If you’re looking for a spot that checks off every box on our list of what makes a dive outstanding, you need to check out the The White Horse. We’ll just cut to the chase: this honky tonk is great. They welcome an inclusive crowd of “hustlers, pickers, dancers, grinners, jokers and tokers seven nights a week,” and that keeps things lively and exciting.
The White Horse has a steady stream of solid live country music, 365 nights a year. If you’ve got a hankering to don your cowboy boots and two-step into the wee hours, you’ve come to the right bar. They have a huge dance floor and even offer dance lessons, from two-step, to blues, to swing dancing, several nights of the week before the first band of the night goes on.
As they say, “The White Horse Honky Tonk will make ya boogie if ya know what’s good for ya.”
Though there is sometimes a cover charge, many nights are free.
All that dancing may tire you out and help build up a hearty appetite, and the White Horse has got you covered. Just head on out to the back patio to get a breath of air and, more importantly, a bellyful of tacos from Bomb Tacos, a taco trailer that is always parked onsite. They’re open from 6:30pm -1:00am, as the website says: “Every. Damn. Day.”
And to make things even more fun, it’s a friendly place. The Dive Bar Tourist recalls after one particularly festive evening trying a bite of a total stranger’s fish tacos. He kindly offered, after all! If you only want a snack to help keep you light on your feet for more dancing, there’s also free popcorn available. For those looking for a relaxing evening spent outside under the stars, you can just hang out on the patio, where dogs are welcome.
The White Horse has a full-service bar, and something we’re really excited about: whiskey on tap. Their self-proclaimed “always awesome, always badass” happy hour is from 3pm – 8pm Monday through Friday. It features $2 PBR drafts and Pearl, $2.50 well drinks, and $4 Milagro, Fireball, Deep Eddy Ruby Red, and Jameson shots. We definitely concur: happy hour is pretty spectacular!
As if all of that weren’t enough to make this place high on our list of dive bar favorites, there are other twists (some expected and some unexpected) that make The White Horse exceptional. After all that dancing, you may want to take a break and shoot a game of pool at one of the two pool tables. You could also take a few snapshots in the photo booth to commemorate your evening.
There’s one last thoughtful feature that really helped seal the deal for us: if your cowboy boots got scuffed out on the dance floor, no worries. This joint even has a shoeshine station to keep you looking spiffy and ready to go for your next night out!
Location: Austin, TX
Be sure to try: The Two Step–a Lonestar and a shot of T.W. Samuels for $6!
