Unearth The Voyage
Texas is famous for big steaks, wild west history, and plenty of ghost stories. What happens when you combine all three? You get some of the most interesting restaurants in the Lone Star State, where diners enjoy juicy cuts of beef while surrounded by centuries-old walls that might just be haunted. These historic taverns and steakhouses serve up delicious food alongside spine-tingling tales of spirits, mysterious figures, and unexplained events that keep locals and visitors coming back for more.
Devil’s Backbone Tavern
Perched along a scenic limestone ridge in Wimberley, this tavern started life as a blacksmith shop and stagecoach stop back in the late 1890s. After Prohibition ended, the building transformed into the welcoming watering hole it is today.
Visitors report seeing ghostly figures both on the famous Devil’s Backbone ridge nearby and inside the tavern walls. The menu features classic tavern favorites, and if steak is on your plate, the historic setting makes every bite more memorable.
Why make the trip? The Hill Country drive alone is worth it, with rolling landscapes and winding roads. Add in the haunted tavern ambiance and hearty food, and you have a perfect Texas day trip destination.
The Tavern Austin
Opening its doors in 1916 as The Enfield Grocery, this Austin landmark has lived many lives. Over the decades, it served as a bar, brothel, and restaurant, collecting stories and spirits along the way.
Legend tells of a ghost named Emily and her daughter who still wander the building. While the spot functions more as a bar today, they dish out burgers and steak-style fare in a setting dripping with history. The atmosphere feels authentically old Austin, before the city became a tech hub.
Central location makes it easy to visit, and the legendary haunt story adds extra flavor to your meal. Whether Emily shows up or not, the historic walls tell their own tales.
The Phoenix Saloon
Step back to 1871 when you walk through the doors of this authentic saloon in New Braunfels. The building has survived fires and floods, earning its phoenix name by rising from the ashes multiple times.
Down in the basement, ghost legends swirl among the shadows and old stone walls. The menu serves hearty Texas-style fare like chili cheeseburgers and hot dogs, plus hot-grill items that satisfy hungry travelers. The Old West saloon atmosphere feels genuine, not like a theme park imitation.
Why stop here? The spooky basement story combined with informal steak and grill fare makes for a fun, casual dining adventure with a side of supernatural intrigue.
Grey Moss Inn
Founded in 1949 inside a beautiful stone building, Grey Moss Inn sits in the Helotes area just outside San Antonio. The rustic ranch-house vibe welcomes diners seeking comfort food in a countryside setting.
Staff and guests report paranormal activity including glasses flying off tables and ghost sightings in various rooms. Despite the spooky occurrences, the restaurant keeps serving excellent steak and chops that draw crowds from across the region. The stone walls and wooden beams create warmth even when the ghost stories send chills.
Visit for the combination of rustic Texas charm, quality steak comfort food, and a genuine ghost story that locals swear is true.
Specht’s Store Restaurant & Saloon
Dating back to 1890, this combination store and saloon still operates in its original purpose near San Antonio. The out-of-the-way location adds to its authentic, undiscovered charm that tourists often miss.
Featured in multiple haunted-restaurant guides, Specht’s is famous for its ghost-bartender story. Keys lock themselves, doors bolt without human hands, and strange occurrences keep the legend alive. The hearty tavern fare satisfies appetites after the long drive to reach this hidden gem.
Why venture off the beaten path? Local legend combined with historical atmosphere and solid food makes Specht’s worth the extra miles. It feels like stepping into Texas history, complete with unexplained mysteries.
Menger Bar at Menger Hotel
Inside the legendary Menger Hotel, which opened its doors in 1859, sits one of Texas’s most famous bars. Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders here, and their spirits may never have left.
Guests report seeing ghostly cavalrymen in period uniforms wandering the bar and hotel corridors. The dining room serves steak dinners that match the elegant, historic setting. Everything about the Menger feels like stepping into the Old West, when San Antonio was a frontier town.
Why choose the Menger? You get a historic hotel experience, quality steak dinner, and legendary haunt stories all in one visit. The combination of fine dining and ghost hunting is hard to beat.
Ranchman’s Ponder Steakhouse
Founded in 1948, Ranchman’s became a North Texas institution for classic steakhouse fare. T-bones, chicken fried steak, and quail graced the menu for decades, feeding generations of hungry Texans.
Though no strong ghost story haunts this establishment, its long history in classic steak country earns it a worthy spot on any historic tavern list. Recently announced to reopen under new ownership, the tradition continues. The location north of Fort Worth keeps the ranch and cattle heritage alive.
Visit for authentic Texas steakhouse history and ranch-steak tradition that defines the Lone Star State. Sometimes the best haunting is the memory of perfect meals shared over many years.
Old Town Tavern Fredericksburg
One article boldly calls this Fredericksburg spot Texas’s most haunted restaurant. That’s quite a claim in a state full of ghost stories, but Old Town Tavern backs it up with paranormal investigations and countless witness accounts.
Comfort food fills the menu while ghost stories fill the air. Visitors come for the Hill Country scenic beauty and stay for the supernatural encounters. The tavern vibe feels welcoming despite the spooky reputation, proving ghosts and good food can coexist peacefully.
Why detour to Fredericksburg? The charming German-influenced town offers shopping, wine tasting, and this haunted tavern as a bonus attraction. Ghost tales plus tavern atmosphere create an unforgettable Texas Hill Country experience.
