Zelicks is the only bar worth going to in San Marcos, TX. Period.
I love the atmosphere. I love the mixed crowd (college kids, locals, motorcyclists, hipsters, you name it, they are there). The first night I went there I ordered a whiskey sour in which the bartender said he "would like to see more whiskey in that, so take a big gulp" and proceeded to refill my already strong drink with a finger more of whiskey. It is so rare to find a bar in a college town that makes a decent drink without charging an arm and a leg.
Overall, this bar is perfect. It also happens to be a block away from my house so I don't think I will find a reason to frequent another bar as often as I find myself at Zelicks.
I've come here a lot, even though I don't live in San Marcos any more. Â It's become the meeting place for my friends still in town. Â The bar staff is nice and reasonably prompt, they have a lot of different types of beer, and lot from local Texas breweries. Â The inside area is small, but they have a pool table and a lot of places to sit at the long bar. Â The outside patio, though, is where it's at. Â It surrounds the whole bar, and they have several washer pits to play at, comfortable chairs outside and giant Jenga. Â A great place to meet for a drink or two.
Review Source:THE BEST BAR IN SAN MARCOS!
Friendly bar staff, good selection of alcohol, good vibes, fun games, and cool people. I have never had a bad experience at Zelick's. It's a place for EVERYONE. It's not super loud, so you can actually enjoy a conversation with someone. The bartenders are really cool, and always remember you no matter how many times you've been in there. They always have cool, creative drink specials going on. If you haven't been to Zelick's, get your ass over there now!
I love the San Marcos zip code. 78 666 (obvious emphasis on the 666), and I love that Zelicks has placed obvious emphasis on the zip code in their big, neon green sign.
My older sister and I celebrated her 24th here. It was kind of cold, but they had outdoor heaters on that managed to keep both the inside and outside warm. It was a really chill, laid back place that allows DOGS. The patron next to me brought his, so I had a big white sheepdog next to my feet all night. Since I'm currently miles away from my own pup, it was so nice to have one close to me. Our bartender was really cool. He took a birthday shot with us. He had long blonde hair, and I don't even like blondes but I definitely have a crush on him. He didn't judge as we went from sober to a tiny bit tipsy, cause I started craving a bloody mary and had about 3, even though bloody marys should be daytime drinks only (in my opinion). They played Dan Auerbach and Mazzy Star so I was in music heaven.
I used to go to San Marcos almost every weekend. I miss that. I haven't been back in a while, but I'm excited to go now that the weather is warmer and sitting outside won't require a coat.
Cool place, bro.
I've only been here twice. Once during the douchey hours, once during day drinkin hours. I like the day drinkin, and doing it at this bar. It's away from the square so that's cool. Cool design, cool restrooms, cool games outside, cool Brotender. Â Yep, it's pretty cool.
I wanted to go to Zelicks since I first saw it, but I live in Austin so I'm not usually in the neighborhood. So the best thing about Zelicks is that amost the whole bar is outside. It's a great place to hang out on a nice night.
They have a bunch of outdoor games such as cornhole and horseshoes. In combination with the beer selection Zelicks is a bunch of fun for a group.
Love this place! Wish they had been here back when I lived in San Marcos, but glad they're there now. My husband and I visit frequently, and just about every time we're in town, we make a point to stop at Zelicks. I am in love with the jalapeno/cilantro margarita! Â I also love to be outside and the environment here is perfect. The Jinga and corn hole are an awesome touch. Hope they one day serve bar food, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Its a great place!
Review Source:I have been wanting to try Zelick's for a while, but live a bit south of San Marcos. I dropped by today on my way through town and was able to try it out. I had been on their website and had read that they had a great beer bottle selection but only PBR (a fine, hipster lager) on tap. I was pleasantly surprised when I went there today that they have added more taps which feature local Texas brews. I had the Southern Star Walloon, which is a great. I spoke with the owner, Chase, and he talked about his dedication to bringing in great local brews, which I really value, and that they always tap a surprise keg on Fridays, which sounds great!
My bartender was Amanda, she was professional and she seemed to know her beer. I never trust a bar in which the staff does not know the beer.
The atmosphere is great, it is built in an old gas station and is open air with plenty of fans to deal with the Texas heat. It has pleasant outdoor seating and games like washers. It is in a college town, but did not exude any of the cheesy college bar vibe that so many San Marcos bars possess.
Great location, bartenders, an owner that gets the importance of carrying great Texas beesr, great atmosphere and great prices - Everything I look for in a good bar. I have now found my favorite area bar, even if I have to drive up from New Braunfels to go there! Good job Zelick's!
Great atmosphere. Took a San Marcos eye sore and turned it into something cool. The fact that it's outside and offers games plays a huge role in why I rated it high. They do have a nice drink selection and they are pricier than other spots in town, however, compared to Austin, they are normal prices.
It's a nice place to go in the early evening hours (6-10 or so), but I don't always appreciate the late-night crowd so much.
There have also been plenty of times where I'm sitting at a very empty bar with a very empty drink and get neglected because the bartender is chatting away with their friends.
Once I brought in a friend in who ordered an IPA. The bartender came back and said, "I'm sorry, we don't have any IPA's, but we do have an India Pale Ale." Hahaha.
All in all, a good place, but I never have high expectations for the service that I'll get.
We came here while I was in town for my brother's graduation and what a great time we had. Â Drink prices were very reasonable considering we drank here for a couple hours and my tab was under $20. Â They have multiple corn hole boards, washers and horseshoe. Â They also have plenty of patio seating and quick service. Â I wouldn't want to come here if the weather was bad but on an 80 degree night, it doesn't get much better.
Review Source:This is the best bar in San Marcos. What I love so much about this place, is that you can actually have a conversation here. I don't have to scream over a ridiculously loud sound system because they keep the volume at a reasonable level. The inclusion of games such as bean bags, horse shoes, and bocce ball make this a fun, chill place to hang out. The bartenders are great, and the owners are really cool. If your single and your trying to meet new people, this is the definitive bar for you as the various games make for a great excuse to engage new people. I met my girlfriend here so I have a special little place in my heart for Zelick's :) .
Review Source:This place was cool when I came here one  night. It must be a Texas thing to want to stand outside drinking at a bar paying bar prices in the 100+ degree heat. It's an open bar idea and you mingle outside in the yard in the back. It's nice but torture during the summer months. I do like the idea though and the bartenders were cool and professional. And the drinks were reasonable. It's definitely a college hangout. I think a DD is a must when coming to this place unless you live at the donut place across the street.
Review Source:I love Zelick's! The bartenders are GREAT the beer selection is amazingly good and it's just a great place to hang out with friends. The outdoor seating is a nice touch and there are cornhole games and washers which is awesome. It's usually pretty hard to find a parking spot but it's worth it. The prices are about the same as you would find at the other bars downtown.
Its just a friendly atmosphere. If your looking for a place to hang where you can actually hear each other while conversing this is it.
This is the old Mobil Station and it looks great. After sitting there for years with nothing to do it has become a fun place to hang out. I say this and I am NOT a bar kind of girl. On this occasion, I was at Zelick's for the first night of my 20 year high school reunion so the company I was with could have been a big reason I had so much fun.
Zelick's accommodated all of us quite well, we had an awesome turn out, we were a pretty big class. However, they do not have food at this bar, no appetizers or anything so don't expect that when you go. That being said, they let a couple of out guys pull up a bbq pit and cook for us. I can't say that's an everyday thing (it was a special occasion for us), but it was really a nice thing for them to do. I am not sure if food is something they are working on for the future or not.
The atmosphere is super casual. Unless you are naked I think you can get in. The whole bar is open, no real "inside". When you walk up you show your id and you are in to the front patio area. They have a couple of picnic tables and a beach feeling set of chairs to sit and enjoy yourself. This patio area opens up to the "inside" where the bar is, the big doors are open so you can move freely through out the place. Then that opens to the back of the bar where there is more seating and open space to hang out. Zelick's also has free games: pool, bocceball, horseshoes and washers. I think they may have another one but I don't remember.
Ok, you may be wondering about the drinks, well....... I don't know, I don't drink. But all of my friends and other patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves and I didn't hear any complaints. We were given tickets for a free drink as part of our reunion and people were buying once they used their ticket. I suppose if the drinks were bad you wouldn't pay for them???? But the water was good, hahahahaha!!
As I said in the beginning, I am not the bar kind of girl but I can see myself going back to this place and just enjoying the time to sit and talk with friends while they have their drink and I have my water :) Probably earlier before the college kids get there..... Man I sound old, hahahahaha!!! But because the atmosphere is so casual it almost doesn't seem like a bar.
Oh, and this may seem stupid but I love the big arrow sign that has our zip code, 78666, on it in big lights. I love my hometown and I am so happy that they have found something great to do with this space. So the 4 stars? Because they don't have food, hey, I like to eat. Â And the parking is not so great. Â I don't think they have their own parking spaces so you have to park on the streets around the building and in the area. Â But overall this is a great place and the non bar going girl had a good time.
Thank you to Zelick's for letting us have our reunion here, it was good fun!!
Man, I really wanted to like Zelick's. I really respect them for choosing a great spot just outside of downtown and renovating an old building, essentially replacing blight with a functional, happenin' space. It looks rustic and modern at the same time, with a cool breezeway bar area.
So why only two stars? I waited until after my third visit to review and let it marinate, because I really want this place to succeed and I didn't wanna post an unfounded, reactionary review. There were two major downfalls consistent across all three visits: high prices and sub-par service.
Exhibit A - $10 pitcher of PBR. Seriously? I think my bottle of Real Ale Devil's Backbone was $5. I don't have any experience with mixed drinks there, but margaritas were also a bit pricy.
Exhibit B - Service is baaaaad. Real bad. I'm not the only one of my friends who thinks so either. My favorite experience went like this: I stand at bar, patiently waiting my turn to get served. Nearby bartender is joking and laughing with bar patrons. I figure that he is just making small talk, maybe he will take my order soon. Bartender looks at me, and then turns back to continue his small talk. After almost 5 minutes of idle time, I say "Excuse me" and he says "Oh, did you need something?". I order, and then after one drink we decide to move on - the NBA finals were on TV, and instead of playing the game audio, they were playing some kind of techno music.
Come on Zelick's! Work on your beer selection and price, and hire some bartenders that don't act so self important to the patrons. Although, this place seems to be pretty crowded most nights when I pass by, so it doesn't look like they need my business anyways.
Zelick's is an outdoor bar equipped with plenty of fans and water spritzers to keep you cool during those hot Texas summers. The ritas are superb and they also offer a few unique specialty drinks. If that isn't your thing, then there's plethora of bottled beer and PBR on tap. What makes this bar stand out is the outdoor games such as washers, horseshoes, and Bocce ball, as well as, special events like queso competitions and mystery keg Fridays. Zelick's is also owned and operated by the same people who started the popular local kolache bakery, Dos Gatos.
Review Source:For college students briefly visiting to the locals who stay here, Zelicks is a breath of fresh air into the San Marcos bar scene.
Zelick's is different than your average bar in that it is in an openness to it that can be easily observed from the street. For the college kid whose wondering where everyone one is at, Zelick's nightlife is easily observed by driving by.
Another amenity that is my person favorite are the many array of games one can play. They have washers, horseshoes, a bean bag toss, a pool table, as well as a ball game that looks like a hybrid between pool and bowling. It gives my group and I something casual to do while talking and hanging out. Loser buys drinks!
I've been there a handful of times and can say that I always got my drinks in a timely manner from some real stand up bartenders. The employees here went above and beyond the job description in order to help look about the place to find my missing iPhone. That was much appreciated and shows the kind of character that is being run at the place.
Only con's to this bar is that they only have one beer on draft (PBR) and also due to the uniqueness and openness of the structure, if you attempt to go during the summer days you may need water more than you would want a beer.
In summation, I love Zelick's due to the lively atmosphere, the enjoyable games, the sociable and good-natured employees, but most of all the unique experience that you get that can't be found anywhere else in San Marcos
Zelick's has done a lot of things right.
If I were judging based on looks alone, I wouldn't have enough stars for this place. If you had told me a year ago that the dilapidated old service station that had been on that corner could look this good, I wouldn't have believed you.
But it really does look amazing. The neatest thing about Zelick's is the openness of it. There is no inside, as an another reviewer mentioned, so anybody passing by has a clear view of all the bar patrons laughing, chatting, and enjoying themselves. That's some powerful advertising.
The games available are truly a nice touch, but they could be a lot better. The bocce ball court is not level and much too small for anything but a single whimsical game. The bean bags were already losing beans, and they were all one color (same thing for the washers). That's kind of strange for games that are meant to be played against other people.
The drink prices seemed normal. The best deal so far is the pitcher of frozen margaritas for 20 bucks - you can pour at least six ritas, and they are nice and strong. They also don't have that yucky fake-lime taste that many other places have.
The one true downfall of this place seems to be the single beer on tap - PBR. You're crippling yourself here, Zelick's. Get some more beer.
I really had a great time reclining in those surprisingly comfortable Adirondack chairs. I would recommend getting more of those, because they are going to be highly sought after. I'm sure I'll be back soon, and not sitting in those chairs again is not an option,
Oh, how I wish Zelick's was open for business during my days as a student at Texas State.
This bar opened a few weeks ago in San Marcos to much fanfare. I visited on opening day, and it was already teeming with students and townies, soaking up the sunny rays and knocking back a few cold ones. The feel of the place is unlike anything else in San Marcos: casual, laid-back, and California cool. There is no "inside" here; either hang out at the bar under the roof of the converted auto shop (which has no real enclosures, as far as I could tell), or chill on the patio outside. Bar games like bocce ball are on hand for boozy antics, which were already a hit when I went. But let's talk about what's really important, shall we?
Almost everyone I went with was having their frozen house margaritas, and I have to say, although I'm not usually a fan of the frozen variety, these were refreshing. And strong-- I had more than one, because I was on foot, but be forewarned: these aren't watery or weak at all.
I had a great time at Zelick's. It offers a relaxing and inviting atmosphere to chat with friends over a few drinks. I hope to be back soon to enjoy the newest addition to the San Marcos bar scene.
Top-notch design and decor, meh selection and service.
The good: For San Marcos, the look of Zelick's can't be beat. If you have people visiting, this is the place to take them. The bar is a converted auto-body shop, and the interior retains a sort of garage-cabaret feel with class, helped by the snazzy lighting, red walls, and vintage photographs. The outdoor patio has a beachy, SoCal feel. The free bar games is a big win for Zelick's, particularly for early summer evening drinking with friends. Pool, bocce ball, horse shoes, bags, and washers--all free.
The not-so-good: Over-priced drinks with only PBR on tap (read Jon W's review). Additionally, the bartender who served me was jerky and incompetent. When I asked for a whisky on the rocks, he came back to tell me he'd poured a little too much in the glass and was going to charge me for a double. Dude-bro was pissed when I told him to dump it and pour me the drink I asked for.
I'd love to rate this place with 4 or 5 stars in the future, and I hope they will get it together soon, as Zelick's could easily become San Marcos's top watering hole.
I have been long awaiting the arrival of this place
- its w/in walking distance of my house
-they actually spent time & $$$$ here rather than lots of places here in s.m. that throw up a new sign and act like its a completely different bar than what was there a few months earlier, yes Im talking about you Vault
Zelick's has an awesome atmosphere and offers outdoor laid back setting. The overall design and decor of the place was enjoyable. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed to only see one draft beer, PBR at that. Â WTF? I was left with no other option but to go for one of the bottles, after trying to order 4 different times (they were pretty much out of everything that wasnt your run of the mill brews) I ended up with a fireman's that I could of ordered at any other place in town. I like the place and want it to succeed but get some more beers on tap and some bartenders that aren't dicks!
We've been watching the transformation of this property from beat-up old gas station to terrific-looking beer garden with increasing eagerness. It was, therefore, with glee that we discovered that they are now open and visited for the first time on Saturday.
They seemed to be firing on all cylinders already. There was a good-sized (though not obnoxiously large) crowd, everything was running smoothly, the waitstaff dropped by periodically to check on us, and all of the amenities were in place and working fine.
The brainchild of the Dos Gatos guys, Zelick's is a great addition to the San Marcos scene. With comfortable adirondack chairs, a variety of beers, a lovely courtyard, and washers, horseshoes, and other outdoor games, it's a terrific place to while away an evening in the company of friends.
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