10/16/2026: An Unforgettable Underground Honky-Tonk Experience -- Do Not Skip This Place! If you want a truly authentic, one-of-a-kind slice of history, you simply cannot miss this spot! From the moment you arrive, the adventure begins with a super cool entrance--you head right down the stairs like you're stepping into an old-school cellar, setting the stage for an incredible night. Once you're inside, the atmosphere is pure magic. It's deeply historical, packed with character, and features a fantastic sing-along band that gets the whole crowd involved and having a blast. There's a cozy little dance floor that makes you want to two-step the night away, surrounded by the kind of genuine charm you just can't manufacture. (A quick tip for future visitors: it is cash only, so make sure to hit the ATM before you head down the stairs!) It is dripping with atmosphere, soul, and old-school fun. If you are anywhere near the area, do yourself a favor and do not skip this place--we loved every second of it and will definitely be back! read more

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Came here couple weeks ago with group of friends. We wanted to see Arkey Blue perform. Unfortunately, he was not playing until hours later. Please make sure Arkey Blue is chained to the stage and performing 24/7 from now on. Just kidding. We will do the more reasonable option and come back another day. The bar is a rustic taproom with saw dust on the floor and reasonably priced drinks. At the time that we went, the bartender was quick to respond to orders. When i arrived. I was able to find parking nearby on the street. I recommend this place for good service and reasonably priced beer. I will be back another to enjoy the entertainment read more

Upfront please know that this is a cash bar only, they allow smoking inside the bar and it is very dusty but that's all part of its charm. I love a time capsule bar and this location delivers on all fronts. If you want a taste of real Honky Tonk culture, be sure to plan a stop at the Silver Dollar. Have cash on hand because this is a cash bar only, they do have ATM, but keep in mind, it charges $3.50 to withdraw plus whatever your bank will charge you. However, I have to say whatever the extra charges are, are well worth it to be able to enjoy a couple of beers in this historic bar that was called the Fox Hole in the 20s. This bar is located in a basement and keep in mind that they do allow smoking as the multiple ashtrays on the tables indicate. There is a desk with Hank Williams's name etched into it that was etched by Hank Williams himself as well as many other performers that have graced the stage here. The walls are adorned with photos of patrons and performers alike, as well as taxidermy and tasteful retro erotic art. This bar was featured in the movie titled Race with the Devil, and the proprietor Arkey Blues had a song featured in the classic horror film the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. These last two factoids attracted our Horror loving group to this location. So take out some cash, smoke em if you got em, and support this establishment to enjoy a little piece of Texas rough-and-tumble history. read more

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Honky-tonk saloon. A honky-tonk can refer to a type of bar, often featuring live country music, or to the country music genre itself. Arkey is exactly that. It's has great location, fantastic decor, awesome atmosphere and good service. This is the type of saloon where you can hang out with friends, unwind and have a good ol' time. read more

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Cash only Know this One of last known Texas Honkey Tonks I love this joint, I need my ashes spread on the floor with the sawdust If you get near BANDERA, you shall stop here and visit Play some music on the jukebox warm your buns at the fireplace, and soak in the history read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - If you know, you know - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

A honkey Tonk bar as I read sure why not! While in Bandera we decided to check it out. It is hidden you have to pay attention to the door to go down. It is a really cool bar playing country music. Unfortunately my friend cannot stand smoke smell which is one of the few places left that I see allows smoking inside we had to leave. I got to go downstairs and see it. Definitely check it out if you are in Bandera! read more

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Great dive bar to enjoy a good cold one and take in some live tunes w/travelers & locals alike. Wonderful bartender, but I must give you a heads up....CASH ONLY. If you want food there is the best home cookin' across the street. There is plenty of buttery popcorn though. If you are lucky you might just catch the owner, Arkey Juenke up on stage playing some tunes. read more

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This came highly recommended by some locals in town as we were Hill Country sight seeing! We are so glad we stopped in! A cute, cozy little dive bar feel down below the street served me my first Lone Star beer as we listened to great country western music playing. The bartender was so friendly! read more

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Food was good and service. Ambiance is probably the best. This place has been open around 1940's and a lot of original equipment from then. Starting from juke box to memorabilia. Must check out if near by! read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

I would rate more if I could. We went to the General Store and were recommended to try this spot out. Its very easy to miss (which we did). The atmosphere was exactly what you imagine old Texas to be like. Sabrina was awesome & chatted with us the whole time. read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Front door - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

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This is an authentic TEXAS Hill Country Bar with Ice-house level "cold beer". Also known as the "Honky-Tonk-Downstairs". read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Old School! - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

No drunk ladies behind the bar and wait on customers instead of drinking. There was a long line and we were ignored. read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Bar - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

It's our 1st time here. We heard music from the street level, so we decided to walk in. It's definitely a good place to have an iced cold bottle of beer...and I mean...ICE COLD! The ambiance is fun. The place is quaint with a lot of character. The bartender was friendly and even chit chatted with us for a bit. They had Sunday jazz/blues live music. People danced on sawdust floor. The music was GREAT! Come check them out for yourself!! read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - a man sitting at a bar - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

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Very cool basement bar with Good cold beer! Cash only, they do have an ATM. Smoking is aloud read more

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I love the vibe here, hometown, timeless, friendly and lively. It's a historic place with great music, go and find out the story.

This is an iconic beer joint that doesn't disappoint. Live music. Cold beer. God Bless Texas. Cash only, so be prepared for that. read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

Loved visiting this real honky tonk. Outside door and entrance is small so pay attention! Flight of stairs lead you into the basement bar. Full of history and ver eclectic. They sell beer and wine, cash only! They have a pool table, juke box, and small stage. Fun place to stay warm, relax, and talk to locals! read more

One of the last great honky tonks. In the era of modernization it is refreshing to walk back into time when entering Arkey Blue's. Having family in San Antonio is always a good perk when vacationing. We love coming over to the "Cowboy Capital of Texas" - Bandera - and downing a few cold brews in this old homage to real country western music. Even as I am more of a rocker I can still appreciate the history and music here. At street level there is a door you enter and head down to the basement where Arkey's is located. Sawdust on the floor, red and white tablecloths, beat up old pinball machine, heavy real wood bar, pool table, jukebox full of Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson, stage where many famous bands have played, and bullet holes in the ceiling. Super cheap ice cold beers with happy hour making it only a few bucks each. Arkey Blue and his band performs occasionally too, among others. Been open since the 1930's, and you can still sit down at the table on which Hank Williams Sr. carved his name and drink a cold one. It's a real taste of simpler times. Very cool. read more

If you're in the small town of Bandera, Texas, why not stop in for a beer at Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon. It's just fun to say and write the name of the place down! It's such a treat to see all the history on the walls and to urinate in the same stalls as all the great country musicians who've graced the stage have. It's also fun to guess the number of years the trinkets have been sitting thorough out the place by the amount of dust collected upon them. This spot is way cooler for the Merle Haggard- Hank Sr types than the other 2 bars on the strip which are for the Kid Rock-in modern honky tonkers. read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

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Just a fun little bar to visit if in Bandera. Hard to find because there is just a wooden door you enter and walk down

Easily the coolest bar I've ever been in ever in my whole life. Great music, great atmosphere, great prices, great service. Not really much more that can be said. 5 stars. I'd give more if it was possible. read more

I walked into this bar, wearing shorts, a t-shirt , a baseball cap and flip-flops and got a stare from the three patrons minding their half-past noon beverages. Then they just went back to drinkin'. The jukebox was playing some really old country music, the good stuff--we're talkin' like 1950s country. Then I thought to myself this place is perfect--just what I was searching for. This is a place for the regulars, and even thought I was not one of the them, the bartender made me feel right at home. I had a Shiner and then sat at a table to take it all in--the decrorations, the old posters on the wall and everything else that made this place feel like what a good old-school bar in the Texas should be. So after my time at the Silver Dollar, I got up, tipped my baseball cap at the patrons and walked back out into the dusty streets of Bandera. The Silver Dollar is a place that any visitor to Bandera should try. read more

Such a cool place to have a cold drink. Lots of history with all of the bugs names that have played and spent time there.

If your ever anywhere close to Bandera, you need to go there and visit Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon, if you want a true taste of Texas! It's an old Honky Tonk that has been there for years. The long neck bottles of beer are ice cold and the music is true country (like it used to be)! A true blast from the past for those of us that grew up in Texas! read more

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This great Honky Tonk is in the center of "The Cowboy Capital of Texas," Bandera. Ernest Tubb once brought his Texas Troubadours to Arkey's for some great country music. Entertainer/singer/ songwriter Arkey Blue has performed here since 1968, and his band is tight and playful. Whether they are playing by themselves and covering standards from the likes of Willie Nelson or Johnny Bush or backing Arkey as he plays his own tunes, you will be hard pressed not to break a big smile. Great people watching for locals and tourists alike. From the moment you step down the stairs from street level to the basement, you step back in time. Ample dance floor, good sound system and plenty of ice cold beer sets up this place to be one of the "must stops", if you are in the area. Regardless of whether you like country music or not, its hard not to like this place. read more

This was the highlight of our trip. The door lady didn't make us pay the cover until we knew we wanted to stay. All of the local people were so sweet and polite. I guess because we were new faces in the bar we kept getting asked to dance and every cowboy in that bar was very polite and fun to dance with. ***this is a cash only bar and you can bring in your own liquor. (We didn't know that) but everyone was quick to help us find an ATM. Overall I would recommend this bar as a "go to spot" to have a good time, good cold beer, and dance on the wood chip covered dance floor. read more

As a self-proclaimed honky-tonk afficianado, I can say with confidence that Arkey's is indeed as good as it gets. Phenomenal ambience, sawdust on the dance floor, great sound, and friendly staff across the board. Even though I was about the only guy in there without a cowboy hat, everyone we shared our table with (and bumped into on the dance floor) was realy nice to us. We were their during the Celebrate Bandera festival so the place was packed; I really want to go back when it is less full scope out all of the history. read more

Beer only. Classic country Juke. Smoking allowed FYI. We had a great time. Don't come for fancy. Come for a classic Texas honky tonk with no frills and cold beer. Pool table. We had a blast. read more

It's nice if you like an older crowd and 1970's country music. They only take cash, too. We usually stop in for one drink when we make the rounds with someone visiting. read more

Love this nostalgic, iconic, Texas Honky Tonk. Never had a beer here I didn't enjoy. Lol. Great juke box, cold beer, and friendly staff. read more

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon - Fire place with Arkey's picture above it and some bikers enjoying a break from the Texas heat. - Bars Near Me - Bandera, Texas

Haven't been here in years! BUT if you are looking fora authentic Texas good time, you must experience this bar. Cowboy Capital of Texas. Bring your boots, hat & Redneck. Don't be offended by the cigarette smoke. It's just one of those CLASSIC Texas places one can't miss. Beer, wine & popcorn. Fun times. read more

Excellent western location with a friendly atmosphere! Arkey is celebrating 50 years in business tonight and I'm headed there right now!!! See you there!!! Have a wonderful time!!! read more

WOW! All I can say is this place blew me away. The first time I hauled open the discreet, heavy, old red door of the Silver Dollar Saloon found sandwiched between two shops on Main street, Bandera Texas, I encountered a wooden staircase descending down into a neon lit darkness. The smell of fresh sawdust and a blast of cool struck me silly as I took the creaky wooden steps slowly, in order to check out all the incredible 30's, 40's and 50's memorabilia along the walls on the way down. (Note: there's a second entrance around back if you are stairway challenged and you won't miss much - this place is PACKED with authentic memorabilia.) An unknown-to-me long ago western song drifted up the stairs, playing obviously on a very, very old jukebox. As I came to the bottom step I realized I had been transported back in time. I won't spoil it for newcomers by too much information. All I can say is if you want to feel the REAL Bandera and meet some of the old characters still living there, you MUST GO HERE. Sabrina is the kindly bartender but be on notice: you MUST have an invitation from one of the locals to sit at the locals table. Don't worry - they won't bite. At least not often. read more

I have gone to Arkey's since the mid 70's. This is the epitomey of what a Texas Honky Tonk is! Live music. You never know who you might see there either. Some of the best of the best in real Country Music have been known to just drop in. There is a good chance you will get to meet Arkey, especially on a Saturday night, or big weekend, i.e., Hunter's weekend, Memorial Weekend and one of my favorite places for New Year's Eve. Be sure to play a few of his songs that are on the jukebox. Arkey has some good ones on there, Bandera Fever, Bandera Queen, Backstreets of Bandera, etc. I love Bandera and love Arkey's Silver Dollar. I know you will too. read more