The Most Delicious Music Venues in San Antonio

Main Street Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (36) • $

"I had driven by Main Street Bar plenty of times, and it seemed small.. run down...almost too divey if that's a thing. Or more like it just wouldn't be my cup of tea. Boy.. was I wrong. It's a nice, quaint, neighborhood bar, that definitely needs to be judged once inside. The bartenders are prompt and super friendly. The inside of the bar has about 10-15 tables, and then stools around the bar. There is a nice large patio as well. They do offer bar food, which I did not try. There was a shuffle board table inside as well, and plenty of TVs. They have been around for like 30 years! They did have house infused liquors as well, but I just went with my usual, and ordered a beer. Which was served to me in a koozie! Whoa. You just won my heart, Main Street Bar! We came in on a Saturday night, they were going to have a band, and my MIL was looking for some good live music. The band had a nice little set up, there is a small stage where they preform. I am under the impression there is live music every Saturday, different bands. It was definitely busy for a Saturday night, but not too packed, still enjoyable. Definitely a dive bar. Different specials offered each day! And a comedy night!"

Shady Lady Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.4 (15) • $$

"Great neighborhood bar. Not pricey. Staff and patrons here are friendly. They have screens inside and out on the patio with another bat outside. Live music on the weekends. They also have steak nights. Pool tables. Jukebox as well."

The Mix

★★★★☆ 3.7 (80) • $

"Once upon a time about two or three years ago, the mix was a older establishment with a punk rock feeling to it, where you could sit on old chairs and tables and couches and be content with cheap alcohol. Fast forward to now and you can still get the same alcohol, but in a nicer fresher, more hip atmosphere. Don't worry music still plays here and the same people still show up drinking, just stop boy to enjoy the music, drinks and nightlife on North St. Mary's and of the OG bars."

Rancho 181

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"We saw it on FB and decided to drive 30 miles to go see a band and so glad we did!!! We got more than we expected. It's a beautiful clean place with turf all around, picnic tables, many TVs with sports on, great food trucks and alcohol beverages trucks! The service was efficient and my 1st time at El Cevichero (food was delicious)!!! No cover charge and a family friendly environment!!"

Zombies

★★★★☆ 4.2 (69) • $

"If you're a fan of dismembered limbs for decór and metal music, I've found your haven. For all the rest of us, this is still a pretty cool spot. I've been to Zombies a handful of times by now and I'm a fan. Its dark, low lit, and just a hair above your average dive bar ambiance-wise, but you CANNOT beat the drink specials. Ladies night (Wednesday) features Dos X for $1.50 (among a few others), there are shot specials every night, and if the jukebox isn't blasting there's normally live music or karaoke keeping everyone's heads bobbin. One of the owner's name is Toni, a neat lady who's either slinging drinks behind the bar or mingling with the guests. She introduced my group to a 'warm apple pie' cocktail that literally tasted like a slice of apple pie (even topped with whipped cream) and it might be my favorite thing ever. The bartenders are great, the other guests have always been friendly, I'll never turn down an invite to Zombies."

1902 Night Club

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (45)

"Great place to have a birthday, girls night out, or celebrate with friends. Staff works hard to ensure top notch service for a fun night."

Lowcountry

★★★★☆ 3.8 (56) • $$

"I want to start out by saying this bar isn't for everyone. Not everybody is going to like it, it is smaller than most, and if you have a goo band playing it'll be hard to find a seat inside. The patio however is spacious, and the drinks are so, so, good. It is a cocktail bar, though they do offer some bottled beers and wine. They have a cocktail menu that is written daily, so it's always changing. while some might be disappointed to find that a drink they liked one day, isn't on the menu the next, I think it's what makes the bar so great. Variety is the spice of life after all!This really is your friendly neighborhood bar, the bartenders are all quite experienced and are pulled in from bars all over the city. if you frequent the bar scene, and frequent this bar, it will quickly become like cheers, where "everyone will know your name."There is frequently live music playing, either in doors or outside depending on the weather. The ambiance is great, on the patio you can see the Tower of the Americas. The inside perfectly captures a balance between divey and classy, intimate and friendly. It's a really great bar, and while not everyone will like it, they should at least give it a chance."

Bond's 007 Rock Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (47) • $

"Do you like Metal? ... If that answer is Yes!... then head to Bonds 007 Rock Bar every chance you can get!Great Jukebox always rockingLive Music upstairs on Weekends& Free Popcorn!Great dive bar downtown along the Riverwalk... but you won't find it in the heart of the city... head north just a bit... right next door to Korova night club."

Hi-Tones

★★★★☆ 4.3 (70) • $

"Pickle PICKLE PICKLE!!Now that you've read it three times you are now going to forever affiliate Hi-Tones with some of the best Pickle Shots a bar has to offer.They're just so addicting and for $2 a piece how can they not be!For those of ya who have crave something on the tangy spicy side don't worry they have you covered as well with their infamous Chamoy Shots.This is one of my favorite places to be with my friends with as the atmosphere is just so laid back and the music (including live bands frequently) is just too hard to pass up on.The bartending staff is very friendly and always willing to give you drink ideas.They take pride to being "Home of the Original Pickle and Chamoy Shots"Don't worry about Hi-Tones burning a hole in your wallet as most of their drinks are under $6It's a smaller establishment but the patio outside is plenty big. So come for the drinks and stay for the music. You'll be glad you came to check this place out."

The Bend

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (68) • $

"My husband and I stopped in last weekend to watch the college games and our server was great! I like the fact, you can actually "hear" the games instead of just watching. Great drinks."

Howl at the Moon San Antonio

★★★★☆ 3.5 (428) • $$

"Great piano bar experience for our company retreat this week. Everyone had a fantastic time."

Pink Shark

★★★★★ 4.7 (29)

"I recently visited a Pink Shark and had an incredible time that completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance set the perfect mood--stylish décor, and an energetic yet relaxed vibe that made it the ideal spot for both a night out and a chill hangout. The music was absolutely on point, creating an atmosphere that kept the energy flowing. Each drink was expertly crafted with unique flavors and fresh ingredients. The bartenders were not only skilled but also passionate about their craft, offering recommendations based on personal tastes. Whether you're there to dance or simply enjoy a well-made drink in a great setting, this place is the spot. I'll definitely be back for another unforgettable night!"

The Lonesome Rose

★★★★☆ 4.4 (36)

"The name sounded suspiciously like a strip club to us, but it isn't. Let's sum it up: It's a live music dive bar with a patio and food trucks, regional craft and domestic beer, and a full bar with some creative cocktails. The main room has a stage and retro cafe seating, and our booth seat actually rocked forward dangerously every time my friend plopped down next to me. They may or may not have air conditioning, but there are a couple of window units in the wall behind the stage, and several box fans pointed downward from the ceiling. So it was a little stuffy in September. And the place was packed, which we aren't used to seeing in the Time of Covid, especially since maybe only three other people were masked. So I was a little nervous, tbh. But everyone was obviously having a great time. They have a back patio with a food truck, but the live music is inside.We don't often come to San Antonio anymore, but we made an exception to see these particular bands, and noticed that the entire street had clubs that were equally as packed. The party is back on in San Antonio, y'all, for better or for worse. May the odds be ever in your favor.Parking is available in their very small lot or along the street, shared with the rest of the neighborhood."

151 Saloon

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (87) • $

"This is an awesome honkytonk to hang out in. They've got a decent sized dancefloor, a TouchTunes jukebox, and live music on weekend evenings. The bands are usually local cover bands, but they cover the Texas regional Red Dirt style music, so I really dig that.They have a full bar with $2.50 wells and domestic beers until 8pm. The only downside is, they don't have any beer on tap. Bottles and cans only. The beer selection isn't huge, but they do carry a few Texas brewed regional beers.Plenty of seating on the inside, and PLENTY of more seating on the outside deck and patio. Sometimes they have food trucks outside, but other times, they only have someone inside the front door selling tacos, and quesadillas, etc.The soap dispenser in the bathroom doesn't work, so you have to scoop your hand into it to get soap - um, no thanks. But that's really the only issue I had - I'm adding this place to my "keepers" list. It was fun hanging out here!"

Jaime's Place

★★★★☆ 4.4 (24) • $$

"Rode our bikes on a Pub Ride on Sunday, 2/20 and stopped here for Aqua Sol Sunday with DJ Despienada who was spinning some great tunes from Tejano, Rock and Funk that was nice on this wonderful winter day. The place had a good local crowd as we all enjoyed food, drinks and music. Service was super sweet and they had a couple crafts on tap (sorry Yuengling isn't craft...lol). Was going to the port-a-potty outside and a gentleman told me there were restrooms inside and I should look around. So glad I went inside to see this old house transformed into a nice area with sitting areas and stairs leading upstairs. This is a great place to enjoy the city feel with beer and food."

Sam's Burger Joint

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (542) • $$

"Not at all regarding the food...which is good!I mean let's be honest...it's a burger...but a good one.This is an historic music venue!Go there in any given night, and very possibly see a band who one day will be on the national stage!!This is an iconic venue, great place, staff, seating, drinks!This is what the Armadillo World Headquarters once was in Austin!See for yourself!"

Jandro's Garden Patio

★★★★☆ 4 (24) • $

"This place has instantaneously become one of my favorite bars in San Antonio. The live music here is amazing on the weekends! The bartenders are very quick and know what they are doing. I had an old fashioned and a sazerac and both drinks were made perfectly. It kind of feels like one of the bars on Rainey street in Austin.P.s. My favorite food truck in San Antonio is across the street! This place could not get any better... Grab you some Tacos El Regio on the way out."

Luna

★★★★☆ 4.4 (145) • $$

"What a great venue, wonderful live music, a good dancing floor with patrons of multiple ages- no pretentious crap that you see at trendy clubs just good live R&B music with a lively crowd and everyone welcome"

The Martini Club

★★★★☆ 3.9 (84) • $$

"We went here Saturday night to see a live band that started at 9PM. We we're meeting a group of friends. My husband and I got here around 8:35. We paid the 10$ a person cover. The bar was not full but every single table and every single barstool at the bar and another bar top seating had reserved signs on them. That seemed really strange considering your charging a cover and there is no place to sit down. My husband went to the lady who had just taken our cover and asked why there were no seats available. She said if people did not come by 9:30 they would take the reserved signs off. Getting a drink was difficult. This bar has many regulars and the bar staff was busy taking care of them. Our friends get there and 6 of us are in a corner around a small table, at 9:35 we move the table in front of ours to allow us to spread out a bit. The lady at the front who took our cover came to our table and asked why we had pulled the table to ours. I told her that you can't charge a cover charge for an event if every seat is taken. The lady got all upset and told me I did not have to have that attitude. My whole thing is if every seat is reserved then it needs to be closed for a private party. Please also inform people before they pay the cover that there is not seating until a certain time. The music was good. The drinks at the bar were very slow. They seem to have a very loyal crowd of regulars. Hopefully the owners/managers understand that customer service matters when your in the hospitality business."

Thirsty Horse Dance Hall & Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.7 (129) • $

"It had been years since I had been two-stepping/ dancing, so I was excited to find a place near my house that I could go to on a whim this past Friday night with a friend. When we arrived, it was difficult to find parking but after circling a few times, we were able to find a spot. We arrived at 9:59PM and were told it was $5 cover per person but while getting cash out, it struck 10:00 so we were told the price was now $7. It was a bit weird for the price to change suddenly, but we paid and went on in. We went to the bar right up at the front and ordered a bud light and a Deep Eddy Lime Vodka w/ Club Soda & Lime (my drink). The bartender, Mike, was great and the prices were reasonable which I appreciated. Mike hustled to get everyone their drinks quickly and it tasted great so I went back to him for each drink during the outing. The crowd was a lot older than I expected it to be, but as the night went on, this changed dramatically. At first, it seemed to be a 60+ crowd but was closer to 30+ by 12:30AM. I loved that this wasn't a bar full of college aged individuals. Everyone was courteous and fun throughout the night. I also have to mention that the live music was fantastic! One thing I didn't love is the amount of space that was reserved for private parties. Many of the spaces stayed empty all night and it seemed like a shame as my friends and I would've loved to hang out in those areas. There were servers going around with test tubes shots as well and they had such fun flavors. I tried the sweettarts and it really tasted like the candy... dangerous but fun! Overall, this was a really fun place that I will visit again!"

Tony G's Soul Food

★★★★☆ 4 (460) • $$

"Came here based on Yelp rating. Very disappointed in the food. I had lunch special of red beans and rice with sausage and two small round cornbread muffins with lemonade. Husband had shrimp and fried catfish, green beans, french fries and 2 small cornbread muffins with a big red. It cost us $41 with the tipGood things first: Atmosphere/decor is spot on. Am told on Sundays they have a buffet and live Jazz and Soul Music. The waitress was amazing. She spoke clearly, was charming and did not keep us waiting.Next the not so good. The beans and rice w/sausage was bland! The green beans had bacon in them, but still tasted like canned green beans. The cornbread muffins taste like Martha White mix (not bad, but not what you would expect from such a reputed place) the fried shrimp and catfish were ok; Crispy and not oily. I won't say I will not come back, but if I do will try something different next time."

Rebar

★★★★☆ 3.5 (72) • $

"My new favorite local neighborhood bar!! They have decently priced happy hour specials but it's definitely about the vibe for me. The other bars on Broadway struggle with their identities because of the strangely diverse clientele but at Rebar, you can just come as you are. The somewhat divided chill areas lend well to intimate conversations while the bar offers up your usual bar banter, and I just discovered that they have an outdoor patio (as well as a tiny one up front) that's shaded and has a modest little fountain. I'll definitely be back, maybe even today ;)"

Margaritaville - San Antonio

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (698) • $$

"Came in to get out of the heat and to have 1 more drink before leaving San Antonio River Walk. I got the coconut something. Actually my friend ordered, and I just said the same. The drink was delicious, with a great coconut flavor. It was cold, refreshing, and I drank it down pretty quickly. We did order fried pickles and chips and salsa as well to share. I really liked the salsa. It was a little chunky, with a medium heat. Fried pickles were great too. Waitress was nice. It was a nice end to our day at the River Walk"

Picks Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (144) • $

"This is the perfect Sunday Funday place!!!! The vibe, live music, decor and staff are all FIVE STARS!!! The Happy Hour is the best around and $18 Margarita Pitchers is such an amazing price! Cute photo ops all over the bar and the outside patio is perfect for a fall sunny day. Small intimate areas to catch up with the girls or to catch the game outside on one of the many TV's!I have not been to the Drag Show on Sunday yet but I've heard that it was such a fun time so it is definitely on my list of things to do! I've been Friday evening for HH right after work hours and at around 8/9pmish the vibe definitely started to change as the live music moved out and the DJ started playing and people were definitely dressed to impress. Cute drinks that all seem handcrafted! I will definitely be returning here!"

The Amp Room

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (19) • $

"Get Amped! This is a great place to catch a live show on the St Mary's Strip. Located between Joey's and Chisme. I enjoy the intimate feel of this place- a small stage with plenty of lounge-like seating- sofas, easy chairs, etc. Lots of places to gather a big group around and take in the tunes. It's cool how the bar has coins lacquered into the bar top so you can check out weird currencies from foreign lands. A numismatist's dream! The bar service was rather slow, and I got overcharged for my drinks/cover. I feel a bit like I got hustled a bit on the bar tab, and if I had paid cash I'd have had less problems. But I should give the benefit of the doubt, and maybe I just wasn't paying attention. The place was clean, and the restrooms were nice. Parking is easy with a lot shared with the other businesses around."

Smash'd

★★★★☆ 4.3 (86) • $$

"Great smash burger. Awesome vibes. Great wings. Service is fantastic. Fries are so good - whatever that seasoning is is life changing."