Southtown goth haunt Near Dark has closed after four years in business.
The horror-themed drinking spot, located at 1024 S Presa St., shook up its last cocktails Saturday, the business confirmed via its Instagram account.
Named after the horror-western cult classic of the 80s starring Bill Paxton, Near Dark carved out its own niche on the strip.
The interior of the nightlife spot conveyed a vampiric vibe thanks to its red lighting, black walls, gilt mirrors and posters of Universal movie monsters such as Lon Cheney’s Phantom of the Opera. On its final weekend in business, the bar announced it was raffling off its beloved neon signs, which featured bats in the logo.
Near Dark wasn’t just known for its eerie decor, however. Its cocktails also had a rep for being scary good, including the Not Today Satan — a tequila strawberry, lime and ginger beer concoction — and an Old Fashioned smoked beneath a glass cloche. A black house margarita and a tipple named the Stay Freaky further cemented its brand as bar that goes bump in the night.
In a city that loves gothy vibes and good cocktails, Near Dark seemed like a sure thing, even though it struggled with limited seating. The Current reached out to management for details behind the closure but didn’t receive a response by press time.
However, the owner told CultureMap San Antonio that rising Southtown rents finally got the best of the bar. He told the online publication he now plans to relocate to Boston.
Bar Ludivine and Hands Down also popped up as hip additions on the same Presa Street strip, making it a nightlife destination. Despite a high cool quotient, Hands Down closed in June 2024 and was transformed into French restaurant Petit Coquin under the same ownership of Empty Stomach Group.
Bar Ludivine is now the last one standing — thanks in part to its burlesque events.
Over the weekend, Near Dark patrons bid the bar adieu in their Instagram stories, sharing fond memories of KISS costume nights and saying, affectionately, “Goodbye, bat cave.”
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