Best BBQ near Horseshoe Bay, Texas

One of the best things about staying in Horseshoe Bay is how close you are to some of the finest barbecue in the state. We're not talking about chains or tourist traps. These are the real deal, the kind of places where the pit has been burning since before sunrise and the line out the door tells you everything you need to know.

Here are three spots our team keeps coming back to.

Peete Mesquite

Just about 15 minutes down the road in Marble Falls, Peete Mesquite has been voted the best BBQ in the area for 15 years running, and once you try it, you'll understand why. The ribs are outstanding, the brisket is consistently perfect, and the smoked turkey is a sleeper hit that catches a lot of first-timers off guard. If you're here on a Friday, don't miss the rib special. It's the kind of place where the folks behind the counter know the regulars by name, and after one visit, you'll want to be one of them.

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

Head about 30 minutes west to the historic town of Llano and you'll find Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que. You'll smell it before you see it. The smoke from those massive pits carries across the parking lot and pulls you right in. Cooper's is famous for the Big Chop, a thick-cut pork chop that's become a Texas legend in its own right. This is authentic, no-frills pit barbecue the way it's been done in the Hill Country for generations. It's especially good during deer season when the whole town of Llano comes alive, but honestly, any day is a good day for Cooper's.

Opie's Barbecue

If you're heading toward Austin down Highway 71, Opie's Barbecue in Spicewood is a must-stop. The brisket here is top-notch, the sides are a cut above what you'll find at most joints, and the homemade pies are the kind of thing you think about days later. The staff is genuinely friendly, just good people who love feeding folks. For our guests making the drive to Austin or back, Opie's has become a regular pit stop, and for good reason.

A full day on Lake LBJ, swimming, boating, soaking up the sun, builds the kind of appetite these places were made for. Load up the car, roll the windows down, and go find your new favorite plate of barbecue. It's never far.