4 Best Bars in San Marcos, The Hill Country

Recently purchased by the longtime head brewer who has been the force behind Middleton's craft beer, this dog-friendly brewery is a perfect place to chill on the patio, rooftop deck, or indoors. The beer flights are a great way to taste a variety of beers, and they go really well with tacos from one of the food trucks. In addition to live music, there are community-driven events like Fly-Tying Night and disc golf on the course on-site.

Housed in a neat red barn on the outskirts of town, this family-friendly craft brewery offers something truly unique and special: cave beer, which is literally brewed in a cave on property. The owners discovered the cave, excavated it, and realized it was a great place for spontaneous fermentation, so that’s what they did! Grab a “pressed sandwich”—perhaps the Sergeant Pepper with pepperoni, ham, Swiss, pickled peppers, and serrano crema or the vegan Freakin’ Hippie with hummus, tomato, spinach, cucumber, and olive tapenade. With lots of outdoor space with a playground for kids, along with live music or a comedy show, there’s always something entertaining going on onstage, day and night.

Although its Austin counterpart closed years ago, Showdown is still a mainstay in downtown San Marcos. The dark dive bar has a neighborly vibe, made stronger by the numbered mugs hanging above the bar for regulars. The cozy space manages to pack in two pool tables along with several pinball machines and plenty of tables for mixing and mingling. In addition to cold, cheap bottles and pitchers of beer, locals flock here to indulge in their jalapeño poppers, hash browns smothered in cheese and jalapeños, and sloppy-good burgers (you can even replace the bun with a quesadilla if you’d like).

Set in an eye-catching 1930s service station with a brick exterior, Zelick’s Icehouse features plenty of modern touches like craft beer, cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices, and a food truck serving burgers, tacos, and more. The rustic interior is certainly a draw, but so is the spacious exterior, which wraps around the building with loads of outdoor seating and space for groups, live music, and playing popular Texas games like horseshoes and cornhole.