Bar America

My experience at this establishment wasn't just about the food; it was about the incredible people! I celebrated my birthday with friends and chose this place as our final stop of the night. The staff surprised me with a cupcake, which truly made my day feel special. The real highlight, however, was when I lost a valuable ring during my visit. Not only did someone turn it in, but the staff went above and beyond when I called to inquire about it—they had secured it in their safe and understood its significance. It was my anniversary ring, and their kindness and honesty were profoundly reassuring in today’s world. I cannot thank you enough for your amazing service! Your establishment and the wonderful team you have truly make it a great place, and I look forward to returning!

bar crawl starting point and we had a great time playing pool and connecting with friends. great music selection and cute and fun cocktails. service however was disappointing, felt as if we were not welcomed. bartender was rude and not attentive at all. i’ll try it again on our next visit, maybe it was an off night ?

Such a fun spot! Drinks are SO good, and bartenders always friendly. I had the margarita flight. We also had THE best view from the rooftop bar area.

Great food, friendliest bartenders, good atmosphere and great music!

Great place to get a drink and connect with people. The vibe was great from when we talked to the door man and then was taken care of at the bar. The bartendress was friendly, cute and made our drink quickly and they tasted great. There was a DJ and he was spending great tunes. I first came to this bar in the 90s. It has changed quite a bit, but for the better. I'll be back soon.

I really love the atmosphere here. Chill crowd with a mix of different people. Tasty drink options. Indoor and outdoor seating. Great service! Good prices!

I have been to Bar America several times, during special events, and other times with just friends to hang out. I love the retro vibe of the place, its spacious atmosphere, and their drinks are awesome. The back patio is a cool hangout spot as well. The bartenders are great and know what they are doing.

I order 3 spicy jalapeño shots and the bartender (man) made 3 Mexican candies. So when I clarified my order he got upset and said we don’t do spicy jalapeños shots. Then yelled at me saying this is spicy so you want it or not?! I told him I was verifying my order bc I order shots. This wasn’t just a shot I ordered for myself. Clearly I ordered 3 and told the ppl what I’m ordering and clearly I didn’t get what I order. Then he proceeded stating he wasn’t going to serve me? Bc I clarified my order? Manager didn’t do anything either .. he was useless in the situation. Worst bar on the street. Don’t recommend at all.

We recently hosted a surprise birthday party at BAR AMERICA and great memories were made!! From our first planning call to the final karaoke song, everything was absolutely seamless. Roxanne handled every detail during the planning phase--confirming timelines, placing our boozy cupcake order, coordinating special requests, and making sure we had exactly what we needed. On the big night-- Julius, the doorman, was welcoming from the moment we arrived, quickly jumping in to help us unload and going above and beyond to ensure when the birthday girl arrived that everything went off without a hitch Patrick, the shift manager, ran the event so smoothly...supporting us from setup to coordinating the team and handling last-minute requests with ease. Overall, he was incredibly attentive and truly had our backs the entire time. Jake kept the drinks flowing all night, crafting great cocktails with speed and never keeping anyone waiting. Nicki of Dragonfly Karaoke energized the room, keeping the music flowing and encouraging everyone to join in. Such a great experience!!! Every member of the BAR AMERICA team made us feel special, supported, and ready to celebrate. If you're planning a private party or special occasion, this is your spot!

I was out with some friends for Happy Hour and decided to check out Bar America afterwards to keep the night going. After walking in we were greeted by friendly staff as we made our way to the bar. The bartender went through the specials and I decided to just get a beer. The bar felt very festive as there was a pop up event going on atthe time and there was plenty of people around enjoying their Friday night. All in all, it's a good little spot to get a drink and unwind.

Great location, very walkable area, love the bartenders here. Ohhh, and eat a SMASH burger! Delicious!

Great views, drinks and location! Service was pretty quick too. They had Kareoke going on a Thursday night super fun!

I am very picky with my drinks. But the lady that was my bartender that night was on a freakin roll! She surprised me with like 4 drinks and they were all so so good!!! And I'm not a big drinker so I was so excited to have things to enjoy!! It was very chill when we got there but once we started to head out a wave of people walked in. They don't serve food but the lady said they will be going through updates soon to start serving food there eventually . But it's definitely a place to check out and if you need different bars to visit in San Antonio!

Small themed drink menu. They have a hot chocolate type drink. Very sweet. I ordered a crown and sprite because the themed drinks just didn't sound very good...such as a coors mixed with bourbon. Staff said they had an outdoor patio area. We went out to see and it definitely was not a patio area. I'd describe it as a cage with cute lighting. It was quite small but had a semi-good view of Hemisfair tower. Not a fan of the die-hard theme either. The guns everywhere were a big turn off.

Do not go to this bar. We just celebrated my daughter's engagement party and came to the bar and he thought my brother was drunk because he accidentally almost spilt a drink. Bar tender didn't care and kicked my brother out. Half the bar is drunk at 12:00 at night. Al because he wanted better scotch. We all are Ubering home. Bar tender and manager was completely unprofessional Will never return

I order 3 spicy jalapeño shots and the bartender (man) made 3 Mexican candies. So when I clarified my order he got upset and said we don't do spicy jalapeños shots. Then yelled at me saying this is spicy so you want it or not?! I told him I was verifying my order bc I order shots. This wasn't just a shot I ordered for myself. Clearly I ordered 3 and told the ppl what I'm ordering and clearly I didn't get what I order. Then he proceeded stating he wasn't going to serve me? Bc I clarified my order? Manager didn't do anything either .. he was useless in the situation. Worst bar on the street. Don't recommend at all.

Somehow I made it past the doorman BUT couldn't get a drink ON MY BIRTHDAY. Honestly this is such an overrated bar.

I love this place. Always a good time with friends or siblings. Brunch on Sunday was nice with Bucho. The outside patio and roof top area are nice. Roof top has a pretty great view. Mimosa set up is a nice price at $10-11 I believe. I've seen it change before though. Would continue to come back for the drinks. Not all customer service has been great though.

Went here on Sunday to watch the Brazil vs. Switzerland game. Got there just as they opened (shocked they didn't open for the earlier Mexico vs. Germany game, which would have been a better view of the TV over Francis Bogside). We got 4 chairs at the bar and enjoyed the food selection and the $2 Modelo drafts and $3 well tequila shots. Atmosphere - Relaxed open space that has a number of tables and benches with tons of TV's around the outside wall. DJ Tony Phoenix (https://www.facebook.com/DJTonyPhx/) was spinning some great tunes as the crowd enjoyed their Sunday afternoon. Place was packed and I was told it was like that most Sundays. Food/Drinks - The drink specials are great here as I saw a number of Mimosa sets going out of the bar. Our party got the fish tacos and the chorizo with taters that was plenty of food. Next time I am going with the chicken and waffle option that seemed to be the most popular item ordered. Service -All food and drinks are ordered at the bar, so they are attentive and make sure everyone has food and drinks. Kept the bar clean and highly enjoyed our bartenders that were nice and spent time chatting with us. They work really hard. Overall - Check this place out. Good food and drinks, great service, and perfect location off the River Walk.

I was under the impression I was going to a bar, not NIOSA. Absolutely disgusting bathroom situation. There's enough illness going around these days without this noAside from the fact that they were PORTA POTTIES (!!!) they were porta potties that were almost filled to the brim. At least at fiesta you know what you're getting into and they keep them maintained for the most part. If a bar cannot have proper bathrooms, then it shouldn't be open to the public. Get your crap together, Bar America! No pun intended. Chorizo tater tots were bomb tho. Update: Bar America whined to yelp and got my photo of their DISGUSTING porta potty removed, so you'll have to use your imagination. Picture a big blood clot on top of a pile of urine saturated toilet paper surrounded by turds.

There is a reason this place has been around for so long-it's a great place to drink! I'm excited that they are now offering daily food specials (and of course drinks too) and even serve brunch on the weekends. Bar America can get pretty crowded on the weekends or special events, and you might have to wait a little while for a drink and to close out your tab. I feel like that's pretty standard at most busy establishments. You can avoid some of the wait time by paying with cash. The bartenders are always friendly (unless you are a jerk) and drink prices are reasonable. There is also an outside area if you want to get away from the noise/crowd and they sometimes they have a bar open outside as well. I wish the restrooms weren't so tiny, but it could be worse.

Queso with chorizo fries save the day here just as much as the brisket tacos! There's this amazing day called Wednesday that has trivia night courtesy of Geeks who drink!! If you want the best drink of the night get the cucumber martinis for five bucks or the 2 dollar blue moons. Yes 2 dollars!! Some house specialities include: Chamoy shots, cucumber Margaritas and the michealdas....if you're feeling BRUNCHY you got fish tacos on sundays and they open at a great time noon! So stop by but if you stop play some badass Jams on TouchTunes!!

Better quality wine would be a plus. Service is good. Ambiance is great. Overall, it's a nice place to visit.

Good bar to hang out with friends. They have good bar prices. I don't think anyone would feel out of place. They have inside and outside seating with a cool upstairs area where you have a good view of the tower. The bartenders are fast. They have many drink options. We rented an area for a birthday party and everything went as planned. FYI if you are bringing a gift, make sure it is not alcohol because they won't let you take it in. Parking can be a pain. It is street parking.

***Delete if not allowed*** I know this place serves food, but we have never been there for it. After last night it is doubtful we ever will be. We took a Lyft from the Pearl, 9 of us, to go to Bar America last night. Previously we have had a lot of fun and the DJ was good when we were there. We arrived before half our party and paid $20 for 4 of is to get in. Apparently they have a cover charge now, no big deal we are used to that in Chicago. We go order drinks and wait for the rest to arrive. They are immediately turned away at the door, not because they are busy, but because one friend is 24. Yes, twenty four. We asked to speak with a manager and are told that just last night they started implementing a 25 and up rule. Why? Because of the shooting they had outside the bar in September? I'm sorry but you are just now implementing this???? We decided we werent staying and maybe had been there all of 10 minutes, including the time spent talking to the manager. Because of this new found rule we asked for our cover charge back. I didn't think it was too much to ask given we had just arrived. The manager refused. We paid $20 to hear a crappy DJ play one song. Now, I get that the shooting most definitely had a negative impact on their business. But if you are going to alienate your biggest clientele (21-24) you probably shouldn't be operating as a bar. Stick to food and close at 11 like other restaurants. Don't advertise that you have a DJ and turn people away at the door. People who are of legal drinking age. As you can see the place was dead at 10:30 last night. But good came out of it. We went right down the road to Jokesters. Never heard of the place before but after taking a Lyft across town we wanted something close. The doorman laughed when we asked if we were too young, apparently they were aware of the new rule and were getting all the clientele Bar America wouldn't let in. They were packed, service was fast and the DJ was awesome. He played current and all of the 80s and 90s favorites. We definitely will go back there.

I love their drinks! This bar has so much to offer. There's a DJ, TVs playing sports, the pool table, and the rooftop view.

I really loved this place when they 1st reopened. I even gave it 5 stars. But in the last couple yrs it's not my tiny dive bar anymore. I mean good for them but I don't have anything in common with the new crowd. A younger "hipper" kinda place now. The beer selection is still primo and the happy hour prices are great. I just want to sit and have a nice conversation without the little hipsters bumping into me.

Clean, welcoming atmosphere. Bartender was super sweet and knowledgeable about the area since we were visiting from out of town. enjoyed watching football there, and will return again soon!

By far the best place in town! I've been coming to this place over 20 years. It never fails that you meet people from all over the world. It's all in the name I think; that attracts people from all walks of life! Perfect Name!!! Love, love, love the new look, the bar options and serves one the best Michealadas!!! One of the best places to bring your friends and family from out of town! The music is either from a DJ playing old school rock and roll to dub step!!! Lol! I especially like the Touch Tunes application I can use to play some on my own favorites!

I love Bar America the food is pretty damn good for being a bar and they have brunch options in the weekends. It's a perfect spot to watch the games since they have multiple screens. You have to stand in line to order, not like other bars where you can stand anywhere to order so just keep that in mind if you haven't been. Theres the rooftop view as well with some nice photo ops. The music and vibe is spot on and the service is pretty good, well rounded spot you make have to wait a little longer on game days but that's everywhere.

Elisabeth was awesome and super sweet! She really made the experience. The other bartenders (all guys) had no charisma or sense of urgency to get to me. And I'm not the type to pester bartenders b/c I understand it is a high volume job most of the time, but there was no sense of "I'll be right with you" or a "has anyone helped you" etc. They would look me in the eye and simply look away as if I wasn't there. The rating is in regards to the customer service from the guys, in which maybe they'll read this and learn something from Ms. Elisabeth. So thank you Elisabeth for being super attentive and being such a vibrant soul! Will be back for her!

Bar America is a standard stop on your crawl of Southtown. Nothing about it is particularly amazing or standout with the exception of its happy hour prices (see photo) and yet if you're here on a weekend night expect to find the place crowded, with a LONG wait at the bar. My advice-come in for happy hour then head somewhere else in Southtown for your drinks later in the evening. BUT while you're here for happy hour definitely don't miss their $2 Mexican candy shots or pickle shots. They're a must! Also, They do have a kitchen serving up bar food for you to satisfy any cravings you might have once you're a few drinks in or if you're looking to watch a spurs game (or whatever else may be your fancy) there are multiple TVs throughout the bar usually tuned to whatever the biggest game on is :)

Bar America is back and better than ever! Newly renovated exposed brick and finished hardwood interior and rooftop deck are classy and awesome, and a good selection of reasonably-priced spirits, beers, and cocktails to choose from. Haven't tried the food, but I heard it's pretty good. There was a hip DJ there last night, and they brought back the pool table thank God! It's just about the only pool table in Southtown when you're looking to satisfy the need for a clean break, some neat clicks, and feel the gratification of a fine shot dropping into the pocket. Back patio is currently being finished up at the time of posting (Feb '20) in conjunction with another welcomed coffee shop establishment. Undoubtedly will be fantastic once it's fully open to everyone's enjoyment. View from the rooftop to the downtown skyline should be spectacular!

America, America! I loved this bar! I came by on a rainy Saturday afternoon and was surprised by the great Happy Hour going on. I loved the vibe and the music playing. It was very 90s/00s rock and it made me just settle in and get comfortable. The bartenders were super nice and helpful and I cannot complain about the $2 well margaritas. They were pretty good! We also tried the Happy Hour snack menu and was so impressed with the fried pickles ($4 on Happy Hour prices) and chips and queso ($3 on Happy Hour prices). For $11 I had two drinks and a super delicious snack. I would say it was all a great value, even if priced outside of Happy Hour. I will most definitely return and I'd be willing to say this is the best bar that I've experienced since living in San Antonio. It'll definitely be a destination in the future.

Happiest of Happy Hours are here at Bar America and BOY oh BOY will your wallet AND you be happy after spending some drinking/eating times here. This place is super cool in that the building is old, the floors are original, and just as of 2014 this place has started selling liquor AND beer! Before they used to be a cash-only and beer-only establishment, but not no more! You can see/meet artists, local politicians, local brewers, and all sorts of San Antonio locals at this joint. Pull up a chair or high stool and get the conversation started with any of the friendly faces you find at Bar America. Closed on Mondays but Tues - Saturdays (heck yeah the weekend HH!) from 3:00PM - 7:00PM you can find amazing happy hour prices, drinks, and eats here. Lonestar cans (tall boys) go for $2, Bloody Mary's and Moscow Mules are $5, and well liquor drinks are $2! Pair your drink with a nice appetizer like fried pickles, wings (4 piece), chips, salsa, queso, fries, and even mushrooms range from $3 - $4 tops during HH. Beers are plentiful here as they have many on draft AND cans/bottles. I am super impressed with their extensive menu of IPA's (local and international) as well as all of their local beers on tap. Try out some Freetail, Guns & Oil, Revolver, and some Circle brewery beers if you are in the mood to explore. Legit and tasty crisp beers can be found here. I am a big fan of the entire vibes they got going on here. Check out the small but quaint patio as well if you are feeling the outside weather.

A couple of my friends really like this place but I have never seen the reason for their attraction to it. Yes, the beer is cheap and yes, the service is pretty quick. The downside is that they only take cash. One other downside (not for me since I don't drink liquor) but they don't have a full bar - it's beer only. It's definitely a dive-y type place, but I have a long list of dive-y type places that I would rather hang out at. One of those places would be Acapulco Drive-In - at least they have mm-mm good food!!! :)

I have been going to Bar America for 8 years now. Continuously having a worse and worse experience as time went on. I do love the remodel they did and how there is a ton more space, but that does not supersede the management and service you will receive. This last visit was the last time I will be going to Bar America. I had some friends in town and I wanted them to enjoy a nice Sunday Funday while avoiding the Texas heat. Every other time except this last time, minors have been allowed. We were trying to be responsible and we brought a 20 yr old that does not/ will not drink, to hang out and drive us all home safely. Well the 'manager' came over and let us know that we will have to go because "they do not allow anyone in the bar that is 18, 19 or 20 because of they could be drinking and its a TABC violation". I could go on and on about the other times that have been similarly awful, but I will sum it up to.... rude management/ staff and there a ton of other better places to go. [Southtown 101 is fun, clean and friendly]

I really enjoy it here! Been twice.. once on a random night of the week. Decent crowd, super friendly bar staff both times. The second visit was on a Sunday for brunch and to watch football. Again. Super friendly bar staff, and they are super quick and efficient. Probably the fastest moving bar staff I've seen in a while, considering the amount of people they're serving. My friend got me hooked onto their pickle and chamoy shots! Holy guacamole, my mouth is watering just thinking about them! On Sunday's they open at noon, and they do have a brunch menu which includes wings, chicken and waffles, brisket migas, breakfast sandwich and my favorite the chorizo and cheese tots! The price point is excellent. The tots are big enough to share. There was 2 of us and we shared brisket migas and the tots. And it was plenty of food. The tots were LOADED with chorizo, and it was god quality chorizo, and the tots were fried crisp! Not soggy or soft at all! It was perfect! They offer $10 mimosa set ups, too! A bottle of champs and either cranberry, orange or pineapple juice. There are a lot of drink specials offered daily, even during Sunday brunch. There is a patio, and a rooftop bar as well. Ample amounts of tables and bar stools all over the bar, plenty of TVs. And on Sunday, after the game, there was a DJ! So it's the perfect spot for a Sunday funday. Parking can be hard, but you can park right down, less than a 5 minute walk in the school district parking lot, behind Batallion. Definitely going to have to come back for their brunch!!

This review review is based on my latest visit during Happy Hour. Came with a coworker after work for their HH. Four 16oz Lone Star Light's and two orders of brisket tacos (2 tacos per order) for a total of $10. My steal of the week! The lack of parking and the ordering system listed below prevents them from getting 4.5 or 5 stars. Happy hour is from 3-7p. Check out their FB page for their specials. PREVIOUS REVIEW: Really need to get some waitstaff. Ridiculous to have one line for the entire bar to order drinks. Basically have to get back in line after you get your drink. Been here when the DJ was jamming, but the wait for ETOH is criminal.

Extremely rude, we brought are to go container from Rosarios. Door guy said we were not allowed to bring food. Told him, he could hold at counter so we could order our drinks. He said that we would need to leave it outside. We took our food with us. We even said, we plan to spend money on drinks. Our tab at Rosarios was over $70. They blocked us from sitting down. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else.

Staff is rude and ridiculous. They turn someone away just for having a Texas tattoo? News flash bar America, this is TEXAS, there are so many people who have Texas tattooed on them. I didn't know having a Texas tattoo to represent your state and show your pride automatically makes you a "gang member". I have been here a few times and have constantly had to deal with rude staff hoping the next time would be different but of course not they still continue to discriminate. I will NEVER come to this place again!

Attempted to have a beer here last night. I was refused entrance due to a 3x3 Texas tattoo on my upper right elbow. Completely ridiculous. I'm moderately tattooed but that specific one didn't pass their judgment. For an establishment that sells lone star & lone star light this is completely ridiculous. Do y'all know what state y'all are located in? Take your money and beer drinking elsewhere. Skip this lame place. Brian, you must have me confused with another patron. My wife was not with me, or has posted a review (she's not even on yelp) my mom hasn't contacted you and I do not have a 210 tattoo anywhere on my body. Y'all should try and adjust your 'dress code' y'all sell Texas beer for crying out loud.

First time at this establishment came in with a small group of coworkers after a convention we had. I loved the atmosphere and not to mention the friendly staff! Our bartender Matt took great care of us & was prompt to take our orders when we walked up to the bar! The cucumber martini is my favorite! We had a couple appetizers that came out great and quick as well! Definitely would recommend this bar! Will be back next time I'm visiting San Antonio!

Only giving stars to the bartender. The bar smells like a boys gym locker. DJ was good

Not personable at ALL, manager was horrible and was very dismissive. She attempted to take our order then walked off and we got a waiter....we ended Up leaving...the waiter wasn't bad though.

I've been coming here for about year , I only come out here on weekdays . Tonight I was asked to tuck in my cross necklace which I've never been asked before . The James Avery pendant is about quarter size and hangs a little over my collar bone . I figured it's house rules so I complied . I did however notice several customers having longer necklaces with pendantes exposed . Maybe they missed it ,I'm hoping it wasn't selective enforcement . I had my drink and decided to go somewhere else where my necklace wouldn't be a dress code violation . Still a cool place to hang out ,drink specials are great . Juat be aware if you wearing any type of necklace you may be asked to tuck it or leave depending who's working the door . Charles .

Draft beer is priced fairly. Expect zero personality and/or smiles from the staff. Maybe they aren't paid or treated well? Or maybe you just gotta do better SA.

Older spot that has been revamped. This is a cool spot for music and hanging with your friends. Usually it's packed and a line can form outside so be patient and you'll get in. Getting drinks is a bit of a hassle because of all the people and the area they want the customers to order from. The staff wasn't too friendly this time but most of the time it's ok.

Great beer selection! This place is pretty cool and you'd never know it from the outside. We stopped in to watch the Spurs game and had a really good time. The food was surprisingly good for bar food. Nice little patio out back too! The parking does stink but that's expected in Southtown.

It's funny how they refer to this place as a "dive bar" it's just a pretty simple joint. What do you want in a bar? Friendly bartenders who know how to pour a real drink? An awesome DJ? Room to wander and dance? Bouncers that look like they can actually handle a situation? Then this place is where to be, especially on Friday nights. Note: last Saturday was hopping and the DJ was fantastic! The age range is pretty It's a great place to go after a late dinner. It's starts getting fun at around 1130/midnightish.

Bar America is one of my favorite bars. I really like where it's located in Southtown. It's a good place to hang out with friends and have some drinks. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming! I always have a great time when I go to BA. Also, there is some really great art inside and outside (mural) that I really love!

Fun atmosphere. Nice little rooftop patio. Had the loaded tots and they were not only ACTUALLY LOADED but they were good and only $5

I love this place for the following reasons: 1. The beers are CHEAP!! Finally, a bar that has embraced the concept of reasonable prices. Thank you, Bar America :-) 2. This spot is dog friendly. Another big thanks for recognizing that man's best friend is a great bar companion. Well done! 3. The bartenders are friendly and efficient (special appreciation for Monica's chronic smile!). They'll serve you in the fastest possible manner; they hustle on the weekends! 4. Did I mention that they are dog friendly? always a major plus in my book :-)

Happy hour specials are an excellent deal...ordered the chips&queso ($3) and an order of 4 chicken wings ($4). The order of chips was huge and could have fed 4 people easily, and the wings were nice and meaty and also delicious! Great deals all around!

Bar America, depending on the time feels like two different places. If you go early there is a wonderful happy hour with tonssss of specials and a relatively nice crowd. It's a bar that plays sports so it can be very dude-ish (yelling and lonestar beer). But the drinks are awesome and there's food, which is always a plus. If you go in the evening (weekend only I think) there is a cash cover which is just the worst. Cover is okay for 1 reason and that is people under 21 who are unable to buy alcohol and that's all. The place gets PACKED which is great for them but awkward cause you kinda just stand around holding a drink (fine for a club; less so for a bar). Music is alright, crowd ranges in age and type (hit or miss), but the constant is always always drinks. Come by for happy hour - well worth it.

Worst bar in the downtown SA area, very rude bartender, she was rude when I was trying to order, I wonder if I was a guy would she have treated me different.

This is a great bar. The food is really good. The atmosphere is great. A perfect place to watch sports. They have a good selection of craft beer.