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Wine barPearl
Sternewirth, the bar inside Hotel Emma at the Pearl, pours wine and cocktails beneath the old brewery's restored cast-iron tanks in a striking room.
PourA glass under the brewhouse tanks
WineWine and cocktails in a historic brewhouse
FoodBar snacks
TipGo for the room as much as the wine; the converted brewhouse is spectacular. Snacks come from the Emma kitchen.
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Wine barDowntown
Tre Trattoria downtown pairs a Tuscan-leaning Italian list with its pastas, where happy hour is an easy way in for a glass and a snack before a fuller meal.
PourA Tuscan red with the pastas
WineItalian-leaning list with Tuscan focus
FoodTuscan-Texas Italian plates
TipThe Italian list pairs naturally with the pastas. Happy hour is a good way in for a glass and a snack.
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Wine barSouthtown
Hola! at the entrance to Southtown is a Spanish tapas bar with a wine list to match, with a patio looking out to the Tower of the Americas and Hemisfair.
PourA Tempranillo with the patio tapas
WineSpanish-leaning by-the-glass and bottle list
FoodSpanish tapas and small plates
TipOrder a spread of tapas with a glass off the Spanish-leaning list. The patio with the Tower of the Americas view is the seat to want.
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Wine barPearl
High Street Wine Co. at the Pearl is both shop and bar, pouring Old World and natural growers by the glass; buy a bottle to drink in with the cheese board.
PourRotating European growers by the glass
WineOld World and natural growers, broad by-the-glass list
FoodCheese, charcuterie, and small plates
TipIt is a shop and a bar, so buy a bottle to drink in for a small corkage. The cheese board is the food order.
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Wine barSt Marys Strip
Little Death brought a bawdy, fun-first wine bar to the St Mary's strip, pouring affordable natural and lesser-known wines by the glass alongside oysters.
PourBy-the-glass natural pours at a fair price
WineApproachable natural and lesser-known wines
FoodOysters and snacks
TipWine is kept affordable by the glass and bottle. The oysters are the snack to pair; it gets lively late.
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Wine barDowntown
Zinc Bistro & Wine Bar sits in a historic downtown building steps from the River Walk, with a cellar of more than 4,000 bottles and a candle-lit courtyard.
PourSomething off the deep international list
WineGlobal cellar of over 4,000 bottles
FoodBistro plates and shared boards
TipThe courtyard is the seat to want at night. Ask the staff to steer you through the very deep list.