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Sconce - Esquire Tavern, San Antonio, TX

Esquire Tavern

4.6
4.6
659 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Lively
  • Charming
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The Esquire Tavern is the oldest bar on the San Antonio Riverwalk, opened the year, month and day that Prohibition was repealed.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 659 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Antonio

    Lively

  • San Antonio

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Esquire Tavern offers a charming blend of vintage ambiance and vibrant Riverwalk views. It's celebrated for its "amazing margaritas" and creative cocktails like the Cowboy Tears. While menu updates have mixed reviews, the bison burger remains a standout. Service is generally friendly, enhancing the "great atmosphere" experience.

659 Reviews
  1. GENE VIP

    Austin11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed it! This is my third time there, I'll be back!!
    Esquire TavernResponded 6 days ago
    Thank you for your stellar review, Gene! We appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon.

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  2. Cynda

    San Antonio29 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I keep returning to the Esquire. We sat on the outdoor seating overlooking the San Antonio Riverwalk on a perfect evening. My friend and I both ordered a cognac French 75 cocktail (one of the best in San Antonio) and the Mussels (Moules Frites). The French 75 never disappoints. This was my first time to try the mussels. I will definitely order again! Service was wonderful and attentive. We didn't have to worry about making our show at the Majestic Theatre nearby.
    Esquire TavernResponded on February 27, 2025
    Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing to return to The Esquire! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the outdoor seating with a view of the Riverwalk, and that the French 75 and Mussels hit the spot. We love hearing that our service helped make your experience even more enjoyable, especially with your show at the Majestic in mind. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another great time soon! Cheers!

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  3. Todd

    San Antonio4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 25, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Esquire Tavern has a cool, vintage vibe, and it’s clear they take pride in their history as the longest wooden bar in Texas. The dim lighting and old-school decor create a nice atmosphere, but it can feel a little cramped and noisy, especially on weekends. The cocktails are solid, but they don’t always live up to the hype. Some drinks are well-balanced, while others feel a bit off, either too strong or too sweet. The food is decent—better than your average bar fare—but nothing particularly memorable. The burger is good, but I’ve had better in town. Service can be hit or miss. Sometimes the bartenders are friendly and attentive, but other times it takes forever to get a drink. If you’re patient and enjoy the ambiance, it’s a decent spot to grab a drink downtown. Otherwise, there are plenty of other places in San Antonio that offer a better overall experience.
    Esquire TavernResponded on February 26, 2025
    Hi Todd, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the vintage vibe and the history behind our long wooden bar – it’s something we’re very proud of. We also appreciate your thoughts on our cocktails, food, and service. We're constantly working to improve, and your comments will help us continue to refine our offerings and ensure that each visit is better than the last. We understand that the atmosphere can feel a bit cramped and noisy at times, especially on weekends, and we’re always looking for ways to make the experience more comfortable for all our guests. We hope you'll give us another chance to wow you with our drinks, food, and service next time you're in town. Thanks again for your feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    4.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    There was a an appetizer that said eggs, but instead, it was quail wings.  online it’s listed as quaill legs, but the menu said quail eggs.
    Esquire TavernResponded on March 3, 2025
    Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we apologize for the confusion. We strive to ensure that our menu is clear and accurate, and we appreciate you pointing out the discrepancy. We’ll be sure to update the menu to avoid any future confusion. We hope to have the chance to welcome you back soon for a better experience!

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  5. Emilio

    San Antonio1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food, atmosphere, and service were all great!
    Esquire TavernResponded on February 17, 2025
    Thanks for the feedback, Emilio! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service at Esquire Tavern. We strive to provide a memorable experience for all our guests. We noticed that you rated the value a bit lower, and we appreciate your honesty. We're always looking for ways to improve, and your feedback helps us do that. We hope to see you again soon!

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  6. Stephen VIP

    San Antonio43 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    It was my first time dining here and it was good. Food was decent, south Texas quail legs and it was very bland, the kitchen omitted the honey-chili dressing. I had steak and fries which were good. Overall, it was decent and I would definitely recommend it and visit again.
    Esquire TavernResponded on February 10, 2025
    Stephan, we're glad to hear that you enjoyed your first visit to Esquire Tavern! We strive to offer a variety of dishes and it's good to know that you enjoyed the steak and fries. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We appreciate your feedback on the lack of dressing and will definitely take it into consideration as we continuously strive to improve our dishes. We're looking forward to welcoming you back soon and promise to make your next visit a 5-star experience.

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  7. Tina

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tasty drinks and delicious food! The service was great!
    Esquire TavernResponded on February 15, 2025
    Thank you, Tina! We're thrilled to hear that you had a 5 star experience. We look forward to welcoming you back!

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  8. Juliana VIP

    San Antonio6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on January 25, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I’ve eaten several times at Esquire Tavern throughout the years, and this recent visit was the most disappointing dining experience. Unfortunately, their updated menu doesn’t stand up to their previous food offerings (like the fried chicken sandwich). The shredded chicken that was added to the Esquire Salad was pretty flavorless, albeit the rest of the salad tasted fresh. My partner got the tomato soup with “freshly baked cheese toast”. Where he enjoyed the soup, the cheese “toast” left much to be desired. It came out with what looked like a runny cheese sauce, only to find out it was a flavorless melted cheese with a texture like chewing gum. The bread itself was very soggy and not crispy at all. When we sent the bread back the waitress seemed put out and annoyed. To their credit, the cocktails are pretty solid. And the Downstairs speak easy has a quieter, cozy vibe, if you’re looking for a cool space to have a conversation.

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  9. Lori

    Western NC8 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on January 10, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    So dark inside you couldn't even see your food to eat! All tables around us were using phone flashlights to see. Food was quite good. Cheese bread was amazing.
    Esquire TavernResponded on January 15, 2025
    Thanks for the feedback, Lori! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed our food, especially the cheese bread. We're glad that despite the dark atmosphere, you still received 5 star service. We hope to serve you again soon!

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  10. Greg

    Dallas23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    With a cool, dark, rich wood ambience it makes this a very enjoyable experience on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Their drink menu does not disappoint and they have every type of spirit you can think of. The Buffalo burger is absolutely fantastic and their spin on tomato soup was equally enjoyable. They accept Reservations and the wait staff is very friendly. This restaurant is located right in the heart of many other fun experiences along the Riverwalk. 
    Esquire TavernResponded on January 6, 2025
    Hey Greg, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our ambience, drinks, and Buffalo burger. It's always a pleasure to have you along on your next visit to Esquire Tavern. We're also glad to know that our staff was friendly and provided us with a comfortable environment. We look forward to your next visit!

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FAQs

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

Esquire Tavern is rated 4.6 stars by 659 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 2 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.
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