Trinity University Texas - Nightlife

A great dance club, and the best place in San Antonio to catch a drag show. The Saint is one of the most popular clubs on a street that is the main drag for the gay and lesbian nightclubs in town. There are two dance floors and plenty of room at the bar, with specials randomly offered throughout the night. Along with the Bonham, although it is primarily a gay club, straight college kids and adults hit up the club because of the great dance music and atmosphere.

For people who never really got over their love of ‘80s music, this is a perfect club. It is three stories high, starting on the River Walk level. Each story features a different decade of music, from the ‘70s to the ‘80s, and finishing on the third floor with the ‘90s. Drink specials vary throughout the night, but since the club is located on the River Walk, the drinks are going to be expensive regardless.

Sin 13 sounds like the name of a cliché Goth rock band. While the name might be off-putting, don’t let it fool you. This club houses some of the best live alternative shows in San Antonio, and people under 18 can get in, too. There’s a casual dress code, and they have happy hour from 4–7 p.m., but the cover to shows can vary depending on who’s playing and what they want to charge. If you love live music and a place to meet other people who like to rock, this is definitely a place to check out.

The Bonham is a great place to go on a Friday night. While it is primarily a gay club, there is an amiable mix of gay and straight people who all want to dance to the music, which is anything from techno and hip-hop to house and R&B music. There are three bars in the building, two dance floors, and a few thong-clad dancers to boot. The drinks are not expensive, but prepare to want more than one; the more crowded it gets, the harder you’re going to have to fight to get a drink. It’s cheaper to get in when you’re 21, but as long as you’re over 18, you can go. They do check IDs pretty thoroughly at the door, so don’t bother trying to sneak in if you’re underage.

This is the place to be if you love to country dance, or even if the closest thing you’ve ever done a line dance to is the “Electric Slide.” It gets packed, and Wednesdays are especially popular since students get in at a discounted rate on those nights. There’s even a mechanical bull. And since you’re in a country-western club, you might want to wear something a little nicer than just a T-shirt.

Beer drinkers of the world, rejoice. If this bar does not have the drink that you seek, then that beer only ever existed in your own drunken mind. It’s more of an upscale bar, but they have 80 beers on tap and over 150 brands from around the world. No aliens here, just the best chance in San Antonio of finding the perfect beer.

Flats has live music of all kinds (jazz, blues, rock, reggae), and you rarely have to pay a cover to see the bands. There’s also a giant sandbox out back for the kids to play in.

Howl at the Moon is a piano bar that encourages audience participation. Some pianists duel with music and insults, and almost all of them love to get rowdy attention from the audience, rather than quiet clapping and a few tips. This is the place to visit if you’re a music lover, or just like to make some noise.

There are no bicycles involved with this bar, only great burgers and a fun atmosphere. Its proximity to Trinity and the inviting interior have made it a Trinity tradition. It is not the cheapest bar in the city, but it’s still cheaper than drinking on the River Walk. Technically, this bar is within walking distance of Trinity, but since almost every student has his or her own car, you can see that the bar is hopping by simply looking at the parking lot.

This bar, also the largest humidor downtown, offers a view of the River Walk that you can enjoy while smoking, drinking, or listening to jazz music. This is definitely more upscale than an average college bar, so be prepared to tuck in your shirt, or wear something with sleeves. Swig is also a fabulous date spot.

This small lesbian bar is set in a somewhat unfriendly neighborhood, but inside the atmosphere is much friendlier than the one outside. There is a full bar, a small dance floor, and the usual bar amenities—a pool table, air hockey, and even darts. Far from usual, though, is the singing bartender. She paid for her own head microphone so that she could sing and serve drinks at the same time on Wednesday, which is karaoke night.

Housed in an old train station, Sunset Station is a converted nightclub that features four different bars. Club nights are 21 and up, but concerts are for all ages.

This comedy club, located next to the Rivercenter Mall, admits those who are 18 and older or 17 with a parent. It’s not difficult to get tickets to a show, but it’s a good idea to call and reserve them in advance, since show times vary.