Great beer selection, good happy hour deals! Very dog friendly, Kevin (the owner's dog) is awesome! read more

The Dancing Bear Pub - Kevin (the owner's dog) - Pubs Near Me - Waco, Texas

Knowledgeable bartenders, vast selection on fraught and in cans. My wife and I got 2 flights and were able to try most of the beers on tap. Paxton the bartender even switched the tv to an out of market football game. We can't wait to come back next time we are in town! They also apparently have a bunch of giveaways and a ton of cool signs everywhere. read more

The Dancing Bear Pub - Pubs Near Me - Waco, Texas

The owner is friendly and welcoming! Great place and vibe, we love going here! Kevin is adorable!

We stopped here after having dinner on our road trip the other night. They were about 45 min to one hour from closing and to be honest the only thing that I remember was that my friend LOVED her beer. I tried it and wasn't fond of it but I'm one of those that's like "just give me a beer but please let it be really cold". Second place that my beer was yummy but wasn't that cold. It was colder than the spot I had just left but it wasn't like OMG! Maybe I don't know my beers but one thing I do know is great "service" which this place definitely lacked. I can enjoy a beer and sample different kinds but sometimes I do need some help. I just wanted to let my friend drink hers since she loved it and get back on the road. We felt rushed to get out of there which did upset me because even after we were done there was still 20 min on the clock. I think I'm being generous giving them 3 stars but they did have an extensive beer list. It was a bit pricey, service was not great and I don't see any great reason to go back. read more

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I have been a few times and seriously whoever is tending bar can make/break your experience. First time it had to be a manager/owner behind the bar who asked and remembers my name once he figured out that I know my beer. Slow Monday evening, he gave the patrons and I a few samples of beer brought in. Very helpful with the draft and can menu. Can menu is not up to date. Come another time and the tall bearded gentleman prob said 6 words to me and no recommendations at all. The other guys at least recognize me and offer suggestions. The 3 stars is because u can't get a pint of beer here under $6. A pint of 471 Breckenridge for $9? Ballast point sculpin $8.50/ pint and that don't include tax. You can get that same sculpin less that 2 miles away for $5.50 at Crickets. A few of the bartenders talk about Crickets not having clean lines. I have only found that true 1 time and they took that beer off my tab. I like they have keep the glass night on thursday but not much of a happy hour here at all. .50 cents off a pint? . That's not happy hour. They do have a food truck out back and the owner is a cool beer loving guy so check it out. Its worth it to check it out but bring your credit card. It ain't cheap read more

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Low key neighborhood beer bar. Met up with some friends. Lots of dogs inside. We went on pint night and got a free glass.

Best bar/pub in Waco. Exceptional staff, and a wall of great craft beer. They have big bottles and cans to go, and they fill growlers. Saturday is half price growler fills, which in my opinion is a stellar deal. Weekly specials, and trivia on Tuesdays. Go here, you'll want to come back. read more

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Great vibes. Best bar in Waco. Staff is super friendly and always have a great selection of beer.

Holy moly. Those Brussel sprouts. They were absolutely amazing! And the hummus was delicious too!!!! Go have a couple of yummy beers and pair it with some delicious food. The staff here is so friendly! I always feel like family every time we come! This is a usual hangout for us and will continue to be so! read more

Great pubby atmosphere, good beer selection, friendly staff. Don't judge it by the street view. Recommended. read more

The Dancing Bear Pub - Pubs Near Me - Waco, Texas

A Thursday classic. The bartenders here are all very nice and a good atmosphere. I would heavily recommend.

Love this place, was a great stopover going from Dallas back to Austin People were nice and beer was great! Met someone from Three Nations and he explained to me how to do a hazy IPA...also plenty of cute dogs with owners in the place Food truck in back was also a great pairing ... Can't wait to go back read more

Best craft beer place in Waco. This is how I started getting into craft beer. Things are slower during the summer. All of the bartenders are pretty knowledgeable. They rotate about 16 taps so things don't get stale. They also have a nice can and bottle selection. If you don't like craft beer this isn't the bar for you. read more

Dancing Bear is my favorite place to grab a drink in Waco. Truly a pub in every aspect. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The draft beers are always rotating through delicious local and regional brews, with an option for everyone. The prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is less chaotic and more relaxed than most of the bars near Baylor. The Koko Ramen trailer in the back serves up delicious food. There's nothing about The Bear that I dislike. If you and your friends just want a relaxed spot to grab a beer and hang, this is it. read more

This is the epitome of what I believe a local neighborhood pub should be. It is relatively small, has good seating, a very decent "above average" food menu (restaurant co-owned next door) and a very sustainable amount of beer taps and a good compliment of bottled beer. The only minor complaint is the bar seating area is a little small, maybe 7-8 chairs, but don't let that discourage you. We were very pleased to see the selection of taps offered and we didn't even have to overlook the usual watered down domestics. These guys are serious about craft beer and they promote it very well. The sixteen taps help ensure that beer is fresh and continually moving, plus tap choices change regularly. I really like the fact that they offer smaller pours, for a smaller price, so you can taste more styles of beer without filling up too fast. Mario, our bartender was a hoot and very helpful and quick to pour you a sample of anything you might be a little indecisive about. He also did a great job of explaining the various beers and had a very nice wit about him, which isn't the case for a lot of people who are bartenders, but shouldn't be. If you really like craft beer or want to step outside of your domestic beer comfort zone, you need to try this place. There is another place in town that has a lot more taps and it's big and usually noisy, but in times past when we've gone there, we've noticed that some taps tasted 'stale' or flat. That's an indication that the beer isn't moving much. Next time we're in Waco, we'll definitely stop in again. Hopefully Mario will be behind the bar waiting for us with a smile and more tongue in cheek humor. read more

I moved to Waco from San Francisco in July. My two years in SF really turned me into a beer snob. The assortment of amazing bars there was, well, amazing! When the time came to move to Waco, I was afraid of the selection of bars I would find. Soon after I move here, I come to find an amazing bar within walking distance of where I live. My first big appreciation is that they don't put in cheap domestic beers to take up tap space, I'm pretty sure there are 15 taps. There's always a good assortment of craft beers. About half from Texas and the other half from other parts of the country or the world. I have never gotten a bottle, but I think it's a pretty extensive selection. Second, they rotate in different beers all the time. I have my favorite beers, but I love trying new ones. I have tried so many new beers here. Third, the atmosphere. It's great lighting, a great pub feel. It kinda feels like everyone knows each other, which they usually do. Met lots of great people here. The patio out back is great too. Fourth, the bartenders are nice guys and know their stuff. This bar would be a great bar anywhere, so glad it's in Waco! read more

My favorite pub in Waco. They always have a lot of rotating beers and fun events. The outside area is really nice too!

HOLYHOPSBATMANTHEDANCINGBEARRULES. I'd damn near go to Waco just for the Dancing Bear. -Really awesome guys who own and work here. -Great selection of beer. Not huge, but every single one is good-to-great. -Great mixture between being lively, but not loud and in your face. -Easy parking. -Clean bathrooms. Go here and drink beer. read more

The Dancing Bear pub has a nice atmosphere and patio. They have a great beer selection. I used to love this bar. The prices are incredibly expensive, they only stock any beer that is $6-7+ on draft and they don't even bother to top your beers off half the time. They do NOT have a $4.50 option. It seems to me they are price gouging their clientele because this is the only alternative-style bar in town. They are clearly taking advantage, capitalism at its best. I recently decided to stop patronizing the DB because of this. Additionally, a new apartment building is being built across the street. Expect that atmosphere to change once that project is complete, and probably even higher prices. read more

Stopped in on the way down to San Antonio. Had the munchies, my butt was tired of sitting, and I could use a beer. Seems like a good place to stop. Parking is a little light, so we parked in the grocery store across the street. No one bothered us about it, so it might be a viable area. Food menu was a little underwhelming, but the food was good and reasonably priced. I got some black bean burritos. They had cream cheese in them, which was a little shocking (maybe I should read the descriptions better), but ultimately a good thing. The other food looked good as well. Beer selection was great. Had some off-the-wall things that I didn't expect to see, some good Texas locals, and then a fairly large bottle selection with a nice variety. Of special note was the New Republic seasonal tap. We don't get the College Station brew in DFW, so it was nice it see it in Waco. Though, I'm not sure if I appreciated the unfiltered, sweet potato beer. Interesting, good tasting, but awkward. Wait staff was cool, patient with my mulling over of the taps, and fairly timely with getting food and drinks out. Glad to finally try a New Republic brew and have some nice food along with it. read more

A place to celebrate life's simple pleasures: chilling out, good conversations with friends, cool new beers, some decent rock playing in the background, a breezy back porch. Simple decor, simple set-up (just beer and wine; it's like the grocery store - no hard stuff). Different nightly specials like "Texas Beer Night" and friendly bartenders to walk you through trying new ones. read more

Best beer selection in Waco; probably the best between DFW and Austin. I enjoy being able to order food from next-door's Food for Thought menu. My wife and I often share a pizza. All of the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. read more

I lived in Waco for 3 years and sadly only visited this place towards the end of my time there. This place feels like a pub should. It's a little dark inside, and there are great high backed booths and some stools. There's a nice patio outside with charming lights strung along the enclosure. The bartenders here are the best really. They're knowledgeable, but not condescending, and easy to talk to. Don't be shy to ask to sample a beer before you buy a pint. If you like beer you'll like this place. They have beers from all around the world, the country and most importantly, Texas. If you like Texas beers or are willing to try different types, I recommend going on Tuesdays because Texas beers are $1.00 off. They have various specials throughout the week as well including Trivia night on Tuesdays. Another thing that makes this place great is just the variety of people and purposes for going here. Though this place caters primarily to the college kids in town, I've seen professors and guys coming in after work. I've also personally managed to get school work done here during the week. Don't repeat my mistake, visit this place sooner rather than later. read more

I love this place and for being a pub, they bring in some great selections of wine! It's my go to place on Thursdays. Also, I love the guys at the bar! read more

If I lived close to Waco, this would be my definitive watering hole of choice. Found after a long afternoon at Westfest (you need to go if you haven't yet!) the Dancing Bear Pub is a small establishment with a friendly staff and great selection of drinks. Even better, the Dancing Bear Pub also offers outside seating just as large as the inside. So whether you want to hang out inside for a couple drink and watch the television, or be outside in the fresh air at their picnic table seating, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. While we were there, we got to enjoy some music with our beers, performed by a local group of musicians who go by Cowboy Moses. It made for a perfect afternoons relaxation, taking a breather from the hustle and mayhem of normal life. I can't really tell you every little thing that makes the Dancing Bear Pub stand out farther than other places of the same ilk. In the end, there's just something familiar and awesome about the atmosphere there. It's almost like an intimate local pub, where after a couple visits, you know that you will be recognized. Its the type of place that you enter, and it just feels like you should have been drinking there all along. It's not dirty, pretentious, or unwelcoming. It's just, your friendly neighborhood pub. read more

Great place! Good prices and great environment. Never thought of it as a good place to go but after checking it out had a great experience. If you're looking for a chill place to have a couple beers and watch some games with friends I highly recommend. read more

I was only here for one night needed a place to have a drink with friends it was awesome for that total hipster bar but very relaxed atmosphere and i would go back to work my way through there beer selection had some pretty interesting ones read more

Weird vibe inside. Only sell limited craft beer. There was s food truck out back selling Chinese soup. Seemed like a members only club and since I wasn't wearing my corduroy vest and flannel shirt I wasn't part of the "in" crowd. read more

The best spot I found in Waco. Rotating taps of local and and craft beers,Knowledgable friendly staff, and the porch is nice if like me you smoke. read more

The Dancing Bear Pub - Pubs Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Great people pouring the best beer they can get their hands on. They have a covered back patio, and plenty of space inside or at the bar. It's my favorite place for a beer within 75 miles in any direction. read more

Came here with a few of my friends and they said all you can eat crawfish for 15 dollars. We paid at the bar and asked to make sure there was still crawfish left before we paid. He said yes. We went to the back and there was none left. We then came back up asked for a refund and he said I can't but I can ask my manager. He comes back and says his manager said no refunds, we asked if he could ask him to come out and talk to us. The manager comes and then started cursing out me and my friends telling us "to f*ck off" and that today was supposed to be his off day so "to get the f*ck out." We ended up getting our money and leaving. Will not be coming back here again. read more

Oh the beers. Oh me oh my. If craft beer had a bar to hang out in, this would be it. So eclectic and fun. Indoor and outdoor with games and great lighting. Do yourself a favor and visit the dancing bear. One star off for parking. read more

Really the best beer pub in Waco. It doesn't have the same amount of beer that Crickets does, but it has much higher quality beer. The staff are knowledgable about the beer and the environment is very relaxed. A great place to hang out and relax with friends. read more

Their beer is good and the guy behind the counter knows his stuff. He can recommend something to you based on your taste preferences. I don't really love the atmosphere. It's like new chain restaraunt meets downtown pub. I guess they need some time for the place to get roughened up a bit. read more

I went there to fill my growler, 64 ounces, and I paid $66. I've never felt more screwed in my life. that's $11 a beer in a small town in Texas. They may make go back to drinking Budweiser. Screw this place, its way over priced. read more

Finding a place to experience quality craft beers in Waco is difficult. However, the dancing bear pub does just that. The staff is knowledgeable and, the atmosphere is quaint. A nice place to sit, enjoy sports, friends and enjoy the craftsmanship of micro-brewed ales. read more

This place is my favorite pub. It's a little more expensive than some of the other bars, but it's due to their selection consisting of all craft beers. They do a whole bunch to promote local Texas brewers, and their staff is really friendly and really happy to educate you on the beers they have on draft. This place has a nice relaxed atmosphere more conducive to having a good conversation with your friends than a night of hard partying, but that's just how I like it. read more

Cute little pub with a back patio area that has a good truck. A good aspect of craft beers & friendly staff. Watch where you park though because you will get towed if you are around the apartments. read more

This place has a great selection of beers, has a really chill atmosphere and serves up grub from Food for Thought. One would be hard pressed to think of a better place to have an enjoyable time with friends. read more

I know it's Sunday but this place is dead. Good beer selection and good atmosphere but just no people