11 Best Bars in Downtown and the River Walk, San Antonio

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 20 tequila flights for the indecisive. They also have domestic, imported, and Texas craft beers.

At this historic bar within the 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 1887 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 but hearty pub menu is served all day.

If you're staying downtown, this is a must-see LGBTQ+ club for the open-minded and those who aspire to be. Housed in the 20,000-square-foot classic 1892 Turner Hall, the Alamo-adjacent Bonham Exchange is a testament to the tenacity of legendary downtown developer Arthur P. "Hap" Veltman, who scouted the area in 1980 to replace his previous gay nightclub, the San Antonio Country. The club opened in 1981, and this amazing place has been going strong ever since. There are three levels of lively dance floors plus a bar area off the entrance. Multiple DJs spin every music genre you can imagine. Every year, they throw an impossible-to-describe Halloween bash, and the club has a float in the Battle of Flowers parade during the annual Fiesta Week. Touring companies of Broadway shows have held their cast parties here, and at least one ghost hunter has scoured top to bottom for anybody who might have forgotten to (or didn't want to) leave the party. It has a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and great drink specials. Check their website for the latest special events. Cover charge is $5.

Across from Hotel Contessa, Drink Texas serves tapas and has a large variety of signature Texas cocktails, wines by the bottle, and wines by the glass. They're also known for their long (2 pm to 9 pm) happy hour.

Come here to have a dueling-piano bar and high-energy live show experience—and don't hesitate to sing along. They have a big selection of cocktails, shots, and beers. It's a great place to book parties and group events.

Claiming to be an authentic British-themed pub, Mad Dogs offers a selection of draft and imported beers, exotic cocktails, and extensive domestic beverage options. as well as entertainment that includes DJs, karaoke, and live acts. They also have a pub menu of fish-and-chips, Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, Winston's chicken and waffle, and more.

The San Antonio outpost of New Orleans institution Pat O'Brien's serves the bar's wickedly strong Hurricanes, along with cocktails like the Cyclone and the Cat-5 Margarita. They have live music daily on the patio and a New Orleans–style menu.

With their wine-making and -tasting room facility in downtown San Antonio, this urban winery specializes in local wine education and serving only Texas wines. It usually features six wines on tap and dozens of bottles. They also produce their own wines.

After dinner, the Republic of Texas restaurant—family owned an operated for 45+ years—transforms into a nightclub. On Saturday nights, they play dance music from all the hits from 9 pm to close, for 21 and over, no cover charge.

Amazingly, this pub was built in County Monaghan, Ireland, and shipped to San Antonio, where it was reassembled. They are open for lunch and dinner daily (lots of Irish specials, naturally) and have live music seven nights a week.