The Esquire Tavern

Bar · Houston Street District

The Esquire Tavern

Bar · Houston Street District

3

155 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205

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The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by Photo by Farah Fleurima
The Esquire Tavern by Photo by Farah Fleurima
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null
The Esquire Tavern by null

Highlights

The Esquire Tavern serves elevated pub grub and craft cocktails in historic, dimly lit digs with Texas' longest wooden bar and riverside patio.  

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155 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205 Get directions

esquiretavern-sa.com
@esquiretavernsa

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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155 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205 Get directions

+1 210 222 2521
esquiretavern-sa.com
@esquiretavernsa
𝕏
@EsquireTavernSA

$20–30 · Menu

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Jul 30, 2025

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@afar

"Chef-Crafted Eats in a Historic Downtown Space When a place has not only the longest wooden bar in Texas (100+ feet) and is the oldest watering hole on the Riverwalk, you just know it's worth a visit. But rather than rest on the above laurels, Esquire Tavern churns out some terrific and thoughtful scratch-made eats and drinks. From starters like pink peppercorn-flecked deviled eggs and mashed potato-filled tacos con papas to heartier fare like burgers, chicken mole and shepherd's pie, the food takes comfort foods to the next level with fresh, well-sourced ingredients and modern executions. And as the icing on the culinary cake, the craft cocktail program here is award-winning and endlessly interesting. Plan for some enjoyable late nights at the Esquire on your next stop in SA."

The Best Bars in San Antonio
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@afar

"Chef-Crafted Eats in a Historic Downtown Space When a place has not only the longest wooden bar in Texas (100+ feet) and is the oldest watering hole on the Riverwalk, you just know it's worth a visit. But rather than rest on the above laurels, Esquire Tavern churns out some terrific and thoughtful scratch-made eats and drinks. From starters like pink peppercorn-flecked deviled eggs and mashed potato-filled tacos con papas to heartier fare like burgers, chicken mole and shepherd's pie, the food takes comfort foods to the next level with fresh, well-sourced ingredients and modern executions. And as the icing on the culinary cake, the craft cocktail program here is award-winning and endlessly interesting. Plan for some enjoyable late nights at the Esquire on your next stop in SA."

The Perfect Week in San Antonio
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@eater

East Austin Bar Attabar Shutters After Sudden Death of Owner - Eater Austin

"Brooke Smith, the chef of lauded San Antonio bar the Esquire Tavern, is leaving the Riverwalk destination. She had worked at the restaurant for eight years." - Nadia Chaudhury

https://austin.eater.com/2019/7/19/20700721/attabar-closed-austin-bar-closed-san-antonio-chef-esquire-tavern
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Mike

Google
I forget exactly how my friend and I came across this place, but we made the right decision to eat here. It was hot outside that day, but it was much cooler indoors. The service was quick, the food was great, and our table had a lantern, which reminded me of the one my grandmother used to have. Very fine establishment!

BossHoss

Google
Definitely a must stop if you are traveling through the Riverwalk or just passing through San Antonio. The historic restaurant has some great menu options as well as a unique bar top that is a must-see. The servers and wait staff are nice, and the drink menu has a lot of great options on it. Great place to have stopped at, will be back again.

emma catherine

Google
Everything was great. Got here around midnight so food options were limited to a couple of things as per their late night menu (11p-1a) of which we got two - the deviled eggs and the cheeseburger. Both were delicious. The drinks we had (Walkin’ After Midnight, a moscow mule, and the Esquire’s Winter Martini) were also great. Can’t wait to come back during the daytime!

Charlie Matthews

Google
It’s a bar that offers food. Limited menu. Everything is al a carte. Work mate got the Bison burger and it looked fantastic, but the Reuben was basic. Very salty and tough meat. This place is overall not for me, but it has a cool vibe and others liked it.

Samantha Broughton

Google
Leaving The Magestic and you see the mass of people flooding out to get to their cars and you think to yourself….. self, do I want to spend an hour in the Travis parking garage getting out (ps much easier than the one near the theater!) or do I want to sit at the oldest bar in San Antonio and the longest bar in Texas with a cold cocktail, amazing food, and some of the best service I have had in a while? No brain answer there. When we arrived we were instantly greeted and we decided to sit at the bar. After settling in, Breck came greet us. Probably the friendliest bartender ever. He made an amazing old fashioned for the hubs and I had a French 75. When I say the attention to detail was there… man it was. I almost didn’t want to drink my beverage it was so pretty. Food came out quickly and pipping hot. Husband had the burger and I had the mussels with fries. All the mussels were open which means the kitchen pays attention to detail. Yall I wanted to drink the sauce from the bowl, but I decided to drop my fries into the sauce and let them swim a moment before eating them. I had a bite of my husbands burger. When you bite into the burger, it melts in your mouth. They do not overwork their meat and they know how to cook a medium rare burger (those that don’t like the redness in a burger, move on. It’s worth the risk). Such an amazing texture and perfectly seasoned. Since it was 5pm and approaching my bedtime (don’t judge me) I had a coffee and we split a key lime pie. They do the coffee right with the French press and the key lime has a meringue topping that was perfectly toasted. Yeah definitely made the right choice and had a better experience then waiting for an hour to get out of the garage. I hope yall try this place and ask about the history. Good food, amazing drinks, and a history lesson on the side. You won’t regret it!

Ben Broughton

Google
As always, the "Upstairs" mirrors The Downstairs in both quality and customer service. I lived in San Antonio for half a decade and between my wife and I, I'm pretty sure we've paid their mortgage more than once. The Esquire boasts drinks that are worth it, food that is delicious, and servers and bartenders that need a raise, promotion, and likely their own place later down the line. Coming back to visit while on a work trip was absolutely necessary, as well as therapeutic. If you stay anywhere in San Antonio, give this two-story wonder a try you'll never forget.

Dario Ávalos

Google
There weren't seats available by the river, however the service was great and food was goood. I had the limonada with guava which was really good and ordered burgers. The place is calm and they have cool music. Highly recommend the Key lime pie as dessert.

Garland

Google
I went to have a drink before a show at the Majestic Theater to check out the place. Nice long bar and sweet little balcony overlooking the River Walk. Looks like there was unique taxidermy everywhere with hats and costumes, but it was sooo dark you could barely see anything in there. The margarita wasn't shaken and tasted like lime and tequila, no triple sec.

Jessica R.

Yelp
Daniel is the most amazing and attentive bartender, he greats you with a smile and makes you feel at-home. I have not to long moved to San Antonio and because of him I like to come here almost everything day... Everyone needs A Daniel.
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Isabella T.

Yelp
Hostess was pleasant and found us a booth quickly. Antique decor with soft light ambiance that relaxes you as soon as you get inside. We all ordered burgers and fries and all four of us commented on how good the food was. Went back again for a cocktail a few days later got an Espresso Martini and it was delicious. Definitely recommend!
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Jacky C.

Yelp
The oldest bar on the River Walk, of course we had to make a stop here. The four of us on a boys trip walked in for dinner, which luckily they had immediate seating for us. The place has that speakeasy vibe as the place opened shortly after the end of Prohibition. For drinks I got the Esquire's Manhattan. I typically favor the Old Fashioned over the Manhattan because of the taste, but this particular Manhattan tasted great. Recommend giving it a try since it's one of their signature drinks. Foodwise, we tried the South Texas Quail Legs ($19). We were just intrigued because when is there a time you'll see quail legs on the menu? They taste just like fried frog legs, if you ever had those. If not, you can compare them to chicken, but it's different. I personally got The Esquire Cheeseburger ($17), which is one of their best sellers. I just wanted to get my hands on Texas beef, which was filling and delicious. Overall great experience. Worth the stop if you're making a trip to San Antonio.
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Peter L.

Yelp
We were told this is one of the oldest bars in San Antonio so we decided to check it out. It used to be a speakeasy during Prohibition era. Nota bene: the speakeasy portion is downstairs which doesn't open until 6 pm. The upstairs is open during their actual open hours and was super nice. They have an outdoor space as well which would be nice on a spring/summer day to chill and look out on the river walk. I got the CC which was tiramisu in liquid form. It was absolutely phenomenal. Would def come back in the future to check out their speakeasy section!
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Amy T.

Yelp
We came by to have a few drinks and apps - try a few places in one night rather than eating a whole meal. It was our anniversary weekend and a rare date night we get 2x a year. All the seats at the bar were taken so we opted for a table. The waitress seemed annoyed from jump. I ordered an old fashioned and husband ordered a craft beer. My drink was awful. It wasn't balanced and didn't have orange peel, no luxardo cherry. i mean it wasn't an old-fashioned, it was a bourbon with an ice cube. We ordered some kid of cheesy bread (so we don't get drunk). it had almost no flavor, just grease. I let my husband finish it. I asked for the check as if this is what you start with, it can't finish well. I couldnt wait to leave and eat dinner somewhere else. It was a shame. Felt like when this place was better when it was covered in scaffolding.
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Melanie S.

Yelp
Great experience here for a late night dinner downtown. It's a historic bar being the oldest on the riverwalk and we were surprised with the menu. There's a good variety of entrees and sandwiches not just bar food. We still went with the Esquire burger and bison burger and the order of fries is enough for two. Even on a Friday night the hostess sat us quickly and our food came out fast.
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Justin C.

Yelp
The Esquire Tavern located on the River Walk San Antonio, is s staple that has been here since the 1930's. Some interesting history I learned was it used to be a barbershop during prohibition and gentlemen went to get "haircuts" seven days a week! And the day after prohibition was over, they opened their doors with a fully stocked bar open to all. The Tavern is upstairs with plenty of real stuffed animals throughout and the "Downstairs at the Esquire Tavern" is a nice bar with some interesting drinks. We came in for lunch and ordered the Esquire burger and fries, the fries were seasoned to perfection and were served with ketchup and a thousand island dressing sauce 5/5. The burger was ordered medium 7oz ground Texas beef topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, house pickles (more like picked cucumbers but delicious), red onions, thousand island dressing 5/5. Delicious to the last bite. The wife chose the bacon & egg salad with frisee lettuce, soft poached egg atop, asiago cheese, house made croutons, dressed with warm bacon and vinegarette. 5/5. The frisee lettuce was different and hit, will look for this when we are back home. Drinks came in the can, sprite and a bottle of water. Would come back here again and try some of the cocktails like the French 77 or the life is a high guey. Thanks Esquire Tavern for a great lunch!
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Candace G.

Yelp
The Esquire Tavern is the oldest bar on the riverwalk so it makes it a popular destination for tourists. There's plenty of seating inside and a small patio outside that overlooks the riverwalk. We visited on a Saturday night and had no trouble getting a seat and we were promptly taken care of by our waiter. We only stopped for a drink so can't comment on the food but the ambiance was lively and fun for a Saturday night. This is more of a sit down bar as opposed to standing and mingling with other guests. If you're in the area you can't go wrong with stopping here for a drink!
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Erica V.

Yelp
I love this classic SA bar right on the River Walk! I've been here a handful of times and it's excellent every time. The food is always delicious and you can't go wrong with any of their cocktails. Service is always consistent. This place will never fail you! 10/10 recommend. I'll come back again and again!
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Chris P.

Yelp
Burger was amazing, my wife loved her tomato soup and salad. She said the dressing was amazing on her salad as well. Senia was our server and was very sweet, patient and helped my wife with her garlic allergy. She's definitely an asset to the team. Drinks were great. Loved my old fashion with the big ice cube. The bartender also made some great green tea shots. Ambiance was beautiful, dark and laid back all at the same time. Great place to bring a date or enjoy with friends. Would definitely go back!
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Courtney G.

Yelp
We wanted a good meal on our last night in San Antonio, and this place was it! We all ordered something different, and all raved about our meal. I ordered the steak with the peppercorn sauce, and it was delicious. I had the tomato soup as my side and didn't expect to love it as much as I did. I ordered the fried pickles as an appetizer, and they were delicious. I tried some of my friend's fries, which were also divine. We had the sweetest waitress, but I can't remember her name. A place to try!
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Raul I.

Yelp
I brought my party here on a Friday night after hyping the place up, but initially, I was worried I had struck out because it seemed so busy. Thankfully, Danny saved the day! He greeted us immediately, directed us on where to sit, and gave each of us personalized attention. He tailored cocktails to suit everyone's individual palate, and every drink was a hit. On top of that, his food recommendations were spot-on--everything we tried was delicious! Danny's service made the night unforgettable, and I'll definitely be back. Even though parking can seem a bit daunting, the experience is absolutely worth it. The service? 100000/10!
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Lauren S.

Yelp
We arrived in San Antonio kind of late at night and this was one of the only places open so we gave it a try. I liked the dark atmosphere of the place and the table at the bar was huge it went almost the whole length of the restaurant. I ended up getting shrimp and grits because I was craving it and I didn't get a chance to get in when we were in New Orleans. It was actually pretty good . The shrimp were grilled nice. I liked the flavor the andouille sausage gave it with the peppers and onions. The grits were pretty good also, could have been a little thicker but overall still good flavor. My husband enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich as well. They had a large cocktail menu as well and all of the drinks seemed interesting.
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Anita C.

Yelp
Drinks, food and location are great. Fried pickle spears with buttermilk ranch are amazing. Lunch specials are great. Their burger is juicy and fries are seasoned very well. Friends raved on the Reuben. The pork torta was served on the same bun as the hamburger, weird. Not a torta. But the pork was flavorful. Our server was great. You can choose bar, inside or river walk view.
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Joan M.

Yelp
The Esquire Tavern was on my list of places to try while in San Antonio, Texas. It did not disappoint, it's an absolute gorgeous spot, right on The Riverwalk. Apparently it is definitely the oldest bar in San Antonio if not the oldest in Texas. I understand from the bar man that it was opened in the 1930s at the time of prohibition. The bar itself is over 110 feet long. The place can be intimate, or a party scene. It depends on the day. It depends on the night. It depends on the event, but they have it all covered.I sat up at the bar and had lunch... burger, and fries. It was absolutely massive & delicious. The staff were super friendly, chatty, and more than helpful. My lunch was $12, unbelievably cheap and the food as I said was outstanding. I highly recommend you checking out The Esquire Tavern if you are in the San Antonio area.

Cindy S.

Yelp
We were there Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 around 2 pm. The place was empty, which was nice for us. They had happy hour drinks & we got a chance to chat with the bartender. We had beer & wine. Great beer selection. We didn't have any food items. We had a very relaxing time & would definitely recommend this place. Very cool & a lot of history here.
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Brian K.

Yelp
Great place on the RIverwalk. Very very dark, like really dark, but you eventually get used to it. Have great booths for 2-4 people and bunches of table for larger parties. Booths are actually very private because they are so high. Got the Deviled Eggs and a main tai to start and the eggs were very good except for some reason they put a ton of green things on top. They had no flavor so I don't know what they were. I just removed them and the eggs were great. Ordered The Reuben and while it had good flavor, the meat was tough. I bet they make their own Corned Beef, which is admirable, but the slices I got were not working. The Kraut and dressing were good, so it was probably a one time thing. Will give it another try if I go here again. Waitress was very attentive and noticed I was not happy with the Reuban and I switched to the burger and chili salt fries. Fantastic, everything on the burger was in the right proportion and the Chili Salt Fries were HOT, Salty and ridiculously good. I ate the entire basket before even touching my burger. FHad a Rum for the Hills with the burger, which was great and then ended the night with a Heat of The Moment, which was more spicy than sweet like the rum drink so it was a nice change of palate. Manager was very nice, checked on me about the Reuban, checked again to make sure the burger was good.
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Doretta W.

Yelp
Love the vibe of this place. Long, old wood bar. The drinks were good. The appetizers were solid .. fried pickles, deviled eggs. The food was okay .. I had the fried chicken sandwich. The service was awesome. It's a little hard to get a large group in here. There's parking caddy corner.
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Torrey S.

Yelp
Once again, we had a delightful experience. Our server, Stephanie, was flat-out wonderful. Of course, we got the deviled eggs & Pimm's Cups. We also tried the Picadillo Fries. I cannot recommend them highly enough. The beef was tender & perfectly seasoned. It was a gorgeous evening, so we got a seat on the balcony where we could watch the tour boats go by right below. The Esquire is such a relaxing tavern! We literally killed two hours people-watching. With great service, unique menu items, and excellent service, you must give them a shot. The stairs going up from the the Riverwalk look daunting, but there's also an almost hidden entrance on Commerce. Check them out!
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Kristi M.

Yelp
Our waitress was super awesome and brought us drinks right away and answered a few questions that had about the place. The food was good the ambience nice and we enjoyed ourselves. We sat at a small table across from the bar.

Todd H.

Yelp
Great place. Bartenders were excellent and drinks were very good. Highly recommend. Daniel our bar tender was exceptional and gave us great recommendations for things to do on our trip. Cannot recommend this place enough.
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Chriss N.

Yelp
Very neat atmosphere in the Riverwalk. Staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. Stopped in a couple of times during my visit for drinks. Drinks were some of the best that I had along the Riverwalk. If you're looking to just sit down and relax or grab a drink to go the Esquire is worth a stop. They pours were good and very reasonably priced.
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Jeannie K.

Yelp
A dark, two-part restaurant with a speakeasy downstairs. The Female Foodie mentioned this bar/restaurant all over her posts as one of three top choices along the Riverwalk, and the reviews were solid on both Yelp and Google, so we chose this spot for our Sunday evening stroll at 8pm. Cue in the attached picture about free parking near the Riverwalk in San Antonio: most loading zones are fair game after 6pm. There's even a free parking garage on Main St, FYI. https://sanantonioreport.org/parking-in-downtown-san-antonio/ Back to this place. By the time we walked in, it was close to 8:30pm. The bar and booths are open seating and require ordering at the bar; the table seating requires going through a host/ess, who remained elusive, so we chose a booth. The bartender whose name I didn't catch was both knowledgeable and nice. I was in the mood for a frozen margarita and he gave me a sample of both that and the frozen mezcal cocktail. The couple sips I got were boozy, but both batches were WAY sweet, and he agreed; apparently you're not supposed to put sugar in the margarita, and someone had dumped in a bag of it. So I opted instead for a cocktail. I wish I had taken a picture of the menu, because the potions are complex. I was in the mood for something refreshing and citrusy and ended up with a cocktail with pisco and cachaca, plus a dash of Fruitful smoky jalapeño atop a lemony and grapefruity base. It was heavy on the guava-front and turned out more pungent than I would've liked, but I still enjoyed it. $14 and 4.5/5. Well-balanced. Neither of us was hungry, so we got a bison burger and a side of cheese grits. The bison burger took forever to come out, and we joked: Should we ask whether they've caught the bison yet? But once it did, it came sitting half a foot tall, thanks to the pillowy bun, albeit with a slightly-smaller-than-usual patty (but I'm from Houston, and maybe portion sizes are different in San Antonio). That said, I had never had a more perfectly-toasted brioche bun, and the fried onion bits added the crispiest crunch. On the richer side than I would've expected from bison but exceptionally executed and paired beautifully with the house giardiniera. $19 and 5/5. The side cheese grits were no sleepers, either: Not super cheesy but I didn't even miss it, as it more than made up for it in its creamy butteriness. It was not salty, which was a welcome change from most restaurants' grits, and the portion was nicely sized for the price point. $5 and 5/5. Needless to say, we enjoyed our stop and sauntered down the stairs at the back, which led us directly to the Riverwalk. I recommend you do the same.
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John H.

Yelp
Great stop for a bite! Large indoor dining area and some seating on the Riverwalk. Host station is right inside the Riverwalk entrance. Longggg bar. My wife got the Bison Burger and I got the BLT. The Bison Burger came with lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, and fried onion strings. The BLT had incredibly sticky slabs of bacon that were crispy, with no fatty parts. The tomatoes were fresh and delicious. We shared a side of fries-plenty for 2 or more. Very hot, crisp, and tasty as well. Drinks and service were great. It's a lively atmosphere when the place is full, but we were able to talk to each other well in our booth. Great stop!!
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Shannon C.

Yelp
Tasty drinks. The vibes are always great. Fries are sooo good and tossed in yummy seasonings. Decent service, but nothing special
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Linda O.

Yelp
Oldest bar on river with longest wooded bar in Texas. Happy hour 2-6 Limited food menu. Bar was first to open after prohibition ended. Standard drinks. They have a Speakeasy downstairs. Unfortunately it was not open the day we visited.
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Kristen W.

Yelp
So good! From start to finish, we loved everything about our dinner. I got the Walking After Midnight drink which was perfection. For dinner, my husband loved his bison burger, and my daughter and I devoured our steak dishes. Our server had such a great vibe and we loved our visit. Would definitely recommend!
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Katherine R.

Yelp
1000/10! The esquire is that spot! I had never had bison in my life and for being my first time and going back again just for this says enough. The BISON BURGER is FIRE AF!! We tried a variety of appetizers and absolutely loved the loaded fries the most. The frozen margaritas is also so refreshing and a must. Both times the service was great and ambiance is dim lighting with chill vibes! Will definitely be coming back!
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Stephy B.

Yelp
went downstairs to the Christmas pop up bar! super cute fun chill spot. The drinks were pricy but well worth it, tasty and strong. The bartender steve was cool and helpful
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Adrianna D.

Yelp
The food was so good. If I can recommend anything, it would 100% be the fried pickles. I usually am not a fan of the chip style, but they make their own pickles. The BLT was also super good! The lighting is giving nightlife but they do have an outside area near the river walk. I had the bexar drink and it was great! Super fresh.
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Oscar T.

Yelp
Just came back from my third trip to San Antonio, and of course we had to include a visit to The Esquire Tavern. As always, had a great time. Great ambience, fantastic vibe, with great food and great drinks.
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Jessica H.

Yelp
If you are looking for a romantic, dark, intimate date night this is the perfect spot. The drinks were delicious and strong and the downstairs mocktail was so good you wouldn't know there wasn't any alcohol in it. The service was so prompt and friendly, also the food was a 10 out of 10. This is definitely a place I would recommend and come back to.
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Ashlyn L.

Yelp
Hands down one of the best restaurants I've ever tried! Our server, Ethan, was great and recommended the best food and drinks! We had the fries, empinadas, and chalupitas. All so yummy! For drinks we had the Cowboy Tears and Hush Payments. Both delicious! 10/10 recommend!
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Samantha W.

Yelp
Checked out the bar because well it's the oldest wooden bar in Texas! Great service at the bar, with a great menu and delicious drinks! Stop in here and grab a drink while on the riverwalk.

Nicole M.

Yelp
Been visiting in San Antonio for the past few days and this is my favorite restaurant we've visited so far! the ambiance is great and our server was so friendly and speedy. I had questions on some of the dishes and she answered them so kindly! I ended up getting the mussels after reassurance from the server that they are good (i was worried about the spicy tomato sauce at first) and i'm so glad I listened it was the best mussel dish i've ever had. My boyfriend tried the bison burger and really enjoyed it too! And for the quality of food we received i thought the prices were really great! If I ever find myself in San Antonio again I'll definitely be going here.
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Renee J.

Yelp
This is a great bar with wonderful historic value to the city. I actually enjoy bringing out of town visitors to The Esquire Tavern to show off the history of the establishment. The craft cocktails are wonderful and the bartenders are top notch.
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Riquee C.

Yelp
The place had a really cool atmosphere and it's right on the river walk. Our server was pretty awesome and didn't pressure us to hurry our order. Also, gave us some recommendations on what their best options were. The food was good nothing to complain about. They don't open until 11:30 which surprised me when we tried opening the door at 11 but we just hung around and went to the shop around the corner and came back when they opened.
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Erika A.

Yelp
Great drinks and service! Would highly recommend if you're looking for a good cocktail bar in the area.
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Joseph E.

Yelp
Anytime I'm going to a show downtown (Majestic, McCombs, or Aztec theaters), I make it a point to stop at the Esquire. Not only is it centrally located and within walking distance of all the theaters, the food, drinks and atmosphere are very inviting. On this occasion I stop in before a concert at the Aztec, so I order my normal Old Fashioned along with the BLT and a side of fries. The Old Fashioned comes out first and it's made perfectly with the balance of the bitters and simple syrup just right. Next comes the BLT and fries. The bacon is their thick sliced millionaire bacon, tomato, lettuce, house aioli, served on sourdough toast. The bacon is the savory and the house aioli provides a nice contract the really elevates this sandwich. The fries are nice and crispy and pair well with the BLT. Make a note that their kitchen stays open late for any after show munchies. Overall, if you are in the area and want a good drink, or good food with a good vibe then come check out the Esquire Tavern.
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Keith R.

Yelp
This is a great place to go for a drink before or after a visit to The Aztec. If you are like me, it's a great place to go before and after a trip to The Aztec. My fiance and I went here on a Wednesday night before a show at The Aztec. We were seated immediately. She ordered a Moscow Mule while I ordered a Between the Moon and New York City. The drink I ordered is a mezcal based drink. The drink was very tasty and did not lose the smokiness of the mezcal. My fiance thought the ginger flavoring of her Moscow Mule was a little too strong for her. I tasted it and enjoyed the ginger. For an appetizer, we got the Deviled Eggs. I normally don't like Deviled Eggs but found these to be good. I ordered the Esquire Burger with chili-salt fries. The burger was great. The fries were also crisp and well seasoned. My fiance got the Chicken Tortilla Soup and loved it. When we were done, we left for the show at the Aztec. The show was a screening of the movie Demons and was accompanied by a live band. After the show, a group of us wanted to get a drink, so we decided on The Esquire since it's right across the street. There were 8 of us in the group, and again, we were seated immediately. That was twice in one night that we were able to be immediately seated. This was on a Wednesday. I can't say if you'd have as much luck on Friday or Saturday This time, I ordered a Godfather. It's a Japanese Whisky based drink. I enjoyed it a lot and thought it was a good drink to end the night. The restaurant is decorated with interesting lighting and some stuffed animals. I recommend this place for good food, great cocktails, and fast friendly service. If you need a drink before or after a night at the Aztec, you should come here.
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Deya Z.

Yelp
we were in town for fiesta recently and had a really great experience here. There were a lot of people inside, grabbing a drink before the flambeau, however, we were still able to grab a seat at the bar without too much trouble. The service was great, our bartender was really attentive and friendly given how busy she was. We didn't want to risk not being able to grab a dinner reservation anywhere given the fiesta madness so we decided to grab a few bites here. The deviled eggs were really good, although I was in a fan of the garnish that they put on top of them. The pulled pork sandwich was pretty decent size, but I wish it had a barbecue sauce. My husband ordered the esquire cheeseburger, which was pretty tasty. The fries were delicious. Absolutely the best with a little bit of crunch. drink wise, their 75 and other cocktails are definitely worth trying. My husband ordered a beer and while they didn't have the one he wanted, the bartender made a really great alternative selection. I've been to Esquire before and this is probably my fourth time here. So the one are

Judd P.

Yelp
Our experience was amazing. It was pouring rain at 10pm and we ducked into the Esquire and were met with really cool decor and a dark ambience. The Reuben sandwich and the Esquire salad were both excellent. Our drinks were strong but some of the best we have ever had. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. I wanted to order the Only in Dreams, which the waitress warned me was like a martini and very strong, so I opted for the Como La Flor, which was excellent. My wife had the Rum for the Hills and she said it was the best drink she had ever had. On the second round, I ordered the Only in Dreams and sure enough, it was way too strong for me. I told them I would pay for it but wanted to order something else, but they insisted that they would be taking it off of our bill. I can't recommend this place more highly. We had a really great experience here.
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Diana D.

Yelp
This was my second time in San Antonio, and I learned my lesson the first time...don't have high expectations for the restaurants along the Riverwalk....but.... I absolutely loved this place! The food is 10/10! Order their empanadas and add some of their chimichurri sauce...to die for! We shared the chicken fried steak and the portions were just right! Service was excellent, very friendly staff, they even precut our steak and brought it out separately since we said we would share. I ordered a Moscow mule, I'm a fan of them, but this one was overly gingery, so I didn't like it that much. The location is great, they have a beautiful outside area overlooking the river. Would love for them to open a location in DFW!

Charles B.

Yelp
A Fantastic Dining Experience at The Esquire Tavern My dinner at The Esquire Tavern was absolutely fantastic and exceeded every expectation. From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the warm, vintage ambiance, with its rich wood tones, dim lighting, and the longest wooden bar I've ever seen--perfect for a cozy yet sophisticated dining experience. The food was exceptional. Every dish was thoughtfully crafted, full of bold flavors, and beautifully presented. I particularly loved [insert favorite dish], which was a perfect balance of creativity and comfort. The cocktail menu was equally impressive, offering expertly mixed drinks that perfectly complemented the meal. The service was another highlight. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, providing great recommendations and making the evening feel special from start to finish. If you're in San Antonio, The Esquire Tavern is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're looking for a great meal, a handcrafted cocktail, or just a memorable night out, this spot delivers on every level. I can't wait to go back!
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Bernie L.

Yelp
Recently visited The Esquire Tavern and was pleasantly surprised by the very old architecture to include the ceiling and the bar. Even the booths had an old-time feel. It is a very charming establishment. The service was excellent. We were greeted immediately by a very friendly hostess followed by a friendly server. We started with some cheesy focaccia bread with honey. It was interesting and quite good. We also had a great BLT on sourdough bread, which was a hit and we had a classic cheeseburger with seasonad fries that were delicious. The stars of the night were some very creative cocktails on their menu. We had too many to name. They're a bit pricey but worth trying. Overall, this is a great place to come relax and have a nice drink. It has an easy feel. However, I will say that the ladies room needs more light. It was quite dark in there. In all, it was a great experience I will be returning.
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Lowell O.

Yelp
Take a delightful trip back in time to 1933. Once a speakeasy, this place is wonderfully preserved, incredibly lit, and features a small balcony overlooking the river, where boatloads of tourists will photograph you and say, "Ooh! Let's have a drink there later!" But the inside is where the real charm of this place is. It's dark and moody and chic, all at the same time. But the inside has no tables. Sit at a booth or sit at the bar. If you want a snack while you're drinking, the chalupitas are very good (two to an order). The mixologist is extremely creative, so plan to Google some ingredients... and to enjoy yourself. They also have an extensive beer menu. Next time I'm in San Antonio, I'm returning :-)
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Shari D.

Yelp
The ambiance is definitely tavern like! They have bar seating, tables and booths throughout, so you can dine/drink anywhere. We opted for a booth, which was comfy. Service was okay, they were packed so the food took a little longer to come out. I opted for their fried chicken sandwich, there wasn't a lot of meat, more of the batter, but the meat that I had was well seasoned. I'm open to returning and trying their other options.

Frank

Yelp
Middle of the road. Mediocre and over priced for the quality. If you are on the fence I guess give it a try but salt grass is much better.
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Milli M.

Yelp
The service was quick and great. I've ALWAYS passed by this place, never knew what it was just always saw the "name" The Esquire! Finally, my girls and I were having brunch next door at Tokyo Cowboy and we were walking passed it and decided to stop on by, finding out it was a bar with limited bar snack available it's super chill and vibey.. the drinks are definitely over priced! I get it, but don't charge me $6 on a miller lite when a 12 pack is $15 at the gas station... the vibe is real old fashioned, real alamoish.... It may be just me... or maybe it's just not my bar but I need a TV to look at or some good music to vibe too... it was bland for it being "happy hour" at most places! Not sure if I would return.... The bartender was super nice and gave my girl a free shot bc it was her birthday!