White Buffalo Bar

We had a wonderful time here the other day. Logan, the bartender made us an amazing margarita and took excellent care of us, we would come back again just to visit him! The bar is such a cool place, small, dimly lit with good acoustics.

We just started making the White Buffalo Bar a yearly stop for us on our way to Lajitas. Unfortunately we won’t be returning. The atmosphere is amazing but the bar service was horrible. The female bartender who was working the evening of Dec. 27th needs to be taught customer service. Not only was she non welcoming when we sat at the bar, she was very rude to my husband when he asked for a second drink. Her response was, “it’s going to be a while, I’m having to make drinks for the restaurant as well”. We have NEVER had a response like this especially when it was obvious that the other bartender was making drinks for the wait staff. We patiently waited and she never made my husband his drink. She decided to stand back and have conversation with the other bartender while neither of them were making drinks. I’m sure it’s hard to staff restaurants and establishments in these remote locations, but I would think a place such as the Gage Hotel/White Buffalo Bar would do better in hiring who represents them.

Good drinks with hardworking bartenders. These ladies aren’t sitting around on their phones. I’d recommend the Brush Fire and House Margarita but they have a lot of liquor on hand to make you anything. I’d skip the nachos, it’s more of a quantity over quality with them. I was fighting to find crunchy chips as most turned soggy.

Came here twice for dinner. Both times excellent. The cocktail menu is great. Tenderloin and the Chicken Fried Steak were both great. Very good deviled eggs.

Great Ambience, very historic, traditional, culturally rich! SCRUMPTIOUS Food- The steak, the mushroom tacos, Oyster Nachos, Brush fire Margarita, and the chocolate Brownie Dessert with Dulce Leche ice cream! Last BUT the Best are the two people who made our day 'Jason' and 'Corey', both are the Bar tenders; gave EXCELLENT customer service. They gave us Flawless food selections and Tourist Attraction suggestions, kept us interested, amazed and smiling the whole evening, that we forgot our long drive exhaustion. I will recommend it anytime to my Family and Friends to make their day!

Authentic Atmosphere, great service, fantastic food and enjoyable cocktails. Had the Sally Rand Cocktail, Salad and Quail. Highly highly recommend a stay here! Not to be missed!

The food here was amazing and plentiful. The bartenders were hard workers. The place was pretty busy but they were on top of everything.

Upscale watering hole in landmark Gage Hotel transports guests back in time with cowboy chic decor. Try the house, fresh squeezed margaritas. Next door, the 12 Gage restaurant beckons foodies with a menu of wild game and fresh picked vegetables and herbs from the hotel's gardens. If you plan a trip to Big Bend National Park, Gage is the place to stay. But, it's worth a trip just for the Gage Hotel experience. While there, experience the last wild stretch of the Rio Grande, take a raft across to Mexico for tacos, visit artsy Marfa for its galleries, and gaze heavenwards at the amazing night sky in a region declared a Dark Sky area.

The bartenders were welcoming and the drinks were fantastic! My party of 4 had the prickly pear margarita, sally rand, early check in, and the west Texas sotol margarita. I would recommend any of these.

This is the kind of place where you feel welcome the moment you enter. It just has a soft and warm feel to it. Logan, the bartender, was very quick to our needs and entertaining to boot. The drinks were excellent (they even let us sample some new offerings: classy), the chips and salsa hold up to any in west Texas, and the burgers were very solid. We plan on visiting Marathon again some day, and this cantina is definitely a draw. Thanks for a fun afternoon guys.

This place has a great vibe. The decor is absolutely amazing. The staff were pleasant and quick to help and offer suggestions. The indoor/outdoor nature of the place was nice. The food was good, and the drinks were too. The only thing I'd avoid is the old fashioned - they don't have good ice for it.

Great good and drinks! Quail was amazing! Texas Cooler is soooo yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friendly and super attentive staff. Everything is delicious, and the bar is very cozy. This place is just cool :)

A great place to grab cocktails in the marathon, especially after a long day of hiking at Big Bend! Get the ranch water and the prickly pear margarita. Flavorful, strong, and quality cocktails.

You will likely not find an Eskimo, Or a thickly spare manzanita, While drinking at the White Buffalo, Order the Prickly Pear Margarita!

When we visited, it was during monsoon season and it was pouring outside. So, I'm hoping that they had more outdoor seating because the inside was very "intimate". Also known as close. Several small tight tables and just a few bar stools. However, they were hoping with a couple of bar tenders serving the bar, the restaurant and some other unknown areas. The bar itself had great staff. Very interactive, made some brilliant drinks and definitely improved the experience. The actual setting was beautifully done and made me feel like I was in a movie set of what a western bar should look like. Comfortable, lots of eye appeal and you definitely were in a place designed to serve you a drink. We enjoyed the ambiance and the experience. I had a couple of their blood orange cocktails and loved them. My dinner date had a couple of other drinks that I was briefly able to sample and I can state that they were all well done. You really can't go wrong.

Such a fun and refreshing stop after a day of hiking at Big Bend. I got the prickly pear margarita and my husband a beer. Drinks came out quickly and were tasty! Had to order at the bar and sit outside as it was quite busy. Such a neat place next to the historic Gage. Great for just hanging out!

This is definitely worth planning into your trip - it was one of the most memorable spots on our week-long west Texas trip. The story behind the bar's inception, the decor and vibe, service and cocktails - are all excellent.

Appalling experience. This used to be a beautiful elegant slice of the Old West, now it's just another sports bar filled with shouting yobs, just with $25 burgers. So disgusting to have a TV in this historic bar too. Completely ruined my day and my memories of how it used to be.

This is everything you hope for in a hotel bar. Located at the Gage Hotel, we stopped by White Buffalo Bar after checking into our hotel room an hour before closing. White Buffalo is what you would expect out of a classy hotel bar. Wood surrounds you, elegance, nice furniture and decor (with a Texas twist), and just that element of class. They are known for their prickly pear margaritas so I started off with one and then moved on to a Texas beer. Service was good. I was there right around the time DMX passed away so they were playing his music which was a nice touch and added to the experience. A must visit if you're staying at the Gage or if you're in the area and want to stop by for a drink!

Hubs and I stayed at the Gage Hotel 4 nights and I was thankful for the good margaritas here! Shrimp tacos were decent and wish I got the nachos, but cool vibe and great bartender. My husband wanted to watch the basketball game and our room didn't have a TV! We were so glad this bar on property did. Thanks to the guy who hooked up the right channels for Steve to watch the game ;)

I recently stayed at the Gage Hotel and decided to check out the bar upon arrival for some chili. Honestly, the whole set up was confusing. It's pretty much merged with the 12 Gage restaurant, so it's hard to say where one begins and the other ends. We didn't see a host stand after entering and multiple servers blew past us without a glance. I scurried to the 12 Gage hostess stand and asked what the deal was re: seating. The hostess asked if we had a reservation and when we said we didn't - she kind of dismissively motioned to the "brown tables" and said we could seat ourselves. Some weren't bussed and it's a pandemic so like idk what to do. A kind couple told us the table near them was free (though dirty). I basically spun in anxiety circles before returning one last time to the hostess time to inquire about the seated tables. She told me nothing would be available for a while and didn't give me much in terms of options. Miraculously the free table was then bussed. I sat and my boyfriend ordered us two chilis from the bar. When they arrived I was hopeful: healthy dollop of sour cream, mega portion of cornbread (my true love ). Unfortunately, there wasn't much actual meat and/or sauce underneath. TL;DR - skip unless you're a local OR you have a reservation. Those people seemed like happy campers, I was not.

Driving through Far West TX during a Big Bend vacay and stopped here for a cocktail and a snack. The prickly pear margarita is very good and the bar is tiny but very quaint

Gage Hotel in Marathon Texas is the perfect getaway. It's a hidden gem and perfect place for peace and quiet, recommend Monday thru Friday, gets busy on weekends. A reservation is required for dining at the 12 Gage Restaurant, you won't be disappointed, the menu is limited but offers gourmet dining. They also have the Brick Vault BBQ and Brewery.

We stopped here to have the original ranch water which was great. We split the country steak dinner which came with mashed potatoes & grilled vegetables. They split the order before it came to the table. As you can see the picture this order for one would be too much. The quality of the chicken fried steak was excellent!! This is definitely worth stopping for don't miss it.

Wonderful spot for dinner after a long day of hiking at Big Bend. Had the bison burger and the Misses had the Southwest Caesar and we split both and were not disappointed. Add a couple of prickly pear margs to that and it was the perfect dinner. Our bartender was really nice and even showed us how they get the purée for the margs from the fruit. Definitely check this place out if you stroll through the little town of Marathon!

Tiny bar which was too full and a whole bunch of stipulations resulting in limitations on where you had to be seated to get both appetizers and drinks. Save yourself the trouble and ask for a table at the restaurant where you can get full bar service AND food, with excellent and attentive waitstaff.

Wanted to check out the famous Gage Hotel after our drive from Ausrin and support a local business during COVID. Patio area a bit crowded for our taste so we opted for take out. We paid $65 for 2 salads and some nachos which included a 40% tip to help folks out. 30 mins later we asked the bartender about our order and he said "they'll get it when it's ready" without looking up or checking. Yes, they were busy, but there was no "yes, sir, I will check". Nothing. No eye contact. Complete indifference. After another 15 minutes, we asked to cancel our order, only then did someone call to the back and check. We got our food but the nachos had obviously been made sometime ago and were cold. One may consider patronizing a different establishment here in Marathon.

We love drinking one of their signature cocktails "Brushfire." It's Tito's vodka, Paula's Texas Orange liqueur, lime juice, fresh jalapeño slices, and a glass rimmed in chili powder and salt. So good! The space is cozy and has a fireplace for those winter evenings. They serve food, too, but we always have reservations at the 12 Gage restaurant next door (probably same kitchen).

Great drinks and cool digs but the patio service was so bad, Dick Butkus in his day couldn't even have tackled a wait person out there. They were whizzing around like free radicals but had us on ignore. So when one of the three tables inside cleared, we made a mad dash back in. Great service there and wonderful cocktails, but only ho hum food. I asked for a cup of chili to try, but was told it only came in bowl size. What I received was a small iron skillet full of cornbread and less than a cup of darned chili. For $17. C'mon, guys. You all are good, but can do better.

An oasis before hitting the dust of the Big Bend. Here we discovered Garrisons small batch Texan bourbon and boy was it good, sip straight or have an old fashioned. We had the fried oyster salad which was divine and split a burger. The bar is small so book a table for dinner in case you cant get in. And yes there is a white buffalo head.

Stopped in on the drive back from hiking in Big Bend. Nothing else was open for miles, so we took a chance on the bar having food, which they did! The guacamole was a perfect treat to cook down with along a prickly pear Margarita, which is not to be missed. The service was a little slow, but the place was packed and only two people seemed to be working. It was all worth the wait. Also not to be missed: the birria tacos from the restaurant (you can only order outside of the bar menu after 5 pm).

Wow! What a cool spot. We chose the dinning room over the bar. I believe there are two menus. While the dinning room menu was limited it did not disappoint. I ordered the rack of axis- cooked perfectly at medium rare. My husband ordered the filet. The food was amazing, and the drinks were delicious. My drink of choice has been a 'ranch water,' refreshing and healthier than wine. Ranch water: tequila, topo Chico, lime, and sea salt.

Wonderful sophisticated western bar. Part of The Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas near Big Bend National Park. After touring and hiking in the park, a Blood Orange Margarita or a Texas Martini with guacamole & chips! Perfect!

A must place for dinner & drinks. Walked in on a Monday evening to celebrate our anniversary as we were not dressed enough after hiking the park for the "fancy restaurant." Staff is great. Taylor was our bartender/server. Service was perfect. We opted for the White Buffalo Burger, chopped steak with strips of brisket on a homemade bun. Perfect. The homemade vanilla bean ice cream was exquisite. For a Monday evening in December, it was busy.

Limited food menu, but the bison burgers were delicious, the drinks good and the service was fantastic!

Bartender was really rude. Nobody even spoke to us to tell us the place was closed when we sat down for 15 mins. Wouldn't recommend

If you come to the White Buffalo and don't just adore the place, I'm sorry. We can't be friends. The bartenders are great--the guy working our first night of two gave us a hiking suggestion for Big Bend National Park (where we were headed) that is off the radar and actually hidden on maps to protect it from too many dumb tourists. We made it there with his encouragement are were glad we did. The drinks are fine, there are good bar eats, and in particular for an out-of-stater like myself, some really great, crisp beers from the Big Bend Brewing Company. Their Oktoberfest was spectacular. Service was top-shelf. Like the rest of the Gage Hotel and their remarkable restaurant which is just outside the door, the bar is first-rate, has a nice selection of drinks, and is the kind of place to melt away an evening chatting with friends and having some beverages. Wish I could have packed it up and brought it home but the memory will have to do. LOVE the place. Hope to return soon.

Cool classy bar with high quality drinks and at a great price! Loved the hospitality and our bar tender Taylor was amazing.. she has a drink on the "secret menu" to die for!!! It's called the mango basil bourbon derby... you have to get this. Great experience.

Super cool, wild-west bar in a historic hotel. We actually booked a room here and were a little nervous about all the hype regarding a haunted experience. Happy to report we didn't see any spooks, but enjoyed a few good beers and wonderful ambiance in West Texas. Hotel was beautiful, bar had an amazing selection of brews and relaxing vibe. Definitely want to go back!

A terrific oasis. Professional staff, deep drink menu, thorough knowledge, great inventory. A must return. Particularly convenient if staying in the adjacent Gage Hotel.

During our stay at the Gage I spent a few tequila soaked hours posted up at the White Buffalo Bar. It's a small 5 or so table bar attached to the 12 Gage Restaurant in marathon,TX. It sports one of the only public tv's with cable in town, so it gets pretty popular for hotel goers and locals to reconnect with the outside sports world. Occasionally they'll have a singer songwriter crouched in the corner plucking away at folksy tunes to add to the ambiance. I would highly recommend the margaritas, even with well tequila, they have such fresh lime juice they were hard to beat. The bar menu was very good as well. One dish we snacked on was the loaded nachos and we were impressed with the ingredients. As mentioned, room is limited, so make sure to come before or after dinner rush at the restaurant to secure a table for a group.

Ordered the chicken fried steak from the bar menu. It was so good! Cream gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, and carrots. Couldn't eat it all! They asked to box up the leftovers for me to take home. Staff wears masks and gloves. Great experience with polite and friendly staff.

The White Buffalo Bar is a great place to end the evening before turning in @ the Gage Hotel. The bartenders & servers are friendly & the bar is comfortable & cozy! They serve up a mouthwatering Cucumber Cooler & our friend, Chris ,was enjoying several of those West Texas Brushfires.....he said they're sure to set you free! I'm sure they will! We looked forward to stopping by The White Buffalo during our stay at the Gage Hotel every evening. We'll catch ya next time........

One of those rare gems that combines professionalism, friendliness, and quality. Just an all-around excellent spot staffed by people who can talk easy with you while mixing a great cocktail, but also while the bar is absolutely slammed and they would have absolutely every excuse to be grumpy. Don't skip this if you're in Marathon for at least a night.

I took away a star from being five because in advertisement this place is really a BAR to 12 Gage restaurant but in reading about it on Texas Highway...they stated it served American Food. I mean it does but not really.. I chose to come here because I didn't want to dress up for 12 Gage but they are same. I just got finished with our day one of Big Bend and I just wanted to eat. WHITE BUFFALO Bison Burger...AYE! Sooo good. The Ambiance is nice, our waiter didn't like he had to take our food order, but other than that it wouldn't deter me from going back..

If you're staying at the Gage, or even just passing through Marathon, this is a place you'd want to stop and grab a drink. They don't open until later so a lunchtime/early afternoon drink is not on the menu. The decor is typical of West Texas and is a comfortable place to be. Service was good and their beer selection is on point (it's nice having Big Bend Brewing right down the way). It's very small though the restaurant allows for more seating to compensate for the tight quarters in the bar. Live music playing most weekends, you can't go wrong.

Great mixology and appetizers. Wonderful ambience. My second time here, love it.

Great Western bar with beer from the local Big Bend Brewery! A cozy place to warm up after a cool day! Entertaining place with great drink and appetizer options. Convenient to Marathon Motel and the 12 Gage Hotel in Marathon.

Enjoyed a fantastic meal this p.m. Great bar and comfortable environment. We ordered from the restaurant menu and were able to share the chicken fried steak.....seriously one of the best...lightly bread with jalapeno gravy and mashed potatoes. ..A++++ The dessert was also crazy creative. ..chocolate flan with horchata popcorn and caramel glazed pepitas...absolutely perfect...we will return.

This place was wonderful! Truly an oasis in the middle of the desert. After being on the road all day, I was pleasantly surprised to find such a gem in the middle of a tiny town. The patio is gorgeous, the drinks were great and the burger was SO good - one of the best I've ever had. The bartender was really nice too. I ordered a drink he hadn't made before and he walked outside later to ask how it was and get some feedback. If you are ever in west Texas, stop by and get one of those amazing burgers and a prickly pear margarita. You won't regret it!

Spent plenty of time (maybe too much time) in this bar. But it is so easy to do when your drink selection is abundant, you are in good company, and the service is top notch. Seriously, Victor was working both nights and could not have been any more of a joy to talk with. Plus there is a steady flow of regulars and locals who are each in their own right more charming then the next and as friendly as can be. So curious about what brings you to town and then shares their knowledge and love for the town with you. Highly recommend drinking the Brush Fire if you can handle the heat.

This is the Gage Hotel's bar. Very small and cozy - maybe 8 tables inside. The real gem is the patio outside, which would be great during the summer (too cold during the winter). Bottled beer selection at the bar is alright, but the only beer they have on tap is Bud Lite (?!). Service was very friendly.

Best margarita I've ever had! Great ambience! Great service!

Really neat little place in a funky town in the middle of nowhere! Good food, nice bartender, fun and warm, rustic ambiance. Hubby and I were on a driving trip, so only were there for a couple of hours. Out door covered patio, and a handful of seats inside under the gaze of the White Buffalo on the wall.

A classic old-school Texas bar. Great decor, nice staff, stiff drinks and usually some interesting characters hanging around. The whole Gage Hotel experience should be on everyone's bucket list.

This little hotel bar is nice and cozy. The servers are attentive and friendly. The food was well prepared and good. The drinks were good. My only concern is the price, but seeing as it is attached to the Gage, and one of the few places to dine in town, I guess that is to be expected. We would eat here again when we travel back through the area.