The video above is a Halloween night walkthrough of New Braunfels nightlife, specifically the downtown area after dark. It's a good look at what the scene feels like on a weeknight when people are out — costumes, live music spilling out of bars, a real freight train rolling through the middle of it all, and historic buildings from the 1800s lining the streets. Downtown New Braunfels is one of those places that's genuinely fun to walk around, and this particular night captures the energy well even though Halloween fell on a Thursday.
What bars have live music in downtown New Braunfels?
On this Halloween night, several spots had something going on. Here's what was happening and what you can generally expect from these places:
- Phoenix Saloon — A famously haunted bar with a long history in New Braunfels. They had live music going on this night, and the place leans into its paranormal reputation, especially around Halloween.
- Moonshine and Ale — More of a touristy piano bar setup. On this night they had live band karaoke, which fits the general vibe of the place.
- Poor House — One of the more popular bars downtown that regularly fills up with a crowd. A band was playing here on Halloween night, and it was packed.
- Riley's Tavern — Located outside of the immediate downtown area, Riley's is the first bar in Texas to open after Prohibition. Earlier in the evening, Sid Grimes was performing there dressed as Margot Tenenbaum from The Royal Tenenbaums. David Bridwell got invited up on stage by Sid Grimes to play a few songs before heading into town.
- Cowboys and Cadillacs Rooftop Bar — A newer addition to the downtown scene with a rooftop setup.
- Lost and Found — Another rooftop bar that's relatively new, or at least easy to miss until you stumble on it.
Walking around downtown New Braunfels at night
The downtown area is built around a big roundabout with a gazebo at the center, and roads branch off from there in several directions with bars, storefronts, and antique shops. The courthouse building is visible from the square, tucked back a bit. A freight train cuts right through the middle of downtown on active tracks — not a tourist train, an actual working train hauling goods. When the train isn't passing, you can check out the heritage mural and the train depot museum near the tracks.
The whole area is compact enough that you can bar-hop on foot without much effort, but spread out enough that there's plenty to look at between stops. The buildings themselves date back to the 1800s, which gives the streets a character that most newer bar districts just don't have. On weekend nights especially, it draws a younger crowd going from place to place, but even on a Thursday Halloween it had solid foot traffic and a good amount of people-watching. Between the live music, the history, the haunted bars, and the real train rolling through, downtown New Braunfels after dark is one of the better spots to spend an evening.