San Antonio offers no shortage of culinary excellence, but escaping the city limits for the Texas Hill Country rewards travelers with historic taverns, barbecue, and charming bistros. According to reporting from the San Antonio Chronicles, six specific detours stand out for food enthusiasts looking to trade the urban bustle for scenic vistas and exceptional plates.
The Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Boerne’s Historic Sips
Named for Cibolo Creek’s most well-known waddlers, The Dodging Duck Brewhaus serves as a Boerne gastropub. The menu offers a global range spanning from blistered shishito peppers to traditional fish and chips. However, enjoying the flowing beer requires a sturdy foundation. Visitors can pair a beer sampler with hearty German fare, including large Bavarian-style pretzels or a spicy bratwurst.
Former City Hall Restaurant & Bar in New Braunfels
Housed inside a former municipal building, New Braunfels newcomer Former City Hall Restaurant & Bar trades municipal intrigue for languorous date nights. The swish establishment sparks friendly debates among diners over starters. Guests frequently weigh whether to order the lighter smoked crab dip with farm-fresh crudité or the indulgent truffle fries paired with a frosty gin martini.
Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood
While some regional culinary purists intensely debate post oak versus mesquite, Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood operates outside traditional barbecue cultism. The famous round smoker primarily functions as a visual centerpiece, yet the all-you-can-eat family meal remains a ceremony of passage. For $33.95, visitors dive into an abundant spread of beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, and all the classic accompaniments.
The Blue Bonnet Cafe’s Century-Old Charm in Marble Falls
Open since 1929, The Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls is celebrated for sky-high meringues towering as high as five inches. Yet pie serves as merely the introduction to a menu defined by outsized portions. Diners tackle enormous items ranging from a classic Dagwood clubhouse sandwich to a hefty Wednesday meatloaf special, proving that minimalist interior aesthetics—featuring plenty of Millennial gray—take a back seat to the sheer scale of the comfort food.
Vaudeville and Calivence in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg anchors the western edge of these culinary detours with two distinct destinations. Vaudeville on Main Street operates as a hybrid boutique, wine bar, and trendy brasserie. Guests can begin with Spanish-style grilled octopus before moving on to a showstopping rack of lamb, concluding with a chocolate chunk pecan cookie that rivals the richness of the dark chocolate pot de crème. Just down the road, Calivence vineyard surprises visitors by hosting an 1869 Sunday house-turned-bistro. The quaint spot serves pairing-friendly French-Californian dishes like crostini, oysters, and a Thai steak salad featuring a minty chutney, all capped off with a classic crème brûlée.
Planning a weekend getaway from San Antonio requires little more than a full tank of gas and an appetite for local history and flavor. Which of these Hill Country detours will anchor your next road trip?
