3 Best Bars in The Hill Country, Texas

Craft cocktails are the focus at this friendly, stylish lounge set in a renovated house tucked off Fredericksburg's main strip. Go easy with a Paloma or French Blonde—Taylor Swift's favorite cocktail—or go out on a limb and try one of the owner's 100 bourbons, a broad range of whiskeys, or classic cocktails with a twist. Don't overlook the small but mighty food menu, which features bites like "Texas Tapas" (fried artichokes, filet tips) and bar classics such as poutine and stuffed jalapeño peppers. Mains include pan-seared salmon, hefty cheeseburgers, and a wicked penne alla vodka. A great place to hang out, enjoy a great cocktail or a few, and fill your belly.

The motto is “Keep it nice, take it easy,” and that is 100 percent the vibe at this laid-back cocktail bar that also serves up classic Texas bar snacks. If you haven’t tried Frito Pie or chips and queso, with an agave or sotol cocktail, you’ve been missing out and now is your chance. The ambience is relaxed, the interior features a nice and easy decor, and there are a few comfortable tables out front. Open until 10 pm or midnight, it's a great way to spend a chill evening.

Step into this equestrian-theme cocktail bar, with its exposed brick walls and black-and-white photos, and you'll feel worlds away from downtown Fredericksburg. The Stable is known for their well-crafted signature and classic cocktails, plus an entire menu of martinis and several options for spirit-based flights. This is also the place in town for lobster, in either mac 'n' cheese or roll form. Best of all, they're open daily, with later hours on Friday and Saturday.