30 San Antonio lounges, speakeasies and hidden bars — and where to find them

The Speakeasy at Salvation Spirits
10091 US-290., Fredericksburg, (210) 605-2292, salvationspeakeasy.com.
“The Speakeasy,” as locals know it, is tucked away on a 10-acre orchard in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The inviting space offers a variety of handcrafted gin and is the perfect setting for a date night or evening with the girlies after a day of winery tours. The Speakeasy is also the ideal venue for private events.
Photo courtesy of The Speakeasy at Salvation Spirits

Pastiche
1506 E. Houston St., (210) 439-1532, facebook.com/pastiche.sa.
Local bar bard Benjamin Krick has taken an East Side cottage and turned it into a hip haven for contemporary quaffers with an appreciation of the Belle Epoque past. And anyone with a feel for le fée verte will admire drinks dedicated to once-banned absinthe. Past special events have included an homage to the art of flamenco.
Photo via Instagram / pastiche_sa

Dash
1017 N. Flores St., gwendolyngroup.com
Celebrated San Antonio chef Michael Sohocki's first foray into the lounge scene will take shape in Dash, a new concept in the loft space at the 5 Points Local building.
Photo via Instagram / dashbarsatx

RD Hidden Door Speakeasy
8400 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 605-2292, mixed4u.com.
Texting a random phone number for a secret password to enter a modern-day speakeasy may seem a little theatrical — but what's wrong with that? The real journey starts when you enter the space located behind the Barn Door Restaurant in Alamo Heights. Dark lights, gilded details, candles, music from the 1920s and excellent cocktails await at this intimate, reservations-only spot where just 27 guests can imbibe at a time.
Photo via Instagram / atanotherangle

Cellar Mixology at Toro
1142 E. Commerce St., (210) 463-5386, cellarmixology.com.
With its secret-cellar vibe, brick walls, Edison lights and decorative wine barrels, CM is a strong contender for the city's most atmospheric dive distinction. Its informative, one-drink-per-page menu is also a winner. So, not to worry unduly if the exposition is a tad better than the execution when it comes to the cocktails themselves — there's always the bottle service for which reservations (for a $10 fee) are a good idea late night Thursday through Saturday.
Photo via Instagram / cellarmixology

Havana Bar
1015 Navarro St., (210) 222-2008, havanasanantonio.com.
The Havana is the hotel bar for those of us who wouldn't be caught dead in a hotel bar. Lit only by dim candlelight, it's dark, cool, filled with vintage furniture and feels a little bit illicit. The fact that it's largely undiscovered by tourists and something of a hidden gem among locals only heightens the speakeasy vibe.
Photo by minkmade via Instagram / havanasanantonio

Downstairs at the Esquire
155 E. Commerce St., (210) 222-2521, esquiretavern-sa.com/downstairs.
This intimate lounge dishes out small bites packed with flavor and top-of-the-line cocktails, which is to be expected — it's just below downtown's historic and lauded Esquire Tavern. Downstairs offers funky, swanky vibes and expertly crafted drinks on the River Walk level of the storied building, which is also said to host a guest of supernatural persuasion.
Photo via Instagram / downstairsatesquire

Green Lantern
20626 Stone Oak Parkway, #101, (210) 497-3722, facebook.com/thegreenlanternsa.
Sophisticated and speakeasy inspired, this is an establishment that takes cocktail culture seriously. The mixologists are exacting and knowledgeable, and their creations showcase an extensive spirits list, fresh ingredients and an array of house-made infusions. From classics such as daiquiris and French 75s to new creations, you're in good hands with the bartending superheroes at the Green Lantern.
Photo via Instagram / sugarybysuzette

Bar 1919
1420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-1420, bar1919.com.
The basement speakeasy feel is spot on, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more robust list of Scotch and bourbon pretty much anywhere, which is humorously highlighted by their snub of vodka — you'll only find a single brand.
Photo via Instagram / sacurrent

The Bang Bang Bar
119 El Mio Dr., (210) 320-1187, thebangbangbartx.com.
Opened in 2016 by two members of the band Girl in Coma, the bar made an immediate splash with its vintage furnishings, inclusive atmosphere and creative drinks. Six years on, there's still plenty to love about this welcoming spot that works equally well as a live-music venue, and a place to sink into a well-loved couch for conversation over cocktails.
Photo by Julian Ledezma

The Moon's Daughters
115 Lexington Ave., (210) 942-6032, themoonsdaughters.com.
It's tempting to suggest that The Moon's Daughters, a spectacular indoor-outdoor lounge perched 20 stories above the Riverwalk is more about the Instagram than the shaking can. There are only 10 cocktails on the online menu, but the city skyline is almost infinite from the outdoor deck — and patrons often dress to suit the setting.
Photo courtesy of The Moon’s Daughters

Amor Eterno
540 S. Presa St., facebook.com/Amor-Eterno-104928765099182. This Southtown spot debuted last New Year's Eve and immediately grabbed attention with its elevated cocktails and a sexy ambiance. Billed as a love letter to puro San Antonio cultura, the bar is small but bursting with personality. Custom wallpaper, velvet wall treatments and cozy nooks make for an ambiance that accommodates date night or after-dinner nightcaps.
Photo courtesy of Amor Eterno

Bar du Mon Ami
4901 Broadway, (210) 822-3253, instagram.com/bardumonami.
This unassuming Alamo Heights-area drinkery offers cozy neighborhood bar vibes. The narrow, dimly-lit bar is home to personable bartenders, extensive spirits offerings and unexpected music selections — all of which add to the draw. Don't be afraid to order a classic cocktail here — the folks behind the bar know their stuff, from the Aviation to Vieux Carré.
Photo via Instagram / bardumonami

Haunt at the St. Anthony’s Hotel
300 E. Travis St., (210) 352-3171, facebook.com/hauntsa.
This sexy place deserves to be shared with good company, especially those with a penchant for faux fur and animal print. When glancing at the extensive cocktail menu, the name of each creative, signature tipple may strike you as unorthodox. That's because the hotel, a national historic landmark, is rumored to be uber-haunted.
Photo via Instagram / lres_marketing

The Speakeasy at Devils River Distillery
401 E. Houston St., (833) 379-1840, devilsriverwhiskey.com.
This new distillery opened its doors in spring 2021 and does things in a big way. Inside its confines you'll find a coffee shop, a basement speakeasy, a main dining area and a lounge that overlooks the distilling equipment. A sprawling patio allows whiskey aficionados and curiosity seekers alike to enjoy fresh air while they sip on Texas-distilled spirits. We're still swooning over the antique bar, copper stills, marble floors and floor-to-ceiling columns
Photo by Jaime Monzon

Sternewirth Tavern and Club Room
136 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-7375, thehotelemma.com.
Most bar designers would kill for the opportunity to slip a "tavern and club room" into a 19th- century industrial space with 25-foot ceilings and assorted brewing paraphernalia that could be repurposed as cozy seating nooks. A salacious story involving a philandering brewing magnate and his "three Emmas" doesn't hurt, either. Cocktails such as the complex and herbal Ciudad del Sol and the earthy and rummy Torrid Decadence stand up nicely to the setting.
Photo via Instagram / historicpearl

George's Keep
17803 La Cantera Terrace, (210) 310-3733, georgeskeep.com.
The setting is chic and upscale without feeling stuffy, and the drink creations are both creative and varied. A touch of falernum and passionfruit makes the tequila-based Falling in Lust a tiki drink for adults, while the Indian Summer pairs rye with walnut liqueur and port for an easy-drinking libation with just the right amount of sweetness.
Photo via Instagram / csj55

The Bar at Bohanan's
219 E. Houston St., #275, (210) 472-2600, bohanans.com.
Many of the city's most lauded mixologists have done a stint behind the stick here, and the cocktail menu, organized not by spirit type but preparation method — stirred, shaken, tall with soda, crushed ice and the like — still whispers of the bar's early consultant, late cocktail guru Sasha Petraske.
Photo via Facebook / Bohanans

Blue Box Bar
312 Pearl Parkway, (210) 227-2583, blueboxbar.com.
You'll find all manner of drinker in this place, from young professionals to, well, old professionals — and everyone in between. Bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable, no matter what your preferred poison. It's Pearl location also makes it a convenient stop for an after-dinner or -work beer, wine or cocktails.
Photo via Instagram / blueboxbar

Edison Experiment
1846 N. Loop 1604 East, (210) 479-9600, facebook.com/edisonexperiment.
The crowd at this mixology-focused spot varies from old to young and arrives dressed in anything from casual duds to swanky cocktail attire. It's a great place to take a date, sit with your group in one of the couches or sidle up to meet new people while rolling solo.
Photo via Instagram / sip_sa