San Antonio’s Latino culture takes center stage at Azuca (713 S. Alamo St., 210/225-5550) a restaurant by day and bar by night. Arrive around 10 p.m. and take advantage of both—the classic Latin-American fare and contemporary dance scene. Have a drink at the Nuevo Latino bar and try your hand at baila on the dance floor.

Nearby is the slightly upscale yet decidedly low-key Zen Bar (221 E. Houston St., 210/271-7472), which claims to offer “nightlife enlightenment.” The patio is a perfect place to chill out on a warm summer evening, or, if you prefer to find your inner peace inside, belly up to the long black granite bar or visit the relaxation temple.

Just down the block is the trendy Suede Lounge (231 E. Houston St., 210/223-2029). This is a place to see and be seen, but since it lacks pretension, the atmosphere is refreshingly comfortable. Leave the flip-flops and ballcaps at home, however, since Suede enforces a fairly strict dress code (to be safe, guys should wear collared shirts and long pants).