1. Thirsty Horse Saloon
2335 NW Military Hwy, (210) 348-1513, thirstyhorse.net

Nightly live music keeps the cowboy boots sliding heel-toe-heel-toe on the dance floor at the Thirsty Horse Saloon. There’s pool tables for the dance-averse and enough bars that a cold brew is never more than a two-step away. No cover means the only lines are on the dance floor.

2. Cowboys Dancehall
3030 NE Loop 410, (210) 646-9378, cowboysdancehall.com

3. Cooter Browns Saloon
11881 Bandera Rd, (210) 695-5200, cooterbrownssaloon-tx.com

1. TIE: Freetail Brewing Co.
4035 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 105, (210) 395-4974, freetailbrewing.com

The Green Lantern
20626 Stone Oak Pkwy, (210) 497-3722, facebook.com/thegreenlanternsa

2. Big Hops Gastropub
22250 Bulverde, Ste 106, (210) 267-8762, bighops.com

3. The Silver Fox
24802 Ima Ruth Pkwy, (210) 363-2613, silverfoxsa.com

1. Big Hops Growler Station
Multiple locations, bighops.com

2. The Brooklynite
516 Brooklyn, (210) 444-0707, thebrooklynitesa.com

3. Bar 1919
1420 S Alamo, Ste 001, (210) 227-1420, 1919bar.com

1. The Lion & Rose (Alamo Heights)
5148 Broadway, (210) 822-7673, thelionandrose.com

2. Freetail Brewing Company
4035 N 1604 W, Ste 105, (210) 395-4974, freetailbrewing.com

3. Southtown 101
101 Pereida, (210) 263-9880, southtown101sa.com

1. The Lion & Rose (Alamo Heights)
5148 Broadway, (210) 822-7673, thelionandrose.com

1. Richard Hunter at Oak Hills Tavern
7920 Fredericksburg, (210) 614-8855

When informed that many people had voted him the “best-looking bartender” in San Antonio, Richard Hunter said, “What? Like, as a joke?” We don’t know, hon, but our brief interaction convinced us that Hunter is a ’tender to be recognized, smoldering bedroom eyes or no. This cutie’s unfailingly friendly and helpful to his Tavern patrons and exudes a charisma that has likely caused many a customer to get all twitterpated, whether Hunter knows it or not. So, if you’re looking for mere eye candy to quench your thirst, your quest may be ongoing, but if you want a bartender you can actually see a future with, you’ll wanna hook up with Hunter.

2. Big Hops Growler Station
Multiple locations, bighops.com

3. Blue Box Bar
312 Pearl Pkwy, (210) 227-2583, blueboxbar.com

1. The Brooklynite
516 Brooklyn, (210) 444-0707, thebrooklynitesa.com

2. Bar 1919
1420 S Alamo, Ste 001, (210) 227-1420, 1919bar.com

3. Blue Box
312 Pearl Pkwy, (210) 227-2583, blueboxbar.com

1. Big Hops Growler Station
Multiple locations, bighops.com

2. The Friendly Spot
943 S Alamo, (210) 224-2337, thefriendlyspot.com

3. Freetail Brewing Company
4035 N 1604 W, Ste 105, (210) 395-4974, freetailbrewing.com

1. Brass Monkey
2702 N St. Mary’s, (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx

Before the Beastie Boys made it funky circa 1987, Brass Monkey was the moniker for a cocktail named after an alleged WWII spy. About as unpretentious as a dance club can get, SA’s own translation—a hip little melting pot with a solid sound system—playfully nods to all of the above with an alt-leaning retro soundtrack, wily DJs and budget booze arguably best thrown back on the low-key patio.

2. Bonham Exchange
411 Bonham, (210) 271-3811, bonhamexchange.com

3. Heat
1500 N Main, (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com

1. Oak Hills Tavern
7920 Fredericksburg, (210) 614-8855

Possibly the only dive bar on the planet to offer duck confit on its in-house menu, Oak Hills surprises in other ways as well. For instance, while a scruffy cast of regulars call Oak Hills’ home, so too does DJ Mighty Iris, who hosts her Femme Fatale Friday with a mix of welcome throwback tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s. The beer selection goes beyond Buds and Millers to include a variety of Texas brews on draft and in bottles, and among the liquors are several by Texas distillers like Cinco, Enchanted Rock, Tito’s and Source of All Happiness. But if that’s all too freaky for you, don’t worry, at its most basic, Oak Hills delivers cheap drinks and a friendly atmosphere, which is sometimes all you need.

2. The Mix
2423 N St. Mary’s, (210) 735-1313, facebook.com/themix.sanantonio

3. Hi-Tones
621 E Dewey, (210) 573-6220, facebook.com/pages/Hi-Tones