River North Icehouse — Restaurant in San Antonio

Starting my downtown area search for a venue to host a corporate holiday staff party…I came across River North Ice House. Having taken a poll with the operations team that would be present that night, they all voted for a sports bar with tv, games, and a fun atmosphere.

I ventured down to the establishment one Sunday afternoon and immediately thought “this place looks small and where do people park?” Little did I know that once I entered…it was way bigger than it looked from the outside. So don’t judge a book by its cover…this place is big!

I talked with the MOD and he gave me direct info to ownership. Monday morning I reached out and was immediately replied back to by Seth. Seth was direct, eager to help, and communicated with me directly through his personal phone. This was the most important aspect of deciding where to take the 35 person party bus for our group outing. He was super eager to make things happen and work with the Frost Tower team as best he could. I reached out to about 6 other venues and some never responded, some did and then forgot, and some were just way to unreasonably priced. He offered bar service, catering, games, and personal hospitality. His constant communication prior to the day of the event helped create a level of trust and I was confident the main party his stop for the staff was going to be well worth it.

The night of the party….we were greeted happily by the door guy, another MOD, and all the bar staff. The decor was amazing and it was truly a great experience. Seth had personally made sure everything was in place and made sure my manager was happy with all her questions and concerns. We played games, had food, great drink service and he even took our group pic. Most managers take your P-Card and you never see them 😜

Please book an event with this new and upcoming venue in River North of downtown! You will not be...

We are so thankful to the team at River North Icehouse for helping make our military retirement ceremony so special! We had difficulty finding an indoor venue in San Antonio that had the laid-back yet polished bar atmosphere we were envisioning — especially in the middle of a Texas summer. Most places were either too small, too formal, or too expensive for our needs. River North Icehouse was the perfect fit!

They’re centrally located in downtown San Antonio, convenient to all the major military bases, and there’s a large parking lot directly across the street, which made things even easier for our guests. Especially for our older guests with walking issues who needed close parking or a ramp.

The team was incredibly accommodating, allowing us to bring in light snacks and some table decorations to personalize the space. The indoor area had everything we needed — a large full bar, friendly staff, plenty of seating, clean restrooms, a small stage with an audio system we could connect to, and even a projector screen where we played a video montage during the social hour.

What truly stood out was the kindness and flexibility of the owners! Eric was so helpful and responsive leading up to the event, and on the day of, Wayne and Seth went out of their way to assist with setup and make sure everything ran smoothly. They even let us come in early for a ceremony run-through before opening to the public — something that really helped reduce stress on such a big day.

If you’re planning an event and looking for a casual but clean and well-equipped venue, we highly recommend River North Ice House. They helped us host a meaningful, relaxed, and memorable retirement celebration — and we’re...

The guys who check IDs outside are creepy and everyone should be careful when approaching them; he repeated my address under his breath while handing my ID back. Then the other guy needed to see our IDs even though the first guy checked them already. They clearly have a power trip going on. It also doesn't make sense to show IDs before entering when kids are allowed inside the bar. Also, the bartenders and the creepy guys outside need to be on the same page regarding bringing outside drinks in. One of the bartenders (big guy with long beard) said we can bring coffee inside since they don't serve coffee and we can add Jameson or other alcohol to it. But the creepy guys outside stated no coffees since no outside food and drink are allowed. There is conflicting message going on there.

Overall, the drinks are meh but they do have a lot of tvs and the vibes aren't bad. Some of the bartenders are great and friendly and some seem like they're having the worst day of their life.

Definitely worth skipping this place, since there really isn't anything that sets it apart from all the other bars in the city. Otto's Icehouse is nearby and they have good food and drinks. Smash'd is also close by and has amazing food, drinks, and live...