It has been awhile since I've been here. Great place to get a beer for sure. Also great place to run into people you haven't seen in a few years. There's a pool table, and plenty of seating, at the bar, tables, upstairs as well. Found out that they have food, which I didn't know. We got some burgers, to make sure they were good. And they were. Just good. I did love the fries, done week done, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I had onion rings with my burger, they were just alright. The service is good, plenty of bartenders. Super nice and helpful and patient, took me awhile to order. The bar has a mug system, not sure how it works, but they have discounts daily for mug owners. Pretty cool idea. Plenty of TVs on, music was playing. read more

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Attentive bar tenders. Low key locals ( went 6ish on a Thursday the week after parents dropped off students) crowd probably much different hours later& weekends. Didn't eat. Only had a few drinks. It's dive bar vibes. read more

Showdown - Funny - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Rude service! I was not even greeted when walking in before immediately being told by the blonde woman behind the bar that I couldn't be inside because I had a matcha in my hand. The whole reason my boyfriend and I came here was because he wanted to try the quesadilla burger. While I waited outside so he could order, he told me that he ended up ordering a regular burger because that same woman told him "we can't do the quesadilla burger right now" with a rude tone and no other explanation. We haven't even tried the food yet but based off first impressions, I don't think we'll be back. read more

Excellent burger. No nonsense dive bar. Loved it. Quick service and as friendly a staff as you'll find at a dive bar!

If you are in San Marcos, stop by the ShowDown. I've been going there since the 1980s. It is super old-school. I always wonder what happened to Eddie Mac. Drank a lot of pitchers there during the day waiting for my evening classes to begin. Great times, great bar, great town. read more

This is definitely a weekly spot, the burgers are 10/10, chill, and small town vibes in a growing area. read more

Showdown - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

This is a true local bar with few college kids hanging around the old timers who seem to always be at the tables on the floor level. The real hidden gem here is the burger. Layers of cheese, meat and years of love from the old grill make this one of the best burgers in South Texas. Pair it with the hash browns and you won't have to eat for days. We come up from San Antonio and this is one of the places we go for a great lunch. Don't expect anything fancy here and it isn't a place for little kids but it is rich with atmosphere and the people are really friendly. read more

Menus and orders taken at the bar. Seat yourself. Friendly and welcoming staff. Great burgers! Reasonable prices.

Best burger in San Marcos. My favorite dive bar. Awesome place. Great people and fun atmosphere. All the food is great. read more

An older environment. Not good food, the queso and salsa were literally Tostino's out of the jar and slapped into paper plates and paper bowls. Cheap beer prices, though! read more

Always great service! Tried the breakfast sandwich for the first time and was not disappointed. And of course the Bloody Mary's are AMAZING!! read more

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5 stars because we went in specifically for their no nonsense bad ass amazing Bloody Mary and they did not disappoint. Bottom line, order their Bloody Mary! read more

Showdown - a wooden table with a glass of soda and a bottle of lemonade - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

For starters the burgers here are PHENOMENAL. Just like momma/Grandma/any home cooked burger person made em. Big juicy patties with that perfect charred layer, toasted bun, all the fixings. Showdown is a very nostalgic older nice dive bar of San Marcos- actually one of the oldest bars in town! The Bloody Mary is always a killer experience. read more

Showdown - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Went in early evening for a couple of drinks and a burger. There was less than 10 people in the bar. Not busy. Yet, the lady at the bar could not acknowledge us or take any interest in helping us order. Stood at the bar like a dumb--- waited patiently. Other guy walks right up and she tends to him without hesitation??? We walked out. Maybe I'll try another day. This wasn't the vibe for me today. read more

This place is a prime example of "don't judge a book by its cover." The bartender gave exceptional service and was genuinely kind. Will definitely go again if back in the area. read more

Beared hipsters? Check! Cheap happy hour specials? Check! Stinky hippies? Check! Token black guy? Check! Thad Ziegler guy? Check! Overflow from TxSt art dept.? Check! Salty burgers? Check! Loaded quesadillas? Check! Heartburn? Check! Tagged up yearbooks? Check! Badass bartenders? Check! *gasping for air* I can go on and on about this place. read more

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I have been here multiple times and have enjoyed the customers and workers until my birthday. The female bartender with short hair was very rude and wasn't friendly toward anyone I had seen her engage with that night. read more

Ah Showdown, "The Amusement Bar!" Whenever I went to college at Texas State Univ, this was my #1 favorite dive bar to go to. One of the few places in San Marcos where you can come as you are; no fancy dress code & a great local atmosphere. Showdown has a great & diverse bartending staff, really cheap drink specials, & the "happy minutes" between 5pm-5:15pm is fun! In addition to the drink prices, Showdown also has great burgers cooked to order. Not sure what they season them with but they're probably the best kept burger secret in San Marcos, especially since Tap Room up the street can get really crowded. I no longer live in San Marcos but whenever I am in the area I still enjoy stopping in for a quick drink or lunch. And our mug is still there waiting! read more

I love this place! Down and dirty best hamburgers I have ever had in Texas. Best beer prices and selection around. Great happy hou read more

Showdown - Best burger. - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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One of my favorite spots on "The Square" not technically in the Square but close. They got a pinball machine that normally throws you free games, a pacman table and two pool tables. Great place to chill and grab a drink. Only 5 stars bc the bar gets pretty backed up in the sun down hours. Ask Andrew to make you a Whiskey Press. You wount be disappointed. read more

Best bar in San Marcos! Amazing bartenders and great food. Drinks are on point! I'd come here every night if I could!

Beat burger I've had. Service is great. Also best Bloody Mary I've had. Definitely a pool bar. Come here on the weekends when you want to watch a game. read more

Cool place, friendly staff, good drinks. There's usually a table in the back where you can sit away from the crowd.

This bar was one of my favorites last year, with employees who knew my named and chatted a bit, but recently it's taken a wrong turn somewhere for me. The staff has gotten angrier and one bartender/staff in particular seems to always wear a "F*** You" face, even when smiled at. Also, it seems that the drawings on the wall in the set-in area have gotten less clever and more...realistic? I'd rather see "A&G FOREVER "11" than 12 disgustingly large and veiny...you know what I'm going to say. Their drinks are still pretty good, but I kind of avoid going here anymore if I can help it. read more

I love me some dive bars. I was recently in San Marcos to see a friend and it was suggested we meet up at The Showdown. Little did we know that it was the end of the summer semester and literally every student from Texas State would be shoved into this little bar trying to drink their grades away. It was a mad house. Even with that, there was no pushing and shoving and a nice young man let me cut in front of him for my Diet Coke. I say "nice young man" because I now realize that college age kids could almost be my children. Instead of wanting to give them my number, I want to give them motherly advice. Some more highlights? Simpson's pinball, y'all! Excellent people watching. Seems to be a place where most everybody knows each other. The only thing I didn't like about the Showdown was the smoking, but that's not really the fault of the establishment as it is of the local government. read more

Where everyone knows your name. The bloody Mary's are a Sunday classic The showdown burger legit. Lots of picked japs. Good food good people good jukebox Morning for bloody Mary's. Afternoons for a burger or late night for shots. Locals spot. read more

Showdown - The showdown burger. - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Showdown serves up the best Bloody Mary I've ever had in my life. They don't use a mix but have an in-house recipe, and it is fabulous. They also do a very good job of kicking it up a notch if you're like me and like your Bloody Marys extra spicy. This place is your quintessential Texas dive bar. The decor looks a little rough, but appearances can be deceiving. The atmosphere is generally a lot more chill than other places in and around the square. Refreshingly, most people do not go to Showdown to be seen, but just to hang out with friends and maybe shoot some pool. The bartenders are generally very prompt with drink orders and are also generally hilarious people if it's not too busy and they can spare a moment to chat with you. They do not serve food here beyond a few bags of chips and salted nuts, so make sure to eat something before meandering over. read more

"Austin dive"--dive-bar look but much more fun, friendly, and hip than a true dive bar. The place retains a fairly uniform crowd of coolkids, which is great for Austin transplants and those who believe Austin is the coolest city on Earth. If you're not a hipster, Showdown is probably not the bar for you. The seating is awkwardly arranged throughout, making for uncomfortable arrangents for both large and small groups, especially if you've come to chill and talk. A few of the bartenders are also not the most friendly people in the world. And, as noted in other reviews, there's only one pool table here, which is typically taken. read more

The only place I know where a person can get a bloody mary (Which are AWESOME, get it without the ice) two pints of ziegenbock, and a bacon cheeseburger with chips (Very good) for under 15 bucks! This dive bar is a perfect place to spend an evening with friends, just a block away from the pretentious faux clubs of the square, it serves all who are over 21 (the bartenders are on the ball and very professional with checking IDs) and ladies from the little black dress brigade and the hipster runoff from triple crown are all welcome and not at all out of place here. Beer selection is... Average, it is not as expansive as the taproom, but they do have populars on tap and do remember regular's orders, they include bottles of cider at a reasonable price. Blah blah blah blah blah, Good music, good environment (Provided you aren't a pretentious dick, if you want a country club, what are you doing in san marcos?) good service, good prices, and good food. Wanna spend an evening on the cheap playing pool, fooseball, or meeting new people? Come here, and don't forget to show the bartenders some love. read more

One of the best bars in San Marcos hands down. Their breakfast quesadilla and hash-browns go crazy, they're so good, and all the bartenders are very nice!! Definitely have to check this spot out if you're in town! I love that you can pay to choose music to listen to in there as well. Only downside is there's no ginger beer which I love for mules and such, but honestly that's not stoping me from coming in! Great food, beer, and atmosphere! Check it out for sure! read more

I really don't like writing bad reviews but I really don't like this place. Its absolutely nothing special. I have tried the bloody marys, I would recommend getting one if you want to drink and have a snack because they definitely hook you up in the olive department. Last time I was there I asked the bartender if there was a limit on the card purchases and she said no. I got one drink and closed the tap leaving a nice tip thinking we were not staying long. I later discovered we were going to stay and went to get another drink. The bartender told me I couldn't reopen the tab. I was very irritated but I didn't cause a scene or anything but if I can help it I wont be going back. Sorry ya'll! p.s. This place is a hipster magnet. seriously. read more

Showdown is...Showdown. I'm sure every city has a bar exactly like Showdown. You can come in for Happy Minutes in the early afternoon and catch the daytime drunks, or later in the evening when the hipsters invade. The crowd changes throughout the day, but a few things stay consistent by the hour. There seems to be an established "regular" crowd - if you are not a member of this crowd, expect a scowl from most of the bartenders, and expect to be ID'd over and over again, even if the bartender/door person recognizes you and you were just there the night before. Drink prices are about average - no real specials to write home about, but nothing crazy either. Some pitchers can get expensive (I think Fat Tire runs about 14 bucks) but if you stick with Lone Star or Ziegen Bock, you won't hemorrhage money from your pocket. People swear by the Bloody Mary, but it isn't my style. I do usually get a cup of olives, though. It is EXTREMELY smoky in here, and this is one of the main reasons I don't come in regularly. I would expect a smoking ban to change that this November. They have pool tables, foosball tables, a Pac-Man table upstairs and we have even brought board games in there before. There are a couple Showdown curiosities - the disgusting basketball net and the Showdown mugs. Above the jukebox hangs a basketball net that has apparently been stewing in the bar's smoke for about 20 years and as a result is completely covered in brown fuzz. Above the bar hang mugs - these mugs are numbered and belong to frequent customers. They also seem to collect the lovely smoke remnants everything else in the bar collects. I'd imagine you could get addicted to smoking just by drinking a single beer from one! Also, an internet jukebox? Yuck! Go to the Restless Wind for a great CD-filled jukebox, or petition Showdown to one-up them and install a 50's style vinyl-playing jukebox. Sit on it, Potsie! read more

A friend that attended Southwest Texas State called The Showdown her "all-time favorite bar ever". This was her hangout during the College Years, mostly because of 1.) the amazing Bloody Mary, and 2.) the old "First Customer Drinks Free Until the Next arrives" deal. Not offered these days, but we still made a trip down to San Marcos. The outside is dumpy. Deceiving. Stucco, late 70's modern. Ugh. But walk through the door and be transported to a cool old style pub. Signs everywhere, pool table, small side rooms, great day bartender and friendly regulars. And she was right about the Bloody: bartender Justin hooked us up with a spicy House version, the best part being 1.) the handful of cocktail olives instead of a celery stalk and 2.) the 3.60 price. THREE DOLLARS SIXTY CENTS for this amazing cocktail!? I just added The Showdown to my list of favorites! I put together a video podcast of out trip to the Showdown (and side trip to the strange former Aquarina Springs). Please check it out at http://bit.ly/9PLNa0 read more

I highly recommend this spot. Hamburgers are very flavorful and well cooked. The cook and the staff are amazing. Oh and how could i forget, the jalapeño poppers were also delicious as well. read more

Showdown is the only bar I truly love in San Marcos! The Bloody Mary is to die for and is the house specialty. After just one taste, it's no wonder it's an award winner. What makes them so great is that they make them from scratch and top it off with an entire handful, yes- and entire handful, of olives. Can it get any better than that? Showdown is also one of the few bars that always has my drink of choice cold and ready - the Woodchuck Pear Cider. The crowd is great and sometimes strangely diverse, but that's what makes it a real San Marcos dive bar. The jukebox has anything a person could ask for, and their foosball tabel is my lucky table! read more

Those bloody marys tho. Judging from the amount of olives they put in my drink, this place single-handedly made Del Monte stock go up. read more

Showdown - Dive Bars Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Good drinks and good food. Also the prices are awesome! I had the frito pie and it was amazing paired with my beer. Great place to hang out in San Marcos. read more

Showdown is an awesome place to hang out with friends and have a good time. The bartenders are really cool and their drinks keep getting better and better. The prices are good too. I wish they would have more pool tables and more TVs to follow several games at a time. Minor detail though! read more

Happy Minutes! Wooohoooo! Gotta love it. The also have a superb Bloody Mary. The place used to be a bit grimy but not anymore! My favorite hippy bar in town! read more

One of my favorite places in San Marcos, you can hang out here without going broke. Lots of people start off their night here. There's lots of room but it can get pretty busy pretty quickly on a weekend night. I hear they have food here now as well , but I have yet to order it. Shiner and Ziegen Pitchers around 9 bucks... not to shabby... read more