A San Antonio summer has two finish lines: the fall equinox on September 22, and the first day your frozen margarita doesn’t melt in 30 seconds. Until then, we’re taking advantage of the season’s waning sunny days and sipping Alamo City’s eight best poolside cocktails.
From frozen concoctions to tiki classics, these sippers give more dog days vibes than a bottle of Coppertone. And most are available year-round, in case you need to bring some vacay vibes to the dreary months ahead.
Hotel Contessa
Hotel Contessa turns up the heat, literally, with its rooftop pool kept at a toasty 85 degrees year-round. The boutique vibe gets an extra kick from Ambler Kitchen + Cocktails, where the drink menu shines (yes, you can take up your cocktail to the pool). Don’t miss the Blazing Ginger-Rita: a fiery twist on the classic, spiked with red bell pepper and sriracha. Prefer something smoother? Sip on bold whiskey pours or chill out with red or white sangria.
Anaqua Garden Bar’s cocktail menu uses plenty of rum. Anaqua Garden Bar
The Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa
Tucked into a Southtown hot spot, the Plaza is home to one of the city’s best hotel bars: Anaqua Garden Bar. Set beside the property’s lush central pool, Anaqua leans into tropical tiki with a refined Japanese twist. The poolside standout? The House of Don Ramon — a cocktail built around an aged rum blend, house-made Coco Lopez, pineapple, and mint. Bonus: it can be served in a whole pineapple. Add a rum floater and you’ve got instant beachside energy, no coastline required.
The InterContinental Hotel
Fresh off its first anniversary, the InterContinental San Antonio is keeping the energy high, especially at High Praise, its rooftop pool bar. While themed pop-up menus keep things fresh year-round, one standout sip deserves a permanent place in your poolside rotation: the Desert Rose. This vibrant pink cocktail blends LALO Tequila with watermelon, lime, ginger liqueur, and prickly pear for a sweet-meets-spicy twist that’s as refreshing as it is Texan. Think of it as the ultimate way to beat the heat.
Every drink tastes better when looking at InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk’s view. Photo courtesy of InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel
La Cantera Resort & Spa
Few things pair better with sweeping Hill Country views than a cocktail at Topaz, the adults-only pool at La Cantera Resort & Spa. The frozen piña colada, elevated with Brugal 1888 rum, Coco Real, and fresh pineapple, is a mood. Not into coconut? No problem. Other frozen favorites include a LALO margarita, an electric lemonade made with Texas-based Frio vodka, and a no-fuss Jack and Coke. Whatever your vibe, Topaz has your chill covered.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa
With multiple pools and a sprawling four-acre water park (plus a crystal-clear lagoon on the way), the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa serves up poolside cocktails for every kind of guest. Sip a fiery Spicy Mango Tango made with Bacardi Mango Chile rum at Papa Ed’s Pool Bar & Grill, or unleash your inner mixologist at Vince’s Watering Hole, where you can build your own frozen daiquiri, topped with fun extras like peach rings or gummy sharks.
The St. Anthony Hotel
The St. Anthony Hotel may be 115 years old, but the poolside cocktails at its Cabana Bar are anything but dated. Guests can keep it classic with frozen mango, strawberry, or piña colada daiquiris, or dive into a drink that nods to the hotel’s legacy. The St. Anthony Breeze mixes Tito’s with pineapple and cranberry for a crisp, easy sipper. The Travis Tea, named for the hotel’s street, keeps it unfussy with Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, sweet and sour, and Coke for a modern buzz in the vintage setting.
Poolside Provisions serves from a vintage Pearl delivery truck.Hotel Emma/ Facebook
The Hotel Emma
Leave it to this Michelin-recognized gem to boast one of the city’s best poolside food and drink menus. Poolside Provisions, housed in a retro ’60s Pearl beer delivery truck, serves up a killer lineup of cocktails made for lounging. From the vodka-peach Good Luck Babe, inspired by Chappell Roan, to the tangy Sun-Kissed with tequila and citrus, there’s a perfect sip waiting for every guest.
Omni La Mansión del Rio
With cocktail names like The Sunburnt Mango and The Golden Reset, the Omni La Mansión del Rio’s ground-level pool bar isn’t just serving drinks; it’s serving an experience. The Sunburnt Mango packs a punch with Casamigos Blanco, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, mango, lime, and a splash of Licor 43 for a sweet-heat twist. Craving something bold and earthy? The Golden Reset gives wellness with turmeric, peppercorn, agave, lemon, gin, and ginger.