Bar 1919 is a prohibition-themed whisk(e)y bar hidden in the Blue Star Complex, reached down a dimly lit flight of stairs. It is built as an ode to craftsmanship and American history, with house cocktails backed by deep lists of whiskey, scotch, agave, rum, gin, absinthe and cigars. Weekend brunch, Whisk(e)y Wednesdays and a tasting event every third Thursday fill out the week.
Sternewirth is the bar of Hotel Emma at Pearl, a room set under a 25-foot vaulted ceiling with sofas, easy chairs and banquettes grouped for conversation. The drinks lean on classic cocktails made without gimmicks, alongside wine, craft beer and hearty small plates. Steel tank alcoves, mezzanine booths and leather couches can be reserved, and the calendar brings live music, guest bar takeovers and spirits tastings. The name comes from the Sternewirth Privilege, the old brewery custom of free beer for workers.
Tenfold Rooftop is a cocktail lounge ten floors up at the Kimpton Santo San Antonio Riverwalk, open year round in all weather with 360-degree views of the skyline. The cocktail list highlights tequila and mezcal, running from boozy to frozen to refreshing. The kitchen offers the 10x Tour, a prix fixe of ten dishes drawn from ten regions of the world.
The Esquire Tavern opened in 1933 to mark the end of Prohibition and sits on East Commerce Street, with a second level down on the River Walk. The main room runs along a wooden bar top of more than 100 feet, pouring house cocktails, beer and wine alongside scratch-made bar food. Downstairs is a smaller riverside lounge with its own cocktail and spirit lists.
The Moon's Daughters is an indoor and outdoor rooftop lounge and bar on the 20th floor of the Thompson San Antonio, above the River Walk. Inspired by the Greek goddess of the moon, it mixes lounge seating inside with terrace tables looking over the city lights. Cocktails come with a menu of bites, and all ages are welcome until 9pm.
The Rose is a downtown cocktail bar on East Houston Street where the bartenders work from a wide range of ingredients to build handcrafted drinks, from a classic martini to newer mixology creations. Live music plays from Wednesday to Saturday nights, and the room takes private events. A daily happy hour runs from 4pm to 7pm.
These 6 are the starting point. The full BarMagazine directory covers every listed bar in San Antonio, with a map, filters by bar type, and new openings as we verify them.
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