The Oldest Bar In Texas Is Also The Oldest Beer Garden In America

Look around Texas and there is history everywhere. There are also historic businesses, roads, gathering places, and more that have been around for a very long time. And one thing that has been around for a long time that Texans seem to enjoy? Beer.

In Texas, we like our bars and we like our beer and spirits of choice and it's been that way for a very long time. And Texas is home to some very old bars, bars that are historic in fact. But only one is the Oldest Bar in Texas, and that is a title that is often debated.

The debate over which bar in Texas is the oldest normally falls to two contenders. The Menger Bar inside the Menger Hotel in San Antonio and Scholz Garten in Austin. There are others who get into the debate from time to time such as The Scoot Inn, Riley's Tavern, and the West Alabama Ice House. And according to Oldest.com, all did make the list as far as some of the oldest bars in Texas, but the great debate between The Menger Bar and Scholz is what we will focus on today.

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Scholz opened in 1866 in Austin while The Menger Hotel opened in 1859. So the Menger wins right? Nope. According to Texas Monthly, The Menger Bar didn't take form until 1887 and during the years of prohibition, The Menger Bar was taken apart and wasn't put back together until 1949.

That means that Scholz Garten, open since 1866 and during prohibition served "Bone Dry Beer" is the oldest bar in the Lone Star State. Not only is Scholz Garten the Oldest Bar in Texas, according to Wine Enthusiast, it is the oldest Beer Garden, or Biergarten, in the United States.

I must say, whether you at at Scholz or The Menger, you are likely going to have a good time, have good drinks, and make good memories.