Drinks Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
Esquire Tavern
A place for a drink in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair, moderately priced ($$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Early evening.
Why go
A River Walk bar open since 1933, with a very long wooden bar upstairs and a cocktail bar downstairs on the river.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 sights and 1 activity. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with River Walk and San Antonio River Walk.
- Type
- Drinks · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- Downtown
- Price
- $$
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Early evening
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1River Walk
Stone-lined walkways along the San Antonio River, with cypress trees and bridges strung with lights through the holidays.
Activity · San Antonio · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2San Antonio River Walk
Stone paths one level below the streets, lined with cypress trees, bridges and restaurants, and strung with lights through the holidays.
Sight · 0.0 mi straight-line - 3San Fernando Cathedral
Cathedral founded in 1738 on Main Plaza, whose facade hosts San Antonio | The Saga, a free light projection on the city's history.
Sight · San Antonio · 0.1 mi straight-line - 4Boudro's
A River Walk bistro since 1986, known for guacamole made tableside, Gulf seafood and prime rib.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5Menger Bar
Dark-paneled 1887 bar in the Menger Hotel beside the Alamo, modeled on the House of Lords pub in London.
Drinks · San Antonio · 0.3 mi straight-line - 6Menger Hotel
An 1859 hotel on Alamo Plaza with a Victorian lobby and the Menger Bar, a walk from both the River Walk and Hemisfair.
Stay · 0.3 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Esquire Tavern is a stop on our San Antonio New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
Esquire Tavern is our only drinks pick in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair guide.
-
Celebrate SA
The city's free New Year's Eve party across Hemisfair, La Villita and nearby streets, with music stages, food and midnight fireworks.
-
Tower of the Americas
The 750-foot tower built for HemisFair '68, with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant; the fireworks burst around it at midnight.
-
La Villita
One of the city's first neighborhoods, now a block of 19th-century stone houses with artist studios and shops by the River Walk.
-
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
A Market Square Tex-Mex restaurant and bakery since 1941, hung with Christmas lights and papel picado all year.
When to go: weather by month, based on San Antonio
Our climate figures for Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair come from nearby San Antonio. Average daily highs in San Antonio run from 63°F in January to 98°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Esquire Tavern itself, we suggest: Early evening.
Modelled monthly averages for San Antonio from NASA POWER, not a forecast. San Antonio weather by month (covers Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Esquire Tavern, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 29.42480, -98.49180
- Destination
- Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair, Texas
- Website
- esquiretavern-sa.com
Esquire Tavern: quick answers
How much time do you need at Esquire Tavern?
Plan on about an hour at Esquire Tavern. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Esquire Tavern?
Our pick: Early evening. Insider tip: Go before 9 pm on Dec 31; it fills quickly once the party starts.
Which TripsCircle routes include Esquire Tavern?
Esquire Tavern appears on San Antonio New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Esquire Tavern to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair.
Plan Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair
- Celebrate SA Activity
- Mi Tierra Café y Panadería Food
- Tower of the Americas Sight
- La Villita Shopping
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.