5 Best Bars in San Antonio, Texas

A very cool bar with a friendly vibe and bright decor, Blue Box serves a good selection of house cocktails, house shots of pineapple serrano tequila and strawberry vodka, cigars, wine, and beer—including some good seasonal craft brews. The name comes from the blue box cooler that overnight "third shift" workers at the original Pearl Brewery would keep their beers in (brewery workers could drink on the job back then). Happy hour lasts all day on Sunday and Monday. 

Originally opened in 1933 following the end of Prohibition, the Esquire Tavern has a storied past as the oldest riverfront bar on the River Walk. The legendary locale even claims to be the longest bar in Texas, at 100 feet. The sleek, dark 1930s interior blends well with an elevated pub-style menu. The evolving seasonal classic cocktail menu is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The intimate Downstairs area is directly on the River Walk and is open Friday and Saturday from 7 pm to 2 am.

Choose from the extensive selection of tequilas and margaritas here as well as nearly 30 tequila flights for the indecisive. They also have domestic, imported, and Texas craft beers.

At this historic bar within the historic Menger Hotel (one of the city's great cultural treasures), listen to tales of how Teddy Roosevelt recruited his army of Rough Riders here. The bar was built in 1871, as a replica of London's House of Lords pub. It's a fun place to go with friends for a drink or to meet the locals. A small pub menu is served all day. 

One of the most elegant spaces at the Pearl—no surprise since it's inside Hotel Emma—the bar is named for the Sternewirth Privilege, the 19th-century tradition of giving brewery employees free beer during the workday. The cool, dark, inviting space has a 25-foot vaulted ceiling over a collection of softly lit seats, a fireplace, and a beautiful bar serving signature cocktails, beer, and wine, along with satisfying bar bites.