OUR PICK: (TIE) Ocho at Hotel Havana, 1015 Navarro St., (210) 222-2008, havanasanantonio.com; Sternewirth at Hotel Emma, 136 E. Grayson St., (210) 448-8300, thehotelemma.com
> Although it’s only natural that two of San Antonio’s coolest hotels also have super-stylish bars, it’s a welcome surprise that Sternewirth (in Hotel Emma) and Ocho (in Hotel Havana) are both incredibly comfortable, vintage-inspired spaces ideal for lounging. From the giant fermentation tanks converted into surprisingly intimate seating cubbies to arrangements of massive leather sofas and a bar whose top was fashioned from a preserved tree trunk, there’s not a bad seat at Sternewirth to sit and enjoy a potent La Babia Margarita or the signature Three Emmas. While some might argue that the dimly lit, cinematically chic Havana Bar (formerly Club Cohiba) is technically Hotel Havana’s bar, it functions and feels like a basement extension to Ocho — a glass-encased restaurant/lounge that overlooks the River Walk and opens up onto a breezy patio perfect for sipping micheladas and mojitos. To properly experience the vibes that make us love these two spots, it’s important to time your visit wisely: Sternewirth is most enjoyable on weeknights in the early evening; and while the same is true of Ocho, it often gets packed and noisy an hour or two before big shows at the nearby Tobin Center, so check the schedule.
> Although it’s only natural that two of San Antonio’s coolest hotels also have super-stylish bars, it’s a welcome surprise that Sternewirth (in Hotel Emma) and Ocho (in Hotel Havana) are both incredibly comfortable, vintage-inspired spaces ideal for lounging. From the giant fermentation tanks converted into surprisingly intimate seating cubbies to arrangements of massive leather sofas and a bar whose top was fashioned from a preserved tree trunk, there’s not a bad seat at Sternewirth to sit and enjoy a potent La Babia Margarita or the signature Three Emmas. While some might argue that the dimly lit, cinematically chic Havana Bar (formerly Club Cohiba) is technically Hotel Havana’s bar, it functions and feels like a basement extension to Ocho — a glass-encased restaurant/lounge that overlooks the River Walk and opens up onto a breezy patio perfect for sipping micheladas and mojitos. To properly experience the vibes that make us love these two spots, it’s important to time your visit wisely: Sternewirth is most enjoyable on weeknights in the early evening; and while the same is true of Ocho, it often gets packed and noisy an hour or two before big shows at the nearby Tobin Center, so check the schedule.
Previous Winners
WINNER: David Davis at Heat, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com
2. Bobby Sanchez at Smoke, 1170 E Commerce St., (210) 253-9919, smoketherestaurant.com
3. Esteban Medina at Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
2. Bobby Sanchez at Smoke, 1170 E Commerce St., (210) 253-9919, smoketherestaurant.com
3. Esteban Medina at Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
WINNER: Paramour, 102 9th St., (210) 340-9880, paramourbar.com
2. Blue Box, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 2107, (210) 227-2583, blueboxbar.com
3. Bar 1919, 1420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-1420, bar1919.com
WINNER: Heat, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com
2. Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com
3. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
2. Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com
3. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
WINNER: Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
2. Casa Azul de Andrea, 1036 S. Alamo St., (210) 451-9393,
facebook.com/casaazuldeandrea
3. Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, facebook.com/thebangbangbar210
2. Casa Azul de Andrea, 1036 S. Alamo St., (210) 451-9393,
facebook.com/casaazuldeandrea
3. Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, facebook.com/thebangbangbar210
WINNER: Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (800) 513-7540, papertigersa.com
2. Jazz TX, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 6001, (210) 332-9386, jazztx.com
3. The Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com
WINNER: Alamo Ice House, 802 N. Alamo St., (210) 758-5151, alamoicehouse.com
2. Texas Ice House, Blanco Road, (210) 771-2765, facebook.com/texas-icehouse
3. Sanchez Ice House, multiple locations, facebook.com/sanchezicehouse
2. Texas Ice House, Blanco Road, (210) 771-2765, facebook.com/texas-icehouse
3. Sanchez Ice House, multiple locations, facebook.com/sanchezicehouse
WINNER: Perfect 10, 111 NW Loop 410, (210) 344-6601, perfect10sa.com
2. The Palace Men’s Club, 2482 NE Loop 410, (210) 599-6011,
thepalacemensclubsa.com
2. The Palace Men’s Club, 2482 NE Loop 410, (210) 599-6011,
thepalacemensclubsa.com
WINNER: Dorcol Distilling Co., 1902 S. Flores St., (210) 229-0607, dorcolspirits.com
2. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
3. The Squeezebox, 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., facebook.com/thesqueezebox
2. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
3. The Squeezebox, 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., facebook.com/thesqueezebox
WINNER: Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
2. Brass Monkey, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx
3. Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com
2. Brass Monkey, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx
3. Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com
WINNER: Slacker’s, multiple locations, slackerssa.com
2. Sancho’s, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com
3. Artisan on Alamo, 315 8th St., (210) 896-5070, artisanonalamo.com
2. Sancho’s, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com
3. Artisan on Alamo, 315 8th St., (210) 896-5070, artisanonalamo.com
