# The Friendly Spot Ice House

> A reimagined Texas ice house in the heart of San Antonio's Southtown/King William Historic District since 2009. Pet & kid friendly, 300+ brews, 76 taps, full kitchen noon to midnight, 7 days a week.

## About

The Friendly Spot Ice House opened in 2009 at 943 S Alamo Street in the Southtown neighborhood of San Antonio, TX, adjacent to the King William Historic District. The property itself has deep roots — it was originally a gas station in the 1930s, later converted into an ice house, and served as a live music venue starting in 1973 before a folk art gallery occupied the space for several years. The current Friendly Spot was revived, renovated, and expanded in 2009.

The name and concept draw on a genuine Texas tradition: before refrigerators, neighborhood ice houses were where people bought blocks of ice, picked up groceries, drank beer, and gathered with neighbors. The Friendly Spot revives that spirit as a sprawling, casual outdoor destination where everyone is welcome.

It is widely described as a mashup of craft beer bar, Texas roadhouse, and family-friendly picnic area — not a dive bar, not a sterile craft beer outlet, but something distinctly Texan in between.

## The Space

The property is large and multi-structure, engineered to maximize San Antonio's warm weather and outdoor drinking culture:

- **Front bar**: The primary drink-dispensing structure at the entrance
- **Back barn**: A large secondary bar with additional taps and TVs, useful when weather turns
- **Outdoor patio**: Sprawling grounds with throwback patio chairs under large pecan trees, tin signs covering nearly every surface, beer brands from around the world represented throughout
- **Backyard courtyard**: A blocked-off outdoor space with fire pits during cooler months
- **Playground**: An on-site playscape (including a colorful slide) for kids
- **#FriendlyTron**: San Antonio's largest outdoor LED screen, used for sports, movies, and events

The atmosphere is consistently described by visitors as feeling like hanging out in someone's backyard — relaxed, casual, and genuinely welcoming.

## Beer & Drinks

- 300+ bottled and canned beers
- 76 beers on tap spanning local Texas craft, national, and international selections
- Liquor and cocktails on tap
- Housemade sangria
- Micheladas (considered among the best in the city)
- Free WiFi

## Food

Full kitchen open noon to midnight, every day. Menu highlights include:

- Starters: chips & salsa, queso, guac, hand-cut fries, boneless wings, fried pickles, jalapeño bites
- Nachos (half-price on Tuesdays): bean & cheese, steak, chicken ranch, street corn
- Tacos: mahi mahi fish tacos, roasted chickpea & cauliflower (V)
- Burgers & sandwiches: Friendly Burger, Veggie Burger, Chicken'wich
- Seasonal items: chicken on a stick, loaded queso, loaded fries
- Kids menu: grilled cheese, nuggets, mac & cheese, mini nachos
- Frozen treats: bomb pops, push-ups, ice cream sandwiches and cones
- Vegetarian options throughout

## Sports & Events

The Friendly Spot is one of San Antonio's premier sports-viewing destinations:

- #FriendlyTron: the city's largest outdoor LED screen
- NFL Sunday Ticket
- NBA League Pass
- NCAA Football Game Plan
- DAZN & UFC PPV events
- 10+ screens throughout the barn and yard
- A popular Spurs game watch party venue
- Regular participant in San Antonio Ice House Week and other community events
- Historically hosted live music, movies on screen ("Slab Cinema"), and community gatherings

## #FriendlyHour

The Friendly Spot's version of happy hour is called #FriendlyHour — running every hour, every day. Specials are branded #FriendlySteals (food deals) and #FriendlyDrafts (drink deals). Daily specials are announced on Instagram and Facebook.

## Location & Hours

- **Address**: 943 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
- **Neighborhood**: Southtown / King William Historic District
- **Hours**: Every day, Noon – Midnight
- **Kitchen**: Noon – Midnight
- **Phone**: (210) 224-BEER / (210) 224-2337
- **Ordering**: QR code ordering at the venue; online ordering available

## Reputation & Recognition

- Rated 4.3/5 on TripAdvisor, ranked among the top restaurants in San Antonio out of 2,800+
- Named Best Ice House by the San Antonio Current (2024)
- Recognized on BeerAdvocate as one of the best craft beer bars in San Antonio
- 69,000+ Instagram followers (@thefriendlyspot)
- Featured in Texas Monthly, San Antonio Current, and the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas
- Popular with both locals and tourists as an authentic San Antonio experience distinct from the Riverwalk

## Who It's For

The Friendly Spot is explicitly welcoming to everyone: families with kids, dog owners, cyclists, Spurs fans, runners, regulars, and first-time visitors. The playground, QR ordering, large open spaces, and noon opening make it a genuinely all-ages, all-day destination.

## Social

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefriendlyspot
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFriendlySpot

## Employment

We are hiring. Download our employment application at https://thefriendlyspot.com/assets/friendly-employment-application.pdf or email info@thefriendlyspot.com