18 San Antonio Bars to Take Out-of-Towners

Entertaining out-of-town guests can be a hassle. Finding the perfect spot is daunting, but thankfully San Antonio has a plethora of joints that cater to the most discerning of guests and they're all scattered across town. Here in no particular order are the places we'd take mom, dad, old friends, new friends, college roommates, wily grandmas and more.

Though not the first cocktail bar in San Antonio, The Esquire (155 E. Commerce St., 210-222-2521) earns points for several great traits. From its storied history as the longest bar in Texas, to its thoughtful decor, to its amazing food menu, to its extensive mezcal list, and yes, classic and inventive cocktails, there's a bit of everything to find here. 


Maybe we love The Brooklynite (516 Brooklyn Ave., 210-444-0707) because it's a hop-skip away from our office, but the bar's appeal doesn't stop there. Take your visitors there for great cocktails, people-watching come weekends or a potent Pain Killer from their tiki menu featured every Tuesday. 


Or maybe you want a place where you can let the kiddos get the wiggles out. You can do that at The Friendly Spot Ice House (943 S. Alamo St., 210-224-2337). Beer lovers will get to choose from oodles of bottles on the wall (er-fridge) or more than 70 taps of local, regional and national craft — though you can still get down with a Lone Star if you want. Pups are also welcome to while away the day under the giant trees or take in a movie during the week on the inflatable big screen.