In Texas, traditions are as big as the state, and nothing says Texas tradition like good music, ice cold beer, and great friends gathering at a good ol’ cowboy bar.

One of the best ones – it’s been confirmed by the American Cowboy magazine – in Texas is 11th Street Cowboy Bar, located in downtown Bandera.

Only three bars in Texas received the honor, and once you’ve been to 11th Street Cowboy Bar, you know exactly why this unassuming watering hole made that list.

From the street, one would assume that the bar is just a tiny hole in the wall. Entering through the rustic front door, you find a cozy bar, several stools, and lots of ‘mementos’ left by past patrons. There is history here, and it can be seen on every wall and tabletop. Like Texas, the 11th Street Cowboy Bar is full of surprises, and even though it appears to be small, walking through to the back lands you smack dab in the middle of one of the biggest, best outdoor dance halls the great state of Texas has ever seen.

Boasting two stages, live music is omnipresent, and the laid back style of the owner, James McGroatry, and his staff will have you checking your worries at the door and having a great time.

McGroatry has helped put Bandera on the map, drawing hundreds upon hundreds of people to his little piece of Texas; they arrive by foot, car, horse, or hog, and are all guaranteed a good time.

A destination on most motorcycle runs in the Hill Country, you can hear the roar of the hogs coming in as they flock to the notorious bar.

Always a place for celebration, 11th Street Cowboy Bar has become the place to go to kick up your heels on holidays or just any ol’ time you feel like dancing.

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar is obviously all about the cowboy and the cowboy spirit, so you can bet that James will see to it that the American Cowboy is honored well during July’s National Day of the American Cowboy event in Bandera. This year, Bandera will celebrate cowboys on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23, and 11th Street Cowboy Bar will be tearing it up with good ol’ pure country music. Friday night, Junior Gordon and Jake Hooker and the Outsiders will take the stage and on Saturday night, 11th Street will pay tribute to Hank Thompson, welcoming the Original Brazos Valley Boys and country greats Curtis Potter and Tony Booth. There is no better place to cool off and unwind after the excitement of the Ranch Rodeo.

Naturally, when you leave 11th Street Cowboy Bar, you want people to know you’ve been there, you’ve done that, you got the t-shirt, and the good news is they have ‘em. Harleys and Horses, owned and operated by Stella Tedesco, is on site, specializing in all things bling. For the cowgirls (and the cowboys who are trying to please their ladies), there are tons of chunky necklaces, rhinestones, natural stones, leather purses, shirts, and so much more. For you Cowboys, there are hats, shirts, belt buckles, and more. Band CDs can be purchased and of course, all the 11th Street Cowboy Bar memorabilia you can pack in your saddlebag! Open whenever the bar is, stop in and see what they have. You won’t walk away empty-handed.

Become part of the tradition – visit Bandera and say hi to the folks at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar – we promise it won’t be your last time!