Pat O'Brien's — Restaurant in San Antonio

A decent place with some nice snack foods and a vast list of drinks to choose from. A nice place to just relax and socialize.

It's both indoors and outdoors seating so the feeling will be different but the moment you enter it kind of feels like you're being transported into a different space. There's a short little tunnel to walk through with a few decorations, lights and some scattered tables and seating here and there until you suddenly come across a space with a stage for live performances and tables. Inside seems smaller than the outdoor space but still fits enough people and has more lights and decor that frame the bar area and to spruce up the environment. We decided to sit outdoors since it was good weather and they had a lovely fountain covered with flowers that they'd occasionally sometimes come to light up so you get a beautiful mix of flames and water at the same time (it will get pretty warm after that so try to seat farther for the best view). The live music is also very nice and livens up the area into being more active and chattery without being too loud or over the top based on who's playing that day (for us it was a band called Dyed Skies who has some pretty decent music). It feels close yet gives you enough space to move freely and not feel like a can of sardines but is still pretty laidback; not so much expecting to party but still a good place to spend time with others.

There's also a room up above that I believe is reservation only to host events (typically private) such as weddings, corporate functions, etc. that has a balcony where you can look down and still enjoy the live performances and view. We weren't able to see inside but I'm sure it's a lovely space where people can host various functions.

The food here is good and pretty filling. We got the grilled cheese and fries which I really enjoyed since it's pretty simple but the cheddar had a nice thick cut and the bread was buttery and soft which made for a very warm meal to share. The fries are also great. Most of the items offered are simple foods typical at a lot of bar establishments but they taste good! Most if not all of the drinks you can order virgin style as well (although it's in best practice ask first rather than assume). I got the hurricane without the rum but it was a pretty good drink with lots of citrus and fruity flavor. If you're a fan of sweet and tangy drinks then I highly recommend this one.

Our waitress was very sweet and polite and made sure to keep us updated on our orders which was kind. The staff were all friendly and helpful and pretty neutral. Overall we had a good experience and enjoyed our time there.

If you want someplace to unwind (or maybe to jumpstart your night out) this would be a great place to just relax, enjoy a performance and have a good time without a lot of high energy...

Wasn't overly impressed by the food. Portions were decent, but flavors were a bit lacking.

I'd heard a lot about Pat O'Briens, but since I don't frequent the downtown area a lot I hadn't had the opportunity to try it. Since they had recently offered a Groupon, I decided to go a little out of my way to finally give the place a try with a friend.

We were seated in the outdoor area where some live music was being played, but also made carrying conversations a bit hard. Wait service was good, our waitress was prompt and got our order came out decently quick.

I ordered the crawfish etouffee and alligator bites for my meal. When my alligator bites came out they were crispy and decently sized, however they lacked spice or seasoning in the batter and seemed a bit bland compared to alligator nuggets I've had at other Cajun/Creole restaurants.

Then the crawfish etouffee came out, which was also decent, but again was lacking in flavor. The etouffee was a bit more watery than I would expect and the flavor was more similar to jambalaya or gumbo.

We finished the meal with 1 piece of chocolate cake, which was actually pretty good. It was a pretty large potion and enough for the both of us.

Overall the food was decent and the experience good. While there's not a lot of Cajun/Creole places in San Antonio to compare with the flavors just didn't jump out like they do at some of my favorite Cajun restaurants in other cities.

Value 4/5, Flavor 3/5, Location...

After another brain-melting internship in Synopsys at Austin, I chose to visit San Antonio this Saturday for a break. Walking on the Alamo Plaza, I was attracted by the beautiful guitar music coming from the alley. By looking up the name on the music stand, I realized the man playing the guitar was Cody Welch.

I learned from his personal website that Cody is a Texas-born musician raised in Stephenville, whose passion for Red Dirt music was shaped by evenings listening to “Texas Style Saturday Nights” with his father. Influenced by legends like Cross Canadian Ragweed and Pat Green, Cody developed a songwriting style grounded in storytelling and Texas country heritage. He’s released an EP titled Twelve Fluid Ounces, featuring heartfelt original compositions recorded in Lipan, Texas.

As for the music, I was fascinated by his steady movement and masterful manipulation of 7th chords and other out-of-key harmonies to express subtle emotional shifts in the piece. Each phrase seemed to balance between technical control and raw sentiment, inviting passersby to slow down and listen. His playing style felt both grounded and explorative—true to the Red Dirt spirit but colored by jazz and folk nuances.

Texas is an interesting and vibrant place full of music, and moments like these make me appreciate the soul that lives in...