Menger Bar

Reviews

• David B.

  star star star star star_border 29 May 2026

  Nice staff and local Texas whiskies abound.
  This was a real treat. Not only drenched in history, but a nice respite from the heat and crowds.
  There is a menu of food items we did not get to, but the drinks were well poured.
  A really nice stop.

• Ryan F.

  star star star star_border star_border 29 May 2026

  Stopped into Menger Bar for a quick drink. No need to order a cocktail here, but worth taking a quick look around this special bar.
  
  Quality: Menger Bar is much more about its unique past than anything else. Built in 1887, this longest continuously operated bar in San Antonio is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited members of his Rough Riders. Spread across the space are all sorts of cool pictures and paraphernalia from this famous crew. They do serve up drinks, but I would not deviate far from a classic cocktail. I ordered a Bulleit Rye Old Fashioned, which was fine, but one was all I needed.
  Quantity: No issues with the drink pours.
  Value: $12 for a Bulleit Rye Old Fashioned.
  Ambiance: Menger Bar is found in the Menger Hotel in Downtown San Antonio. Just steps from The Alamo, the entire complex is steeped in history. The bar is just past the hotel lobby, but you can also enter from a side door. With two floors, this primarily wood bar is a unique space that also functions as a mini museum. Pictures, clothing, weapons, and flags fill the walls. You will also find a collection of footballs from the Alamo Bowl and a few animal heads. They also have possibly the most inconveniently located television a bar could have hidden near the top of the second floor ceiling.
  Crowd: A small crowd, some here for drinks, others to just walk around the historic bar and look at the pictures and artifacts.
  Service: Bartenders who were more well versed in the history of the bar than drink making.
  Parking: Extremely limited parking in this tourist area.

• Genie L.

  star star star star star 21 May 2026

  Really cool bar.
  
  Bartender was really friendly.
  
  Found it on Yelp, so we stopped by for a beer, and really enjoyed it all.
  
  No ghosts, that we know of, but you can definitely feel the history of the building and area.
  
  Definitely come on in, when you're in San Antonio. It's a must-see. After all, it's one of the oldest bars in the country.

• Mark S.

  star star star star star_border 21 May 2026

  If these walls could talk...
  
  This little bar goes back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt recruiting rough riders in 1850's. Pictures on the walls, black & white of course of many famous people that have blown through this place. It's definitely not a fancy place. No food is served here and the bar menu is quite simple. Beers will cost around 5-10. While the mixed drinks between 10-15 a clip.
  
  Tables available upstairs and ground level. Don't try to order a drink with a umbrella sticking out of it. They'll probably laugh you out of here. Family's come just to have a cocktail or two with kids in tow. Bartenders were friendly and will give you a story or two if they are not that busy. Gave me one, it's the oldest bar in Texas.
  
  This place reeks of history. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. Oh yeah and it's right across the street from the Alamo.
  
  Enjoy.

• Michael H.

  star star star star star 14 May 2026

  The Menger Bar was Established in 1859.  Just 14 years after the Republic of Texas ceased to exist and Texas was formally admitted to the Union. This bar is truly full of History. If the walls could talk. They would tell tales beyond belief. In 1898 Colonel Leonard Wood and his second in command Lt Col Theodore Roosevelt assembled here and recruited a volunteer army at the request of President McKinley to fight in the Spanish-American War. Future Presidents would often stay the Hotel. Babe Ruth stayed here. The bar and the hotel have memorabilia from all these events and notables.
  If you are  in San Antonio this is right across the street from the Alamo and is a must visit place.