31 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.

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.

This saloon and dance hall, made famous by the hit song crooned by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, was originally built by German settlers as a town hall, eventually growing into a post office, general store, blacksmith shop, and dance hall. In 1970, it was sold to a local humorist (and self-proclaimed “mayor of Luckenbach”) who turned the entire space into a music venue. Within a decade, the site was attracting musicians from all over to play against its rustic walls plastered with historic signs and relics. These days, Luckenbach features three stages with a full calendar of live music performances, a beer garden, a saloon and dance hall, a kitchen serving barbecue and burgers, and a food truck. Photo opportunities abound, and there’s even a general store stocked with a wide variety of souvenirs. It’s an essential stop for any fan of country music, and Texas history.

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.

Enjoy wine by the bottle or glass and a variety of authentic Spanish tapas and paella at this adorable wine bar with a cozy patio. Do mind the hours, as it closes at 9 pm most nights (and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday, 6 pm on Sunday).

This unique wine bar feels like hanging out at the house of a very cool friend. Browse all the art for sale inside, go on a wine-tasting adventure, or relax outside at one of the umbrella-shaded tables. 

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 appropriately named brewpub serves house beers and global comfort food and features a spacious covered patio overlooking a duck-filled pond, with live music from Thursday through Sunday. The menu includes customizable burgers, Hill Country sausages, and plenty of beer-friendly snack plates, like giant pretzels, fried green tomatoes, and hot artichoke dip.

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.

With its weathered barnwood exterior, this music venue, owned by Chad and Natasha Hudson, gives the appearance of being a town fixture—which it is. Home to live music performances onstage six days per week, with a music studio and place where locals take lessons, it’s a great place to stop and stay awhile, nursing a beer.

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.

Recently purchased by the longtime head brewer who has been the force behind Middleton's craft beer, this dog-friendly brewery is a perfect place to chill on the patio, rooftop deck, or indoors. The beer flights are a great way to taste a variety of beers, and they go really well with tacos from one of the food trucks. In addition to live music, there are community-driven events like Fly-Tying Night and disc golf on the course on-site.

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!

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.

This sunlit, white-tiled bar from the folks behind Southold Farm + Cellar pours low-intervention wine from its own winery plus bottles from other winemakers that co-owner Regan Meador admires. While a tasting at Southold—located just down the road in Fredericksburg—is always a good idea, a visit to this wine bar is another great way to try some of the maker’s available vintages in a fun setting while also sampling other area producers. Just be sure to stop by on the early side, since the bar is only open until 9 pm on Friday and Saturday and 6 pm on Sunday.

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.

From the owners of Richter Tavern comes Richter Cork and Keg, an intimate speakeasy-style wine and beer bar tucked below the Richter Tavern. Choose from an extensive menu of wine by the glass or bottle (you can take retail bottles home as well if you wish), craft beers, bar food, and tapas in a chill environment.

Housed in a neat red barn on the outskirts of town, this family-friendly craft brewery offers something truly unique and special: cave beer, which is literally brewed in a cave on property. The owners discovered the cave, excavated it, and realized it was a great place for spontaneous fermentation, so that’s what they did! Grab a “pressed sandwich”—perhaps the Sergeant Pepper with pepperoni, ham, Swiss, pickled peppers, and serrano crema or the vegan Freakin’ Hippie with hummus, tomato, spinach, cucumber, and olive tapenade. With lots of outdoor space with a playground for kids, along with live music or a comedy show, there’s always something entertaining going on onstage, day and night.

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.

This sleek, modern wine bar set in a renovated house with a great outdoor space brings a whole cosmopolitan vibe to Wimberley, thanks to its Pinterest-worthy subway tile and living wall sculpture. This is the perfect spot to stop for a glass and a charcuterie board or hummus plate when walking around town shopping.

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.

Included on the expansive eight-acre property of the Gruene Homestead Inn is the newly popular Tavern in the Gruene, a live-music venue hosting a number of up-and-coming Texas artists.