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    Riley's Tavern

    4.5 (53 reviews)
    InexpensiveMusic Venues, Dive Bars
    Open 1:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Riley's Tavern Photos

    RILEY'S TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Juke Box
    Live music
    Divey

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    Recommended Reviews - Riley's Tavern

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    The shots (I tried both because why not?)
    Courtney B.

    I came in last Friday evening with a friend. It was my first time coming here and it most likely won't be my last. This bar is one of those that have moderate to strong pours depending upon what you order, and hosts live local bands. When my friend and I came into the bar, we were immediately taken aback by the smoke (cause yeah, we don't smoke) but we still wanted to give this place a shot. We sat ourselves at the bar, ordered drinks, watched folks play pool and listened to the live band. During our time here, we ventured outside to talk and found that the back area beer garden and funky outhouses gave the place that much more charm. The service by the bartenders were quick and efficient and the prices were fair. #supportlocal

    Our cousins, with historical sign.
    Raul Z.

    Great place for a get away. This place has history, just look at the historical sign outside. We grew up in San Marcos, but didn't frequent this place. Kinda regret that now. We stop for a few drinks with our cousins from Laredo. We all feel in love with the place. The drinks were great, I am a beer drinker, and I had the Yingling on tap, everyone else had the ranch water. Which was delicious. Also had a few shots, can't remember the name to save my life, but it was the bartender's signature drink. It was good. Our cousins didn't want to leave. They had an acoustic open mike type setting going on, so we had to be quite, cause they couldn't hear themselves. They were okay. Some of the music was okay. The toilets are outside, so if it's hot outside, the bathrooms are going to be hot, and if it's cold outside, the bathrooms will be cold. The patio is nice, when it's cooler outside. Definitely recommend this place, for a getaway drinks and a drive down Hunter Road.

    Neon bar sign
    Kevin Z.

    Very cool vibe .... and the band performing the night we were there was OUTSTANDING! We'll definitely return!!

    James F.

    Been holding off on reviewing for a couple of weeks to seek out something special. I asked my Yelp friends via Facebook for suggestions and thanks to fellow Elite Ardie S. Riley's became the target for my 700th review. Passed this bar a million times knowing it had a family connection and never ventured in. Dad was born in 1933; same as the opening of Riley's Tavern. It's well documented on this and other sites that this was beer license number 1 in Texas after prohibition. Dad attended Southwest Texas State in San Marcos in the 50's. Hays County didn't become "wet" until 1977 which meant if wanted to drink you had to head over to nearby Comal County or Guadalupe County. So, for years we've driven down Hunter Road between San Marcos and Gruene passing this bar. I'm sad that dad wasn't here for this visit; he passed in 2012. Tried this adventure a few weeks ago only to be derailed by my mom who I wanted to come along. Today, we departed Driftwood and headed towards the New Braunfels area. Had lunch at nearby Freiheit Country Store; headed straight over to Riley's afterwards just for mom to watch the Cowboys take the field. Rooster who also tagged along isn't quite tall enough to handle a pool cue still made a go on the pool tables with me. Don't know about the second table further back in the bar...This one could use a leveling. I drank a couple of Shiner beers while absorbing the vibe. Totally friendly staff who offered us complimentary burgers and hot dogs. Parking lot that was kinda dead when we arrived was nearly full upon exiting. I've seen on the Tavern's website they have two cottages available for rent nearby. Sign me up please; would totally love to stumble out of this bar to a nearby bed even though it's about 15 feet from the railroad tracks. Enough beers and I think I can sleep thru just about anything! A bit sad it took me so long to visit; won't be my last adventure at Riley's.

    Carol I.

    MUST DO! No dive bar list or hill country pub crawl can be complete with out the addition of Riley's Tavern... the first bar to receive a license in the state of Texas after prohibition was repealed in 1933. Riley's is old school Texas country roadhouse saloon tavern charm located in Hunter, TX which is such a small spot on the map that if you blink, you will miss it. just a few blocks off IH 35 in between San Marcos and New Braunfels (just north of Gruene actually) which in between Austin and San Antonio. It's really easy to find but also hidden away at the same time. Biker friendly. Dog friendly. Smokers are now outside only but there is a huge patio to enjoy while you are out there. So many different types of events are hosted at Riley's... live music, car shows, crawfish boils, video shoots... just name it and I'm sure they have done it all! Get out to enjoy some country roads, take a detour and visit Riley's!

    Messin it up at Riley's
    Paul R.

    Riley's is the first Texas tavern after prohibition.. so it's older than $hit.. I mean it reeks of hill country charm. This is a cool place to chill if you are in the New Braunfels area. They have a full bar and the usual beers on tap and bottled.. There is also a spacious patio out back and another bar and stage for music. We were there for a crawfish boil and a Cajun band was tearing it up as well. The crawfish was OK not really that spicy but the gumbo was excellent. We had a few beverages some food and had a great time. On a good note as of May 1st smoking will only be allowed outside and not in the bar. When we where there the bar area was smoky, hey it's a honkey tonk so what. Riley's is a must if you are in the area. Go here and get your chill vibe on....

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

    This is where one has to go for a good and unmarried beer. If you're lucky you'll get some great tunes as well.

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Great hole in the wall local dive. Would definitely be back when in the area. Would love to be there when they have some love music.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Great place!! Cold beer, great service, and live music in a chill place :-). From DFW but I'll be back!

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    This is a neat laid-back dive bar. You never know who you're going to meet here but it's usually friendly folks

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Great honky tonk bar with great bands.

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    16 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Padded mine and my friend's bar tabs when we were there for a memorial. Super shady and disrespectful. They should be ashamed.

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    9 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Best Little Hole in the Wall in Texas! Great place to make some memories and hear some Live Music!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Riley's Tavern

    Do they allow dogs on the patio?

    Yes

    Do they have dancing?

    Yes

    About how much does a beer cost here?

    3.50

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Riley's Tavern

    It's well documented on this and other sites that this was beer license number 1 in Texas after prohibition.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Jack's Roadhouse - the host as elvis from time to time.

    Jack's Roadhouse

    (17 reviews)

    $

    I went to Jack's this past Wednesday for karaoke night and had a great time. They call it a…read more"Roadhouse" which I guess is another word for "dive bar", but in the most flattering sense of the word. However, let me clarify. Jack's is not a hipster dive bar. You will not hear greasy-haired young men wearing their girlfriends' pants telling you about this place and how you've probably never heard of it because only people in the know really know about it. I can guarantee you that no one at Jack's has ever heard of Animal Collective, and nor do they care to. Jack's is a genuine Texas roadhouse. Being a Wednesday night, the crowd was small and there seemed to be a lot of regulars. The two gals working behind the bar were really friendly and stopped to talk with everyone sitting at the bar for a bit while still keeping up with people's drink orders. The atmosphere was as friendly as the bartenders, and by the end of the night everyone was joking with everyone else and pretty much just having a great time. Everyone who went up to sing karaoke was given a rousing round of applause afterwords, no matter how good or bad they might have been. People were smoking inside, but they have a lot of fans going and the ceilings are relatively high, so the air didn't seem that smoky. The decor inside kind of defies description, but let's just say that there were a whole bunch of bras and thongs glued to the ceiling above the bar and no explanation was offered as to why, though I didn't ask. I'll have to ask next time. After one visit, this place has become my favorite bar in San Marcos. I will definitely be going back. I might even eventually muster up the courage to sing at karaoke night.

    0/5 stars. Didn't believe my real Arkansas ID. bartenders should taken a course (free by the city…read moreevery few months) on how to check a real ID.

    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!

    Uncharted

    Uncharted

    (20 reviews)

    We were in New Braunfels for Father's Day. This amazing Tiki bar was the highlight of the day. It…read moreis in the basement of the Phoenix Saloon. You go way to the back and down a steep flight of stairs. My son, his wife, and I left my wife and grandbaby in the saloon and headed down. When you get down there, you are suddenly in a beautiful Tiki bar with so many amazing things to gawk at. It sort of felt like waking up in OZ. We were the first people there, so we got to sit at the bar and watch our drinks being made. They have about 15 or so different specialty tiki drinks. Each one comes in a particular piece of glassware. I don't know how the bartender keeps them straight. He was constantly pouring different things into a shaker. Then he would shake it and pour it into the glass that was already filled with crushed ice. One of the drinks even had a smoking cinnamon stick. My drink was really good. It was the Three Dots and a Dash. It came in a barrel and was decorated with a skull toothpick that had three cherries and a piece of pineapple to represent the dots and dash. It was super strong! I was ready to risk it all and go for another drink, but it had gotten packed inside the bar. We could tell the bartender was stressing. They really need two for times like that. My wife spends the night at my son's house in New Braunfels every Thursday to give them a date night. Evidently, this is where they always go. I can certainly see why!

    Really cool "hidden" bar under the Phoenix. It's really intimate so it's fun with a small group or…read moreeven a date. The decor is top notch and the drinks are so fun and so different. This is not a place to have a quick drink, as the bartenders really craft the art of the cocktail you order (expect 15-20 min for 2 drinks). I would love to come back and try more!

    Riley's Tavern - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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