San Antonians looking to wet their whistles in a new watering hole or two in this new year are in luck. Several traditional and upscale bars, bar-and-grill concepts, and craft-beer taprooms are set to start slinging drinks in and around San Antonio in 2022. Check out these 10 new San Antonio-area establishments that are raising the bar.
The Lucky Duck, 810 N. Alamo St.
Celebrating its second anniversary this month, the East Austin bar is expanding its concept to the eastern edge of downtown San Antonio. According to reports, owners Michael Bajec and Bay and Thomas Le say they see much potential in the North Alamo Street/I-37 area, a new hot spot of sorts that also includes popular establishments like Roadmap Brewing Co., Bentley’s Beer Garden, Artisan Craft Bar, and Burleson Yard Beer Garden. The Austin Lucky Duck is dog-friendly and features a large patio, draft craft beer and cocktails, and food truck cuisine, and locals here can expect similar offerings. The San Antonio location will be housed in a vacant 6,000-square-foot, two-story building. A filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says renovations at the future bar will be completed by May.
Conversa Elevated, 20327 I-10 West
Visitors will no doubt be treated to elevated conversations and drinks in this two-story bar that is scheduled to open over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Conversa Elevated is billed as an upscale lounge that will offer chef-curated bites and specialty cocktails. Aspiring patrons may book a table online to assure themselves of a more intimate atmosphere. The dress code will vary by levels: No shorts, sandals, ball caps, or jerseys will be allowed on the bottom floor, and business casual and cocktail attire are preferred upstairs.
The Aiden Hotel Speakeasy, 1130 E. Commerce St.
Best Western has been overhauling an older property in St. Paul’s Square, just east of downtown, into Aiden, designed to be a trendy boutique hotel. But according to reports, the new Aiden will also include a basement speakeasy in the same space where a speakeasy operated during the Prohibition era. The hotel and the yet-unnamed speakeasy are both expected to open this spring.
Potchernick’s Cervecería, 211 N. St. Mary’s St.
What used to be Potchernick’s Sporting Goods throughout the 20th century is being reimagined as a restaurant and brewery beer garden with access off the River Walk. The new property owners have been restoring a 200-foot-long, 28-foot-wide space that has been vacant since the sporting goods store closed in 1991. The renovation project will be adding a 185-foot-long covered walkway linking the restaurant and brewery to the River Walk. Artist renderings show two-top tables, bar stools, and picnic tables — enough seating for 100-plus guests inside and outside.
Stetson Dance Hall, 11881 Bandera Rd.
The former home of Cooter Brown’s, a famed country-western dance hall, has undergone a revamp to accommodate Stetson Dance Hall, which is expected to open in February. Stetson Dance Hall is the brainchild of Doug Ackerly, Will Huey, and Matt Rapp, all of whom own local bars The Hangar, Stout House, and Stetson Bar.
Künstler Brewing at Hemisfair
CultureMap San Antonio reported on the Southtown brewpub’s announcement that it would open a second location at Hemisfair in 2022. Künstler Tap and Brat-Haus will offer head brewer and co-owner Vera Deckard’s renowned beers alongside Künstler’s German-style cuisine.
Big Hops Cibolo, 4470 Green Valley Rd.
The local craft-beer taproom chain is expanding again, with the newest locations having opened on Potranco Road and in New Braunfels. The Cibolo Big Hops taproom will be located in a growing commercial area in Cibolo, and will fill growlers and crowlers and offer bottles and cans of beer.
Colt’s Sports Park Bar, 11056 Applewhite Rd.
The South Side’s newest multi-sports venue includes a full bar, complete with snacks, pool tables, and live music. The venue fully opened in January and has already come out swinging. The indoor-outdoor venue is family-friendly and dog-friendly and includes kickball and softball fields, a sand volleyball court, designated areas for horseshoes and cornhole, and those ever-popular giant bar games.
Dash, 1017 N. Flores St.
Local chef Michael Sohocki recently launched Dash at the former eatery 5 Points Local, just north of downtown. Dash offers “European classic cocktails with Japanese techniques.” Dash sits in the upper portion of the same building where Sohocki also recently reopened Kimura, his popular ramen restaurant, on the lower level.
Kung Fu Saloon, 5531 N.W. Loop 1604
Next door to the new Camp 1604, the also new Kung Fu Saloon offers a playscape for adults, providing more than a dozen vintage arcade games, traditional pub and board games such as foosball, Skee Ball, and Giant Connect Four. There’s also a full bar featuring craft beer on tap, including favorites from some local breweries, pub grub, rotating pop-culture themes, and pickle shots that are popular in other Kung Fu Saloon locations, including those in Austin and Nashville.
The Lucky Duck.
