San Antonio's Best Bars That Aren't in Downtown

George’s Keep
17803 La Cantera Terrace Suite #1200, (210) 310-3733, georgeskeep.com
Who said all the sophisticated bars are in downtown? Not us! It goes without saying that George’s Keep matches that sophistication with craft cocktails, but this La Cantera bar also offers plenty of draft and bottled beers.
Photo via Instagram / georgeskeep

Big Hops
Multiple locations, bighops.com
With three locations outside Loop 410, Big Hops lets you get your fill of booze without dealing with the craziness of downtown. It’s all about craft beer here, and it’s all but guaranteed that there’s a brew for everyone here.
Photo via Instagram / grendel210

502 Bar
502 Embassy Oaks, (210) 257-8125, 502bar.com
Over on Embassy Oaks, you can trust 502 Bar for your drinking needs. Though technically a spot for live music (especially local bands), this watering hole also lets you get boozy (with plenty of craft beers) and have a blast with karaoke or on a select movie nights.
Photo via Instagram / cycliciousb

Cover 3
1806 N 1604 W, (210) 479-9700, cover-3.com
Sure, there’s plenty of food options over at Cover 3, but this northern S.A. spot is also hella reliable for drinking. With a focus on providing a solid spot to watch sports, Cover 3 has a full bar as well as a wine cellar with more than 70 different kinds of this classy booze. Plus, the beer is hella cold so you can’t ask for much else.
Photo via Instagram / sanantoniostephanie

The Sandbox
7280 UTSA Blvd, Suite 110, (210) 277-0970, thesandboxsa.com
UTSA students and area residents alike were super excited to hear about the opening of the massive bar appropriately named The Sandbox. There you’ll find a full indoor bar (and restaurant) as well as a rooftop bar. While the views may not be as nice as downtown, this rooftop spot has everything you’re looking for.
Photo via Instagram / thesandboxsa

Slackers
126 W Rector // 12234 Nacogdoches Road, (210) 845-2603, slackersbars.com
With three locations in San Antonio, Slackers lets you hit up the locations near North Star Mall and on Nacogdoches when you don’t feel like dealing with the St. Mary’s Strip. At Slackers, sports bar booziness meets arcade fun, meaning you and your crew will be entertained (and getting plastered) for hours.
Photo courtesy of Slackers

Luna
6740 San Pedro Ave, lunalive.com
If you’re looking for a solid choice for date night but don’t want to go to the fancy hotel bars in the heart of downtown, Luna should definitely be one of your first choices. This dimly-lit bar is plenty cozy and inviting for cocktails and live music. You’ll be able to catch eclectic acts across a variety of genres, so there’s no need to put up with the downtown crowd for a night out on the town.
Photo via Instagram / mrschadenfreude

Hills & Dales Ice House
15403 White Fawn Dr, (210) 695-2307, hillsanddalesicehouse.net
If you just like beer and want it super cold, then Hills & Dales will definitely come through for you. You’ll have fun getting boozy and enjoying live music, and even more so if you take advantage of the pool tables, ping pong, cornhole or shuffleboard. If that’s your scene, there’s no need to go near downtown.
Photo via Instagram / hillsanddalesicehouse

The General Public
17619 La Cantera Pkwy Suite 102, (210) 920-1101, thegenpublic.com
With another location in Houston, this modern gastropub brings together all the cocktails, wine and beer you could ever want. No matter what your poison is, this spot gives you plenty of options for getting boozy.
Photo via Instagram / design_dudes

Bar du Mon Ami
4901 Broadway St, (210) 740-9229, bardumonami.com
If you want to be semi-close to the action, you can head down Broadway to the Pearl and the bars down Grayson or head to the nearby St. Mary’s Strip. But if you want to be a bit more out of the bustling nightlife scene, Bar du Mon Ami will come through with cocktails made with care.
Photo via Instagram / bardumonami

Oak Hills Tavern
7920 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 614-8855, facebook.com/OakHillsTavern
With more than 20 years under its belt, Oak Hills Tavern can still be considered a bit of a hidden gem. But for those that know this Fredericksburg Road spot, the tavern is a solid watering hole that comes through with cheap drinks and good bar grub. As if you need any more convincing, the bar also hosts cool events, so you’re bound to visit sooner or later.
Photo via Facebook, OAK HILLS TAVERN

Who's Who Cocktails
1711 Babcock Road, (210) 973-5055, facebook.com/whoswhococktails
Who wants to go to Who’s Who? Sure, cocktails are front and center at this northwest side bar, but there’s also karaoke for you to partake in. So swing by when you’re in the area and enjoy drinks & a show.
Photo via Instagram / realcameralero

Main Street Bar
13477 Wetmore Road, (210) 490-3038, barsanantoniotx.com
Located not too far from the airport, Main Street Bar has all the workings of a solid watering hole: plenty of booze, pool, darts, a patio, and live music on the weekends.
Photo via Instagram / mainstbar

The Bang Bang Bar
119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, thebangbangbartx.com
From super friendly folks to a welcoming vibe that will leave everyone in your group satisfied, it’s pretty hard not to love Bang Bang Bar. With solid cocktails, live music, arcade games and all types of fun, this San Pedro spot is a go-to if you want to find a central watering hole without heading downtown.
Photo via Instagram / colvera326

Copa Wine Bar
19141 Stone Oak Pkwy Suite 704, (210) 495-2672, thecopawinebar.com
If wine is your drink of choice, it only makes sense that you spend some evenings over at Copa. Carrying both European and domestic wines, you can order by the glass or by the bottle if you’re a big spender. Just remember to even out your booziness with tapas or pizza in this intimate bar.
Photo via Instagram / chuck_corbitt

The Edison Experiment
1846 N Loop 1604 E, (210) 479-9600, facebook.com/edisonexperiment
Cocktails bars might not be common outside of Loop 410, but we will always (hopefully) have The Edison Experiment. For beautifully-crafted cocktails that won’t break the bank (especially not during happy hour) and are nowhere near the bustle of downtown, trust this Huebner Road spot to be everything you’re looking for.
Photo via Instagram / sip_sa

Stout House
11851 Bandera Rd #119, (210) 637-9094, stouthousesa.com
Not too far from the Silverado Theater you’ll find this watering hole specializing in brews. This casual spot offers about 20 brews on tap as well as other boozy options, obviously. And because it’s all about beer, you can enjoy a few games of beer pong. There’s also pool and darts if you want to get plastered at your own pace.
Photo via Instagram / satxrated

The Rustic
17619 La Cantera Pkwy Ste 204, (210) 245-7500, therustic.com
Nestled in the bustling Rim shopping area, The Rustic is a very obvious choice for when you want the lively bar scene. On top of the advantage of not being downtown, this northwest watering hole offers a large patio as well as a massive indoor bar for all the beer, cocktails and more you could hope to drink. Plus, the bar brings in live music acts on the regular, and surprisingly it’s not all country.
Photo via Instagram / therusticsa

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
11255 Huebner Rd #212, (210) 696-5080, beerknurd.com
Sure, it’s a chain, but it’s the only location in San Antonio and it definitely proves itself with so many beers it’ll feel like you’ll never have to order the same kind twice. This tavern-like watering hole also serves American pub fare, so beer lovers can have the best of both worlds here. Add the fun events like trivia night and you’ll be well entertained too.
Photo via Instagram / flyingsaucersa

Shenanygans
Multiple locations, facebook.com/shenanygans2
With one location on Babcock near Prue Road, and another at Highway 151 and Potranco Road, Shenanygans is your typical sports bar. The drinks are cheap, the tunes are poppin’, and there’s bar games and big TVs to keep you entertained while you get boozy. Why not give this neighborhood dive bar a try?
Photo via Instagram / sacurrent