Where to Drink Now

Where to drink in San Antonio right now: 5 favorite spots for fancy flights

Beer Flight at Whiskey Cake in San Antonio

Delight in a fancy flight.

This edition of where to drink focuses on fancy flights, because discovering new things while drinking is key. These San Antonio bars serve dazzling flights of various flavors — from wine to whiskey — to help you uncover what truly delights your palate.

High Street Wine Wine Co.
You can head on over to the Pearl for a 2-ounce pour of a very nice selection of wines based around some fun themes: Stay Golden, All The Way Up!, Danub Look Good, or our favorite, Rosé All Day! Rosé All Day includes Paul Chollet Pinot Noir blend, Crémant de Bourgogne sparkling rosé, Lorenza Grenache California rosé, and Chateau Pigoudet Coteaux d’Aix en Provence rosé.

Hoppy Monk
For local beer lovers, the Hoppy Monk has a must-try Freetail Brewing Flight. It features the Bat Outta Helles, San Antonio Pale Ale, and a seasonal offering. Order the Gochu IPA wings with spicy fermented gochujang sauce for the perfect pairing.

Sangria on the Burg
This fascinating spot serves up amazing bites and a great flight. Try the sangria flight — you know it will be divine when the namesake is involved. Our favorite was the Jameson Ginger with white wine, ginger syrup, pineapple, orange, ginger ale, and Jameson Irish whiskey.

Stella Public House
Come for brunch and order a mimosa flight, with four glasses of sparkling to sip on. Our favorites were the pear, served with pear nectar, caramelized pear, and cardamom; the Hawaiian with pineapple juice with grenadine; and the mango chili with mango juice, lime, and a chili-and-sugar rim.

Whiskey Cake
Whiskey Cake has a wide variety of flights, from whiskey to beer. Our table’s go-to was the Hop Head Flight, with Karbach Weekend Warrior, Saint Arnold’s Endeavor, Founders Centennial IPA, and Oskar Blues Pinner. The Rye Whiskey Flight is worth a shot, too.

wine where-drink craft-beer

IN MEMORIAM

Beloved San Antonio Tex-Mex joint fries its last gordita

Photo courtesy of Lala's Gorditas

Lala's Gorditas will shutter December 24.

When Steven Pizzini opened Lala's Gorditas, it seemed like his birthright. Not only was the tiny Southside joint named after his maternal grandmother, but it was built on generational restaurant know-how that dates back to the 30s. After five turbulent years, that legacy is being cut short.

Via Facebook, Pizzini announced he would shutter Lala's after service on December 24. Although the post does not fully explain the reasoning behind the closure, it capped one of the restaurant's most turbulent years.

"We hope everyone will come by and share a laugh or tear and send Lala's off in grand style," Pizzini writes. "On behalf of my staff and myself, it's been an honor and a pleasure to serve you these last five years. You'll see my staff in other great dining places, no doubt, and I plan to enjoy my retirement."

Opened in March 2019, Lala's continued his family's long history in the San Antonio hospitality community. His aunt Ernestine Pizzini Chapa founded Teka Molino in 1938. His father and uncle, Herman and Eddie Pizzini, established Taco Hut in 1958.

The simple menu was aptly time-honored, offering San Antonio favorites like guacamole cups, bean rolls, puffy tacos, and signature gorditas. Pizzini didn't take shortcuts, nixtamalizing corn on site. It was, at first, a formula for success.

Unfortunately, Pizzini faced challenges from the get-go, including a lack of parking and an outdoor dining space. The COVID-19 pandemic hit before he could celebrate his first year. In 2022, he told the San Antonio Current that supply availability and costs were wreaking havoc on his business.

In the past year, the restaurant has twice appealed to the local community for support. The most recent plea, on June 11, admitted many of the restaurant's shortcomings. Despite the struggles, Pizzini expressed no sour grapes.

"On a personal note, I will miss the wonderful community Lala's has created with our authentic food and friendly service," wrote the longtime San Antonio chef. "It's been an extraordinary experience getting to know so many of you and sharing my family's legacy through our traditional Tex-Mex recipes."

tex-mex southside closings