Cocktail bar$$pearlUntil Late
The Modernist near the Pearl runs late as a menu-free cocktail bar where you name a spirit or a classic and the bartender builds the drink to your taste.
Try: Made-to-taste cocktails
Tip: No menu; tell the bartender a mood and a spirit. The best late cocktail in town, voted the city's best in 2025.
New American$$tobin-hillTue 21:00-02:00, Wed-Sun 16:00-02:00, Mon ClosedUntil 2am
Faust Tavern is the Tobin Hill dive that keeps the St Mary's crowd going until 2am, with stiff pours, edgy decor and a craft-beer list of more than sixty.
Try: Stiff pours and craft beer
Tip: A proper late dive with stiff pours; cash is easiest. The crowd spills over from the St Mary's strip on weekends.
Mexican$$market-squareSun-Thu 08:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 08:00-23:00Until Open 24 hours
Mi Tierra at Market Square never closes, so a 3am plate of enchiladas with strolling mariachis and a stop at the panaderia counter is a San Antonio rite.
Try: Enchiladas, pan dulce, mariachi at any hour
Tip: The 24-hour dining room makes it the default after-midnight Tex-Mex stop. Buy pan dulce from the bakery on your way out.
Taqueria$$st-marys-stripMon-Fri 11:00-02:00Until Into the early morning
Tacos El Regio is the St Mary's Strip's late-night taco truck, griddling al pastor and bistek tacos for the bar crowd well past midnight, Monterrey-style.
Try: Al pastor and bistek street tacos
Tip: The post-bar move on St Mary's. Order the trompo al pastor and pile on salsa from the bar.
Cocktail bar$$downtownWed 11:30-01:00, Sun 11:30-02:00Until Late on weekends
The Esquire Tavern keeps its downstairs cocktail room by the river running late, where a burger at the historic downtown bar is the after-dark order.
Try: Burgers and bar snacks at the long bar
Tip: The downstairs cocktail room by the river runs late. A burger at the historic bar is the late-night order.
New American$$southtownMon-Wed 16:00-00:00, Thu-Sun 12:00-00:00Until Late on weekends
La Tuna Icehouse in Southtown keeps its oak-shaded outdoor yard going past dark, where cold beer and live music are the late-night draw in mild weather.
Try: Cold beer and bar plates under the oaks
Tip: The outdoor yard is the late-night draw in mild weather. Cold beer and live music keep it going past dark.