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Uncork the 5 Best Happy Hour Deals in San Antonio for Bites and Brews

happy-hour-deals-in-san-antonio
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Drink Selection and Quality: We examined the variety of beverages available at each establishment, from craft beers to specialty cocktails. Spots with unique offerings and top-tier ingredients scored higher on our list.

Value and Pricing: We compared regular prices to happy-hour discounts to identify the biggest savings for our thirsty readers. Venues that offered substantial markdowns on both food and drinks were highly prioritized.

Ambiance and Vibe: The atmosphere plays a massive role in a great happy-hour experience, so we evaluated the aesthetics and crowd at each location. We looked for places that provided a comfortable, engaging environment for socializing.

Menu Offerings: A fantastic happy hour requires great food to pair with your drinks, so we closely reviewed the kitchen specials. We favored menus that offered generous portions and a diverse range of culinary options over standard pub grub.

Location and Accessibility: We factored in the convenience of reaching each bar, especially during rush-hour traffic. Establishments with central locations or easy parking situations received an extra bump in our rankings.

If your workday leaves you craving a frosty pint (or you’re just eager to save cash while exploring the Alamo City), hunting down the best happy hour deals in San Antonio is your ultimate cheat code.

Local watering holes across the city are famous for generous pours and sizzling plates at a fraction of the usual price. There’s nothing quite like the victory of ordering a round of craft cocktails and a plate of gooey queso, only to realize the bill is a total steal!

Dive into my top happy hour picks in San Antonio and get ready for a mouthwatering tour of cheap oysters and ice-cold drafts.

How much do happy hour deals cost in San Antonio?

Happy hours in San Antonio typically mean you can enjoy discounted drinks ranging from $1 to $7 and savory appetizers priced between $3 and $10.

Item TypeAverage Price Range
Well Drinks$1 – $4
Beers/Drafts$3 – $5
Wine (per glass)$5 – $6
Cocktails/Margaritas$5 – $7
Tacos$3 – $4
Standard Appetizers$6 – $8
Specialty Bites$7 – $10

1. The Esquire Tavern

the-esquire-tavern

Website: http://www.esquiretavern-sa.com/

Address: 155 E Commerce St

Contact: (210) 222-2521 | [email protected] 

Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 AM; Thursday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM

Stepping inside the oldest bar on the San Antonio River Walk transports you straight back to 1933, as The Esquire Tavern opened to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. 

Its historic legacy is physically anchored by the longest wooden bar top in Texas, where bartenders craft James Beard-nominated beverage programs. 

After a long day of checking out the downtown attractions, I sank into one of their leather booths and let the crisp bite of a meticulously mixed cocktail wash over me. 

The vintage, dimly lit ambiance is intoxicating, beautifully complemented by sophisticated pub grub like their famous, savory chalupitas. 

However, this historic fame acts as a double-edged sword. Heavy tourist foot traffic often swarms the gorgeous outdoor balcony patio, making it incredibly tough to snag a seat during peak evening rushes.

Pros

  • Rich, vintage 1930s atmosphere
  • Sophisticated, elevated pub grub
  • Gorgeous outdoor River Walk balcony
  • Historically inspired craft cocktails

Cons

  • Heavy tourist foot traffic
  • Difficult to find peak-hour seating

Customer Reviews:

Go with the happy hour drink menu.

Lots of history with The Esquire, but also a nice spot for a cocktail and food. Go with the happy hour drink menu. Like bourbon? Esquire won’t disappoint. Sat inside, but a nice table outdoors would be much enjoyed. The onion dip was excellent.  100 footlong bar is uber cool to saddle up to for a cocktail.  The history of the bar is worth exploring. Cheers!!

Great vibe with great staff.

Popped in Friday with my bride to take advantage of the afternoon happy hour – Daniel and Jacob were great – friendly,  knowledgeable and filled us in on the history and special events available at the Esquire- bar has a great old school feel – I was waiting for the classic mug of beer to come flying down that 100 foot bar! Great vibe with great staff – thanks guys, well be back!!

2. The Hoppy Monk

the-hoppy-monk

Website: http://www.thehoppymonk.com/sanantonio

Address: 1010 N Loop 1604 E

Contact: (210) 545-3330

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Saturday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

A strict dedication to independent craft breweries ensures you will never find a corporate-owned beer pouring from the taps at The Happy Monk. 

Here, they pair a rotating, massive draft selection with a phenomenal agave spirit collection and a locally sourced scratch kitchen. Biting into their spicy gochujang cauliflower reveals food that completely eclipses standard bar fare. 

Their deep mezcal and tequila offerings invite you to explore complex, smoky flavor profiles under the guidance of highly knowledgeable bartenders. For a fantastic sunset hangout, take your drink out to the spacious, dog-friendly patio.

Just keep in mind that they’re closed on Mondays. This closure severely limits your options if you want to kick off the workweek with a hearty plate of rabbit tacos.

Pros

  • Massive, rotating craft beer tap list
  • High-quality, locally sourced kitchen
  • Spacious, dog-friendly outdoor patio
  • Deep mezcal and tequila selection

Cons

  • Completely closed on Mondays
  • Limited early-week dining options

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorite spots for Happy Hour.

Stopped in for Happy Hour dinner at one of my favorite spots. Fish n Chips get better every time I try them. I like getting a couple extra aioli (red pepper and walnut) to enjoy with them. Tomato Stack and Steamed Pork Buns were on point too.

Happy hour is worth going for.

Love this place! The atmosphere is great, feels like a Middle Ages pub. Tons of drink selections to choose from, the food is good, service is good. One of my favorite places. Happy hour is worth going for.

3. Double Standard

double-standard

Website: http://doublestandardsatx.com/

Address: 114 E Houston St

Contact: (726) 444-5163 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Finding heavily discounted classic cocktails and cheap premium oysters makes this central downtown location a goldmine for budget-conscious foodies. 

Redefining the traditional specials window, Double Standard is a modern American tavern that offers an aggressive, all-day happy hour from 11:30 AM until 6:00 PM every day. 

The moment I slurped down a chilled, briny oyster paired with a frosty draft beer, the incredible value became crystal clear. Nostalgic, steakhouse-style bites like massive burgers fill you up without emptying your wallet. 

It’s notable how the stylish, relaxed environment invites you to linger long past your lunch hour. 

Getting to the front door requires a bit of patience, though. Navigating the busy downtown streets and hunting for cheap street parking can quickly become a frustrating pre-dinner chore.

Pros

  • Highly discounted daily drink prices
  • Aggressively priced premium oysters
  • Convenient central downtown location
  • Hearty, classic steakhouse-style bites

Cons

  • Frustrating downtown street parking
  • Often requires paid premium garage

Customer Reviews:

Definitely recommend.

We visited Double Standard after a recommendation from a local tour employee and we loved it! Great happy hour including $1.50 oysters. We ordered about 3 dozen and they were delicious. Great drink specials and the cocktails were very good. Definitely recommend.

The Best HH I have ever seen.

I had lunch here this past week and absolutely loved it. The Best HH I have ever seen, 1.00 east coast oysters, so yummy! I also had the white bean dip and a cheese burger! Also fresh and yummy! Service was good at the bar, will go back when i’m traveling to San Antonio next.

4. Liberty Bar

liberty-bar

Website: http://liberty-bar.com/

Address: 1111 S Alamo St

Contact: (210) 227-1187 | [email protected] 

Hours: Thursday – Monday: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Liberty Bar serves mouthwatering regional Mexican and American comfort food in a breathtaking, coral-colored historic building. 

Housed in a meticulously restored former convent in the vibrant Southtown neighborhood, the striking architectural details greet you the moment you walk in. The tall windows and high ceilings create a stunning visual aesthetic as you eat.

Just be aware that those cavernous architectural choices and hard surfaces create surprisingly high noise levels. Having an intimate conversation becomes difficult when the dining room fills up with thirsty patrons.

If you need a cool down after your weekend dance classes, though, pulling up a chair to browse their eclectic, boutique wine selection is incredibly rewarding. 

They also have generous food specials that often feature half-priced appetizers, allowing you to sample a wide range of vegan dishes alongside traditional meaty bites. 

Pros

  • Stunning historic convent architecture
  • Generous half-priced appetizer specials
  • Excellent vegan and vegetarian options
  • Highly curated, boutique wine selection

Cons

  • High noise levels when busy
  • Cavernous acoustics cause loud echoing

Customer Reviews:

Great happy hour options and time frame.

I’ve never had a meal I didn’t enjoy here and love the ambience. Great happy hour options and time frame. I especially liked their brunch. The building is one of my favorites in town and love the location. One wish is that they would have outdoor seating, As a former server, I get the stairs issue.

My first time there and it won’t be the last!

Went for happy hour with a good friend I hadn’t seen since the start of Covid. Great bar. The Chill Wills cocktail was delish.  We shared the Red Eye Flight appetizer. I had the Skillety Bill High Flying Meatloaf which came with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. My friend had the shrimp tacos. My first time there and it won’t be the last!

5. Postino The Rim

postino-the-rim

Website: https://www.postino.com/locations/postino-the-rim

Address: 17627 La Cantera Pkwy Suite 103

Contact: (210) 899-4200 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Generous daily specials define the beverage program here in Postino The Rim, heavily anchored by their popular six-dollar glasses of wine and pitchers of beer poured until 5:00 PM. 

They also feature a beloved Monday and Tuesday night deal pairing a bottle of wine with a highly customizable bruschetta board. Selecting your own toppings, such as rich brie with tart apple, creates an interactive and deeply flavorful dining session. 

Their vibrant, comfortable outdoor patio provides excellent seating for casual networking or a lazy weekend afternoon. Snagging one of those patio tables takes serious dedication on weekday evenings!

On the downside, the massive popularity of their early-week specials leads to exceptionally long wait times for walk-in guests hoping to score cheap drinks.

Pros

  • Exceptional six-dollar daily wine value
  • Mix-and-match custom bruschetta boards
  • Vibrant, stylish outdoor patio seating
  • Premium late-night early-week specials

Cons

  • Exceptionally long evening wait times
  • Difficult walk-in seating on Mondays

Customer Reviews:

Awesome wine happy hour specials.

Came in from DC and my first time here!  WOW! Blown away by the service from Keegan -(hope I’m spelling it accurately) along with Angel.  The bruschetta along with the charcuterie and awesome wine happy hour specials blew my mind!!!!  Even gave me some Prosecco for a reasonable price.  Their menu is fantastic and you can tell that their cooking staff cares about the product they deliver.  Great ambiance and I will return my next trip home.  Keegan is an asset.  Thank you for the superior customer service!!!!!!

I highly recommend the Happy Hour special.

We tried this restaurant for happy hour on a Monday and it was great! Joaquin was such a great server with great customer service. He even brought us a free desert because we are newly engaged. The food and wine was fantastic. I highly recommend the Happy Hour special after 8pm on Mondays. For $25 you get a bottle of wine and a bruschetta board (up to 4 choices). I will definitely be back to try other menu items.