I just love strolling through Gruene. I know a lot of the businesses here are geared towards tourists. However, most of them are small business owners and need to be supported. The fact that there is a huge, free parking lot in town makes things a lot easier for getting in and out of the historic district. Can you believe this little German enclave has been around since the 19th century? So much to do here from the antique shops and boutiques to restaurants, general store, and let's not forget legendary Gruene Hall (oldest dance hall in Texas). It's a great place for locals and tourists alike. So much history and just a great way to spend a day. read more

We loved when Gruene was a hidden gem. Now you can't tell Gruene from New Braunfels. I was so sad to see it lose a bit of charm that we loved so much about it. It's build up and looks like a developer just went wild there. read more

Cute area that has reinvented itself --cute shops of all kind, food, live music. One third weekend, they have a market with vendors and music. Easy walking area. District is clean and the people are friendly. read more

See all

I personally like this area more than New Braunfels. Less crowded with all the same historic feel. It's been a while since I've been back but it still has its charm. No issues with street parking on a Friday mid-afternoon in the summer read more

See all

I've been here twice so far, as a stop between San Antonio and Austin. Both times were during the afternoon, on a weekend, when it is predominantly a tourist attraction. The historic Gruene Hall was the main draw for me, which is mainly a place to be a spectator of live music, while having a drink or dance. McConauhaze (by Twisted X Brewing Company in Dripping Springs) is the hazy IPA that I enjoyed from the bar. I'd love to return for the evening entertainment from Sunday through Friday. Especially for swing dancing on Tuesdays, and two-step on Thursdays--both nights start with an optional dance lesson for $12. Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar is very good, but lacks vegan options. El Chingón IPA (by Four Corners Brewing in Dallas) is the Texas beer that I enjoyed here. Gruene Grove is a nice outdoor patio to take in some live music and grab a drink from the bar, but they don't let you enter or leave with your drink. I had the bartender make a "black and tan" for me by blending a stout and pale ale on tap from local breweries. I was eager to enjoy the Italian-style bratwurst from Wurst in Gruene, but they were out of the Beyond brat option. The Grapevine is a good beer and wine bar that opens to an outdoor patio with stage and live music. Sputnik Russian Imperial Coffee Oatmeal Stout (by Austin Beerworks) is the draft beer that I enjoyed here. It was nice to be able to walk around freely with it (which I even took with me into Gruene Hall). Hunter Road is full of unique shops to buy apparel, souvenirs, edibles, drinks, and other boutique specialties. The names of small businesses get carried away with a play on words, using the fact that Gruene is pronounced "green." Examples include The Gruene Haus, The Gruene Olive Tasting Room, Gruene with Envy, Red & Gruene Holiday Shop, and The Gruene Door. Other silly names include Tipsy Gypsy and Fickle Pickles. I look forward to experiencing more here in the future. read more

Love this shop ! Reese helped me out so much and coming in for the first time Cole helped me out ! Nothing was missed everything a hit ! Come shop ! read more

Gruene Historic District - Make sure you have id - Historical Tours Near Me - New Braunfels, Texas

Such a cool place. The shops and restaurants are so nostalgic and decorated so well. It's like you stepped back in time. Definitely worth making a stop here in between san antonio and Austin. read more

See all

My second day at New Braunfels, TX, was to check out the city of Gruene. What an exciting and quaint town with live music, great eateries, and fun shopping! I was so happy and glad it was recommended to me by the staff at Worldmark Stablewood Springs and Worldmark New Braunfels. Thank you so much! It was the best way to end my TX trip. I spent about 6 hours here and it's only 3 blocks worth LOL. Hey, when we're having fun, time just passes in lightning speed. I didn't hit all the eateries and shops, but I did visit a good handful (see below). I will do separate reviews for them. 1. Gristmill River Restaurant (had a wonderful lunch here) 2. Uptown Gruene (just walked around... didn't buy anything) 3. Fickle Pickles (picked up couple jars of delicious pickles) 4. Gruene Coffee Haus (got a yummy drink) 5. The Great Texas Pecan Candy (bought some amazingly tasty pecan brittle) 6. Rhea's Ice Cream (enjoyed some great tasting homemade ice cream) 7. General Store (found a few magnets and got a cowboy hat for my brother) Honorable Mentions (just walked by and enjoyed some lively acoustic music): 1. Gruene Hall 2. The Grapevine There is free parking available nearby. Just look for the signs. When they get really busy, there is a gentleman directing traffic which is a good thing... there's a lot of pedestrians crossing the street from Gruene Hall to the other side and vice versa. This is the spot to be when you're visiting New Braunfels, TX. Don't miss it! Even if you spend a couple hours here, it is still worth the visit! Happy Gruene'ing! read more

See all

This area is the CUTEST and perfect spot for a little day trip. All the locals we met were super friendly and were very excited to have us out of towners stop by. I love old historic buildings and this is the perfect place to come learn some history and see how well they preserved their town. Tons of restaurants, wineries, and little shops to explore. I wouldn't say it's necessarily kid friendly but a nice romantic getaway or girls trip would be perfect here. Everything is within a five minute walk of each other which was nice. Parking was easy for us to find, the biggest parking area we found was behind the grapevine winery so I would head there first before wasting time circling in front of the store you wanna go into. read more

See all

Gruene has become our go-to destination for a weekend of music, food, and mirth. Other reviews will direct you to the 5-star stores, restaurants, and music venues. Go and read them before going most are spot on. Here is what you should explore (IMHO). You have to catch a performance at Gruene Hall. Bring cash. Right next door there is another music venue that features country, Tejano, blues, and even classic rock on occasion. Eat as Mozies. Go to the antique store next to Mozies. We discovered that we have bowls in our kitchen cabinet worth between 50 and 60 bucks. Go next door and buy a custom-fitted hat. Fishermen will get lost in the fly fishing store. The general store is a must. Down the street is a great coffee shop. There are also two decent Tex-Mex restaurants. Right outside of town is two riverside restaurants. Craving Pizza check out the pizza joint with the food truck in the parking lot. A stone's throw away from the Pizza joint is a wonderful martini bar and across the street is our favorite fancy restaurant Happy exploring.......... read more

Gruene is an old town near San Antonio. I walked around the town. The stores were so unique that I had to take a lot of pictures. There were a lot of restaurants that made me feel hungry. I got Tex-Mex. Please stop by when you visited San Antonio. You will find very authentic Texas culture. read more

See all

Gruene was once a Ghost Town... ... I remember it well ... Gruene is now the place to see AND to be seen Dance, Drink, Sing, Sleep, Shop, Eat, and People Watch read more

Gruene Historic District - Historical Tours Near Me - New Braunfels, Texas

See all

Quaint historic area. Very friendly and helpful shop owners. Food, collectibles, clothing. Don't arrive before 11 as most shops don't open until then. read more

We just keep coming back every year! Love it. Customer service and friendly environment read more

Gruene Historic District - Historical Tours Near Me - New Braunfels, Texas

It's pronounced, "Green" Gruene is a historic district outside of New Braunfels, along the Guadalupe River. It's an old Civil War era cotton town that was once somewhat of a ghost town. It's bounced back with tourism! Gruene is a place to go to hang out for an afternoon, and take in the antique shops along Gruene's main street. They also have a wine sampling spot. The Gristmill is a great place to get some German food, and then head to Gruene Hall for some live music at Texas' oldest dance hall. Gruene, Texas was founded in the 1840's by German settlers. The entire area is all German. The downtown area is mainly made of old brick buildings that have been restored. They're cool architectural designs that make up the shopping district. During Gruene Market Days, local vendors come out for a public market in the streets. As far as I know, you can't really go tubing through Gruene, as it's a bit out from all the tubing spots. The water comes rushing through here, and it seems like it might be difficult to tube it here. Try closer to downtown New Braunfels. read more

About 45 minutes outside Austin. Gruene is my new favorite getaway from it all weekend day spot. My friend and I were early coming back to Austin from a weekend getaway in San Antonio on a Sunday afternoon. Being newish to the area I wasn't familiar with Gruene. We saw the highway signs advertising Gruene, and usually my curiosity gets the better of me and I will find myself driving out to these places that end up being nothing. However, Gruene is the first time the signs haven't lied. My friend and I fell in love instantly with the magic of Gruene's historic wooden downtown main street buildings. There is something for everyone here, restaurants and cafes galore, an amazing historic music hall that has some fantastic bands regularly playing, little boutique shops, a winery, a wine tasting room highlighting the best of Texas wines + a couple of beers on tap, numerous adorable B&B's, outdoor market days highlighting local artisans, and of course the token water tower. I recently spent an afternoon here enjoying the market days, tasting great food, and sipping some great wine. Time moves a bit slower here, and even though you are 45 minutes from home, you are on a mini holiday. read more

See all

This is my favorite old town in Texas. It makes me so happy every time I go. From vintage style stores, cowboys, great wine, live music, floating the rivers, blue bell ice cream, and all of old Texas nostalgia... I won't go a year without coming back. Stay wonderful Gruene! read more

Located between New Braunfels and San Marcos is a beautiful and quaint little gem named Gruene ("Green"). Gruene Historic District is embellished with historic buildings, antique stores, specialty shops, quirky restaurants, and beautiful landscapes. It is small enough to walk by foot, but big enough to discover new things to do and see for an entire day. There are restaurants for coffee, pecan candies, ice cream, and even pickles! And there are shops for toys, unique t-shirts, plants, and pottery. The possibilities are endless. There are a few unconventional hotel and cottages conveniently located nearby that are walk-able distance. Otherwise the drive from New Braunfels is about 10 minutes. I came here on a Sunday and there were quite a few people walking around, but it wasnt so crowded that I couldn't feel a breeze. There are also plenty of street and parking lots scattered throughout, but there is a main lot located near Got Toys and Typsy Gypsy. read more

It's always fun to visit during Market Days (3rd weekend of the month). You can always find some cute, original arts and crafts or some yummy local food (i.e. honey, Chicken vindaloo, etc.). It can get crowed and you may have to be patient while looking for a parking spot, but fun nonetheless. read more

Nestled in New Braunfels this is a great place to people watch, taste some wine, eat good food and hear live music. A few times a month they have something called Gruene Market Days where artists/bakers/creators of all things hand crafted come out and sell their goods. Restaurants like Gruene River Grill, Grist Mill, Adobe Berde and La Cantina offer great dining and nice views. Gruene Hall is a must stop! Lots of antique shops too. Parking can be hard but be patient and something will open up. read more

Beautiful area! Very picture worthy shops and old fashion signs everywhere. Many good places to eat. I happened to stop by during a Festival of some sort with live music, BBQ and beer. This place is a must see and visit. read more

Not pet friendly at all, not even in outdoor spaces! We were told to leave our dog in our car and come back without him and they would be more than happy to seat us!! SMH! If your pets are like family I would definitely not recommend this area at all! read more

Gruene is such a wonderful, cute and fun town! Great restaurants, a ton of fun and cute shops, tastings for wine and olive oils! I just can't get enough of Gruene! Would be a dream to live & work here! This was our 2nd girl's trip here and can't wait to return! read more

Gruene is one of the most beautiful, quaint towns I have ever seen. There is so much new construction of new shopping centers, which look like little Bavarian villages, new homes, upscale condos, and of course quaint gift shops, restaurants, and coffee houses. The bikers love to make it one of their pass through routes, as well as the snowbirds, and river/tube crowd. Come to Gruene for all your antique hunting, shopping, drinking, and even visit one of the many winerys that have daily wine tastings. read more

What a great little place to visit and possibly stay at one day. Lots and lots to do from nice shopping to enjoying a great glass of chilled wine! read more

Nothing quite like visiting Gruene as a getaway from the big city. Although you will get your traffic jams and crowds on a busy weekend. But it's a nice cool, overcast day. Shops, food, wine. . . enough to make everyone happy. If you've never visited, do. If you've visited before, what's taking you so long to come back? I promise you'll find something to enjoy. read more

See all

i really enjoyed visiting gruene! i think with the combination of gruene hall and gristmill restaurant, it creates the perfect atmosphere and ambiance to relive historic days. everything is perfectly landscaped. and a quick walk down towards the bridge gives you a gorgeous view of the river and tubing. it's not a large area, but they employed traffic police to help pedestrians cross. parking situation is also really well managed with street parking and lot parking! read more

Too much traffic and too noisy (not talking about the music). I was born and raised in New Braunfels and now live only 20 minutes from the city. We come to Gruene often, to shop and/or eat. Recently we stayed for a couple of nights during the week just for a get away. We stayed at the Gruene Mansion Inn which was fantastic. Gruene itself, however was awful. I walked early in the morning and it was like walking on the side of the freeway. The traffic was non-stop, including big trucks. Cars were moving fast. I had to run to cross the street, in between cars, no one stopped. After my walk (probably around 0800), I headed back to my room and noticed that there were lawn workers cleaning at Gruene Hall with leaf blowers. At around 0930, we walked to go shop and they were still blowing leaves at all the shops in the area......lunch at Mozie's......still blowing. Tried to go back to our room at 1300, still blowing. My husband tried to take a nap at 1430, couldn't because of the leaf blowing. It was ridiculous! Not so cozy or peaceful. read more

Driving into Gruene, Texas, one feels like they've stepped back in time. It is an amazing little old fashioned town, complete with general store. I absolutely adored it. read more

Gruene Historic District - Historical Tours Near Me - New Braunfels, Texas

Great historic spot to wander around. Many interesting shops and restaurants/bars to visit. Enjoyed ourselves !!

Gruene is a fun town to walk around, has great shops and plenty of places to get a snack or have lunch. It was a nice addition to my visit to Austin. read more

So, yes you can keep driving to San Antonio and or Austin- but you sure would be missing out. Walk the town, visit with the locals and enjoy awesome places to eat and wet your whistle. Unique shops without all the hipster feel. read more

We stumbled across this tiny town one day when we were just driving! Thank the Lord above we did... Here is my review of this tiny town full of wonderful! http://houseoffaucis.blogspot.com/2014/05/welcome-to-gruene-texas.html read more