There is
one gay nightclub of note downtown, the long-running (and enormous) Bonham
Exchange, lovingly nicknamed the "Bottom Exchange." It's a high-energy
club drawing a mostly gay bunch along with quite a few straights for hot
dancing. Most of city's other well-frequented bars are clustered along
North Main Avenue, less than a 10-minute drive from downtown. Here you'll
find the pulsing dance club Heat, which is jammed nightly with buff-bodied
revelers, and The Saint, known for arguably the best drag shows in Texas.
Other North Main options include Pegasus, a convivial video bar with a
volleyball court and patio out back, and the Silver Dollar Saloon, which
plays a mix of Tejano and country-western music. San Antonio's gay
nightlife is decidedly male-oriented, even more so than in most other U.S.
cities, but Petticoat Junction is a friendly neighborhood spot with a
lesbian following. A few blocks away, the Annex is a rugged, cruisy bar
with a leather-and-Levi's following. A more hard-core leather hangout is
the San Antonio Eagle. And just off I-35, ACI is the city's quite popular
bathhouse.
San Antonio has a wonderful mix of inviting accommodations, from quaint
gay-friendly B&Bs to chic "designer" hotels to historic grande dames.
Among gay-owned options, the Painted Lady Inn occupies a stately 1920s
mansion six blocks from the River Walk. Behind the building's grande
facade, complete with Doric columns, you'll find a warmly elegant place
with nine suites and rooms named mostly for gay icons (Truman Capote,
Oscar Wilde, Mae West). Another great bet, in the King William District,
the Beauregard House B&B occupies a handsome 1905 Victorian house done
with sumptuous period furnishings and fabrics. Here the rooms are named
for literary figures, such as Walt Whitman and William Faulkner. Breakfast
here is outstanding - you might start the day with a apple-and-brie
omelet, for instance. Straight-owned and in the same neighborhood, the
Italianate-inspired Adams House B&B has four rooms done with lovely
antiques and local artwork - the decor is elegant but not overdone.
A marvelous boutique hotel set inside a 1914 Mediterranean Revival former
boarding school, the 28-room Havana Riverwalk Inn captures the
sophisticated sensibility of 1920s Paris along with the romance of vintage
Cuba. It's on one of the less noisy stretches of the River Walk. Opened in
November 2005, the sleek and contemporary Hotel Contessa has quickly drawn
raves for its palatial rooms with floor-to-ceiling river views, 12-story
atrium lobby, and friendly staff. The Watermark Hotel, which occupies a
former saddlery and has 99 of the snazziest rooms in the state, also
offers highly polished service as well as a state-of-the-art spa and
superb dining in its Pesca on the River restaurant. Finally, looking more
West Hollywood than Central Texas, the uber-hip Hotel Valencia provides a
strikingly contemporary contrast to the historic downtown blocks that
surround it. The hotel's restaurant, Citrus, serves wonderfully inventive
contemporary American food. And there may not be a sexier room in the city
than the Valencia's V Bar - definitely plan to toast your visit with a
cocktail in this vibrant lounge.
The Hunk
