A honky tonk is a bar with live country music and a dance floor, and Fort Worth has the best collection of them in Texas. If you are visiting the DFW area for the 2026 international soccer tournament and want an evening that feels nothing like anything back home, the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is where you go.
Here are the venues worth your time.
Billy Bob’s Texas calls itself the world’s largest honky tonk, and at 100,000 square feet with over 30 bar stations, it earns the title. The venue has live entertainment daily, ranging from rising local artists to national country acts. Indoor bull riding runs nightly, and the dance floor fills up on weekends.
The venue includes a “Wall of Fame” with celebrity handprints, a gift shop and barbecue. If you only have time for one honky tonk, this is the one.
Billy Bob’s Texas is located at 2520 Rodeo Plaza in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The White Elephant Saloon is an authentic, 19th-century-style saloon in the center of the Stockyards. The decor is classic Western, with hats hanging from the ceiling and a bar that feels like it has been there for generations. Regular live country music and a lively dance floor draw a mix of locals and tourists.
The White Elephant is friendlier and less overwhelming than Billy Bob’s, which makes it a good first honky tonk for visitors who are new to the experience. It is located at 106 East Exchange Avenue.
Rodeo Exchange is a locals’ favorite that combines traditional country music with a spacious, well-maintained dance floor. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the venue offers free weekly dance lessons for anyone who wants to learn the two-step before committing to the floor.
Live country and western music plays on weekends, often featuring popular regional bands. It is located at 221 West Exchange Avenue.
Second Rodeo Brewing is a more modern, relaxed take on the honky tonk format. It is a brewery with a massive covered indoor-outdoor patio, excellent craft beer and good food, including wings and sandwiches. Live music plays daily with talented local musicians.
If you want the atmosphere without the intensity of a packed dance floor, this is a good option for an afternoon beer. It is located at 122 East Exchange Avenue.
Rhinestone Saloon is a rustic, intimate spot with a great stage, dance floor and a large patio that often features a taco truck. Live music runs on weekends, and the atmosphere is energetic without being overwhelming.
It is located at 2413 Ellis Avenue.
Two-stepping is the primary dance style in Texas honky tonks. The basic step is a quick-quick-slow-slow pattern that moves counterclockwise around the floor. Do not be afraid to ask someone to teach you. Texans are generally welcoming, and helping a visitor learn to dance is considered a point of pride.
The Stockyards are busiest on Friday and Saturday nights. If you prefer a more relaxed experience, weekday evenings are quieter but still have live music at most venues.
The Stockyards are about 30 minutes from the Arlington Entertainment District by car, or five minutes from downtown Fort Worth. Catch the 4:00 p.m. CT cattle drive on East Exchange Avenue before heading to the bars for the evening.
Some smaller, more traditional honky tonks may be cash-only. Carry U.S. dollars as a backup.
Visit the Stockyards on a night when the Texas Rangers do not have a home game, or pair a daytime Stockyards visit with an evening game at Globe Life Field. Get tickets to see the Rangers in 2026 and experience both sides of Texas culture in the same trip.
A bar with live country music and a dance floor. The term originated in Texas and the American South.
Billy Bob’s Texas for the full spectacle. White Elephant Saloon for a more intimate, classic experience.
No. Several venues offer free dance lessons, and the crowd is welcoming to beginners.
About 30 minutes west by car from the Arlington Entertainment District.
Jeans and boots fit the setting, but casual clothing is perfectly fine. No venue enforces a dress code.
Billy Bob’s Texas is open to all ages until a certain hour. White Elephant Saloon and smaller venues are generally 21 and over in the evening. Check each venue’s policy before arriving with children.
