If the name alone doesn’t get your attention, (it’s named after the local family that founded it btw and they are super nice), then the menu most definitely will. This place is popular for the good reason…it’s as delicious as it is cool. The food & service are consistently the best in downtown NBTX. Local tip: Don’t be in any hurry, because you’ll definitely have to wait for a table in the summer, but just order a drink at the bar and enjoy the people watching as folks get off the river.

FOOD: Burgers, Sandwiches, Tacos, Fancy Fries, Salads

DRINKS: Rotating Local drafts on tap, craft cocktails and Boozy Milkshakes (yep, you definitely want one)

WANNABEFAVES: The Street Cred Burger (y’all, it has Mexican street corn ON the burger), The Aloha Burger(sweet & spicy), The Tempura Shrimp (appetizer & tacos are BOTH delish and my fave thing on the entire menu), ALL of the fries, the Prince Solms Sipper, the Cocktail Flight & the Salted Caramel Bourbon Boozy Shake.

Now y’all, I am a 40 year old mother of three and married to my high school sweetheart, so my style of bar may be different than yours, BUT I will argue with you over this next statement: This is hands down, no doubt, the absolute best bar in all of New Braunfels, AND the food is delicious as well. Yep, I said it. If bars can be personalized this is the classy, sexy and mysterious older sibling of sister property, Muck & Fuss, next door. Honestly, every time my husband and I go here I am still surprised such a cool spot exists in the middle of this Texas German town. It’s a dark and seductive speakeasy located in the basement of the historic Prince Solms Inn (circa 1898-90) and I am certain that if these walls could talk, they’d be the most popular patron in the room. As soon as you enter the enticing red door at the bottom of the historic limestone stairs you feel as though you’ve traveled back in time to another part of the world. Best of all, these mixologists don’t mess around, BUT they do play around and develop the best craft cocktails in NBTX.

FOOD: Quality tapas menu with a lot of variety. You can easily eat tapas for dinner here.

DRINKS: Craft cocktails, impressive whiskey list, and wine.

WANNBEFAVES: First of all, sit in the pipe room if it’s available, then order: Tostada Ceviche, Tuna Poke, Chili Lemon Shrimp, and wash it all down with a Smoked Old Fashioned and a French 77.

This quiet cafe is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch and now dinner PLUS, it offers free wifi, so a lot of locals are seen here working on their laptops during the day while enjoying the menu. The outdoor seating is quaint and when the weather is nice it’s one of my favorite spots to meet friends for lunch. Short story: the cafe is on the bottom floor of the original hotel of New Braunfels (circa 1850)now named the Schmitz Hotel and the hotel registry boasts famous Americans such as Sam Houston, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and US President Teddy Roosevelt. Our family actually spent several nights here in an airbnb while we waited to close on our house years ago. The top two floors are now operated as a bed & breakfast again.) Okay, back to foodie talk, nearly all of their lunch items can be made as a salad, wrap or sandwich so it appeals to a lot of folks regardless of dietary restrictions.

FOOD: Fresh pastries, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps.

DRINKS: Coffees & Teas, smoothies, mimosas, wine, beer.

WANNABEFAVES: Cinnamon Roll, Quiche, Broccoli & Cheese Soup, Chicken Walnut Salad, the TX Tornado Sandwich and lavender lemonade.

This spot is quintessential New Braunfels y’all. The menu is ginormous and offers traditional German food as well as Texas favorites such as fried catfish and burgers. They are actually open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer one of the only brunches in town. {What’s a gal gotta do to get more brunch spots?} The Biergarten boasts local and German beers on one of the largest tap walls I’ve seen in NBTX + sangria & margaritas if you prefer something sweeter to quench your thirst. Krause’s offers indoor cafe seating, a Texas-sized Biergarten out back and even more outdoor and covered seating way out back. In my opinion, the best nights to gather with friends are the nights they offer live music, my favorite is German Polka. My kiddos like Krause’s too because there is space to roam out back and their kid’s menu cannot be beat (order all the kids mac n cheese and call it good). {Wannbereal moment: quick service and food consistency have not been the most reliable on my visits, BUT I enjoy the atmosphere so much that I just keep going back and so do all my friends. This spot is a town favorite.}

FOOD: Traditional German fare, Salads, Burgers & Texas favorites, vegetarian + gf options and house made desserts.

DRINK: LOTS of beer on tap, Wine, Sangria, Margaritas, Full Bar

WANNABE FAVES: Bavarian pretzel, Kartoffel Poppers (you must get these, think hashbrown + fritter), Jäger Schnitzel, Bratentasche, and the Sausage Plate.

As locals we take a lot of pride in this hometown staple. Naegelin’s has been baking for the community since 1868 and is still our family’s go-to spot for an early morning donut craving, kolache and the only place I order apple strudel. (The strudel recipe has not changed in 150 years y’all.) WANNABE FACT: They bake all of the buns for Muck & Fuss down the road. During the summer and on the weekends the line can be long because this small bakery is now famous beyond this small town and visitors flock to it just like locals do. They offer a drive-thru, but it really isn’t any quicker most days, so just park and walk in.

FOOD: Donuts, Pastries, Cakes, Kolaches, Cookies, Custom cakes, Bread.

Drinks: Milk, chocolate milk, Water, Juice, Sodas, Drip Coffee.

WANNABEFAVES: Order the apple strudel by the slice, by the half, or if you have company in town order a full-size. It’s all delicious and all freshly baked daily.

I stumbled upon this diamond in the rough when we first moved here, because I was curious about the chili powder mural painted on the side of the building. Turns out the Phoenix Saloon as a long and sorted history since 1871, {for real, click through and read the history, it’s colorful and interesting}. I learned that in 1894 the proprietor of the back room cafe, William Gebhardt, is said to have invented chili powder here in 1894! At first glance it just looks like a cool old bar with great patina, but don’t be too quick to make assumptions about the Phoenix. The menu is simple, but the flavor of the food is anything but simple. As soon as the temps start to drop I head here for a bowl of the best homemade chili around and a slice of cast iron baked cornbread. The bartenders are, well bartenders. They are friendly and efficient. There is nothing fancy or pretentious about this spot. It’s rugged and direct, authentic and full of surprises. They offer live-music, karaoke and I’ve personally seen a great 80’s cover band on their stage. If you really wannabelocal then head to the back and go down the stairs to play pool in the basement. You may need to present your wannabelocal card though, because the locals down their read you as soon as you reach the bottom step.

FOOD: Chili (mild, hot and even hotter), Cornbread, Burgers, Salads, Hotdogs, Sandwiches, Homemade Cobbler.

Drinks: Full bar, beer, fresh lemonade (made daily), Topo Chico, water & sodas,

WANNABEFAVES: I always order the same thing here, because I love it so much: a bowl of chili, skillet of cornbread and a side salad.

I have to tell y’all. THIS is my favorite restaurant not only in Gruene, but all of New Braunfels. The food is fresh, dang delicious, the wine list is good, the staff is super courteous and attentive and the owners are salt of the earth people who genuinely enjoy hosting tables full of family and friends. What more do you want? The food is described as Refined American and the ingredients are primarily locally sourced. The atmosphere is romantic, charming and serene both inside the quaint old farmhouse and outdoors on the tree covered patio. On the weekends you will find local acoustic music on the patio and on Sunday’s their infamous All You Can Eat Fried Chicken Dinner. Y’all have to add The River House to your plans; and call ahead for a reservation.

FOOD: Southern Cuisine, brunch (weekends), lunch, and dinner

Drinks: Water, Tea, Wine list

WANNABEFAVES: Deviled Eggs, Butternut Squash Soup (seasonal), The River House Salad, The Chicken Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Green Chili Grits (Swoon) and The River House Burger (you had me at Wagyu Beef).