Santé

Anticipated international cocktail bar finally opens on San Antonio's East Side

The Pastiche team scoured local shops to find vintage glassware.

Photo courtesy of Pastiche

San Antonio’s East Side is about to get a taste of la belle vie. After originally anticipating opening in fall 2018, cocktail bar Pastiche will finally debut on September 13 at 1506 E. Houston St.

The European-inspired concept is the work of local entrepreneur Lucas Bradbury and acclaimed barman Benjamin Krick, the team behind downtown’s Jet-Setter. Like that bar, Pastiche will have an international feel informed by Krick’s extensive globe-trotting, notes a release.

But where the sleek Jet-Setter takes its cues from midcentury airline travel, Pastiche has a homier feel with vintage glassware, a backyard pétanque (a game similar to bocce) court, and a small herb garden providing a steady supply of garnishes.

Although the final beverage menu has not been released, it will be heavily focused on European wines and spirits. In 2018, Krick told CultureMap that the cocktails will incorporate “aromatized wines, fortified wines, and teas.”

The teas will be supplied by local shop Blüm Specialty Coffee & Tea, the “extraction bar” from the team behind Pulp Coffee. Downtown French bakery La Boulangerie will provide a selection of small bites.

Eventually Pastiche will host community events like art shows and wine tastings, but for now it is focusing on weekend hours of 4 pm to midnight Thursday and Friday and 11 am to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

"We are a community driven neighborhood bar," says Krick in a release. “Our goal is to grow with this community as it continues to thrive.”

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These Boots Are Made for Sippin'

Western rooftop bar pop-up gets San Antonio in the mood for the rodeo

High Praise/Instagram

The Dusty Diamond is ready for rodeo romps.

Before the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo get here in February, a temporary rodeo-ready bar is settling in. Every Thursday through Sunday, from now until March 2 (completely encapsulating the actual rodeo's schedule), the themed pop-up Dusty Diamond is taking over High Praise Rooftop Bar.

The Intercontinental San Antonio Riverwalk debuted in August of 2024, and with it was High Praise. That makes this the "first-ever rodeo-themed pop-up bar," according to a press release — suggesting that this might become a tradition for the new rooftop bar, a moody space with both indoor and outdoor sections.

The Dusty Diamond will have some fun touches in the decor including cowhide rugs, wagon wheels, and lanterns, but the real fun is in the activities. Guests can try riding the mechanical bull, testing their lasso skills, and getting their hats branded and bandanas embroidered by Hat Bar San Antonio. Pus, they can pick up jewelry by Kendra Scott, handmade leather items by Tried and True Leather, and more branding by Tecovas on products made by the brand.

On the drinks menu, there are 10 special cocktails inspired by country hits like "Boots Stop Working" with Tito's Vodka, Cointreau Orange liqueur, raspberries, lemon juice, rosé, and a rose petal; and “If I was a Cowboy" with Pendleton Whiskey, Creole Orgeat, angostura bitters, pecan bitters, and a dried lime garnish. "This One's for the Girls" is a pickly pear ranch water made with Surtierra tequila, a rodeo partner alongside Stockman Wine.

Guests can taste Surtierra and Stockman Wine in the lobby of the hotel from 7-9pm every other Saturday, starting January 18. If they buy a bottle of tequila, all proceeds will benefit scholarships for students in Texas.

The food menu has Tex-Mex bites like shrimp-esquites tostadas, deviled eggs, chips and caviar, pulled pork sliders, and chicken lollipops with jalapeño honey.

High Praise is open from 5-11 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 am to 11 pm on Saturdays, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays. On Saturday, February 1, the pop-up will open early at 9 am so that guests can stop by on their way to the Western Heritage Parade & Cattle Drive on Houston St., which starts at Market Square about half a mile away.

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