In this unseasonably warm February weather — even for San Antonio — I can't help but want to spend every waking minute outside. While our northern neighbors are shoveling snow and shivering in their parkas, it feels like a sin to waste the sunny afternoons drinking indoors.
Enter Stay Golden Social House (& Boozeteria). Tucked right next to the booming Pearl, the bar is compact and easy to miss if you're just driving by. Don't let its size fool you, though. SGSH's open-air design and perfectly-sized patio make Stay Golden Social House (401 Pearl Pkwy.) the perfect after-work happy hour spot.
I walked in at about 5:45 p.m. on a Wednesday, and while there were seats available, the bar was buzzing. Groups of friends and coworkers gathered in clusters on the patio, while others chatted with the bartender at the long, rustic-looking bar. Stay Golden Social House has a hipster, garage-cool vibe, but not in an annoying or overdone way. Yes, their menus are written on chalkboards. Yes, you sit on metal barstools. And, yet, Stay Golden Social house does their decor in a way that seems cool and casual instead of redundant.
Now onto the fun part: the booze. Happy hour is from Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., the perfect window. You can't go wrong with any of their happy hour beers: Alamo, Lone Star, or Pearl, all local, all quintessentially Texas.
If a cocktail is more your style, you're in luck. Stay Golden Social House's happy hour menu includes various cocktails, including a classic daiquiri and an old fashioned. Because I can't resist ginger beer and a copper mug, I went with a Moscow Mule. My drink was just boozy enough, with just the right amount of sweetness and not so much ginger flavor that you feel like you're on an airplane. All in all, the perfect Mule.
If none of the happy hour drinks tantalize your taste buds, you can always order off the regular menu. Stay Golden Social House has a sizeable local beer list, as well as any cocktail you could dream up. If you're indecisive, don't hesitate to ask. The personable bearded bartender was more than happy to chat and offer up suggestions based on my taste.
With cocktails of this quality going for $9-$13, it's easy to see why Stay Golden Social House is a great happy hour spot. You can get your fancy drink on for $5 a pop, or enjoy $3 happy hour beers if hops are more your style. On a beautiful sunny San Antonio day, I can't imagine a better combination than an open-air bar filled with friendly staff and patrons with a crisp, cold and reasonably priced drink in my hand. Cheers to that!
