Barbaro

I have to be honest; Barbaro is quite possibly one of the best places to hit up for a Happy hour in San Antonio. 

They have the best Cocktail Menu that is filled with over 20 drinks that you can order for only $5 during their Happy Hour Specials (Which is till 11 Tuesday!) In addition to a great and extensive craft cocktail menu, they have excellent and delicious food. 

Barbaro, which is located in the southern area of the Olmos Park area, what some would call Tobin Hill, is a small neighborhood eatery, that has a quaint dining room with high top tables and booths. There is a bar in the middle of the restaurant, where you can take one of the 12 seats at the bar, and watch as the bartenders crank out cocktails for the restaurant.

This San Antonio Foodie gem has two nights that are the most favorable for your wallet. If your hungry, come on a Monday night where you can get a large pizza for $10. The pizza is delicious, made in house with fresh ingredients, and is more than enough to feed two adults. If you plan your evening well, you can even hit up their Happy Hour on Monday from 3-6pm to get a steal on your drink prices as well.

If you are not as peckish, Tuesday is the night to be there. All night Happy Hour is something that Barbaro brings around every summer, and it is well worth it. The wonderfully large cocktail menu featuring drinks that are, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," created by Elizabeth Forsythe, leaves you with enough options to quench any flavor profile that you are looking for. There are even some delicious dessert cocktails, as well as old fashion Fizz and Adult Soda Shoppe beverages to indulge in.

I've been into Barbaro on two separate occasions, once on a Monday to take advantage of the $10 Pie night. During my visit there I had the pleasure of speaking with the bar manager about her beverage program, and all the thought that goes into her drinks. During this visit I sipped on the No Sugar, No Cream Cocktail located on "The Ugly" side of the menu, which featured drinks that were more boozy then those "The Good" and "The Bad" counterparts. 

The drink was wonderfully built, and true to it's name it was a nice Boozy, Coffee based drink that combined both my admiration for Black Coffee and my love for Liquor, a dangerous combination for sure. 

My next visit was on a Tuesday, for the all night Happy Hour special that they run. I stared at the menu for a few moments, debating whether i wanted to sample a new drink, or go with the cocktail that I had fell in love with on my first visit

I decided, based off a recommendation that was given to me by another patron, to be adventurous and go with the Colonel Mustard. This is where Forsythe's genius comes into play. She makes a savory, yet delightfully fun and sweet cocktail. Every flavor profile you can think of comes into play with this delicious concoction, which is topped with a pretzel, just to add more fun to the drink. 

The Berry Piquant was the final cocktail ordered at the bar, and it was a very nice, slightly sweet, yet fruity and acidic cocktail that really proves how much of a vast variety of flavors can show up on one menu.

I love Barbaro. The cocktail menu is something to experience, whether it's Happy Hour or not. No matter what you want or crave, there is something on the menu that will please you. No matter what you order, you will not be disappointed.

Everything ranges on a scale from 1-5!

Price: 5 (during happy Hour)

Atmosphere: 5

Staff: 5

Happy Hour: 4

(Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm and all day Tuesday.)

Food: Yes ($10 Pizza Monday!)

Site: Barbaro

Tacos and Tequilia

FINALLY!

Can I just say that I have been waiting to try this place FOREVER. It's right down the street, and I kept putting it off!

Why? Because I was once told that they have an experimental drink menu on Thursdays! So I kept waiting for a Thursday to go in and try things......

Well I didn't go in on Thursday. I went on Wednesday, and I'm glad I did.

Reason 1. The "Experimental" Thursdays that I heard about made it seem like the samples of the drinks would be free or for a significantly reduced price, which seemed to good to be true! Well, that's because It is too good to be true. Experimental Thursday just means that they have a more craft cocktail menu that you would typically find in Cocktail bars, not restaurants. That's fine! No hard feelings, I'm just glad I didn't come in with that being my expectation only to be disappointed by a cocktail menu with drinks ranging from 10 bucks and up.

Instead, I went for the normal Happy Hour special. Monday thru Friday 4pm-7pm. They have pretty good specials. $4 Margaritas Frozen, or on the Rocks, as well as $4 wells and house wine. 

The wells that they offer however arent really that impressive, It's a bunch of low end liquor and spirits that cost basically nothing, but it's Happy Hour......so.....I guess it's okay. The drink menu here, as well as all the Spirits options are really nice, so it is slightly disappointing that they dont offer any of their cocktails during the Happy Hour, for a reduced price, since they are also pretty pricey in general.

The greatest thing about the Happy Hour here at TnT has nothing to do with the drink specials though. It's the food deal they have going on. Every weekday the eatery sets up a 'Taco Bar' for $1.50 per taco. They have four options to pick from: Pulled Pork, Pollo Verde, Picadillo, and Black Bean. I opted for the Pulled Pork and the Pollo Verde. 

They tacos that I selected came out very quickly, and there is a decently sized portion of meat on these tacos! It's actually quite impressive. When ready, I made me way over to the "build you own taco" part of the bar.......this is where the deal gets disappointing. The toppings that you have to choose from are as follows: Coleslaw, Pickled Red Onions, Jalapenos, and three types of salsa. (two of which come with the complimentary chips they give you.) Can you say disappointing?? I mean....at least let us have the option of Pico or something! I guess for a buck fifty though, that's all you get when they dose out generous portions on the protein end. 

Though there was a lack of toppings, the tacos were still delicious and well worth the money. The $4 shot of cheap rum was not, but I felt guilty sitting at the bar and not ordering an actual drink. 

I ahve to say, the best thing about this place is the complimentary chips and salsa they give you. The chips are a blend of tortilla chips and sweet potato chips and the sweet potato chips are amazing. If you were coming for a time outside of Happy Hour, I can understand why you might go there, get an expensive drink, and then just eat as many chips as you can until you feel justified paying the price for your drink. 

All in all, TnT is an okay place. I've heard they have a great Brunch Buffet, so if I go back there, it would probably be for that. 

Everything ranges on a scale from 1-5!

Price: 3 (during happy Hour)

Atmosphere: 5

Staff: 3

Happy Hour: 3

(Monday-Friday 4pm-6:30 pm Food and Drink Specials, $4 Wells, Margs, and Wine. $1.50 Tacos)

Food: Yes

Grayze

Grayze has a really great Happy Hour deal that occurs from 3 to 6:30 Monday through Friday.

They have great deals on three of their sliders and fries as well as a Happy Hour salad. In addition to the food items they also have specials on Beer, Wine, Wells and a Cocktail of the Day (the day I went was a Green Goddess, a refreshing mix of cucumber and lime.) 

I have yet to see what the actual inside of the building looks like, but I sat outside on the back patio with my dog. (There are two patios! So much space!) They staff here are all super friendly, they kept coming over to my dog and making sure she was doing okay and if she needed water or anything, being really considerate. 

At the time that I arrived, there wasn't any one else on the back Patio, it was about 5:30 and there started to be a crowd picking up a little closer to the dinner time. The kitchen was quick to get my food out to me.

My waitress recommended that I try the Chicken Bahn Mi Slider, and I wanted to try the Brisket, so I got those two and an order of fries. The food came out fairly fast and the quality was top notch. I liked the Brisket, but the Chicken slider was to die for. It was just the perfect balance of salty and savory. The sizes of both sliders, in addition to the fries were just enough to leave me overly full. 

I hear that they have a great Brunch buffet on Sundays, and I can't wait to check it out in the near future! This place is likely to be a favorite.

There is a lot going for Grayze, it's got a great location and a great atmosphere along with some really delicious drinks and eats! 

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!

Price: 4 (during happy hour)

Atmosphere: 5 (outside)

Staff: 4

Happy Hour: 4

(Monday-Friday 3pm-6:30 pm Food and Drink Specials, Wells $4! Cocktail of the day $5! )

Food: Yes

Juniper Tar

Review:
I went in on a Downtown Tuesday, expecting a Happy Hour, unfortunately their recent opening meant that they didn't actually have time to set up a Happy Hour menu yet. (the bar manager did promise it was coming within the month!) 
I asked the bartender what his favorite thing to make was, and after telling me it was a Slow Gin Fizz, I told him, while that drink is great, I was more int he mood for a Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. He set me up with an Old Fashioned. Then I sat to enjoy my cocktail while waiting for my friend. 
The bartender and the bar manager were both very friendly. They would include me in their conversations (most of the time they just involve things they were putting on the menu and ways to reduce loss on fresh fruit and whatnot). While it was conversation you wouldn't typically hear in a bar, it was fascinating that I was able to see what kind of goes on behind the scenes of a bar and that they staff was comfortable talking about it, though that might have had something to do with the fact that I was the only patron in the store since they opened 15 minutes prior to my arriving. 
I finished the cocktail, paid ten dollars for it all together. Which is a little pricey for my tastes (since i like to frequent happy hours) but the drink was good, the venue beautiful and the company pleasant. It's definitely a bar to go back to! Next time though, it will be when they have the Happy Hour up and running. :P
(Also; Tip! Check out the Bathroom, It's probably the nicest bathroom I've ever been in.)

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!

Price: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Bartenders: 5
Happy Hour: (N/A)
THEY HAVE ONE NOW. 7 For $7. 7 Cocktails for $7 Monday-Saturday 4-7.
Food: No

TAVERN WENCH OUT. 
-Drinking in SA

The Blue Box

The Blue box is always a great place to hit up for Happy Hour. While it is a bit more pricey than most places (alot in the Downtown Area have craft cocktails for $5) the ones here are $6 during their Happy Hour, and they typically have 4 cocktail options to chose from as well as House Wine, Draft and Wells specials. 
The Happy Hour time, when I happened to go on one Tuesday, is from 5-8, there is typically a work crowd there. People of all ages, usually office workers that stop here for an after work cocktail. 
There menus rotate seasonally, and they always have delicious and amazing cocktails. Tip: the further down you go on the Menu, the Boozier the cocktail! They always make great drinks, though they are a bit pricey. ranging from $9 - $12 dollars in the prices. They do have a couple of house infusion shots that are interesting. 
On Thursdays they have themed nights and the have DJ's on Monday.David Bowie given his recent passing. 
The themed nights are pretty cool. Currently they are dedicated to 
On the weekends, this place is PACKED.
It's great for Bar hoping. Get food somewhere at the pearl early, then come here, Cured, Southerliegh, Stay Golden, La Gloria, Tacos and Tequila, the are really does have alot going for it!

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!

Price:4 (during Happy Hour) 
Atmosphere:5
Staff:5
Happy Hour: 3
(Monday All Day Tues-Fri 4-8 get $6 Irish Coktails (certain house inventions) $1 off wells, drafts and wine
Food: No (but the Pearl has so much food. it doesnt matter much.)

The Brooklynite

The Brooklynite is a bar that knows exactly what it is doing, with Bartenders that know who they are, know they are good at their jobs and rely on nothing else.
I went in on a Monday night with a friend. They do have Happy hour from . Then on Monday they have Cheap ass Monday! Old Fashions and Daiquiris $5.00! So great deals. They also serve CORNDOGS (That based on some pictures look great, haven't actually ordered one yet).
Tuesday they have Tiki Tuesday, with Tiki themed cocktails that all run about 10.00 a pop.
Their regular menu consists of both originals and classics that run from 8-11 dollars each. 
My friend and I both order two cocktails each. His were both of the menu, and were very delicious and to his liking. My first one was off the Menu, also good, but a little too smokey for my tastes (Not a big Mezcal fan, and it had Mezcal in it.) The second drink I had was off the menu, because business started picking up a little later into the night. 
Though you're more than welcome to order off the menu, and probably would on a night that they are busy. It seems though that during their off hours the bartenders are ore than willing to make you something of their own creation, or that was on a previous menu that they really enjoy. They ask you questions, see what you like. "Do you like Boozy, or light? Refreshing, or Heavy? What Spirit do you typically drink?" Very friendly and very nice bartenders here at the Brookylnite. 
With that being said they do have a bit of a mouth on them. There was a lot of cursing going on on this Monday night, the language might offend some people, it didn't effect me much. In fact I think it somehow added to the vibe that the Brooklynite is all about. "I do what I want." I mean isn't that what the rebels on Prohibition were? People that liked drinking, having a cocktail, talking with their friends, and not letting some law rule their lives?

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!

Price: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Bartenders: 4.5
Happy Hour: 4-7 Monday through Friday, where you can get Daiquiris, Old Fashions, Brooklynite, and some other cocktail for $5.00
Food: Yes

The Pig Pen

Honestly if I was making a review based on just the food here, it would be five stars. The BBQ that the Smoke Shack is serving up is the best. Nice and greasy, and delicious. YUM. But I'm not reviewing just the food that's located at the little truck in the back of the bar. I'm reviewing the bar itself. Which is good, for the most part. The bar consists of two bar areas. One catering to the inside, where there is a band that usually plays, and the outside catering to a playground that kids can enjoy while their parents partake in inhibitors that the bar offers. 
I came on a Saturday night, during a  Spurs game (towards the end of it), with myself and three friends. My friends were hungry, so we went straight to the little food truck in the back to get some BBQ, which is when we learned that the little shack in the back is only where they make the food....but you actually have to order at the Bar. When you order the bar gives you a number and the servers at the bar will bring your food out to you. Which was a little weird, given that the silver wear, onions, pickles and usual BBQ fixings were next to the truck, so if you needed any of those things you would have to go over there anyway. 

In any case. We ordered, they stop serving food at 10, and then stop serving drinks at 12. (Which if you ask me is kinda of early for a bar on a saturday night, but to each their own.)
My friends got the Brisket Nachos, Two Punches and a Taco. After ringing in the order, and bringing us our drinks that Bartender let my friends know that they were out of Brisket, and suggested Pulled pork instead. So that's what we got! Pulled Pork Nachos.

The Punches were pretty good. They were kind of small, and they were basically Long Island Iced Teas but with a different name. So a classic, with a name twist. Cant's really go wrong. The PULLED PORK NACHOS THOUGH. This shit is kind of expensive, it's like 12 bucks for the Nachos. BUT YOU GET SOOOO MUCH! There were four of us, two of which were really hungry. After the two that originally ordered the nachos ate some, the rest of us shared what was left. Which was about 3/4 of the plate. An hour later, and were still weren't able to finish them. Four grown women couldn't finish a plate of nachos. I am ashamed. But that just lets you know how big these things actually are. They are pricey, but well worth the money. 

Now the reason there is 4 star review instead of something higher, is simply because of the service. While everyone there is very nice, and friendly, it did take them quite awhile to actually come to us in order to get our order. We sat at the bar for about ten minutes before someone greeted us. Then after ordering the service was still slow with getting the drinks out.

If the speed of service is worked on, I will totally be back.

Smoke Shack is also good? I think? They have the same food; as does the truck which i tried two years ago.....

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!

Price:4
Atmosphere:4
Staff:3
Happy Hour: none
Food: Yes (and its damn good.)

The Last Word

This place is amazing! As good as it gets.
It is a little pricey, but its Downtown! What would you expect? Really, the price isn't that different from most (good) cocktail bars in the area. Drinks range from $8-$13 dollars with some shot specials. Typical prices. 
I have visited this bar many times before, once on New Years, which despise being slammed were friendly and helpful to those that they were serving. 
Usually I go into the bar when Happy Hour is over, which is from 4-7 offering 5 dollar cocktails (three to choose from). During the off Happy Hour Hours that i have visited I've ordered a drink called Stage Dives and Fist Fights.....which might be the best thing in the world. It is the perfect balance or spirits coming together in one cocktail. I'm not a big Mezcal fan, but this drink makes me eat my words, (or drink them, in this case.)
This past visit, i actually made it in time for a happy hour, which included a Slow and Low Old Fashion. Which. Was Amazing. The Slow and low is on tap at the Bar right now (the spirit on tap does rotate). And the Old Fashioned it's made with is excellent. The bartenders are friendly, and there is food  in case you get hungry!
I wish the Happy hour applied to the cocktails on the menu. but it doesn't. and yet they are still amazing. Besides the Stage Dives and Fist Fights, I've had friends order other cocktails, but I to be honest, It was New Years and I dont really remember what we got, or how good it was. When i visited during this past Happy Hour though, there were other consumers there that were trying the Cocktails off the menu, and there is absolutely no shortage of creativity in the presentation of the concoctions. The Apex Predator is served in a Tiki Glass, and actually comes served on a plate with a little garnish. This place has mad plating skills. It actually made me want to spring the money on the most expensive cocktail on  he menu. Budget, however, says that I have to wait. (Maybe when the Income tax check arrives I can order it?)
All in All. GO TO THIS BAR. GET ALL THE DRINKS. The menu is seasonal (as it is as most bars), and is subject to change. SO ACT NOW. 

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!

Price: 3
Atmosphere: 5
Staff: 5
Happy Hour: 5 
(Monday - Friday 5-7, offering $5 cocktails (Old Fashion, Gimlet, and one other...) and House Wine)
Food: Yes

-Drinking In S.A.
Tavern Wench signing off.

Francis Bogside

Alright Ya'll! Here we are! The first review of the blog!  decided to start it out with a Blog that celebrates Irish culture and atmosphere (since I am Irish after all.) It's a nice bar off of St. Mary's in Southtown Area.

Francis Bogside is a great bar. The bartenders here are nice, and they serve some damn good cocktails. Though they have a Happy Hour, prices are still kind of high. They have cocktails ranging from $8-$12. Which is standard for Cocktail Bars, especially in this part of the City. The atmosphere is very chill, reminiscent of an Old Fancy Pub.

I've come here on two separate occasions, once the place was packed on a Tuesday. PACKED. On a TUESDAY?!? It wasn't the bars fault, some office or something decided to make that their place to inhabit for the night and unwind, for some strange reason. The crowd was loud, and drunk. The bartenders seemed mildly annoyed, but there wasn't really anything that they could do about it, except be friendly to all those that were int he bar and offer great service to everyone, which they did. It was just weird for a Tuesday. On this occasion was when I ordered some of their food, they have AMAZING poutine fries. I've heard a lot of the other things on their menu are also hits, but this was the only thing I got that night. Besides the Crowd, the way the Bartenders interacted with one of the bar backs was very strange....at first it seemed like they were joking and picking on the bar back in a friendly way......then the bar back got mad and retaliated, which was when one of the managers/bartenders, put the bar back in his place. It was also very awkward to watch.....while the manager tried to keep voice levels down, (and the large crowd there that night did assist in that), this interaction occurred right in front of me at the bar.....The drink was good though, the food was good, other than that interaction the servers were nice to me, so I couldn't complain. A place I would for sure come back to. 
Which I did. The next time I went into the quaint Irish Pub was about a month and a half after the first experience. It was a Monday, I was in the area, and I knew from my last visit that they had Happy Hour all day! So i stopped in. 
This time I was pleased to find that there was not a large office party occurring in the bar, though it was kinda of busy, it seemed to be mostly couples and small groups of friends that kept to themselves. I took a seat at the end of the bar, ordered an Irish Old Fashion, and for the most part kept to myself. I looked around, seeing if I could find the bar back from the previous visit, I didn't see him. Which could mean that he wasn't scheduled, or that he for some reason or another was no longer working at the establishment. The bartender was very nice. The Old Fashion with an Irish Twist, was good. I've had better, but i'm not the biggest fan or Irish Whiskey (I prefer Bourbon) so maybe that was why. The drink, I have to mention, came with the Maraschino Cherry, and instead of having it served on a Skewer, typical of Bars, it was served on a PLASTIC SCREW! I loved this twist (get it? get it?) and thought it was very unique and fun. At first, I was going to have just that one drink (a girl has to eat after all!). Then, while sipping my old fashion, a couple started talking to me. It was nice, they were friendly and talked well of the bar and the area. We enjoyed a couple of laughs together and thanks to the extra conversation i decided to stretch my wallet and my time a little further and I ordered a Well Drink, since that was also part of the Happy Hour. 
They left shortly after, I finished my drink, asked for my bill, and realized that a well drink costs 6 dollars! Which....is pretty expensive for Well when the Craft cocktails are the same price during Happy hour. (And Jameson is ALWAYS $4!) So after being a little shocked, I tried to pay my tab. I say try, because for some reason the bartenders disappeared.....It took me about 5 minutes to finally see one of them poke their had from out of the back, and come swipe my card and close out my tab. A great manager once told me that you can have the best experience, but if you stand around when you are done waiting to pay, it can turn the whole visit sour.
All in all, Francis Bogside is a a good bar. They need to work a little on the mannerisms that the staff gives off (dont be in the back for 5 minutes, dont reprimand staff members right in front of guests). They also might want to look at well prices? But they do have a beautiful bar, in a great location,, with friendly people, good food, and quality drinks and cocktails going for them. So if you want a chill place, with good ambiance and drinks, pay them a visit. Just make sure there isn't a large business party, and if its Happy Hour? Stick with a cocktail or a Draft. 
Price:3
Atmosphere:5
Staff:4
Happy Hour: 3
(Monday All Day Tues-Fri 4-7 get $6 Irish Old Fashion, Ivy Gimlet, or Pimm's Cup and $1 off all wells and drafts)
Food: Yes.
Drinking in SA.

(Menu)

(Irish Old Fashion)

(Happy Hour Menu)

 There are lots of things going on around this bar, and happenings at the bar itself. Make sure to follow them on Instagram so you can stay up to date on all they have! (i'm talking Patty's Day celebrations, Goat Roasts, and much more!). If you want something sweet while you are there, you should definitely check this place out on Sunday afternoons were a local Baker is serving doughnuts at this lovely establishment!

Everything Ranges on a scale of 1-5!
Overall: 4
Would I go back? Yes.....I already have.....
 Website


Tavern Wench. OUT. 

The Pitch...

COME ONE AND COME ALL TO THE ONE STOP HAPPY HOUR GUIDE TO DRINKING IN SAN ANTONIO.

I am the Tavern Wench. A self proclaimed Happy Hour Hound here in the lovely home of the Alamo. 

After two years after trying and researching and going to literally DOZENS of different websites I got fed up with how hard it was to find a Happy Hour guide in San Antonio. I wanted a website that would tell me what and where the deals were in San Antonio, so that I could decide what place I wanted to venture to that night! 

After wondering why San Antonio didn't have a spot or site like this, (or at least one that was user friendly) I decided, why not make my own?!? So I am.

This first installment is to Introduce who I am and what this is going to be. Not only will it be a list of the Happy Hours in San Antonio (which will be the next entry), it will also be a blog that reviews the Bars and the Happy Hours, posts pictures from my ventures there and shares the ups and the downs of the bars in this cultural and diverse city. 

The reviews themselves will consist of either video reviews and blog entrees, or (for those days I'm not wearing make up....) will be written reviews. Those that are written reviews will follow the same prompt for every establishment that is visited, where I give an overall rate, a price rate, an atmosphere, a staff, and a Happy Hour Rating. Along withe the Happy Hour rating, the happy hour details will be included.  Thrown in here there might also be some special segments about making cocktails and different recipes that enable you to turn YOUR HOME into a Happy Hour! (What? My house? With my cat? In my PJ's? I't can't be!) I mean after all, the reason we look for Happy Hours and NEED this site is because we all have empty wallets and want to get a real bang for our buck. There is not a better way to do that then by saving money drinking at home! With that being said though, just like with cooking, it's nice to have someone else make drinks for us. 

Anywho, the name of this blog will be Drinking In S.A. We will be drinking.....at Happy Hours....here, in SA. We will also be drinking in our houses in S.A. We will ALSO be experiencing and DRINKING IN (get it?) everything this lovely city has to offer. So I hope you follow along as I journey to all the Happy Hours! And if you visit one, let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, where I will post photos before I likely get around to the reviews. The Instagram is RinnWench. 

Until next time,
The Tavern Wench.
(Yeah, that's gunna be my pen name, wanna fight about it?)