Destination SA: Keeping It Casual

Southtown's Bar Loretta offers easygoing, low-key vibes. Photo by @dandeliongatherings

As part of the launch of Culinaria’s new San Antonio Restaurant Weeks website, we’re expanding the way we explore the city—because great experiences don’t happen in a vacuum. These guides are your go-to for making the most of San Antonio in and out of the dining room. Scroll through, get inspired, and start planning your next bite, sip, or stroll.

Not every outing needs to be a big night out. Sometimes, the best memories are made over patio beers, shared snacks, or long catch-up convos that stretch well into the evening. San Antonio is full of low-key gems that are perfect for casual hangs with your favorite people—whether you're looking to laugh over drinks, grab a quick bite, or just linger somewhere cozy.

Cherrity Bar is a relaxed East Side hangout with sake flights, frozen drinks, and a huge outdoor space that makes it easy to roll deep with friends (and maybe meet a few new ones). If you’re craving something breezier, Bar Loretta offers the perfect patio to lounge, chill, or people-watch in SA’s super hip Southtown neighborhood. For groups who love tunes with their drinks, The Lonesome Rose on St. Mary’s has a honky-tonk soul, cold drinks, and often live music—without the downtown chaos.

Tycoon Flats has been open on the St. Mary's Strip since the 80s.

Need something a little more food-focused? Tycoon Flats near the Pearl is known for massive burgers, frozen drinks, and a shady patio that practically begs for a long lunch-turned-happy-hour. And if coffee’s more your speed, head to What’s Brewing Coffee Roasters—an old-school, no-frills favorite with solid brews and vintage arcade games in the back, perfect for casual hangs that don’t try too hard.

For Instagram-ready backdrops, get the girlies together at Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen, where twinkling lights, floral swings, and colorful cocktails make every corner feel like a photo op. 

Pro tip: Aim for golden hour—those warm, glowing moments before sunset—for effortlessly flattering light and next-level photos.

Or, head to Vintage Wine Bar at The Alley on Bitters—a cozy, velvet-accented gem that feels part European café, part dreamy lounge. The wine list is approachable, the small bites are delicious, and the interiors? Instagram gold. It’s the kind of place that makes a casual hangout feel like an occasion.

Whether you're catching up after work, holding a cram-worthy study session, or just looking for a place to kill a few hours with your crew, San Antonio has no shortage of relaxed hangouts that let the good times roll—no reservation required.