Some thirsts can’t be quenched by an ice cold Lone Star.

For such a night, look no further than these San Antonio bars and nightclubs, where you might lock eyes — and lips — with a hot stranger.

Whether you’re looking to get lucky or just get drunk, these spots promise a night where anything could happen.

Bar House 820 N Alamo St., (210) 233-9087, instagram.com/barhousesa This place hasn’t been open long, but it’s already developed a reputation as a wild nightlife spot. Between the viral brawls and sexy patrons, this is a place to risk it all for a little bit of action. Credit: Instagram / @BarHouseSA
La Honky Tonk 909 Broadway, instagram.com/lahonky_tonk Self-described as “San Antonio’s hottest, newest cowgirl honky tonk,” this spot is the perfect place to pick up a honky tonk angel. Credit: Instagram / La Honky Tonk
High Horse Ice House 358 E Craig Pl, highhorsesatx.com High Horse is the latest saloon on the St. Mary’s Strip, known for its good drink prices, BBQ, dance floor and friendly staff. There’s also outdoor seating, perfect for finding a dark corner to snog your favorite cowboy. Credit: Instagram / High Horse Ice House
Cream II 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., instagram.com/cream2.satx For those looking to land a baddie of the goth persuasion, Cream II (formerly the Squeezebox and the short-lived Neon Moon) is the perfect spot to make out with someone who has a tongue piercing. Smoke machines and red laser lights further add to the sexy vampire rave vibes. Who wouldn’t be in the mood? Credit: Instagram / Cream II
Slow Ride Like the Foghat song to which its name is a nod, Slow Ride is all about taking it sleazy, baby. We’re talking bikes, babes, brews, wood-paneled walls and handlebar mustaches. So if you’re a gear head looking for your old lady, this might be the spot for you. 1524 Grayson St., instagram.com/slowride_sa. Credit: Stephanie Koithan
Hills and Dales Ice House 15403 White Fawn Dr., (210) 695-2307, hillsanddalesicehouse.org No one would expect that a spot on the Northwest side would be the center of the universe, but that’s exactly what the sign outside of Hills and Dales proclaims to its patrons. With an indoor-outdoor set up and the option to get a shot ceremoniously poured straight down your throat (called a “chuggie”), this spot right by UTSA provides plenty of room to mingle while getting your drink on. Credit: Photo via Instagram / hillsanddalesicehouse
Wav Room 3000 N. St. Mary’s St., instagram.com/wavroom_ In the spot that once housed El Ojo, new dance club Wav Room has brought a deep house dancefloor and Japanese-inspired cocktails, making it the perfect vibe-setter for a makeout session. Credit: Edward Silva
Social Spot 930 Broadway, (210) 263-9009, facebook.com/socialspotSATX Featuring an expansive patio, this chill Broadway spot has outdoor games and plenty of room for bargoers to live up to its name — it’s a place literally made for mingling. Credit: Photo via Instagram / social_spot_satx
Brass Monkey 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx This St. Mary’s strip spot boasts no cover and seemingly has a themed night every day of the week — including Wednesday emo nights and Thursgayz. Notorious for getting packed, you’ll get up close and personal with a lot of people looking to do the same. Credit: Photo via Instagram / brassmonkeytx
Midnight Swim 2403 N St Mary’s St, instagram.com/midnightswim210 The cocktail-forward bar, complete with original DJ music, is a great place to dance with a stranger and do something you’ll regret in the morning. Credit: Instagram / Midnight Swim
Urban Cocktail 9859 I-10 West, Suite 106, (726) 999-2693, facebook.com/urbancocktailsa Appealing to an older crowd looking to unwind (like, really unwind) after a long workday, you can get to know somebody under a bath of seductive neon lights at Urban Cocktail. Credit: Michael Karlis
Pegasus 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com A beacon on the Main Strip, popular gay bar Pegasus is the perfect place to get real close with somebody new. Credit: Photo via Facebook / PEGASUS NIGHTCLUB SAN ANTONIO
Holy Diver Tiki bars can go one of two ways. They can play up the absolute camp of the Trader Vic’s aesthetic — Hugman’s Oasis on the River Walk does this capably. Or they can elevate tiki by mixing classy exotic décor with an artisanal approach to tropical cocktails. Holy Diver is in the latter camp — with one part speakeasy mixed in as well. The experience of getting to Holy Diver is worth it alone. Enter through Hi-Tones, push through the crowd accumulated for what’s likely to be an emo night and climb the stairs to this hidden oasis. Upstairs at Hi-Tones, 621 E. Dewey Place, (210) 785-8777, instagram.com/holydivertikilounge. Credit: Instagram / holydivertikilounge
The Bang Bang Bar 119 El Mio Dr., (210) 320-1187, thebangbangbartx.com Plush couches, moody lighting, and a sexy ambience with midcentury flair sets the perfect funky romantic mood to have a deep, intimate conversation with somebody you just met. Credit: Photo via Instagram / thebangbangbar
The Bonham Exchange 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com Once a pioneering gay disco with a popular “straight night,” the Bonham Exchange has three floors that let you partake in all the good stuff nightlife is made of: drinks, music and dancing. Each floor has a different vibe — and a new opportunity to meet someone special. Credit: Julian P. Ledezma
Cowboys Dancehall 3030 N.E. Interstate 410 Loop, (210) 646-9378, cowboysdancehall.com/san-antonio A honkytonk specializing in country music, not only can you learn to swing with free dance lessons, but there is also a mechanical bull if you want to practice your riding. Credit: Photo via Instagram / justnoel_
Picks Bar 4553 N. Loop 1604 West, (210) 253-9220, picksbar.com Jessica Marinez and Amber Hernandez crafted this venue for the live music lovers of SA. The nightspot features live performances, karaoke nights, drag brunches, queer-friendly speed dating and an expansive drink menu and a food menu to boot. The partners — in business and in life — also operate downtown spot Pink Shark. Credit: Photo via Instagram / picks_barsa
1902 Nightclub 1174 E. Commerce St., (210) 941-3010, 1902satx.com The glittering 1902 Nightclub has an upscale vibe complete with bottle service. If you’re all glitzed up and ready for some strobe lighting, this is the perfect place to mingle while feeling elegant. Credit: Courtesy Photo / 1902
Heat Nightclub 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com If you need to turn up the heat, look no further than Heat Nightclub. The dance floor is often packed and the LGBTQ+ space welcomes people from all walks of life. There’s plenty of eye candy to attract your attention as you dance the night away. Credit: Photo via Instagram / heatnightclub
Tony’s Siesta 206 Brooklyn Ave., (210) 227-4551, facebook.com/tonyssiesta Kiss somebody under the artsy pink neon “Besos” sign at Tony’s Siesta, which went from sleepy downtown bar to slinky nightspot in late 2020. Credit: Photo via Instagram / tonyssiesta
Bar 19191420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-1420, bar1919.com. This well-hidden basement staple at the Blue Star Arts Complex continues to draw a hot and hip crowd with its expert mixology and intimately posh setting. For a classy night of high-end flirtation over expertly crafted cocktails, you could do worse than this classy and cool spot. Credit: Travis E. Poling
Pastiche 1506 E. Houston St., (830) 483-0514, instagram.com/pastiche_sa This East Side cottage is a hip haven for contemporary quaffers with an appreciation of the Belle Époque past. Plush seating areas and mood lighting are the icing on the proverbial cake at this craft cocktail joint. Credit: Photo via Instagram / pastiche_sa
The Modernist This speakeasy-style cocktail bar is located in an unassuming house across the street from Three Star Bar. But don’t let the humble exterior fool you — this place serves up some of the most inventive and artisanal cocktails in the Alamo City. Indeed, it earned the top spot in the Cocktails category of the Current’s 2024 Best of San Antonio issue. This top-shelf hideaway features a singular experience not replicated anywhere else in this city, and it’s a feast for the senses. Enjoy the dryness of an extra dirty martini contrasted by the sumptuous ambiance of dim light and delicately alluring music, surrounded by classy cocktail enthusiasts speaking in low murmurs. This isn’t the place to turn up, this is the place to level up. 516 E. Grayson St., instagram.com/themodernistsa. Credit: Instagram / themodernistsa
Evil Olive 2950 Thousand Oaks Dr., Suite 5, (210) 495-0970, facebook.com/EvilOliveSA This northeast SA drinkery offers a surprising selection of craft Texas beers, as well as tasty eats, to boot — but it’s not the food and drink that keeps patrons on the edges of their barstools. Karaoke flows out of top-notch sound equipment from a spacious stage big enough to invite several friends to join you in the inevitable rendition of “Sweet Caroline.” Photo via Google Maps
Lighthouse Lounge1016 Cincinnati Ave., instagram.com/thelighthouselounge. Lighthouse Lounge is a friendly neighborhood bar. But don’t get it twisted — patrons are there to flirt too. And there are plenty of dark corners, both inside and outside, to do it at. Credit: Michael Karlis