The Modernist -- A True Speakeasy Experience in San Antonio…read more If you're in downtown San Antonio, take a break from the River Walk and check out The Modernist. This is a true speakeasy-style lounge that's easy to overlook from the outside--it looks like a regular, unassuming place. But once you step inside, the atmosphere completely changes. The interior is cozy, intimate, and has that hidden-gem feeling you want from a speakeasy. The staff members are incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I had the pleasure of having Adan behind the bar, and this guy knows how to make a good drink! As always, I started with my go-to Old Fashioned. I have to say, it was easily one of my top two Old Fashioneds I've ever had. Then I told Adan to surprise me, and he came up with some kind of peanut butter chocolate martini. Let me just say... it was a true pleasure. Rich, smooth, and absolutely delicious. What I really liked about The Modernist is that it feels like a place the locals actually frequent rather than just another tourist spot. I genuinely had a great time here. If you're visiting San Antonio and find yourself downtown, give The Modernist a try. Step away from the River Walk for a little while--you might just discover your new favorite spot.

My wife and I went to The Modernist after seeing it on social media. There wasn't a drink menu, and…read morewe were told the idea is that you tell the bartender what you like and they make something for you. Her first drink was a lavender-style cocktail and was fine. For her second drink, she told the bartender to surprise her. He gave her a look and asked more than once if she was sure she wanted him to surprise her. Instead of making her an actual cocktail, he poured her what seemed to be a straight, extremely bitter liqueur. The whole interaction felt sarcastic and like he was intentionally messing with her rather than trying to make her something she would enjoy. What bothered me most was the attitude behind it. We weren't being rude, demanding, or causing problems. We were there to have a good time and experience the whole "tell us what you like and we'll make you something" concept. I did call the number listed for the business afterward trying to speak to someone about it. The person who answered said I had the wrong number and didn't know what I was talking about. I got angry during that call and said some things I shouldn't have, and I can admit that. But that doesn't change how disappointing the experience at the bar was. We expected a creative and welcoming experience and instead left feeling like my wife had been mocked. I hope management sees this and addresses it, because the concept of the place is great, but the way we were treated completely ruined it for us

A cool little dive bar blasting great non holiday music on Christmas Eve. We stopped in for drinks…read moreand found we had the bar practically to ourselves. Plenty of outdoor seating was nice on this warm December evening because it was full on AC winter inside. I did love the retro vibe inside. The standard and na margaritas were solid, the vibe was fun and the bartender was friendly and quick with the beverages. Would definitely like to stop by again.

We stopped by on a Friday after work to take advantage of their Halloween black lagoon pop-up…read more There were a few other people there around 5 PM. Don't know if they had any happy hour specials since we went straight to the seasonal Halloween menu from their pop-up. Coworkers had the old-fashioned type cocktail and I had the margarita cocktail. My margarita was purple. it tasted like half margarita half purple Kool-Aid. I was not a big fan. They have inside and outside seating. Inside is pretty dark, but I don't know if it's due to the Halloween pop-up. They had the inside decorations for Halloween.. The outside seating is covered. Parking is available on street or there is a parking lot right next to it. On a Friday at five I paid $13 to park right next-door. The bartender was friendly. They do sell food, but not all the time. On Friday they told us that they were not selling till 8 PM.

- excellent staff - tasty drinks…read more- spacious - cool environment - free drinks for our anniversary FTW!

Absolutely gorgeous lounge. Dark and moody, comfy couches and arm chairs everywhere. The bartender…read moremade me a delicious chocolate martini after asking what I like. Quiet and relaxing location.

Great vibes, friendly staff, feels very local. Also love that the bar will make just about any…read moredrink you want. It's a small place, but they have a small patio as well!

This is a nice bar tucked into a quiet area. There were times where a lot of people came in, but…read morethe bartenders were excellent. We sat at the bar and customer service was great. Nice and clean and well taken care of. The drinks were great, and I would recommend trying Bar Mon Ami.

- create your own adventure! - the bartender was perfectly…read moreable to capture our mood and do it again with the second dirnk - they have like every whiskey ever - dark, lovely ambiance - perfect for date night or guy night

This is my go-to spot for an after-dinner nightcap or a relaxed place to meet for drinks and…read moreconversation. The service has consistently been exceptional, and I particularly appreciate their impressive bourbon and whiskey selection. Over the years, I've visited for everything from informal business discussions to evenings spent with close friends. The intimate lighting, softly glowing candlelight, and thoughtfully curated ambiance create a warm and sophisticated atmosphere. Combined with a moderate noise level that allows for comfortable conversation, it's an ideal setting for both meaningful catch-ups and professional engagements.

I love the vibes here on Thursdays so let me share a few pointers:…read more -Parking: if you arrive at a decent time before most people you can park in their lot but I don't recommend it because once it gets packed you will probably get blocked in AND it gets super dusty -Food: there is a food truck inside and another outside. I tried the one inside and although it was on the pricier end, the shrimp quesadilla was really good! -Drinks: also can be on the pricier end depending on day. Look at your receipt carefully because they did add 20% gratuity to mine last night. Overall it's a clean and spacious place but once it hits 11ish they will start labeling and adding more tables for sections (booo!) so it gets more crowded. The DJs are so good too. Bathrooms are typically clean. Funny reminder: come ready with bug spray because them TX mosquitoes were OUT!

This was my first time going to Maeve, but I will definitely be going back. We were having a…read moreChristmas party and at the last minute had to change venues, but the staff handled it wonderfully. The inside/outside feature of Maeve made it perfect and the weather was amazing. We were able to set up and decorate with plenty of time before our party started and the venue complimented the decorations perfectly. The staff that worked our party were quick, efficient, and friendly. Overall, the party was a success and everyone had a great time. I look forward to my next outing at Maeve!

This is a beautiful bar located in the Creamery district near the Pearl. The ambiance of the bar is…read moreclassy with a piano off to the left side when you walk in to the lounge. There is roof top seating. The roof top is where we hung out on a Saturday night. It's does get busy after 8pm so come early if you want a seat at the roof top. There is a dress code; dress to impress. Don't come in with sneakers and a cap. I did take off one star due to not having all the drinks on their advertised menu.

Nothing is free in this life. Don't let the advertising fool you. The drinks definitely aren't…read morecourtesy of Aguasol--the only freebie is a tequila sample so small it doesn't even make it to 1 oz. . Ambiance is nice; however, if you're not a regular, expect long and shitty service. Recommend for a date night if the service improves

Rock n Roll Dive Bar!…read more Located in Government Hill historic district, across from Fort Sam Houston, formally Betty's Battalion that was here for years and years. Just outside of downtown and only a few blocks from Pearl. Love the crescent booths! Great jukebox! Whole vibe is cool and chill. Great place to meet friends, and hang out. We chatted with co-owner Nathan and had an enjoyable evening. They just open a couple of months ago... We will definitely be back!

I stopped by Slow Ride with my husband and my brother this past Friday night. We were staying an…read moreairbnb just down Grayson from Slow Ride, so it was the perfect place to stop for a drink and catch up with my brother. The bar really couldn't be cooler. It has the decor and vibes of a midwestern dive bar in the 70s: retro bar furniture, old signs, neon, and wood paneling. They have a simple but perfect bar menu: beers, classic cocktails, and a couple of wines. I had a martini; my brother had a daquiri; and my husband had a couple of Lone Stars. The service good. The drinks were good. The vibes were perfect (they even had Selena playing on the TV over the bar - which made me feel right at home). I don't want to sound 100, but the DJ was way too loud for me on a Friday night (we couldn't hear each other talk),but otherwise the bar was the perfect place for Friday night drinks. Slow Ride offers a dive-ish alternative to the more polished, fancy places just down the road at the Pearl. If you're looking for something with lots of character, Slow Ride might be perfect.

Walked In For A Quick To Go Chocolate Soft Serve On Our Walk And The Manager Displayed Beyond Class…read moreService! Ice Cream Quality Was Amazing! Can't Wait To Finally Dine In!

We visited on a Friday 7/31/2026 evening, arriving around 6:45pm.  Our party started with six…read moreguests and eventually grew to 13 by the end of the night.  The restaurant wasn't very busy when we arrived, and the atmosphere was pleasant.  One positive experience was that the staff accommodated our request for an item that had been removed from the menu.  The manager went out of his way to have it prepared for us, and we truly appreciated that level of customer service.  The food it self was very good. Unfortunately, the service throughout the evening was disappointing.  I don't blame our waitress personally; it was obvious she was responsible for far too many tables.  As a result, we waited an extremely long time for drink refills, whether it was for beer, cocktails, water, or soda. When we requested buckets of beer, they often arrived after a 15 minute wait, and the beers were warm by the time we received them.   The delays became so frustrating that six people in our group left early.  We frequently had to ask the manager for basic items such as condiments, water, and utensils becuase our waitress simply couldn't keep up. Our final bill was $329.08, so we spent a significant amount of money at the restaurnt and expected a much better overall dining experience. To make matters worse, parking created another issue.  The first two hours were supposed to be free by entering the validation code from our receipt.  The code reduced the parking fee to $13, but my credit card was still charged the original amount instead of the discounted rate.  Overall, the food and the manager's willingness to help were the highlights of our visit.  However, the lack of adequate staffing, extremely slow service, and parking issue overshadowed the positives.  Saldly, becuase of this experience, we will most likely not be returning.

Just an incredible experience at Down on Grayson! This was our first time visiting, and after…read morehearing so much about it, I had been looking forward to trying it for quite some time. I can honestly say it exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, the service was excellent, the drinks were perfectly crafted, and the food was absolutely outstanding. Everything we tried was delicious, from the chicken to the carrot cake--each dish was better than the last. It's not often a restaurant lives up to the hype, but Down on Grayson absolutely delivered. We had an amazing experience from start to finish, and I'm already looking forward to coming back. I think I may have just found my new go-to spot at the Pearl!

Joe deserves a shoutout…read more We were a table of 6 (3 adults and 3 kids), and I'm fully aware we were THAT table. We asked for a million extra things, had constant drink refills, and seemed to remember something else every time Joe walked by. Not once did he seem annoyed. He was friendly, patient, and somehow always one step ahead of us--our drinks never sat empty, and he made sure we had everything we needed before we even had to ask. Good food brings you in, but great service is what makes you come back. Joe made our lunch so much more enjoyable. Thanks for putting up with our chaos!