Taking flight
Jet-setting new cocktail lounge takes flight in downtown San Antonio
One of San Antonio’s busiest barmen just got a little bit busier. Benjamin Krick, the general manager behind much-missed watering hole Juniper Tar, tells CultureMap that he will debut two new concepts in the spring.
The first bar was already on the Alamo City radar. After a series of permitting delays caused him to shelve plans for Christmas pop-up bar Miracle, Krick says he is finally on track to open Pastiche, the highly anticipated new bar coming to 1506 E. Houston St., sometime in early April.
The second project is a little more of a surprise. Krick says that he is busy renovating the former home of the Boulevardier Group’s The Last Word at 229 E. Houston St. Most recently utilized by the San Antonio Cocktail Conference, the space will be completely transformed with a full cosmetic renovation including new furniture, walls, and bathrooms.
Although Krick says he wants to keep most of the details about the new concept under wraps — including the name — he did say that the bar will pick up where Juniper Tar left off with a drinks program inspired by his international travels. As with Juniper Tar, he will use a variety or local spirits and employ a wide variety of wines as modifiers instead of adding sugars.
In keeping with the global bottle selection, Krick says the bar will have an entirely different feel than the literary themed Last Word. Although he is keeping the long rectangular bar, he says customers can expect the vibe to be like a “midcentury international sky lounge.”
Noting that the bar is near the Majestic Theater and squeezed between two downtown institutions — Bohanan’s Prime Steak and Seafood and The Palm — Krick says he wants to deliver a quality experience to both tourists and locals looking for a nice night on the town.
“I want to push myself even further than before, and deliver an extra level of creativity — a full package of comfortability and experience,” he says, adding that he wants to give visitors “another reason to come to San Antonio.”
Those intrigued visitors can book their flight for early spring, when Krick anticipates the opening.
Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panaderia.
Courtesy photo