Shade Rooftop Patio Bar

Review №1

Rating: 1

I recently visited this bar with a friend (who is gay), and it ended up being one of the most embarrassing experiences I ve had. We each had one drink at another bar, Zelicks, and spent more than an hour there before walking over, so we were by no means drunk. When we arrived, I went to use the restroom while my friend waited for me in the hallway, where the bouncer could see him the entire time. Despite that, the bouncer didn t say anything to him. When we both handed over our IDs, he took my friend s, gave it back without a word, and then looked at mine. Only after I handed over my ID did he tell me that we couldn t come in because he thought my friend was too drunk. I explained that we d only had one drink each and had been sitting at the previous bar for over an hour, but the bouncer refused to engage with my friend or acknowledge him directly. If he really thought my friend was too drunk, why wait until I came out and gave him my ID to say something? It felt discriminatory and dismissive. What s even more frustrating is that I ve been to this bar countless times with my girlfriends, sometimes way more plastered than we should ve been, and we were let in with no issues. It seems like the problem only arises when I m with a gay male friend, which is odd. I ve also seen other reviews mentioning that this bar has an issue with people who have tattoos, which might have been another factor, since both my friend and I have tattoos. I don t want to jump to conclusions, but I ve never had an issue getting in when I m with female friends, despite having plenty of visible tattoos. Whatever the reason, it was an incredibly embarrassing and frustrating experience, and I won t be going back.

Date: 3 days ago

Review №2

Rating: 1

Got my drink taken because the bartender Kara knew one of my friends. Was doing absolutely nothing and then when I asked why my drink was taken they denied it then proceeded to kick us out. Really gross of them to do. I paid with cash so did not get my money back.

Date: a month ago

Review №3

Rating: 1

If you order a drink keep ahold of it as they have no problem taking your drink then denying it. Also over reviews stating over charging seems a very shady bar.

Date: a month ago

Review №4

Rating: 1

Cara (bartender) took my drink and poured it out due to spite. Absolutely disgusting she should be fired. WILL NEVER RETURN

Date: a month ago

Review №5

Rating: 1

If you come here I hope you are have zero tattoos, no color and plan to have a boring time. KJ (the manager on duty) will deny anyone. Attempted to close my tab, was told I didn t have one. I insisted and said I wanted a receipt. Again was told I don t have a tab. Looked at my charges on my card the next day and SURPRISE I was double charged. Will definitely never return.

Date: 3 months ago

Review №6

Rating: 3

It s a college bar so I didn t expect much. Still a good atmosphere but the drinks were mediocre. They couldn t mix basic cocktails on their rooftop side, only downstairs. Prices were still fair. I ll still be looking for a better cocktail bar in San Marvelous. Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible whatsoever.

Date: 3 months ago

Review №7

Rating: 1

Date: 4 months ago

Review №8

Rating: 1

Date: 4 months ago

Review №9

Rating: 5

Date: 5 months ago

Review №10

Rating: 5

This place is really cool! Great drinks! Bartender was awesome! I highly recommend the pickle shots! We ll be back when we come to visit our daughter!

Date: 6 months ago

Review №11

Rating: 5

Kendale and Jade are the best bartenders!

Date: 10 months ago

Review №12

Rating: 5

Beautiful spot in downtown San Marcos Texas. Stop by as an appetizer to the square

Date: 10 months ago

Review №13

Rating: 4

Date: 10 months ago

Review №14

Rating: 5

A great spot for a reasonably priced drink and a great view.

Date: a year ago

Review №15

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №16

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №17

Rating: 5

Best bar in San Marcos. Nice rooftop patio, friendly service.

Date: a year ago

Review №18

Rating: 1

Bartender was rude, didn t greet me or say a word when I came in. Even though there was only 3 other people there, and wouldn t accept my DMV given temporary license. I m 31. Recently moved here and opened a recreation business and won t be coming back or recommending this place to anyone. Opposite of southern hospitality.

Date: a year ago

Review №19

Rating: 5

Pickle shots and giant Jenga are the hits that make this downtown San Marcos bar stand out from the rest!

Date: a year ago

Review №20

Rating: 5

Date: 2 years ago

Review №21

Rating: 5

Soooo Fun!!FUN!!! Cant wait to go back!!!

Date: 2 years ago

Review №22

Rating: 4

Great bar to go to to catch a great sunset. The bar itself is nice to go to, rooftop is definitely a hit. The drink options were nice, and the bartender was quick with the making a serving of drinks. Great overall spot to go to.

Date: 2 years ago

Review №23

Rating: 5

Great atmosphere and rooftop bar with good drinks and outdoor games like Jenga! Wonderful place to check out if you re in San Marcos

Date: 2 years ago

Review №24

Rating: 1

Date: 2 years ago

Review №25

Rating: 5

awesome drinks and shots and great atmosphere and customer service

Date: 2 years ago

Review №26

Rating: 4

It s a cool place. A little difficult to find since there isn t much signage.

Date: 2 years ago

Review №27

Rating: 5

Freaking awesome!!!!

Date: 2 years ago

Review №28

Rating: 5

Date: 2 years ago

Review №29

Rating: 1

Don t know what happened but the new employees are extremely sub par. Drink times are ridiculous don t bother go somewhere else.

Date: 2 years ago

Review №30

Rating: 5

Date: 2 years ago

Review №31

Rating: 5

love lucy the bartender, she s amazing!!! good shots and friendly environment

Date: 2 years ago

Review №32

Rating: 5

Really nice spot

Date: 2 years ago

Review №33

Rating: 4

Date: 2 years ago

Review №34

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №35

Rating: 5

Place was good, environment was fun and drinks were normal prices for the area. Bartenders were definitely good and would reccomend.

Date: 3 years ago

Review №36

Rating: 1

Terrible place to go. Deserves to be shut down. Bouncers and management are completely incompetent.

Date: 3 years ago

Review №37

Rating: 5

Love Shade! Most of the bartenders are pretty friendly and the atmosphere is bomb

Date: 3 years ago

Review №38

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №39

Rating: 3

Date: 3 years ago

Review №40

Rating: 5

Really nice bartenders, slamming soundtrack, and great design Love the Strawberry Maragarita

Date: 3 years ago

Review №41

Rating: 4

Date: 3 years ago

Review №42

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №43

Rating: 5

Great atmosphere and the bartenders are fantastic!

Date: 3 years ago

Review №44

Rating: 4

Date: 3 years ago

Review №45

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №46

Rating: 5

Absolutely love the vibe, the bartender was amazing and the music was on point 10/10 would go again

Date: 3 years ago

Review №47

Rating: 4

Cool place, drinks were spot on!

Date: 3 years ago

Review №48

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №49

Rating: 5

Excellent! In every aspect!

Date: 3 years ago

Review №50

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №51

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №52

Rating: 2

Incredibly HOT place to go eat inside or outside. I had to send back an order of food because it was cold but I got a new plate fairly quickly

Date: 3 years ago

Review №53

Rating: 5

Date: 3 years ago

Review №54

Rating: 5

Always great service.

Date: 4 years ago

Review №55

Rating: 5

Great place! Drinks are really good and I love that they change their drink menu depending on the season!

Date: 4 years ago

Review №56

Rating: 5

Great drinks and service

Date: 4 years ago

Review №57

Rating: 1

Staff ruthless.

Date: 4 years ago

Review №58

Rating: 3

Friendly place good staff, just didnt know how much the drinks were until I received the tab, kinda high especially since it was Happy Hour but I guess thats the norm?

Date: 4 years ago

Review №59

Rating: 5

Date: 4 years ago

Review №60

Rating: 3

Date: 4 years ago

Review №61

Rating: 4

Date: 4 years ago

Review №62

Rating: 4

Good time

Date: 4 years ago

Review №63

Rating: 5

Date: 4 years ago

Review №64

Rating: 5

Date: 4 years ago

Review №65

Rating: 4

Date: 4 years ago

Review №66

Rating: 5

Awesome hangout place!!

Date: 4 years ago

Review №67

Rating: 5

Date: 4 years ago

Review №68

Rating: 5

Love this place. It s the first place we stumbled into when we moved to San Marcos, and turned out to be our favorite! We almost never go anywhere else and if we do, it s just because Shade isn t open yet! Lol! Robbie Rulez!!!!

Date: 5 years ago

Review №69

Rating: 1

Date: 5 years ago

Review №70

Rating: 5

I love the vibe

Date: 5 years ago

Review №71

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №72

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №73

Rating: 5

Perfect little rooftop bar with great mojitos and fun atmosphere!

Date: 5 years ago

Review №74

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №75

Rating: 4

Nice environment and decent prices

Date: 5 years ago

Review №76

Rating: 2

I got carded 3 times while sober. Had a door guy card me between bathroom breaks. Felt completely disrespected

Date: 5 years ago

Review №77

Rating: 3

It is a beautiful spot, there was music playing in the Kissing Ally and the people inhabiting the bar space were lively for a Thursday eve. My frozen margarita was sweet and cold but my partners margarita on the rocks was the worst she has ever had. Hopefully the other drinks are better.

Date: 5 years ago

Review №78

Rating: 1

Watered down flat beer. Decent respectful bartender but a bouncer that you could tell was bullied in grade school. Got kicked out after a quiet night of 4+ hours there by tool bouncer for moving chairs a bit loudly while checking out. No wander business is bad. Tool.

Date: 5 years ago

Review №79

Rating: 5

Dope \m/

Date: 5 years ago

Review №80

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №81

Rating: 5

The pickle shots are the best and their specials are cheap. Its a really fun environment on the right nights as king as it isnt to cold and there are plenty of people there. They have large games like connect five and corn hole set up as well. They gave different specials on different days. Its definitely a place to stop at when youre making your rounds around the square.

Date: 5 years ago

Review №82

Rating: 5

Wonderful place to get drinks

Date: 5 years ago

Review №83

Rating: 4

Hailey the bartender is awesome. Pretty cool spot.

Date: 5 years ago

Review №84

Rating: 4

Games shut down early! 10 minutes before close, unacceptable. But other than that great place with awesome heaters.

Date: 5 years ago

Review №85

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №86

Rating: 4

Yea... bartenders are cool... and fresh air in always good

Date: 5 years ago

Review №87

Rating: 1

First time back in 20 years for homecoming and we made the mistake of spending our $ here. Night was good and peaceful until the manager decided he wanted to stick his chest out. Some young girl was throwing a little pumpkin around and hitting people with it and she hit us multiple times. The final straw was she hit the wrong guy. My friend with me is a cop and proceeded to tell the young lady to stop throwing the pumpkin. She snatched it from him and went and told the manager/bouncer we were intimidating her and her friends. It s not our fault we re all 6 5 and over. We re alum and came just to have fun. Well be proceeds to say he s gonna call the cops and I pointed to my buddy and said he s here already and he s the one she hit. So, door guy runs behind him and decides he wants to take a deep breath and poke his chest out also. We re all ex athletes and we re about 15 strong in there, so intimidation wasn t gonna work. So he decides to raise his voice and puts his finger in one guys face. On top of that once we all woke up we had been overcharged for our drinks. We legitimately spent about $400 and our total was almost $550. Find you another place to have fun. There are plenty there and next homecoming I ll make sure to put this on the alum site.

Date: 5 years ago

Review №88

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №89

Rating: 5

Date: 5 years ago

Review №90

Rating: 4

Date: 6 years ago

Review №91

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №92

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №93

Rating: 3

Prices are pretty high compared to other places available in town.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №94

Rating: 5

Great place not too many people for a Sunday night. Katy the bartender did a great job working with about 20 other people at the bar.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №95

Rating: 5

Laid back bar with open patio, really cool bartenders!

Date: 6 years ago

Review №96

Rating: 5

Great place to relax with friends and some good drinks. Very scenic place.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №97

Rating: 5

Outdoor bar (so you can smoke) with plenty of space and some decent drink specials.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №98

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №99

Rating: 5

Years ago I used to go here with someone special I used to know. The bartender always made awesome cocktails. I probably had the best mojito ever here, and I highly recommend coming here. The Shade was always cool outdoor spot to go to in town, and good to see it is still doing well. A hideaway of sorts in San Marcos

Date: 6 years ago

Review №100

Rating: 3

Weak drinks but Nice chill ambiance with a couple games for entertainment.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №101

Rating: 1

I was leaving with a green cup (I paid for) and the security man snatched it from my hand. After I asked the bartender if I could take it and she said yes. When I ask him to give it back he started to use bad word.... he was being ugly. I tried to call to talk to the manager.. the phone # did not work....

Date: 6 years ago

Review №102

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №103

Rating: 4

Date: 6 years ago

Review №104

Rating: 1

First time here, it was all good until the bouncer tried using intimidation tactics when I was just trying to find out what I was getting charged for BECAUSE THE BARTENDER MESSED UP AND DIDNT OPEN MY TAP. When I confronted him about trying to intimidate me he got an attitude telling me he didn t have to let me finish my beer and then I didn t even get the pickle shot I PAID FOR, that was for my girlfriend. Terrible experience and my friends and I will never be back.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №105

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №106

Rating: 4

Date: 6 years ago

Review №107

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №108

Rating: 5

Its been a while since ive been out in San Marcos. I was impressed with this place, tons of people, Great Patio Environment, I had a blast!

Date: 6 years ago

Review №109

Rating: 1

Ive been to this establishment about five times, all of them were great visits except for the last time. The bartenders are nice and the drinks are great. However there was a busboy going on a powertrip and just being down right rude trying to tell our tired friend that he had to leave because his head was down on the table. Our friend was tired, he had two drinks, was sipping a water, and was sitting with a group of four of us clearly conversing amongst ourselves and enjoying the atmosphere. The ridiculousness of the situation was not lost upon us and things became heated quickly. The busser was overly aggressive and looking to start something, had zero knowledge of how to politely or tactfully ask people to leave. Had zero knowledge of how to apply common sense to a situation and realize that this dude who is now talking to you telling you that he is just tired, not drunk out if his mind, is actually no issue whatsoever. He committed to continuing the farce and insisted we leave, and was the first to commit to bodily contact when it came to it. Hugely disappointing way to end what was an otherwise great night.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №110

Rating: 1

Great bartenders, aggressive bussers. Dont get tired and put your head down otherwise you will get kicked out!

Date: 6 years ago

Review №111

Rating: 5

One of my favorite bars in town. Always jammin a good playlist and giant jenga is always a good time

Date: 6 years ago

Review №112

Rating: 1

Very inconsistent about the dress code. Neck tattoos apparently are sometimes allowed and sometimes arent allowed. I have never been to a BAR that has made such a big deal about tattoos. Disappointing for such a laid back bar.

Date: 6 years ago

Review №113

Rating: 5

Favorite bar in San Marcos!

Date: 6 years ago

Review №114

Rating: 4

Date: 6 years ago

Review №115

Rating: 5

Date: 6 years ago

Review №116

Rating: 3

Date: 6 years ago

Review №117

Rating: 5

Great handmade margaritas. Good atmosphere. Feel the breeze!

Date: 7 years ago

Review №118

Rating: 5

Love this place. Great atmosphere drinks and employees. Check it out

Date: 7 years ago

Review №119

Rating: 4

Laid back place to hang out...

Date: 7 years ago

Review №120

Rating: 5

Very inviting place, even with the stairs to get there. Open air environment is nice and the staff is very friendly. Great beer selection too!

Date: 7 years ago

Review №121

Rating: 5

Great people!

Date: 7 years ago

Review №122

Rating: 5

Date: 7 years ago

Review №123

Rating: 5

Bartender, Robbie, was badass. Music top notch... Highly recommended!!

Date: 7 years ago

Review №124

Rating: 5

really cool spot overlooking the square with great drinks, friendly staff, and lots of seating. This is where I go to have a cigar, a martini, and watch some sports.

Date: 8 years ago

Review №125

Rating: 5

My favorite bar on the square, its kind of a hidden gem. Front entrance is by black rabbit saloon and back stairs are by tap room. Great cocktails. And dollar dos equis on mondays. A very chill out door bar with cafe lights and giant jenga. Great place to hang out with friends you know.

Date: 8 years ago

Review №126

Rating: 5

Wonderful views

Date: 9 years ago