The Backyard

Looking for a place with real atmosphere in College Station? The Backyard should be at the top of your list. Nestled in Northgate at 303 University Drive, this spot blends backyard chill with bar buzz—boasting the largest patio and biggest screen in the district, plus two outdoor bars, shaded picnic seating, string lights, and yard games that invite friendly competition. On cooler nights or Thursday evenings, you’ll be drawn outside to watch live music—local favorites like Jared Shultz bring heat without the usual DJ playlist distractions. As night deepens, the indoor and upstairs areas crank up with DJ beats and dancing. When hunger hits, Mighty Slice Pizza delivers big, affordable slices on-site, while drink pricing stays smart and flexible—perfect for groups or budget-minded Aggies. Whether you’re catching a game, chilling with your dog outside, or dancing under neon lights, The Backyard delivers versatility and energy. Heads-up—ID checks can be strict, and it gets rowdy inside. But if your idea of a great night includes great people, games, live tunes, and an easygoing bar atmosphere, The Backyard is where fun sets in—and stays.

This was honestly one of the worst bar experiences I’ve ever had. The bouncer straight up told me my ID was fake even though it’s real and valid, and I’ve been using it for years at bars, clubs, and literally everywhere else with zero issues. They then tried to keep my ID, which is crazy because it’s a real government ID and they’re not even allowed to do that. They argued with me forever and wouldn’t give it back until I said I was going to walk over and get a police officer. The second I said that, they magically decided to return it and let me in. The whole thing was embarrassing, stressful, and honestly scary because losing your real ID is a huge deal. It felt like they had no idea what they were doing and just doubled down instead of admitting they were wrong. If you go here, be careful. No bar should be treating people like this or trying to take their real ID. I definitely won’t be going back

This was the WORST bar experience I’ve ever had. I was dancing near the bar waiting to order (they were playing old justin bieber songs like ofc i was signing along) and a bartender told me she wouldn’t serve me bc i was too drunk. I was kinda weirded out cuz I literally was basically dead sober at that point but I said sure, and left my friends at the bar to order and went to the bathroom. I used the bathroom, got out, and they didn’t have any paper towels, so I was drying my hands on my jeans when she walked into the bathroom. I said hi to her since I recognized her, and she pointed at me and told security to kick me out she kept talking over me and said she saw me vomit in the trash can and I was trying to tell her i was just drying my hands but these people would not listen i told her that if she could get a single shred of evidence to say i was too drunk (field test, check for vomit, literally anything) i would leave and she js kept insisting. finally i was like fine ill leave and i started to walk but their bouncers literally manhandled me the whole way out AND took photos of me for their friends ??? whoever took the photos was literally laughing with his friends and was like "brooo i didn’t get a good photo, hold her still" which is so dehumanizing. the bouncer would not let go even tho i was walking fine and he was holding so hard it actually hurt if i had actually been too drunk to remember anything, i would have no idea that they took photos of me and were physically hurting me when i was practically begging them to stop, which is super dangerous. this place has clearly not trained their workers to handle conflicts well at ALL. i understand that backyard is 18+ so they have to be careful of people who don’t know their limits, but I’m 21 years old and was completely fine… The bouncers and bartender were needlessly aggressive, rude, and escalated the situation soooo hard instead of listening to a single thing I said. keep in mind she was doing all this with a long ass line at the bar instead of doing her job

I was watching the Aggie volleyball game here with a few friends I had gone to the spots and while I was at the spot, this man who came up to me and asked me why I had kept falling. Mind you I was not drunk at all maybe had one or two drinks. And I told him to stop talking to me because I genuinely thought that was weird later but later ,Come to find out he had got me and my friend confused. A few hours later, I just went back to the backyard with a few of my friends and needed to make sure that my tablet was closed and I discovered that they were serving underage people and they kicked me out because I was trying to make sure my tab was closed because The guy from a different bar(who was a customer - At the different bar) Assumed I was the same girl who was falling over when I had not been and they told me to get out. I would like to assure everyone to not go here because they were racially profile you based on the color of your hair because the only reason that guy I thought that I was falling over was because he saw some other girl with dark hair falling over, and once you pointed out to somebody at this bar, they will kick you out because apparently none of their bartenders are racist. I have never seen so much unfairness and racism from run bar because if I have ever faced racism in this town,/on Northgate, the GM‘s have handled it but clearly the backyard does not care about race. They only care about money.

I graduated from A&M exactly 2 days ago. I went to the backyard today to watch the Aggie volleyball team To win the natty. When I was there, I opened a tab. I close the tab. I went to a different bar. While I was at a different bar, I got racially profiled. For the color of my hair. I came back to the spot to make sure I close out my tab, and while I was closing out my tab, the man who racially pro followed me for the color of my hair and the color of my skin color for that fact was at the bar (after taking Some shots at the spot) Was actually behind the bar and he denied telling me if all my tab was still open. I clearly was distraught and I was walking away as one of the female bartenders asked me what was wrong and I told her that one of the male guys was being rude and she was like no he was not being rude. You need to get the hell out of here so basically I got kicked out because these bartenders did not want to agree that I was being disrespected at. I have never experienced this on Northgate except for this bar. This has happened now multiple times that’s why I’m having the need to write a review because I have been trying to call them and talk to their manager and they keep declining my calls. This is not how a bar should run if I have ever talked to a gentleman which has only been one other time on Northgate for once again a race thing they have immediately kicked out the other person and never have once argued that I have been disrespected. Can I also add that some girl asked me to help her throw up while she was under age because the backyard served her too much alcohol as a 19-year-old that’s actually against the law and if they think that’s OK then that’s on them. Do not go to this bar unless you want to find underage drinking and disrespectful-ness

I ate from the truck. It was good until I threw up after I saw the man making food in black gloves, ostensibly to keep the food clean for the customers, using his cell phone and scratching his face. You know that phone is used in his bathroom. I am physically ill.

Very negative experience. Staff was overly aggressive and rude during an interaction, it escalated quickly and ruined the night. Felt unsafe and unwelcomed. Wouldn’t recommend and won’t be back.