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    Devil's Backbone Tavern

    4.3 (58 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Music Venues
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Devil's Backbone Tavern Photos

    DEVIL'S BACKBONE TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - Devil's Backbone Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Patrick L.

    Historic. You sit in here and you can almost see the cowboy's sitting at the bar with their gunbelts strapped on. No fancy IPA's here, grab a Lone Star and go!

    Instagrammy
    Elise W.

    What a great dive bar! We drove out here from San Antonio and the views were amazing!!! I'd come again just for the drive! Ben Nichols from the band Lucero was playing one night. There was maybe ~80 people here? Maybe more idk. Seemed like a small crowd! Very intimate. He played whatever we asked for and joked around with the crowd. The service was great too. The bartenders are nice enough with such a large crowd. I will say the venue was pretty cold but also I am a big baby when it comes to the cold haha I don't think there was any food there (like at all besides some chips maybe?) I had a local beer in a bottle and a vodka soda so I cannot really say much on quality of drinks. Price was decent and what you'd expect. Maybe a tad high for being so divey but we were there for music! Would recommend if you there is a musician playing here!

    Kels H.

    Highly recommend a stop!! If just for the history alone! Alcohol doesn't hurt either. Awesome back patio, dancehall and knowing you're in a space where so many before us stood, is worth every second. Pretty incredible art too!

    Dancing with the devil in the backyard
    Shannon B.

    This place is *the* quintessential Texas honky tonk, hidden away on a curvy, scenic, two-lane Hill Country highway that gets its name from the many souls who have perished on its pavement. Legends say the road, hills, and stonewalled beer joint itself are all haunted. You can certainly smell the 80+ years of cigarette & BBQ smoke still hanging onto the low ceiling and eclectic decor of vintage neon, weird mannequins, and $1 bills. From Austin, you can take a lovely drive down to Driftwood, then tack over toward Wimberley, and finally follow your GPS toward Canyon Lake. When you cross from Hays into Comal County, you'll find Devil's Backbone Tavern (DBT) on your left. The venue is really 3 different areas: the small bar in the front, the wood-floored dance hall on the left side, and the tree-shaded backyard with picnic tables. Bring your greenbacks, as DBT is CASH ONLY and the ATM is hit-or-miss. As part-time Canyon Lakers, DBT has become one of our beloved stops for live music and community events. The food & drink is always reasonably priced, the jukebox is excellent (if you like classic country & Americana), and once you establish yourself as a decent human being not here to stir up a ruckus or try to city-fy this rural area, the staff & regulars crowd is generally very welcoming (at least in our "middle-aged Texans" experience). The place has changed hands a few times over the years but today is part-owned by Robyn Ludwick, a musician born and raised in the Hill Country who happens to be the sister of phenomenal Texas songwriters, Bruce and Charlie Robison. The DBT draws some excellent bands, so if you're into live music, sign up for the email list and check out the online calendar for upcoming shows. https://www.devilsbackbonetavern.com/live-music

    a chalkboard with a price of $ 15
    Rebecca H.

    We went for a concert that had been advertised on their social media. It was advertised for $10. When we got there it was $15. I tried to leave a comment on their social media so that other people would see that they needed to bring an extra $5, and they deleted my comment, which tells me it was entirely done with intent. The concert was great, and worth the $15 but what is the purpose of lying on social media? We brought 5 people, so it was an extra $25. We'll definitely go see Thomas Michael Riley again, but we won't go back to the Devil's Backbone. I don't support outright liars. Ambiance was great. Facility was clean. Management leaves a lot to be desired.

    Zymirrah K.

    Lovely lively music venue and dive bar. The crowd was great... both locals and folks who traveled to the venue for the artist playing that afternoon. We came in from Houston to see Toni Price... we were not disappointed! We met a number of folks from the area along with travelers from around the US, England and China. All very friendly and happy to be there--- great vibe! Parking was ample, beer was cold, good AC (it was august in Texas), plenty of space to dance if you were moved to do so.

    a bottle of beer on a table
    Chris B.

    The perfect Wimberly dive bar. Cash only, but a lot of character. The cash only is exemplified by the ceiling and walls being covered in $1 bills. The bartender was delightful and the crowd was welcoming.

    Dancehall

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Very cool place, nice people and beautiful countryside, very enjoyable place to visit .

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    9 months ago

    Historic tavern that should be on everyone's list of places to visit in Texas We enjoyed 2 Tons of Steel's concert.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Cool little spot with a lot of history. drinks were great and liked the live music. I feel like its what a dive bar should be.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Morgan and Jess are iconic. ICONIC. They make shitty beer taste better. That's fantastic man.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This place is a gem. Texas hasn't been Texas for a while now, but I felt home when I walked into that bar.

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    2 years ago

    Great food and Fun!! Stopped on a whim and were glad we did. We want to go back when there's live music!

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Grew up in this bar, wish I could still go there. I fell for some of the bar tenders., But they must took me for the devil on the fireplace.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Devil's Backbone Tavern

    Is there any seating?

    Yes! They have many rows of long tables to both sides of the dance floor.

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Devil's Backbone Tavern

    Cash only (no cash machine near, so bring cash) Beer, wine and set UPS for byob liquor.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    I Don't Know Bar - Bar

    I Don't Know Bar

    (13 reviews)

    $

    Located off of I-35 in a location that is borderline sketchy to cool, I Don't Know Bar is…read moreinteresting. The outside isn't exactly glamorous and I made double sure to lock my doors before entering. The place inside is exactly what one would think it would be like before entering. I'm about to get brutal so apologies in advance but the "devil is in the details." First I believe the younger, college age crowd sticks closer to downtown San Marcos. As my friend would say "there's no talent here." I'm not exactly propping myself up as some model, but most people here are calorie infused and starting about 35 years and up. In other words, it's a dive bar. Now before I let this go, all the people here were very nice and just wanting to have a good time. That means I felt safe. The staff were ok. I like the festive and cheap drinks so that's a bonus however I'm not sure how fast they are for serving if there's a crowd. When I was there it wasn't exactly populated. As for food I didn't order any so I can't be of assistance. Now, they do have a lot of large TVs and pool tables to keep one entertained. A word of advice, don't look up as the tiles look like they're holding back the mold. I'm not saying I Don't Know is horrible, I think they're just who they are. Since reviews can be factual yet subjective it's important to note we all enjoy different aspects of life. This place didn't jive with me so I won't be back. If it's close to you, I encourage you to stop by as it might be what you're looking for.

    Initially we wanted to come here because of the name and we both thought there would be pool. In…read moreaddition to having pool the drinks were extremely cheap here!

    The Bang Bang Bar - The triple threat pizza

    The Bang Bang Bar

    (232 reviews)

    $$

    Recently we hosted our Morrissey After Party at Bang Bang Bar, following the former Smiths…read morefrontman's sold-out January 10th performance at the Boeing Center at Tech Port and honestly, we couldn't have written a better script. Morrissey hadn't graced San Antonio in over 10 years, with past cancellations and postponements haunting fans along the way. So when he finally returned, San Antonio Moz fans showed up and showed out. Despite multiple after-party options across the city, fans from Brazil, the UK, Canada, Japan, and all across the U.S. chose Bang Bang Bar as the place to be on a cold Saturday night. Hosted by local emcee Ricardo Moz and Apollo DJ, the night turned into one for the history books. Bang Bang Bar is easily one of Texas' best dive-lounge bars...the perfect blend of gritty and cozy. Great cocktail program, solid beer selection, and a vibe that just works. The décor leans heavy into a 1950s-60s lounge aesthetic, with intimate spaces like the Blue Room and Yellow Room, perfect for groups of 7-10. Low lighting, warm atmosphere, and zero pretension exactly what you want for a night like this. Bang Bang Bar consistently supports local and touring acts, spanning punk, alternative, and DJ-driven nights, and this Moz Smiths Disco was no exception. It was wall-to-wall classics all night long. Major credit to Phanie and the Bang Bang Bar management they rolled up their sleeves, brought in extra bar staff, and handled an overwhelming crowd like pros. Fans waited up to 45 minutes in the cold, with a line wrapping around the building, and the energy inside never dipped. As the host of Panic On The Streets, I'm incredibly thankful to Bang Bang Bar for helping us pull off one of the best after-parties we've done in years. Fittingly, 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of both Bang Bang Bar and Panic On The Streets of San Antonio and what a way to celebrate. Bang Bang Bar has long been one of my favorite bars in town, and after this night, that reputation is more than earned. Can't wait to do another Moz Smiths Disco here. -- Panic On The Streets of San Antonio

    I've been here a couple of times and have always had a great time. The server/waitress was very…read morefriendly and knowledgeable on what they offered. They were happy to answer my questions and I was never made to feel rushed. The bar itself has an awesome vibe. It's divey but offer fancy drinks. The bar has a stage (we've seen FEA perform there) and they have ample seating (tables, couches, stools, etc). I also enjoy how each couch area is its own living room setup (think of what you see when shopping for couches/coffee tables) and feel/vibe. I make it a point to come and visit this bar any time I'm in San Antonio. We love supporting Phanie and her bands in any way possible. Girl in a Coma and FEA 4ever!

    Devil's Backbone Tavern - divebars - Updated May 2026

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