If you’re new to San Antonio, visiting from out of town, or wanting to try something different,
My City Crawl has a great event occurring every Friday. It’s the perfect opportunity to safely experience bars in the Downtown area while making new friends and learning about what the city has to offer. Since launching in February of this year, participants have come from all walks of life; college kids, couples celebrating birthdays, and individuals looking for a night on the town (I went my own).
Introverts beware: You will meet people on this tour. (like the two visitors from Louisiana I met). Come prepared with small-talk and get ready to make some new pals. Here’s how My City Crawl went:
7:30 p.m.: The tour starts off at Juniper Tar with a check-in where you receive a lanyard and two drink tickets (for one cocktail at Juniper Tar and one beer/wine at The Last Word). Juniper Tar, which is really a sight to behold with its stained glass and classy ambience, makes it great place to start a bar crawl. It gives tourists a sense for San Antonio's noteworthy design, while reminding residents of the city's low-key grandeur. Opt for a Nightcrawler, a cocktail made exclusively for crawlers on the tour, made with vodka, crème de violet and lemon.
8:15 p.m.: The crawl gathers outside Juniper Tar, to exchange hellos and for debriefing from Mario Ochoa (owner) on how the evening will play out. We head towards The Last Word, receiving interesting city facts along the way. At the basement bar, guests can cash in tickets for a wine or beer on tap. Keep in mind, if these aren’t your fancy, you can still order a cocktail at normal price. Here is where crawlers can connect while admiring the library décor and portraits of famous authors that line the walls of the bar.
9 p.m.: Be prepared to smile together for a group photo at the top of the stairs leading up from The Last Word. Then the tour continues to Nectar Wine Bar, which is a nice break from the cocktail bar scene. Here city crawlers will receive 15 percent off their entire bill. Nectar serves as a great stop for snacks (like bruschetta), so that you can fuel up for the remaining stops on the tour.
9:40 p.m.: The last walking portion of the tour goes around the corner to the St. Anthony Hotel to visit Haunt, a spooky-themed bar with cocktails named after the ghosts roaming the hotel. Here, crawlers score a discount on either the Lavender Lady or the Crooked Wig. At Haunt the crawlers take Snapchats of the drinks and mingle while waiting for the shuttle to the last stop.
10:10 p.m.: The shuttle arrives! If you didn’t get a chance to meet your fellow crawlers earlier in the evening, you will during this laughter-filled (all that liquid courage adds up) and brief (5-10 minute) shuttle ride. The crawl ends at Ash, the newest spot on the tour, which offers an opportunity for avid bar-goers to experience somewhere new. It’s here that social media handles are traded and heart-to-hearts ensue. Then it’s back to the shuttle to be dropped off where the night first began.
Tickets are $35 dollars and can be purchased at mycitycrawl.com.
