Fantastic historic little bar. Easy to love this place. Nice patio out back, really good entertainment. Also very cool bartender when I was there. read more

Stopped by this historical gem today. Very cool old country vibe. A definite local spot. Friendly bartender. What more do you need? Not fancy, just come as you are have a beer and enjoy the music, play pool, shuffle board or just chill out in the back with the resident cats. read more

Riley's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

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What a great atmosphere! Good people good music recommended!!! And don't waste your time going down the road read more

Riley's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

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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 read more

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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.

The food, the service the people are very friendly make you feel very welcome. Had a great DJ. The food was good. Restrooms were clean people very friendly would go back and recommend two people that love to dance on Fridays and Saturdays. Great DJ. read more

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.

This bar has everything you need... great bartender. great beverage options. great shuffle board. great pool table. great complimentary popcorn. great indoor atmosphere. great outdoor atmosphere. great clean bathroom. great time. read more

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. read more

Riley's Tavern - Our cousins, with historical sign. - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

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Cool bar! Some rich history! The staff and the patrons were all friendly as well They are dog friendly if you have a well trained dog! Would recommend forsure read more

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

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

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this is a fun place to go especially on the weekend and a nice chill place to go during the week. Staff is friendly and have met some nice people there. Atmosphere is nice for what it is (Bar and grill). Always have a good time there. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Riley's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

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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.... read more

Riley's Tavern - Messin it up at Riley's - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

I love this joint. Bands are always a hoot. Old crappy dive bar with personality which is difficult to find around these parts. Bartenders have been great. Seems a bit pricey for a dive. No food that im aware of. The vibe is outstanding. Good people. read more

From the looks of it outside, some may not stop , but it's a great place, good drinks, great service. Their claim to fame is the liquor license , first issued after prohibition,1933, License number is 00001, pretty cool. Fun people. read more

I had a great time here. I saw this place one day passing through and always wanted to stop and have a look inside; today I did. The country decor is amazing. Looks like an old southern kitchen. The staff was very friendly. The crowd seems to be locals but all friendly. Only received two slide eye looks. In all I will give this place a B+. Will be visiting read more

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Stopped for a refreshing adult beverage while working thru town. Very rustic a true step back in time. Ashtrays on the bar/tables. When did you last see that! Highly recommend a visit! read more

Love this bar!!! The staff is amazing!! It was like I knew them all forever, they were all so kind!! The ppl here are what I always thought Texas would be like! Genuinely pleasant!! Also we had some of the best drinks and the beer was ice cold!! The food was also really good!! The cook made everything so well!! Nothing was wasted that night but me and the hubs haha Now inside was everything I love in a bar, older with lot of character with its patrons having a good time and their was a band!!! The outside is absolutely relaxing too!!! Trees, strings of lights and dog friendly!!! Perfect!!! read more

We love Riley's Tavern. It's a place where we can relax and hang with our friends. Great backyard beer garden with plenty of tables and shade trees. Awesome bands every weekend and friendly staff. The jukebox has all our favorite songs and there's a pool table. Everything you'd expect from an old school dive bar. Don't miss the chance to visit -- it's a Bucket List bar! read more

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

The oldest bar in Texas! This place has the first legal license to have a bar in the Lone Star State. When Mr. Riley heard that Prohibition was over, he got on his horse and rode all the way to the capital to be first in line to get a license. This place was opened the next day! It's been around since 1933. It's like an old roadhouse, out in the middle of nowhere, Texas, with graffiti covering the bare rafters and the walls. Cold air conditioning blasts you in the face when you come on in. The building looks like a bunch of old buildings they cobbled together to make a clubhouse. It's part wood, part aluminum, concrete, and beer sign. I enjoy how they've used Lone Star Beer advertisements to hold the building together in some places. They have pool tables and shuffleboard, and convenient bottle holders available along every wall. They used to have a bunch more games, but that was a long time ago. Now it's lots more seating and an open dance area. The outdoor patio area offers shaded seating, with plenty of places to sit. The staff is friendly, and the drinks are cold and cheap. Restrooms are outdoors- in the Used Beer Storage area. They've got two stages for performances, and every time I've been they've been rockin' a band. If you ever get a chance to check out Turbo 350, do it! Bastards Sons of Johnny Cash play here pretty regularly too, I hear. This place is all about the Texas music scene. They even have free publications about the Texas country music scene available here. Don't expect any fancy drinks here. It's mainly beer, and lots of it. You'd be nearly committing Texas treason if you don't drink a Lone Star Beer here! This place has some real history. Parking is ample along the ol' highway. There's even a newly built lot down the street. You gotta be jealous of those lucky people who get to live in the houses between the bar and the parking lot! read more

Friendly staff nice place nice atmosphere live music lots of times always good selection of choice of bands drink prices are fairly decent nice place to go to get out read more

Great honky tonk bar with great bands.

Cool rustic hideout honky tonk hangout in Hunter, TX. They've got a beer garden, pool tables, pub grub, live music, B&B cottages and the main construction has been around since the cotton picking days of the 1800's. This is my must stop when cruising the back roads between San Marcos and New Braunfels. I have been here many times after a long day on the river when we just weren't ready to go home. We'd stop here decipher some Lone Star bottle caps and chat with the friendly locals. The small town American life at its best. read more

Riley's Tavern - Riley's Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

Caught Mo Bandy tonight and the place was packed. This tavern has great food and the coldest beer in Texas read more

Oldest bar in Texas first to open after prohibition was repealed. Indoor outdoor good music space bar is duvet but in an Austin sort of way lots of trees in the outdoor space. It's worth checking out on a nice weekend afternoon early evening read more

Fun atmosphere- Great Texas honky tonk where you can do some serious boot scooting. The outdoor patio area has fun lights and outdoor furniture- have a seat and sit a spell. read more

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

Fun, Fun place! Would have given 5 stars, but I hate cigarette smoke and smoking is still allowed there. Always cold beer and good mixed drinks. Even the pizza is pretty good....if your hungry! :-) Music is always good out on the patio where an adequate dance floor is located. Check them out if you haven't already. Great dive bar! read more

Super cheap drinks and really friendly people- both the staff and the customers! The bartender Violet is awesome. The place has pool tables, live bands on the weekends, a bit yard with lots of seating, and is conveniently located near the highway. Locals already know this place, but if you're driving between Austin and San Antonio, then stop in on your way! read more

Be ok with a smokey atmosphere, a dog or two running around, and casually dressed regulars who may eyeball you. They're a friendly enough bunch, but this place is awesome! The bartender was awesome, and thank goodness I left my prom dress at home, because we fit right in. We'll be back soon, but first, I've gotta get the cigarette smell outta my hair. See ya there! read more

My grandma ran in some of the bars between Austin and San Antonio back in the day, and since Riley's opened in 1933, I like to think this was one of the places she pool sharked. It looks like many of the places she described, and you can almost feel the ghosts of the regulars from years past haunting the place - in a good way! We went specifically to check this place off our bucket list, and to see Mark Jungers and the Whistling Mules play. We were not disappointed. Friendly and attentive bartenders, munching on fresh popcorn, drinking cold beer at decent prices, and listening to great music made for a perfect experience! Looking forward to visiting again soon!!! read more

Dive bar fans unite! Riley's is such a monumental place for Texas beer drinking history. From being the oldest bar in the state since prohibition, to the building's 'boom town' ties to Missouri-Pacific Railroad this little dive has held its own. The bartenders are great and if you're lucky or nice enough you will be rewarded with a free drink token. This is one of those 'bring your out of towners' places to get a true Texas dive experience. I like to compare it to South Austin's Red Shed Tavern with its biker bar tendencies. It's also out in the sticks so if you're not in the mood to hit up the San Marcos square, this is a very low-key place to chill, drink, and enjoy some live music. read more

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Get in your car on a sunny weekend day, pack it full of your friends, and drive it down the winding country roads to Riley's (I try to take the roads parallel to 35 - at least hit San Marcos and drive down Hunter instead). Totally worth the drive. I promise. It has the standard beers, full bar, and pub grub for cheap, but it boasts an awesome beer garden, a ton of games, a jukebox, and live music. There's shuffle board, pool, pinball, horseshoes, and more. It's a total biker/greaser bar - but they're friendly. Once a guy approached us, drunk, and yelled "WAIT, you're NOT on motorcycles?! Me neither!" Which, for some reason, caused a cacophony of laughter. Who knows? Either way, everyone was super friendly and chatting us up after. He hung out with us the rest of the day. The bartenders and regulars are really friendly. It's a good place to spend an afternoon outside of Austin. And, it's the oldest legally-existing bar in Texas! It also has a cottage you can stay in. I've tried to get it a couple times, because it sounds like a cool weekend getaway, but they're always booked. :\ read more

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

Riley's is a great place to grab a drink and listen live music; it's a true Hill Country Bar read more

Riley's Tavern - Awesome bar, staff very friendly - Music Venues Near Me - Hunter, Texas

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We didn't get the full Riley's experience because we went early in the day before there was a band or food or much of a crowd except for a gaggle of bikers who had dropped in for some beers and smokes. So we grabbed a couple of long necks at the bar and headed out to the garden where the stage is. Before too long, there was a group of folks playing horseshoes and having a good time in the sultry heat of a mid-September Saturday. We stayed awhile but had to take off. I'd go again, especially if I could spend the night in the cottage. Thank you, fellow Yelpers, for your colorful descriptions that enticed me to the oldest bar in Tejas! read more

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