Texas Dive Bar Guide

Amarillo

Route 66 Amarillo

2 Dive Bars

Devil’s Backbone Tavern

Oldest dive bar, longest line (to steal a phrase).

Hangin Tree Saloon

Everything a perfect Texas roadhouse dive bar should be.

D&W Lounge

Be kind on your pupils upon exit and open those eyelids gradually.

Deep Eddy Cabaret

Order a mini with a straight face to really start the day right.

Deep Ellum

Adair’s Saloon

Bring your Sharpie to the bathroom.

Donn’s Depot

Impossible to put into words, holiday decorations or not.

Rose Garden

No trip to Houston is complete without a visit to Rose Marie.

Riley’s Tavern

Original elements dot a building erected in the 1800s, high grade dive bar ambiance.

Fireplace Lounge

Everything a dive bar next to a highway should be.

Cartoon Saloon

Always open, also always closed, always worth a stop.

Little Longhorn Saloon

Little Longhorn Saloon is amazing outside of Sunday afternoons...but go on Sunday afternoon.

Ego’s

Behind the gas station, under the office, nothing but dive bar perfection.

Lakewood Landing

No lie I'd order a porterhouse there without blinking.

The Hole in the Wall

Witness the wild difference between a day drink and a packed show.

Buddy’s Place

Nothing says dive bar like blacked out windows and spray paint John Wayne.

Lee Harvey’s

Grab a High Life, take a lap, look for the Colt 45 sign.

Hoity Toit Beer Joint

You know where to sit.

Spechts Texas

Because Hill Country is made for drinking.

Sam’s Town Point

Don't be swayed by the occasional cover charge, the experience inside is worth the outlay.

Reno’s Chop Shop Saloon

There's a fine line between artwork and undergarments.

West Alabama Ice House

Drinking outside in Texas can't go wrong.

House Bar

It’s drinking at home but not and also better.

Charlie’s Star Lounge

Converted drive-in restaurants make for fine dives.

El Luchador Bar

It's a lucha libre bar, it sells itself.

The Grapevine Bar

An easy place to lose about 10 hours patio day drinking.

Lola’s Depot

Save your pupils some pain and prep them upon entry and exit.

Route 66 Amarillo

Broken Spoke Lounge

But really, that indoor coffee & cigarette alcove.

Big Star Bar

An open floorplan can still feel like a labyrinth.

Shade Tree Saloon & Grill

You could probably just move in and who would know?

Mike’s Gemini Twin

Such a crime to be a little bit too classy.

Warren’s Inn

New Orleans exterior, uber-classy interior.

Lala’s Little Nugget

There's a comfort in Christmas decorations with no responsibility for putting them up.

Route 66 Amarillo

The GoldenLight Cafe

Because a beer and a burger have never gone wrong.

The Friendly Spot

The happy medium between drinking craft beer outside and parenting.

Texas Cafe & Bar

Beacuse a stage and a Shiner is probably enough.

VFW Post 8573

There are few things as authentic as grabbing a cold beer at a VFW Post. Strongly recommended experience.

Faust Tavern

Follow the occult-feeling neon and the smell of pizza to the front door.

Bang Bang Bar

Like a vintage love seat museum with beer.

Happy Cow Bar & Grill

The right place for a dive bar double feature.

Ships Lounge

The next best thing to getting drunk on a submarine.

Longbranch Saloon

Smoky, Texan and rustic in just the way it should be.

Wits End

Like a ransom note turned into a dive bar and brought to life.

Cocky Rooster Bar

Strong pours, plan accordingly.

Giddy Ups

60 years of honkytonk and open mic nights have created robust community here.

PJ’s Sports Bar

Because there's nothing better than a fresh steak off a dive bar patio grill.

Casino South Side

A slice of Austin's 6th Street without bachelorette parties or police barricades.

The Goat

Because every city needs an early morning dive bar stop.

Sisterdale Saloon

Home to perhaps Hill Country's most ornate, century-old bar.

Shady Acres Saloon

Divey appeal of a shotgun bar mixed with outdoor Texas drinking.

Flippers Tavern

But how many pinball machines had to die for the decor?

Lone Star Oyster Bar

Don’t sleep on the green chile tacos.

VFW Post 76

Follow the red neon wrought iron gates.

Texas T Pub

Pick the time and occasion well to maximize the chance of a fun crowd.

Catty Corner Ice House

Nothing quite like a bring-your-own-meat ice house dive.

The Silver Bullet

For sweaty Texas karaoke, it’s a 10.

Robbins Nest

Shuffleboard under the overpass. Writes itself.

Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar

Dive bar or not, the patio is worth the trip.

Single Wide

Seriously though, the Yoo-Hoo slush is worth trying.