Are These The 10 Best Honkey Tonks in Texas?

Country music and honky-tonks go together like George and Tammy or whiskey and a heartbreak. These legendary venues aren’t just bars — they’re living, line-dancing testaments to country music history. Whether you’re chasing live music, line-dancing lessons, or a beer-soaked barstool with a view of the band, these honky-tonks have seen it all.

Here are the Top 10 Country Honky-Tonks of All Time:

10. Gilley’s – Pasadena, Texas
Claim to Fame: The “world’s largest honky-tonk” and the original Urban Cowboy hangout.
Why It’s Iconic: Home of the mechanical bull and a movie starring John Travolta? Yes, please. Gilley’s kicked off the cowboy craze of the ’80s, blending disco lights with boot scootin’ boogie.

9. Broken Spoke – Austin, Texas
Claim to Fame: An old-school Texas dancehall that hasn’t changed its boots in decades.
Why It’s Iconic: Willie Nelson, George Strait, and Dolly Parton have all played here. The floor’s dusty, the beer’s cold, and the chicken-fried steak is as legendary as the music.

8. Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, Texas
Claim to Fame: The world’s largest honky-tonk. Yes — bigger than your ex’s ego.
Why It’s Iconic: 100,000 square feet of live bull riding, line dancing, and concerts from every country great you can name. Also, the autograph wall in the green room is basically a country music museum.

7. Gruene Hall – New Braunfels, Texas
Claim to Fame: Texas’ oldest continually operating dance hall (built in 1878).
Why It’s Iconic: Everyone from Lyle Lovett to Miranda Lambert has graced its creaky stage. It’s a snapshot of pure, unfiltered Texas soul — no frills, just magic.

6. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge – Nashville, Tennessee
Claim to Fame: The purple-painted backdoor to the Grand Ole Opry.
Why It’s Iconic: Legends like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Kris Kristofferson got their start here — or at least passed out here. It’s a must-stop on Broadway, packed wall-to-wall with talent and tourists alike.

5. Robert’s Western World – Nashville, Tennessee
Claim to Fame: Famous for its fried bologna sandwiches and boot-stompin’ honky-tonk tunes.
Why It’s Iconic: While Broadway has gone commercial, Robert’s is old-school Nashville. Live music, neon guitars, and pedal steel galore — it’s where country still sounds country.

4. The Stage – Nashville, Tennessee
Claim to Fame: A Broadway hot spot known for rowdy nights and rising stars.
Why It’s Iconic: It’s where you might catch a future CMA winner before they blow up — or just a solid cover band with a twang that could make you cry in your beer.

3. Floore’s Country Store – Helotes, Texas
Claim to Fame: The spiritual home of Willie Nelson’s early career.
Why It’s Iconic: It’s equal parts dancehall, backyard BBQ, and country shrine. You haven’t truly felt Texas until you’ve danced under the stars at Floore’s.

2. Bluebird Cafe – Nashville, Tennessee
Claim to Fame: The legendary songwriters’ listening room.
Why It’s Iconic: While not your traditional rowdy honky-tonk, it’s where songs are born. If you’re lucky enough to score a seat, you might hear the next country chart-topper before it hits radio.

1. The Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tennessee
Claim to Fame: The mother church of country music.
Why It’s Iconic: Okay, okay — it’s not a honky-tonk in the beer-on-the-floor sense, but its roots run deeper than any saloon. Every bar on this list dreams of being a stepping stone to this hallowed stage. If you’re a honky-tonker, the Opry is holy ground.

Honky-Tonk Heaven Isn’t Just a Place—It’s a Vibe
Whether it’s the sawdust floors of a Texas dancehall or the bright lights of Nashville’s Broadway, these honky-tonks keep the heart of country music beating loud and proud. They’re more than just places to drink and dance — they’re the places where memories are made, careers are launched, and legends are born.
Now grab your boots, order a longneck, and let’s go dancin’.