Relax and unwind at Zinc with a glass of champagne and some wine-friendly hors d'oeuvres and regionally inspired tapas. Alicia Wagner Calzada | Contributor

WHAT: Zinc Champagne, Spirit & Wine Bar

WHERE: 207 N. Presa St.

THE DIGITS: (210) 224-2900

ON THE WEB: zincwine.com

GET YOUR DRINK ON: Noon-2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday

HOTTIES QUOTIENT: Fair to good. Although anyone is welcome and no dress code is in effect, the clientele at Zinc tends to be on the trendy side. You'll get your fair share of yuppies and people who work downtown. Its proximity to the River Walk also means it gets some tourist traffic, so that cutie you meet might only be in town for a few nights. That can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.

WALLET HANGOVER: Not as bad as you might expect. Despite the selection of high-end scotches, champagnes and grappas, you can still get a domestic beer for about $3 and an import for about $4. Specialty margaritas are usually $7. Zinc offers 25 to 30 wines by the glass and about 100 wines by the bottle, so there's sure to be something to fit your budget. A gourmet pizza or panini will set you back $8-$10, and a wine-friendly plate of gourmet meats, cheeses and fruits that feeds three people costs about $14. The lunch menu offers smaller portions for a lower price.

THE 210 TAKE: Zinc is just plain classy. Take a seat at the metal bar that gives the place its name, or settle down for some good conversation on a modern couch in the larger room adjacent. With its quaint patio filled with leafy plants and fountains, its knowledgeable staff and its romantic tranquility, Zinc could as easily be in Europe or Greenwich Village as in downtown San Antonio. It's also right next door to Medusa Lounge and On the Half Shell, perfect for bar-hopping. It's definitely worth the search for parking. And we don't say that lightly.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA contributor