THE RUSTY SPUR SALOON
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cowboys were said to water their horses here with buckets of beer—an old twist on drunk driving. Since 1951. 480-425-7787
THE CRYSTAL PALACE SALOON
Tombstone, Ariz.
A landmark original (it was born a brew house in 1879) in the West’s most famous outlaw town. 520-457-3611
RANCHMAN’S COOKHOUSE & DANCEHALL
Calgary, Alberta
Cowboy central during the Calgary Stampede, Ranchman’s is the place to dance, dine, or watch a fight in the parking lot. 403-253-1100
THE WRANGLER
Elk Grove, Calif.
No gimmicks, no mechanical bulls, and no strip-malls here, just a genuine cowboy roadhouse with a music stage and decor circa 1950. 916-714-9911
H BAR B
Oakdale, Calif.
Oakdale is as cowboy as California gets, and the H Bar B is the saloon where you’ll find them. 209-847-2985
DIAMOND BELLE SALOON
Durango, Colo.
With can-can girls and costumed bartenders, the Strater Hotel’s bar helped author Louis L’Amour (who often stayed here) to step back in time. 800-247-4431
NEW SHERIDAN HOTEL BAR
Telluride, Colo.
Perhaps better suited to cattle barons (and ski vacationers) than cowboys, the New Sheridan is the epitome of Victorian grace. Since 1895. 970-728-4351
BUFFALO RESTAURANT & BAR
Idaho Springs, Colo.
The carved-wood bar, back bar, and break front in this century-old establishment were built in Chicago in 1860 and moved to Colorado by wagon train. 303-567-2729
LITTLE COWBOY BAR & MUSEUM
Fromberg, Mont.
Some might call this collection of cowboy memorabilia kitschy were it not for the sincerity of owner Shirley Smith (a ringer for Joan Collins), who runs this beer-and-shot homage to Montana’s cowboys. 406-668-9502
NO SCUM ALLOWED SALOON
White Oaks, N.M.
People (but no scum) come from miles and miles around to drink and hear cowboy music in this 100 year-old brick building. 575-648-5583
SOUTH POINT HOTEL CASINO BAR
Las Vegas, Nev.
Rodeo’s biggest stars preen here before and after the nightly awards during the National Finals Rodeo. Buckle bunnies galore.
866-796-7111
BUCKET OF BLOOD SALOON
Virginia City, Nev.
Built in 1876 during the height of the Comstock Load mining rush, this is a friendly place despite the forbidding name. 775-847-0322
LET ‘ER BUCK ROOM
Pendleton, Ore.
Hidden under the rodeo’s south grandstand and only open for the rodeo, the bar is known as “Cowboy Mardi Gras.” 800-457-6336 (Alternate: The Rainbow Cafe Bar)
THE TACK ROOM
St. Paul, Ore.
It’s butts to buckles and loud as a jet fighter during take off here throughout the annual St. Paul Rodeo. 503-633-2011
SALOON NO. 10
Deadwood, S.D.
Wild Bill Hickok met his fate playing cards here, making it one of the most famous cowboy bars in America. 800-952-9398
THE CRYSTAL BAR
Alpine, Texas
This is the best (perhaps the only) reason to visit a dusty, hot cowtown in the barrens of west Texas, where cows outnumber humans by far. 432-837-2819
BILLY BOB’S TEXAS
Fort Worth, Texas
At 127,000 square feet, with an indoor bull-riding ring and 42 bar stations, it’s the biggest honky-tonk in the world. 817-624-7117
11TH STREET COWBOY BAR
Bandera, Texas
The so-called “biggest little bar in Texas,” 11th Street features cowboy music and lively Texas two-steppin’. 830-796-4849
NO NAME SALOON
Park City, Utah
Utah may be famously anti-alcohol, but the No Name serves ’em strong and keeps ’em coming. 435-649-6667
THE MINT
Sheridan, Wyo.
A bronc-riding neon cowboy leads you to this burlwood den, considered by most to be the ultimate cowboy bar in the cowboy state. 307-674-9696
MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY BAR
Jackson, Wyo.
Saddles for bar stools, Western murals, and a bar studded with silver coins—what more do you want? 307-733-2207
THE BUCKHORN BAR
Laramie, Wyo.
Generations of University of Wyoming Cowboys have made the pilgrimage here. “The Buck” features mounted racks and a bullet hole in the back mirror.
307-742-3554