Archive There’s always a good time and cold beer waiting for you at Bar America.

WHAT: Bar America

WHERE: 723 S. Alamo Street

THE DIGITS: (210) 223-1285

THE WEB: myspace.com/bar_america

GET YOUR DRINK ON: The bar is open Tuesday-Saturday 8 p.m.-2 a.m. This First Friday fave fills up fast, so it's best to get there before 10:30 p.m. on the big night out. This is a 21-and-up bar.
HOTTIES QUOTIENT: High, especially on First Fridays. You'll be in good company at this Southtown hideaway, which is frequented by a mixed clientele of starving (and not-so starving) artists, students, working-class regulars and, generally, all lovers of cheap beer.

WALLET HANGOVER: Ultra low. There's no cover, and unless you're a spendthrift on the jukebox, you're in no danger of blowing your budget. Bar America is the king of low-budget bars. There's no drink over $2. Drink your fill of $1 16 oz. Lonestar, $1.50 domestics and $2 imports. The closest thing to a mixed drink that's available is a $2 Smirnoff. To stave off those stomach rumblings, you can buy a bag of chips or nuts. And, really, who needs laundry money when you can play a game of pool for a big fat 50 cents at one of the bar's three pool tables?

THE 210 TAKE: Bar America is a San Antonio classic, one of the last of a dying breed of great locally owned neighborhood bars with cheap, cold beer and golden conjunto music belting from the speakers. The elderly brother-sister duo who own the joint serve 'em up with a warm smile and ring you up on an old-fashioned cash register situated in front of 27 years' worth of religious icons, bobbleheads, longhorns and other memorabilia behind the bar. It is a smoke-friendly, cash-only place.

Olivia Doerge | 210SA Contributor