22 Texas Hill Country bars and restaurants worth a road trip from San Antonio

Lost Maples Cafe
384 Main St., Utopia, (830) 966-2221, lostmaplescafe.com
Located on Main Street in the Hill Country town of Utopia, a stop at Lost Maples Cafe is a must for those on a weekend getaway. From mind-blowing lamb sliders to the best chocolate meringue on this side of the Mississippi, you definitely won't be disappointed.
Photo via Instagram / globe_trot_pix

Texas Pride BBQ
2980 E Loop 1604 S, Adkins, (210) 649-3730, texaspridebbq.net
Texas Pride BBQ has the fix for your fried fish and barbecue cravings. If nothing else, be sure to try their famous peach cobbler while there — you won't be sorry.
Photo via Instagram / texaspridebarbecue

Hildee's Texas Dine-Inn
14111 Winters Mill Parkway, Wimberley, (512) 222-9904 hildeeswimberley.com
Critically acclaimed Chef Ryan Hildebrand's latest creation is something you have to see to believe. Hilldee's Texas Dine-Inn features a rotating menu with ingredients sourced from local farmers. It's also a great spot to take in views of the Texas Hill Country, boasting an outdoor patio where you can watch your dinner cooked on the smokers and live-fire table.
Photo via Instagram / hildees.dineinn

Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten
148 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels, (830) 625-2807, krausescafe.com
Leave it to New Braunfels to do biergartens right. Whether you want Texas brews or German booze, you’ll be able to choose from dozens of ales. This spot also offers authentic German style brats and pretzels. The drive is totally worth it.
Photo via Instagram / krausescafe

August E’s
203 E. San Antonio Street, Fredericksburg, (830) 997-1585, august-es-fgb.com
Stop into August E’s for Thai Tuesday and sushi with fish flown in from Hawaii. Yes, Hawaii! If you’re not already heading over to Fredericksburg, you’re missing out.
Photo via Instagram / August_es_fbg

2 Tarts Bakery
139 N. Castell Ave. Ste. 300, New Braunfels, (830) 387-4606, 2tarts.com
Those with a sweet tooth will love 2 Tarts, even if on a gluten-free diet! This spot offers a full range of dessert delicacies and plenty of cold and hot beverage options to pair them with.
Photo via Instagram / 2tartsbakery

Kreuz Market
619 N. Colorado St., Lockhart, (512) 398-2361, kreuzmarket.com
Kreuz’s barbecue stands on its own with meats being made up of 85% beef and 15% pork. No sauce or forks offered, so that’s how you know the meats are going to be lit.
Photo via Instagram / robertjacoblerma

Dog & Pony Grill
1481 S Main St, Boerne, (830) 816-7669, dogandponygrill.com
Spanning nearly 2 acres outside of downtown Boerne, Dog & Pony is a fantastic family-friendly spot worth the drive. The property features outdoor dining, a playground, a dance floor, and even a dog park. All of this — AND amazing food!
Photo courtesy of Dog & Pony Grill

Cooper’s Pld Time Pit Bar-B-Que
1125 State Highway 337 Loop, New Braunfels, (830) 627-0627, coopersbbq.com
Cooper’s offer 13 kinds of meat, so you know this is a spot every Texan should visit at least once. You can also munch on a variety of side dishes, including mac ‘n’ cheese, cole slaw, potato salad and hot cobbler.
Photo via Instagram / coopersbbq

Hermann Sons Steak House
577 US Highway 90 E, Hondo, (830) 426-2220, hermannsonssteakhouse.com
This family-owned steakhouse provides indoor and outdoor dining, so you’ll be able to enjoy the fresh air out in Hondo. Plus, the restaurant has a full bar and live music to complete your dining experience.
Photo via Instagram / cati_theadhatter

Haby’s Alsatian Bakery
207 Old US Highway 90 W, Castroville, (830) 538-2118, habysbakery.com
Haby’s provides a large selection of freshly made cakes pastries and bread, both traditional bakery treats and those from the Alsace region in France. Swing by to get your sugar fill with doughnuts, honey buns, cinnamon rolls and so much more.
Photo via Instagram / ycastle

Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar
1287 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 625-0684, gristmillrestaurant.com
Looking to dine by the River Grove? The Gristmill allows you to choose from indoor and outdoor dining views of the river. And it has a full bar, as if you weren’t already sold.
Photo via Instagram / gristmillriverrestaurant

Gather Boerne
946 N School St, Boerne, (830) 331-2182 facebook.com/gatherboerne
This lunch spot in Boerne serves up fresh bread, pastries, sandwiches, soups, and salads. What makes Gather Boerne quintessentially Hill Country, however, is the fact that it sits on a 2.5-acre property that had previously been a Holiday Farms pet resort. Yeehaw!
Photo via Facebook / Gather Boerne

Southside Market and Barbecue
1212 Highway 290 W, Elgin, (512) 285-6830, southsidemarket.com
Choose to order family-style with meats by the half pound, or order your own plate. Just split the brisket baked potato with a friend if you know what’s good for you.
Photo via Instagram / southsidebbq

Peggy’s on the Green
128 W Blanco Road, Boerne, (830) 572-5000, facebook.com/peggysboerne
Headed by Chef Mark Bohanan, Peggy’s is the place to go for some tastefully made selections. Stopping by for brunch means you have to order the milk punch (trust us) and pair it with the short ribs benedict.
Photo via Instagram / peggysboerne

Black’s Barbecue
215 N. Main Street, Lockhart, (512) 398-2712, blacksbbq.com
Black’s Barbecue applies generations of barbecue knowledge to cook up brisket, sausage, turkey, beef ribs, chopped beef and pork ribs. You've got to go for all the flavors, like jalapeño sausage and sweet cream corn.
Photo via Instagram / blacksbbq

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus & Restaurant
402 River Road, Boerne, (830) 248-3825, dodgingduck.com
If you like beer (and we know you do), know that you’ve got a friend in the folks at Dodging Duck. This country brewpub is known for its house beers, which it pairs with comfort food inspired by the world. Oh, and there’s also a patio where you can see a pond full of ducks. Enjoy, y’all.
Photo via Instagram / hillcountryfoodtours

The Salt Lick
18300 FM 1826, Driftwood, (512) 858-4959, saltlickbbq.com
Looking for live music to enjoy with your barbecue? The Salt Lick allows you to BYOB for the show and meal, just remember to bring cash.
Photo via Instagram / saltlickbbq

Valeria
109 Waterview Parkway STE 105, Boerne, (830) 331-1393, valeriarestaurant.com
With lunch specials and pizza combinations like these, you’ll be heading out to Boerne on the regular. Although a little pricey, you can’t go wrong with the shrimp Valeria. If you’re feeling a little more traditional, share the sausage and roasted red pepper pizza with the table.
Photo via Instagram / valeriaboerne

Mac and Ernie's
11804 FM-470, Tarpley, (830) 562-3727, macandernies.com
The original shack of Mac and Ernie’s is now the entrance to their new building, so there’s a bit of cool history to get you pumped on the drive out to Tarpley. Head over to this tiny town for a taste of cheeseburgers, steaks, catfish or grilled tuna and more.
Photo via Google Maps