get pulled onto the dance floor for a little boot scootin'.

Originally known as The Fox Hole, Arkey Blue's is the oldest continually operating honky-tonk in Texas. And like any historic, divey honky-tonk, there are pieces of history hanging all over the walls. An excellent jukebox (along with live music several days a week) provides the soundtrack for pool tables, pinball machines, and ice-cold beer—and even ice and mixers, if you'd rather bring your own bottle of whiskey.

Experience Comfort like a local at this relaxed, open-air bar with garage-door entrances. Most nights feature entertainment of some sort, whether it's a booked band or an open mic, as well as fun games like cornhole, darts, poker, and shuffleboard. Be sure to try out the swings in the backyard; there are two patios. You'll usually find a food truck here as well.

After a day of antiquing, pop into this local watering hole, with its Beatles poster–wrapped walls, for live music and a cold beer. 

This cozy, art-filled spot beckons you to tuck away into its curtained-off private dining areas or sit and stay awhile on the tree-lined patio. Choose a bottle of wine from the well-curated selection, to enjoy on-site or take home, or choose from the array of craft beer. But definitely don't sleep on the food, which features crave-worthy dishes done right, like the Boom Boom Burger (a brisket burger with cream cheese and candied jalapeño and onions) and "crack-eroni" mac 'n' cheese topped with antelope chili, for lunch or dinner.

This family-owned bar features wine by the glass or bottle, rotating snack offerings (think pizza, smoked salmon, hummus, and more), and near-nightly live music.

Take a load off on the back patio, order food from a menu of burgers, hand-battered appetizers, and sauces made from scratch daily (all dishes made with high-quality ingredients and local produce), and sip by the pint or pitcher. It'll be time well-spent, especially if you catch a local singer-songwriter's set.

This women-owned bar was started to bring together the things the three partners love the most: beer, art, music, and spending time with friends. True to its name, this is an "art bar," where the activities are just as important as the drinks, featuring a schedule full of game nights, live music, crafting workshops, book club meetings, and more. In addition to beer and wine, they offer a menu of innovative cocktails, and nonalcoholic specialty drinks.

This rock-and-roll piano bar can be mellow during the week, but it's usually packed and raucous on the weekends. There's a live band karaoke on Thursdays, and an all-request piano show on Fridays and Saturdays that turns into a massive group sing-along—a great activity to take part in after a day of tubing!

Situated in an 1896 building just off the historic courthouse square, the PEARL looks like it could be the set for a Western movie. Locals and visitors alike flock here for the small-town Texas vibes and hospitality, craft cocktails, and the dance floor, where you can dance the Texas Two-Step. There's often live music on the small back stage and, if you're lucky, it might just be a well-known blues legend, which has been known to happen from time to time.

Fredericksburg might not be known for its nightlife, but you wouldn't know that from the inside of Pioneer. This local dive serves decent, well-priced, seasonal cocktails and local wine and features live music and dancing on most nights. It's even open until 2 am on Friday and Saturday.

Although its Austin counterpart closed years ago, Showdown is still a mainstay in downtown San Marcos. The dark dive bar has a neighborly vibe, made stronger by the numbered mugs hanging above the bar for regulars. The cozy space manages to pack in two pool tables along with several pinball machines and plenty of tables for mixing and mingling. In addition to cold, cheap bottles and pitchers of beer, locals flock here to indulge in their jalapeño poppers, hash browns smothered in cheese and jalapeños, and sloppy-good burgers (you can even replace the bun with a quesadilla if you’d like).

Cocktail connoisseurs head to this subterranean speakeasy beneath the Prince Solms Inn for both classics and the bartenders' unique creations. Live music (jazz is popular) and an appealing menu from bar snacks to crab cakes and sliders make this a stylishly satisfying way to spend an evening.

Set in an eye-catching 1930s service station with a brick exterior, Zelick’s Icehouse features plenty of modern touches like craft beer, cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices, and a food truck serving burgers, tacos, and more. The rustic interior is certainly a draw, but so is the spacious exterior, which wraps around the building with loads of outdoor seating and space for groups, live music, and playing popular Texas games like horseshoes and cornhole.