Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Bar
Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Bar
4.5
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
37 within 3 miles
Attractions
14 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
101 reviews
Excellent
72
Very good
13
Average
8
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Massimo V
Province of Pavia, Italy32 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Simply AMAZING. 2 Italians in this pub, sitting at a table, alone for a few minutes.... the local people inside immediately came to introduce themselves, talk to us, dedicated Jonny Cash songs to us and made us dance!! !!! It was a unique and unforgettable experience. Thanks Bandera. thanks to all the wonderful people we met (Steven as first). See you Soon !!!
Written August 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole S
Sandhurst, UK444 contributions
Sep 2019
This was recommended to us by a cowboy on the ranch we had been on but when we first arrived, we thought we'd made a mistake. You almost miss the entrance on Main Street and when you open it, you are met with stairs that lead down into the basement. it's a real spit and sawdust bar with a stage, some tables and a dark, dimly lit bar. Everyone turned and looked at us and we weren't sure if we shoul turn around and leave but we thought we'd be polite and have a beer first. Well what a blessing that we are polite!
The lady serving was so friendly, the beer was so cheap and the dark, dimly lit bar was full of nik-naks and western memorabilia and there was a mock fireplace to the left making it look like you are in someones living room.
We discovered it was jam night (Wednesday) and the bar lady told us the musicians all sitting around would start about 7.30pm. We started talking to them and she invited us to sit with them (she was sitting with them too between serviing). By the end of the night we were singing with them and my husband even borrowed one of the musicians guitars and had a little jam with them. We were so sad that we'd found this place on the last night of our holiday but we made the most of it and stayed until they closed about 1am!
The lady serving was so friendly, the beer was so cheap and the dark, dimly lit bar was full of nik-naks and western memorabilia and there was a mock fireplace to the left making it look like you are in someones living room.
We discovered it was jam night (Wednesday) and the bar lady told us the musicians all sitting around would start about 7.30pm. We started talking to them and she invited us to sit with them (she was sitting with them too between serviing). By the end of the night we were singing with them and my husband even borrowed one of the musicians guitars and had a little jam with them. We were so sad that we'd found this place on the last night of our holiday but we made the most of it and stayed until they closed about 1am!
Written June 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SpandTexPants
San Antonio, TX4 contributions
Jul 2020
This place is a classic.Robert Earl Keen wrote “Feelin’ Good Again” about his place. “Keen said that the bar not only led him to write one of his best-known tunes, but it’s also where he first met another Texas singer-songwriter who has enjoyed some pretty substantial success himself, Bruce Robison. “If you want to hear more about it ask Bruce Robison, because he grew up in Bandera, and that’s where I actually met Bruce. I came down and he was sitting there at the bar.”’
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guide797091
Norwich, CT23 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Old time bar. If you want to drink & smoke a cigarette it's a good place to go. No fancy drinks- just beer & wine. Look for the red door next to the general store on main St.
Written December 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager17447
Abilene, Texas1 contribution
The first time I went to Arky Blues was on new years eve about ten years ago and I did not know
before going to the club that Johnny Bush was appearing there so that really made it a special visit.
The club was packed and I have never had as much
fun as I met people from all over the country and
it was like we were all friends instead of strangers.
Arky Blue is a very good entertainer and host as
well.
I have returned several times and always have the
same feeling that the people that visit Arkys are laid
back and like to party--especially dancing on the
sawdust . I have danced with cowboys with spurs
on as Bandera is the cowboy capital of the world.
YOU HAVE TO GO AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF IF YOU LIKE TO HONKY TONK !!!!!
The decor and the atmosphere at Arkys is just
awesome .
before going to the club that Johnny Bush was appearing there so that really made it a special visit.
The club was packed and I have never had as much
fun as I met people from all over the country and
it was like we were all friends instead of strangers.
Arky Blue is a very good entertainer and host as
well.
I have returned several times and always have the
same feeling that the people that visit Arkys are laid
back and like to party--especially dancing on the
sawdust . I have danced with cowboys with spurs
on as Bandera is the cowboy capital of the world.
YOU HAVE TO GO AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF IF YOU LIKE TO HONKY TONK !!!!!
The decor and the atmosphere at Arkys is just
awesome .
Written June 16, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navigator8694
2 contributions
A wonderful show by great talent. Music like this is unheard of these days.
Th greatest performer was the lead guitar/singer. He sounds more like Ray Price than Ray Price. He was just terrific and carried the whole great show. Arkey was good but the other guy was just super.
We will return soon.
You will love it. If you like real traditional country and western music(PRE 1975), this is the place.
No Brooks and Dunn here.
GO!!!!!
Th greatest performer was the lead guitar/singer. He sounds more like Ray Price than Ray Price. He was just terrific and carried the whole great show. Arkey was good but the other guy was just super.
We will return soon.
You will love it. If you like real traditional country and western music(PRE 1975), this is the place.
No Brooks and Dunn here.
GO!!!!!
Written August 23, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navigate15551
Martinsville, Indiana1 contribution
As a young 17 year old lad 53 years ago,I was stationed in South Texas (Kingsville)and had vague, fond memmories of honky tonks with wooden floors and country singers like Lefty and Hank. I thought those times were left only to memmories. I was pleasantly surprised when my wife and I recently visited the Silver Dollar and experienced the wonderful music of Arky and his band. What a wonderful discovery that such a place and talent still exists. We will be back next year for more of Arky and the Silver Dollar atmosphere. Don't pass up an opportunity to visit when in the area. Texas Honky Tonkin at it's finest.
Written March 1, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TexasRoadtripper
Houston, Texas110 contributions
I have been going to Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar for 20 years. The minute you walk down the stairs, you feel like you have walked back in time. Arkey and his staff are great hosts and the House Band is excellent. Arkey has preserved the authentic western ambience as evidenced by the sawdust on the floor, the jukebox filled with great honky tonk music, the old photos, pinball machines, etc. Arkey often has Johnny Bush and other great Texas entertainers playing on special occasions so check it out. Cheers!
Written June 24, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caro
Gisborne, New Zealand24 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
Omgoodness! You just have to visit here while in Bandera ! Bring your cowboy hat and boots and do the two step ! We met some lovely old cowboys here , with amazing stories and amazing music ..
sawdust floor cold beer and cowboy memorabilia. All you need !
sawdust floor cold beer and cowboy memorabilia. All you need !
Written January 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sleepycat69
Litchfield, MN294 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
We were staying at a guest ranch near Bandera TX and were looking for something interesting to do during the day. Most bars seem to accommodate only the late night folk, and our group wasn't part of that scene. So happy we discovered the Silver Dollar Bar. We stopped for a soda on both Saturday and Sunday, and were tickled at the music (locals, laid-back, not too loud) and the ambiance. Coke was served in glass bottles ($2), and we were never pressured to buy more. A couple of the local folk came over to chat, and they were characters! As one of them said, this place is almost like a museum dedicated to Honkeytonk. It's really a fun way to spend an hour or two whether you drink or not.
Written June 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes but I but there are better places for kids. This is a bar. Not a cafe.
Written May 19, 2019
It's not our business, we only visited it while in town. Apparently it's really jamming on weekend nights.... It's your typical old honky tonk gathering place... Very quaint, nostalgic and reminds me of old prohibition days where they hid them under other businesses, so this one is under a store that is Open days and Arkey opens at night
Written April 13, 2018
Showing results 1-3 of 3
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing