Update to first review below, rating updated from a 3 to a 5 star (drinks & bartender would get 10+ stars if we could rate that high): Saturday night: Went back for after dinner drinks at the Downstairs (a "speakeasy" throwback, look up the history of the place to see why). Drinks were AMAZING! Bartender Rob made the best Negroni I've ever had. I asked him to use whatever gin he thought best--result was an artistic smooooooth full-bodied drink. Told him when I was done I'd lick the glass if it wasn't considered so uncouth for a 'mature' lady like myself to do so Hubby's Buffalo Trace bourbon old fashioned was also outstanding. Rob was the bartender last night who did such a great job, and his work was even better tonight. We highly recommend The EsquireTavern for excellent cocktails. We love the long wood bar and high copper ceiling upstairs, but love the intimate speakeasy atmosphere downstairs even more. We'll definitely be back every time we're in San Antonio! First review, Friday night: Drinks were great (Manhattan and Bourbon Old Fashioned). REAL drinks, no complaints at all about those. And the bartenders were very friendly and helpful. Those aspects of the Esquire get 5+ stars from us. But the appetizers were not good, close to inedible. It was about 8:30pm or so, so maybe they were getting ready to close out the kitchen but the chalupitas with chicken tasted like rubber, and no flavor at all. The seafood platter had something in it that was breading with shell inside, but no meat of any kind. We couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. The shrimp was good and the fish was good but those other things... We'll always love the drinks, the long wooden bar, and the ambiance at the Esquire Tavern, but we'll eat somewhere else and come here for before or after dinner drinks. (See update above to this review for when we returned the next night for after dinner drinks.) read more

Drinks good price but nothing special. Super sweet on the bexar hug and French 75. Food was overcooked and mediocre. Au just super salty. Service slow and lacking. Riverwalk restaurants pretty much suck, and for sucker tourists maybe. Haven't had a good experience yet. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Asked for rare bison. Server just said oops when I showed him super overcooked. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I really wanted to like this place, but this turned into one of those meals you wish you could rewind. The fish tostada was the first red flag -- it had a strong fishy smell that hit before the first bite, and unfortunately the taste followed through. The fried seafood platter didn't help either. The shrimp in particular smelled off and tasted overly fishy, like it wasn't fresh. On top of that, pretty much everything we tried was aggressively salty. At one point, I couldn't help but joke that if Gordon Ramsay walked in, he'd probably call the chef over, have them smell the dish, and go on one of his classic rants about quality control and consistency. It honestly felt like that kind of situation -- something just wasn't right in the kitchen that day. To be fair, the staff did try to fix things and replaced the fish tostada with a chalupita, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the replacement wasn't much better in terms of flavor. Service-wise, no complaints -- but the food quality really needs attention. Hoping this was just an off day, because right now it's hard to recommend. read more

Have been here several times for drinks but never for food. The old school Tavern appeal is very fitting for the area. The atmosphere is very appealing and the service and food were great! Just needing a break from all of the Tex-Mex I went with the burger, it was excellent to say the least. Drinks are great, food is equally as good! read more

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The longest bar I have ever seen, with interesting decor and cool vibes. Drinks are delicious and unique. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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We didn't eat here but had some wine at the bar. The ambiance is really unique which was fun to be surrounded by. Service was a little slow but the poor girl was basically bartending alone for the 100 foot bar so not her fault at all. Decent wine selection. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Wine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

I can't speak about the food but the Old Fashions were on point! The service was impeccable with cool bartenders willing to share thoughts about what we might like. I like to call the place like an old fashioned "men's club) with low lighting, soft music and seating around the bar and tables. Amazing Old Fashion! It's a little $$$ but it's worth it. read more

While out on the town for the evening we came here for one last drink and late night snack before turning in... The staff was great! The bar is pretty big. They have a nice menu of drinks and even eats too. My martini was made perfectly! The side of fries I got were so very tasty, piping hot, fresh, and came with an amazing cumin aioli. Overall - Nice visit, I'd most definitely return! read more

What a crazy old place...we had wanted to sit outside but it was full. We decided to grab a drink to say that we did visit and experience this place while in San Antonio. It definitely has an old smell to it...some might not like it and some might just say that is character of this old tavern. Either way, glad we stopped to grab a drink - it was good. read more

We were interested in trying out this bar, since we learned on the tour that it was opened right after prohibition. We sat outside because the inside smelled really weird - almost like crayons? It was overwhelming. The happy hour drinks and chips/dip were a good price and nice to snack on before dinner. Service was very bad though. Good thing we asked for our check immediately, because it took us forever to get anything. The drinks came way after the chips/dip too. I probably wouldn't suggest going here, unless you are looking for a fairly cheap drink before dinner. read more

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We came here to start our afternoon while visitng the city. It was walking distance from hotel which was nice. Pretty spacious bar with mostly inside seating. But also small patio. We tried to sit outside as it was a pretty day but could not get a table. We were able to be seated inside. It wasn't crowded at all when we came. The decor was dark wood bar- old school style. With lot of taxidermy everywhere. Service- was easy enough. Drinks- they have a mostly classic cocktail menu. I didn't ask if they could whip up something off menu or not. I got the French 75 on happy hour for $7, for the price it was fine. I think for the most part everyone else was fine with there drinks as well. I don't think anything stood out though. We were in and out pretty quick- which we were satisfied with. read more

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Very cool vibe in this place, I felt like a cowboy walking in after a hard day. The drink I got was way too strong for me, but it was really good. My server was sweet & quick to pour my drink. Loved it all around! read more

The Esquire Tavern - Esquire tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Just came in to the bar for some cocktails after dinner, and boy would I come back in just for the Pimm's cup! I asked the bartender for the least spirit forward drink (because I'm a wimp), and she said all of their drinks are pretty heavy handed, but the Pimm's cup was probably the lightest and most refreshing cocktail they had. It. Was. DELICIOUS. My bf and a friend also tried it and agreed it was the best drink we'd ordered! Ambiance at night was cool, chill, with dim lighting and easy vibes. I'd recommend if you're looking for a casual drink! Seating at the bar was nearly full on a Saturday night; we barely found two seats. read more

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We walked in off of the street and at first I wasn't sure... It's dark, a bit of old bar smell, but we walked to the other end where the hostess was and we were seated out on the patio area and it was awesome. Perfect view, without the foot traffic. The chalupitas were really good, brisket burger was nice, and the Brussels sprouts were also good. Our server was lovely, though my poor memory isn't giving me her name. I would definitely come back here. read more

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We stopped in for a late lunch on a Friday. We walked in from street side and could tell it was an historic building. Built in 1933 there were a lot of iron, brick and a very long wood bar. The inside is very dark, to the point I saw everyone using their camera lights to read the menus. We prefer to sit outside so we headed out back. We were lucky to snag a table on the balcony, so we could watch the boats and people stroll by. Luke was our server and was very good. Luke constantly checked on us and made sure we weren't left waiting for service. We checked out the cocktail menu and were surprised to see Pimm's Cup! We placed an order and they were delicious! For lunch we split the lunch special of Esquire Cheeseburger which came with fries. We forgot to ask for medium temperature and were worried the burger would be overcooked. It arrived and was cooked just above medium and very flavorful. Fries were nice and crispy. We will definitely be back next visit to San Antonio. read more

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So some very cool history here as the bar top is one of the longest all wooden bar tops in the state of Texas. This bar was also opened way back when after prohibition was ended. We just hit the bar and started with an old-fashioned and the Esquire Manhattan. Old-fashioned is very good. My husband chose buffalo trace, I chose the Esquire Manhattan, which was served with their barrel pick of makers mark. It's OK a little heavy on the vermouth side, but outside of that I enjoyed it. We did have another round and my husband was able to order a sipper of the old Fitzgerald 11 year and I tried the blinker. The old Fitzgerald was delicious very easy sipping on the rocks. The blinker was good a little too citrusy with the grapefruit, but otherwise I enjoyed it. read more

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I'm in town visiting for a wedding and was recommended to come here. Daniel was absolutely incredible. He walked us through the entire menu to find what we'd like the best. Since we're from out of town he gave us a ton of recommendations of places to see while we're here. He made us feel very welcomed while visiting San Antonio and I feel like he was our mini trip advisor read more

The longest wooden bar in Texas! *insert cowboy emoji* Man, this would be MY SPOT if I lived in San Antonio! I had a few hours to kill before my flight, so I plopped in a classic red tufted booth, plugged my laptop in, and enjoyed a few cocktails and one of the most amazing burgers I've ever had while catching up on emails and enjoying the taxidermy and general vibes of The Esquire Tavern. My waitress made sure I was well taken care of and didn't mind me hogging up her booth. Can't wait to return next year! Definitely a highlight of my trip. read more

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This place has all the ambience of an old timey bar and grill. It's dark wood all over and feels good. The burger we had was dope, as was the blt! The chilli salt fries were pretty yummy. The beer selection was ok. I'd come here again if I visit San Antonio! In health and happiness! Cheers! read more

We started a Thursday afternoon bar crawl at this historical San Antonio restaurant/bar. We sat at the long bar. This is a dimly lit space with old character. Amy and John helped us with well crafted cocktails, and their whiskey expertise as we migrated to drinking whiskey neat. We needed a salty snack so we ordered the very healthy fried pickle appetizer. The batter was light tempura type batter. The pickle chips were cut thin, so the fried pickle chips were light and crunchy. It was a perfect snack. We really enjoyed our time at the Esquire Tavern. I highly recommend checking it out when visiting San Antonio. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Two blue corn whiskeys that we tried. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This place was open in 1933 and has the same old school vibe you would expect from a classic restaurant. The food was delicious and our server was extremely attentive. She refilled my ice tea like non stop. Everything the server recommend was very good. I had the burger with the sauce on the side and the lemon ice box pie was a great cheesecake. My friend said the dirty martini was great. read more

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I just finished their cheeseburger and fries lunch special. The burger was huge! I also liked that they honored my request for salt less fries. Fries are crispy, not greasy and soggy. Restaurant is dark it reminds me of throwback men's clubs. I didn't have room for dessert. I'm sure it's good. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Burger and fries lunch special - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The Esquire Tavern, a veritable San Antonio landmark, first opened its doors to eager customers in 1933, a date forever etched in celebratory memory as it coincided with the joyous repeal of Prohibition. For the ensuing decades, this establishment has steadfastly served as a cherished and deeply ingrained local haunt, a place where generations have gathered for camaraderie and refreshment. The sheer volume of overwhelmingly positive reviews gracing its Yelp page, impressively numbering over three thousand individual accounts, speaks volumes about its remarkable and enduring appeal within the community and beyond. My own personal encounter with this long-standing establishment unfolded in the month of February, as my partner and I sought a late-night repast, hoping to find satisfying sustenance and a few relaxing libations to cap off the evening. While the tavern's rich history and storied past are undeniably palpable in its overall ambiance, contributing to a sense of timelessness, a somewhat noticeable layer of dust clinging to the numerous and varied tchotchkes that lined the walls did detract, if only subtly, from the otherwise captivating atmosphere. Regrettably, the food items that we selected and ordered that particular evening ultimately proved to be rather underwhelming and failed to live up to our expectations. The Esquire Tavern Chicken, a menu item described as a roasted half chicken thoughtfully accompanied by flour tortillas, a vibrant veracruzana-inspired sauce, and a piquant green chili salsa, regrettably fell considerably short of the culinary expectations that such a description naturally conjures. The chicken itself lacked the inherent depth of savory flavor and satisfying succulence that one anticipates and hopes for in a dish of this nature. Furthermore, the accompanying flour tortillas appeared to be commercially produced and lacked the freshness and character that could have elevated the overall textural and flavor profile of the dish. Consequently, this particular menu item is not one that I would enthusiastically recommend to others, nor would I personally consider ordering it again in the future. The deviled eggs, however, offered a singular and welcome departure from the otherwise ordinary fare, presenting an unexpected yet delightful twist with the inclusion of a peanut salsa as a topping. This unconventional combination actually proved to be a surprisingly agreeable and flavorful appetizer, showcasing a creative touch that was absent in our other selections. Our other primary selection for the evening, the Esquire cheeseburger, unfortunately proved to be an equally disappointing culinary experience. The beef patty, the very foundation of any good cheeseburger, was delivered to our table dry, tough, and regrettably inedible. Upon politely bringing this issue to the attention of our server, the burger was promptly returned to the kitchen, presumably for rectification. However, to our dismay, the burger reappeared still bearing noticeable and significant char marks, indicating a less than successful attempt at correcting the initial overcooking. While I readily acknowledge the Esquire Tavern's primary identity and established reputation as a tavern, a place primarily focused on beverages and social interaction rather than a paragon of fine dining, a fundamental expectation of properly and competently prepared food, regardless of the establishment's primary focus, remains a reasonable and justifiable standard. The issues we encountered with both the Esquire Tavern Chicken and the Esquire cheeseburger during our visit strongly suggest a discernible lack of attention to fundamental and basic culinary execution within the kitchen on that particular evening. Yelp fam, if you've been here and haven't written a review, please do so we can compare nortes! Look forward to reading about your experience. SYOY read more

The Esquire Tavern - Deviled Eggs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Great cocktails, quick service and holiday ambiance. This was my first time at this bar but I will definitely be back! read more

The Esquire Tavern - Koalalala & YIPPIE KI YAYMOTHERF****R - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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We went here for a late lunch/early dinner after a day of being busy in San Antonio. The restaurant is not far from our hotel and although I tend to avoid restaurants on the Riverwalk, this one had good reviews so we decided to give it try. The ambience is dark and mysterious. The restaurant is very long and narrow. We entered from the street and walked the length of the restaurant to the check in place, which is close to the river. We ate inside because the weather was hot and humid, and because the restaurant is so dark I needed the flashlight on my phone to see anything. We arrived just before the end of happy hour and started with chips and homemade dip. Chips were house made too. Both were really good. The wife had a couple of things from the appetizer menu: deviled eggs, which were phenomenal and had a spicy kick at the end. And she had chalupitas with ground beef which also were really good. The kid had fried pickles and thought they were too crunchy, whatever that means. I had the Reuben and the corned beef was very lean and high quality. The sandwich was a bit dry though and needed more sauce. My Mexican martinis were flavorful and very enjoyable. The kid tried a Coca-Cola from Mexico and says that is all she wants from now on. The kid had a chocolate mousse cake for dessert and loved it. I tried a bite and it was moist and very flavorful. Jocilyn provided friendly service throughout our meal. Overall, a very enjoyable experience. read more

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The ambiance of Esquire tavern is nice, has a lot of antique touches which really shows how long the restaurant / bar has been around! We showed up during a weekday without a reservation & we were sat right away. Our server was very nice & answered all of our questions. The drink we had were delicious! I had the Bexar drink, would absolutely get again. The aperol spritz was also very good. However the food was ok, nothing crazy about it. Our Mac & cheese had a bit too much of nutmeg or something on it. Besides that everything was great. Would go back for the bar! read more

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The history behind this place is very cool. And it's the longest wooden bar in Texas! That being said the food was good but expensive. We split a bison burger and fries...it was $25...there is no kids menu so my son held out and got McDonald's...not for the price just because he didn't like anything on the menu. Not sure why I'd go back versus other places in the area but it was good. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Half of the Bison Burger and Chili-Salt Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

A little pretentious and the service at the bar wasn't great. During happy hour the prices are decent but not a place I would go back to.

The Esquire Tavern opened in 1933 in celebration of the end of Prohibition. This historic establishment is the oldest on the River Walk and has the longest wooden bar (over 100 ft) in Texas. It was also nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program so, of course, I had to pay a visit. The menu offers classic tavern food and San Antonio inspired dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The cocktails range from swanky creatives to classic libations. I regret that we had already eaten because the caramelized French Onion Dip with Freshly Fried Potato Chips sounded so good. However, we did have drinks - a French 75 for me and a beer for my friend. Bartender Veronica was delightful. We enjoyed our cocktails while soaking in the ambience of this legendary establishment. Apparently, there is a cool little speakeasy on the lower level, which I will check out next time I'm in town. Cheers friends! read more

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Stopped by in the evening to check out their holiday decor downstairs but it was closed for a private event! Bummer. Settled for the upstairs which luckily we didn't have to wait but it was busy. We ordered a few drinks and two side plates of Mac and cheese and fries. The Mac and cheese was delicious but the fries were soggy and greasy. Overall, service was nice and friendly. Enjoyed our visit. read more

Definitely go for the happy hour & try to get a coveted table on their patio, with a cute view of the river walk (there's only a few tables out there, so may the odds be ever in your favor). Lots of seating inside, and it does indeed have Texas' longest bar. The deviled eggs were a miss for me, I didn't enjoy the toppings, however the French onion dip hit the spot and that was a win - a lot of perfectly balanced flavor, with thicker chips for dipping. Fast service (but I also went around 3pm on a Wednesday). read more

The Esquire Tavern - Deviled Eggs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Esquire is a great bar. We love the vibes. Last night, we tried some new things, and they were not our favorite, but... still good. The French onion dip was awesome! With house made chips and tons of caramelized onion, you cannot go wrong. Our waitress also refilled the chips, which was an unexpected surprise and so thoughtful! The deviled eggs were a little blah. They weren't bad, just weren't anything to write home about. Light on the seasoning and the filling. Just okay. I felt the same about the tots. I was excited about the layered potatoes, but they didn't hold together and seemed to be missing something. Usually we order burgers.. and I will probably stick with these going forward as they are exceptional. The lamb and the bison are hard to beat anywhere. Drinks are amazing. Real bartenders who know what they are doing and it is obvious. Overall, a great spot that we love. Just a few missteps in our ordering last night. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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Always good for cocktails Stopped by for HH and had $8 martinis and $5 deviled eggs Crispy capers on the eggs were the highlight Come early, grab one of the few seats overlooking the river and people watch. read more

The Esquire Tavern - HH Martinis and deviled eggs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

As always, the Upstairs matches the Downstairs in both quality and service. I lived in San Antonio for five years, and between my wife and me, we've probably helped pay their mortgage more than once. The Esquire offers top-notch drinks, delicious food, and a staff of servers and bartenders who deserve a raise, a promotion, and maybe their own place someday. Coming back while on a work trip was both necessary and a little therapeutic. If you're visiting San Antonio, don't miss this two-story gem you'll never forget it. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great staff. I equate this place to a modern dar speak easy. I went on a Friday night and it wasn't packed out---there were small groups present. Seating was immediate. Nice ambient music. Classy interior. Staff was awesome! Very accommodating and checked on us frequently without being overbearing. We sat in the downstairs bar room. Recommend for a date night, friend group outing...a good place to unwind from the chaos that is downtown. Or a quiet place to pregame tour wild night out (with class). read more

The Esquire Tavern - Downstairs area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

My husband and I enjoyed our couple hours we spent at the bar thanks to Daniel, our bartender who was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining! We will be back! read more

We didn't stay long, it was packed and from where we entered you had to walk through everyone to get to the host stand on the other side which itself had a large group just standing around. I couldn't even see the host stand. Also Shana noted it smelled like bars on dirty sixth. It might be good but we couldn't stay to find out. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Very awesome place and history. We just had drinks here, Heat of the Moment drink was really good. The old fashioned was meh! Needs a Luxardo cherry. The speakeasy downstairs is really awesome! We didn't stay as we needed to head back to the hotel, but the vibe and the space is really well-done. read more

The Esquire Tavern - Old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Mixed experience.... The Good: sat outside- lovely view. Server was great. Attentive. The Bad: beef dip- mediocre at best- very little meat and overcooked. Bibb salad- expensive and few ingredients- nothing special. Fries- $4 up charge and small portion. Wine- okay but small pour. Brussels sprouts was the best item of the lot. Probably won't be back. read more

I greatly enjoyed The Esquire upstairs. It's got speakeasy ambiance with a little claim to fame as the oldest bar on the River Walk with the longest wood bar in Texas. Service was fantastic! Attentive and patient with the less sober people in our group. The drinks were unique and really well-crafted. The Cowboy Carajillo was legit. An alternative to an espresso martini and made with bourbon. The whiskey sour is made with egg white and really well-balanced. Good beer and liquor selection. Also pretty affordable for the Rover Walk. It's the grown up bar looking over the party below! read more