Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Antonio
  4. San Antonio
  5. Downtown
Sconce - Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX
Welcome - Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX
Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX
Whiskey - Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX
Lights - Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX

Esquire Tavern

4.4
4.4
648 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 25 times today
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Fancy
Located in the heart of downtown, The Esquire Tavern is the oldest bar on the San Antonio Riverwalk, opened the year, month and day that Prohibition was repealed. Tending bar in the early days was a highly prized and much sought after craft. Bar keeps then created many of their own syrups, mixes and concoctions and used the freshest of juices with the intention of serving the best products. We at the Esquire have taken a serious approach to the old world of bartending and spun it with a modern twist. Combining classic techniques and new world flavors and culinary concepts, our goal is to lead and set San Antonio's emerging cocktail culture on the map.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Dining Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–12:00 am Fri, Sat 11:30 am–2:00 am
  • Phone number
    (210) 222-2521
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Nash Zink
  • Private party facilities
    We can offer the entire bar, dining room and river balcony, accommodating up to 175 guests. Our Downstairs space can also be reserved, with its 15-seat bar and two semi-private lounges which hold 30 guests each. Call well in advance of your event date — availability of the whole place is limited.
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    St. Mary's
  • Parking details
    ** We are OPEN during Commerce Street construction! **<br /><br />The Esquire Tavern is encircled by four parking garages and various street lots, the closest being one half block east, the Market Street Garage across from the Westin Hotel with entrances on East Commerce and Market streets. One block further East on East Commerce and Presa is the City Garage. To the West, The Rand Parking Garage on Soledad and Houston and to the North, the College Street Garage at College and St.Mary’s St.
  • Public transit
    Conveniently located in downtown on the San Antonio River, The Esquire Tavern is within walking distance from most major hotels. In addition, The Esquire is serviced by the Yellow Line Downtown Trolley conveniently located at the corner of Commerce and St. Mary’s fifty feet from our front door.
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 648 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Esquire Tavern is a beloved San Antonio gem, celebrated for its "amazing craft cocktails" and vintage charm. The vibrant atmosphere and historic setting make it a must-visit, especially before a night at the Aztec Theater. While some reviews note menu limitations, many praise the "phenomenal burgers" and attentive service.
648 Reviews
  1. Dana

    San Antonio

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The atmosphere to this gem is very Texan! It’s a throw back in time. The drinks are on point with great food choices. The service is good. Can’t wait to get back! And the speak easy downstairs is totally cool!
    Esquire TavernResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you so much for your kind words, Dana! We're thrilled to hear that you had a 5 star experience with us. We're looking forward to serving you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  2. John

    VIP

    San Antonio

    71 reviews

    3.0

    71 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is excellent. The kitchen got two parts of our order wrong, which took time to fix. Our waiter was good but seemed to have too many tables.
    Esquire TavernResponded 3 days ago
    Hi John, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed our food and found it to be excellent. However, we're sorry to hear about the mix-up with your order. We always aim to deliver a great experience, and we regret that we didn't meet your expectations this time. Your feedback is valuable to us and we will definitely use it to improve our service. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide you with a flawless experience.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Courtney

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was supposed to be a quick bite to eat for us before the 2:00pm nutcracker showing… it turned out to be one of the BEST restaurant experiences I’ve had. I’m a sucker for dimly lit atmospheres, but also an outdoor moment. The balcony overlooking the river is gorgeous. We got the table tucked away by itself on the “balcony island” and had such a lovely lunch. Go to esquire!
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 19, 2024
    Thank you for the glowing review, Courtney! We really appreciate the support and hope to see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Patti

    Tucson

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and excellent, dimly lit setting for date night!
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 16, 2024
    Thank you for the glowing review, Patti! We're so thankful for your support and hope to see you again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  5. russell

    Chicago

    23 reviews

    3.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Three of us went to Esquire for a relaxing evening, and while the atmosphere is lovely, the poor service was stressful. It took 25 minutes to be acknowledged by our server, and when we placed our order, the waiter came back to inform us that two of the three entrees we ordered were not available. Very disappointing.
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 11, 2024
    Hi Russell, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. While we am disappointed we delivered a lackluster experience, we are grateful for the feedback. We know we can do much better. Please know that we are looking forward to welcoming you back and exceeding your expectations.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Ana

    Kansas City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sat outside. Overlooked the river, fast and friendly service. Food was excellent!
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 11, 2024
    Thanks for the stellar review, Ana! We're so glad to hear that we were able to provide you with a 5 star experience. We appreciate you dining with us and look forward to seeing you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  7. melinda

    Corpus Christi

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is okay…but the drinks and service were great!
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 11, 2024
    Hi Melinda, Thanks for the review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our drinks and service during your visit. It's always a pleasure to know that our efforts to provide great food and service are appreciated. We thank you for your feedback and hope to see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Lindsey

    San Antonio

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Went for a date night and a show at the Aztec. Great food and drink options. It is very dark and loud inside. There is a lot of foot traffic from the design of the restaurant, but I don’t mind. Great service!
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 9, 2024
    Thank you for your kind words, Lindsey! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed your post-show visit. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Gretchen

    Austin

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 4, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We stopped in for a meal and drink before a concert. The food was great, but it took a while to get our waiter’s attention. We finally connected and everything was smooth sailing after that. We also visited the downstairs cocktail bar and had the best old-fashioned we’ve ever had. Highly recommend. 
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 5, 2024
    Thanks for your review, Gretchen! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your meal and the cocktails at our bar. We always aim to provide top-notch service, so it's good to know that you felt connected and had a smooth sailing experience. We're also glad that you enjoyed the old-fashioned, which is a popular choice! We look forward to serving you again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Maria

    San Antonio

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Burgers were phenomenal as always, server was exceptional however when other staff were asked for help for something as simple as a salt and pepper shaker, they decided to get our server instead of just bringing them. But beyond that still BeST Burgers in SA!!!
    Esquire TavernResponded on December 3, 2024
    Maria, Thank you so much for your kind words and for your burger loyalty! We really appreciate you continuing to visit us. We'll see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Esquire Tavern offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (210) 222-2521.

Esquire Tavern is rated 4.4 stars by 648 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 25 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Esquire Tavern

155 East Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205

Additional information

  • Cross street
    St. Mary's
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–12:00 am Fri, Sat 11:30 am–2:00 am
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Dining Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    ** We are OPEN during Commerce Street construction! **<br /><br />The Esquire Tavern is encircled by four parking garages and various street lots, the closest being one half block east, the Market Street Garage across from the Westin Hotel with entrances on East Commerce and Market streets. One block further East on East Commerce and Presa is the City Garage. To the West, The Rand Parking Garage on Soledad and Houston and to the North, the College Street Garage at College and St.Mary’s St.
  • Public transit
    Conveniently located in downtown on the San Antonio River, The Esquire Tavern is within walking distance from most major hotels. In addition, The Esquire is serviced by the Yellow Line Downtown Trolley conveniently located at the corner of Commerce and St. Mary’s fifty feet from our front door.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Nash Zink
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (210) 222-2521
  • Private party facilities
    We can offer the entire bar, dining room and river balcony, accommodating up to 175 guests. Our Downstairs space can also be reserved, with its 15-seat bar and two semi-private lounges which hold 30 guests each. Call well in advance of your event date — availability of the whole place is limited.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo