Slammed daqs, chispas, longnecks dressed with tajín. In its 300-plus years, San Antonio has racked up a long list of drinking traditions. But perhaps the most pervasive of all is that bars should be places to sit back and relax, not to bluster and preen.

Some are upscale lounges and others rough-and-tumble honky-tonks, but all of the nominees for the CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Bar of the Year have that all-too-rare ease. They’ll welcome you as kindly in chanclas as a pair of Gucci pumps. In an industry bedeviled by the whims of influencers and showboats, there’s magic in being able to deliver a fun night out.

Join us in saluting all the hard work that goes into making bars seem effortless by visiting all the finalists below. Then join us at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony and signature tasting event April 4 at the Briscoe Museum.

You can see all of the Tastemaker Award nominees here and learn more about them in our special editorial series leading up to the big event.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP (includes early access to the event, valet, and a dedicated bar). Prices will increase March 1. Grab your tickets now, because this party will sell out — just like it does every year.

Bar Loretta
Is this Southtown hotspot a restaurant with a strong drink program or bar that happens to serve great food? With its long list of classics and zesty originals like Dope as Me (who knew arugula worked with gin?), Bar Loretta can impress without sending a single tot out of the kitchen, then get guests punch drunk with lobster risotto. We’re not sure if the chicken-egg distinction matters. ¿Por Qué No Los Dos?”

George's Keep
It often feels like the Loop is the only thing buttressing San Antonio from being overrun with chains, but credit is due to the independent concepts fortifying the north. The most decorated among them is surely this Éilan Hotel lounge. With nary a bottle of Josh Chardonnay on the shelves, George’s Keep proves that the soul of hospitality lies in individualism.

Hands Down
With its rows of low-intervention bottles lining one wall, this Southtown hideaway first reads as a trendy wine bar. But that’s carving too deep of a niche. Yes, it’s made for a floaty glou glou afternoon, but it’s just a suitable for margaritas before a First Friday hike. Between those occasions, it’s sometimes an impromptu queer bar, a cozy dance club, or a sunny post-brunch haunt. In short, it does what every third place ought to, providing a place where patrons can simply be themselves.

Holy Diver
One wouldn't know it from some of the Disneyfied descendants, but the original tiki bars were far from flashy affairs. So, it’s refreshing to see this St. Mary’s strip newcomer eschew synchronized thunderstorms and animatronic skulls. Instead, Holy Diver drills into the core of what makes tiki special — punchy drinks, chummy conviviality, and, of course, fantastical mugs.

The Lonesome Rose
In some ways, this St. Mary’s strip mainstay is not unlike any other Texas honky-tonk. Retro signs light up stuffed bucks, Stetsons bob on the dance floor, and the order du jour is a beer and a shot. But where backwoods dives don’t always cotton to newcomers, this Lonesome provides a haven for anyone who’s ever been enchanted by a neon moon. "Y’all means all” may seem like a trite slogan for insulated cups. This honky-tonk lives it.

Sojourn Trading Co.
In a city that still has many mustachioed barkeeps gently stirring Old Fashioneds with a twirled spoon, Sojourn is a step forward in the craft cocktail revolution. Instead of fetishizing American drink craft’s post-Prohibition boom, it argues for a continued exploration of what drinking can be. Lesser known standards mingle with a selection of signatured using ingredients (peanut butter, hoja santa oil) that are startingly new.

Three Star Bar
For some, a dive bar can’t wear the badge without cracks in the Naugahyde, a little mold in the lines, and a grizzled barkeep popping tallboys. Today, authenticity is a slippery conundrum. Gatekeepers may scoff at how this Government Hill watering hole stocks Campari and craft beer. The rest of San Antonio appreciates being able to get a classic cocktail without having to put up with mixologist fuss.

Tony's Siesta
It’s hard to believe that this near-downtown bar is only a few years old. That’s a testament to how mindful Tony’s was of its inheritance. Although not quite a rebirth of the beer bar once housed in the building, it is a continuation of its warmth. While the modern-day patrons may opt for boozy aguas frescas over lagers, they still know where to let loose after a hard day’s work.