Truelove Bar — Restaurant in Waco

Two Stars – “A Bar I Want to Love… But Can’t”

Truelove is the kind of bar you want to fall in love with. The ambiance is straight-up incredible—dim lighting, cool decor, pool tables, multiple stages, a sprawling patio. It’s got that alternative, artsy vibe that hits all the right notes for people like me. It looks like the kind of place where conversations spark, connections form, and nights stretch into stories.

But here’s the thing: for all the effort they’ve put into making it fun, they’ve kind of overdone it.

Karaoke. Every. Night.

And not just tucked into a corner. It dominates the space. It’s loud enough that you can’t hear yourself think, much less strike up a conversation. I totally get that people love getting their moment on stage, and there’s a place for that—but when it's every night, it stops being an occasional novelty and starts becoming a social barrier. The vibe gets drowned out by off-pitch vocals and relentless volume.

Then there’s the service. I’ve had a couple encounters with bartenders who came off as either apathetic or outright rude. No names, because I’m not trying to smear anyone—but when you combine slow service with an attitude, it sours the whole experience. Especially in a place that’s this close to being amazing.

I’m not saying this is a bad bar. It’s just… a frustrating one. Because it’s my kind of place on paper, but in practice, it’s hard to connect, hard to relax, and harder to enjoy than it should be.

Maybe others feel differently. Maybe that’s just my experience. But I’ve tried more than once, and it keeps falling short.

I’d love to love Truelove... But right now, it’s not...

If you plan on having a good time, don't go to this bar. Me and some friends went out for our friends 21st birthday. We were sitting outside waiting for the dj to come on, talking and laughing, minding our own business. Then not 1 not 2 but 3 security gaurds come out and tells one of the girls she has to leave cause we got her another drink when NO ONE, NOT ONE PERSON, told ANY OF US, she was cut off. Ok fine whatever, we walked those friends to their car and went to go back inside. Upon walking up to the door they asked for my ID again, which no problem, I was grabbing it out of my purse and it took me a second to find it in my wallet because I wasn't prepared to have it out since I had already been inside. My friend was like here let me get it and i told her "No I'm fine, i can get it." and the security guard then proceeds to tell me "Well I can't let you in because you just said you were drunk". Ummm, excuse me? No I did not I said I was fine. So I was like whatever that's dumb, can I close my tab at least? And they told me no that my friend had to close it for me. They treated us like we were causing issues/fights/scenes. Never once have I heard of a bar kicking you out for minding your own business sitting at a table and for saying "I'm fine". This bar apparently doesn't like when you have fun, mind your own business, or is too impatient to wait for you to supply your ID. So never will I ever come back nor will I ever recommend...

This is the closest you'll get to Austin in Waco, but the best part is -- it's not Austin. A very chill bar; patrons and bartenders alike are easygoing and just out to enjoy their time. Fabulous music, with bands and regular DJs throughout the week. Can be a little bit quiet before 11pm, but it really picks up on the weekends, especially when a band is in from Austin, or when a local DJ is playing.

Truelove is also probably one of the safest bars for women, in addition to being one of the most diverse bars in Waco. From music-hungry graduate students to tattooed locals, from journalists and lawyers to Papa John delivery drivers, from middle-aged rockers to sorority girls, you can meet them all on a Monday night for karaoke or a Thursday evening for Trivia, or for a live band on the weekend. Truelove also hosts killer parties around the holidays, and has great drink specials, such as $2.50 mystery beers every night, a variety of tasty $3.00 shots, inexpensive well cocktails, and a fabulous selection of craft beers. There is also an outdoor patio the owner has been working on where patrons can sit in the evenings on wooden benches and at metal tables to smoke, drink, and laugh when the weather is nice.

Go to Truelove. You're missing out on the chillest bar in Waco...