By Brynna Williamson
Wood County, Texas may be only a “partially wet” county, but in spite of that, we’ve got ourselves plenty of watering holes.
Yantis, Texas
Despite being a small town, Yantis is home to the biggest, most well-known watering hole we’ve got in Wood County: Texas Neon Moon. It is open Wednesdays through Sundays and has live music, food, drinks, and dancing (…so much dancing!). In fact, the Texas Neon Moon website boasts that they’ve got the “largest dance floor in Wood County.” This venue is known not only as a popular bar hotspot, but also as an event center. It even has a kid-friendly game room in the restaurant area. Live music, food, drinks, and more make this Wood County gem the hotspot it most certainly is.
Yantis, of course, has other bars, too, like Jacky’s Pub at the Links at Land’s End golf course. Jacky’s Pub is open to the public. Its lunch menu is served seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the dinner menu is available Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Yantis is also home to Bass Capital Tavern, which is located on Highway 154 near Lake Fork. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
Mineola, Texas
Mineola boasts its share of nightspots, too. One of the most well-known of these is RNA Tavern, which describes itself as a “cozy hangout for cocktails, cigars, and beer, with live music, patios, and a speakeasy vibe.” RNA is located in downtown Mineola for easy access. RNA Tavern is, well, RNA Tavern in the afternoons and evenings, but it’s known as 1835 Coffee Co. from morning ‘til noon. At 1835 Coffee Co., customers can participate in the “relaxed atmosphere” of an internet café, complete with sweet treats, bagels, and homemade cream cheeses—and, of course, coffee and tea!
Another popular Mineola bar is Walk the Line (we all hear you singing the Johnny Cash song in your head). Walk the Line is now a private club with free membership to those 21 or older. Walk the Line offers drinks, pool tables, and, interestingly enough, hibachi food.
The Iron Horse at The Beckham’s lobby bar features a ton of regular events. One of the coolest things about the Iron Horse Bar, which is located inside the historic Beckham Hotel, is its preserved history. Take, for instance, the cigar bar. In order to get to the cigar smoking space, you have to get inside a non-working, vintage phone booth and push on the back wall, only to find out that the back wall is, in fact, a door itself. You can also cozy up for a drink at the bar’s old wooden counter, which has a history all its own.
Speaking of the Iron Horse at The Beckham, the hotel also hosts a bougie winery next door to the lobby: a tasting room for Valle della Pace Vineyards & Winery. This Garden Valley-based winery is family owned and has been in business for more than 10 years.
Mineola also features The Turn, a Mineola Country Club bar that serves “cold drinks, good vibes, and great company.” The Turn hosts events like trivia night, sports watching nights, game nights, live music, and more.
Winnsboro
Barrel House Bar & Grill. It just sounds like it’s got yummy food—and boy, does it! In addition to alcoholic beverages, Winnsboro’s Barrel House Bar & Grill also serves pretzels, wings, tuna, steaks, chicken strips, and much, much more. Try saying this without your mouth watering, I dare you: “Philly cheesesteak nachos, served over our house-made tortilla chips with white queso.” And, it’s all in a “casual, kid-friendly” environment.
Quitman
Rockin’ S&S Grill is something the Quitman community loves. What started as a food truck became a permanent location in 2025, and the business has skyrocketed from there. Rockin’ S&S features a full-service restaurant and bar run by a husband-and-wife duo, and it serves all manner of amazing-looking goodies.
Hawkins
We can’t make a list of the best bars and hotspots in Wood County without mentioning Red Rooster Ice House. How could we forget such a popular place? Red Rooster Ice House prides itself on its comfort food, such as “chicken-fried steak and po’boys.” It’s also very casual and cozy and features a huge fire pit outside to keep you warm on those crisp East Texas evenings! In addition to live music and mouthwatering food, they also host events such as parties and reunions. “Red Rooster Ice House is more than just a bar—it’s a community hub for music lovers and food enthusiasts in East Texas,” proclaims its website.
The Hangout at Lake Hawkins Restaurant & Pub is another popular spot in Hawkins. The Hangout may have opened recently, but it’s made up for its newness with flair. Despite having only opened in 2024, The Hangout already has more than 5,000 Facebook followers. Among other tasty dishes, it offers a “smokehouse onion bacon burger with loaded fries.” Um—yes, please! Whether you’re out to enjoy a drink or two, looking for a place to catch up with a friend, or just searching for a spot to eat out and take the family, Wood County has plenty of places to offer. Check ‘em out!