Once you’ve settled in and purchased your textbooks, you can officially consider yourself a fun, fabulous but almost flat broke first year student. If you aren’t looking forward to Tyga, or if you just want to watch something that isn’t on Netflix, here’s a look at some off-campus digs for music and movies on a college budget; be sure to check out their websites for menus, schedules and deals.
Movie theaters
Regal Cinemas Alamo Quarry Stadium 16 Movie Theater
At the center of the Quarry Market, you can find this theater, where you get a discount on evening tickets Monday through Thursday with your Tiger Card.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
For a unique movie experience, check out this theater with several locations all over San Antonio. You can order a meal and eat it,during the movie.
Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro
If you like indie flicks, come to this theater for films you might not find elsewhere. At this theater, as at the Drafthouse, you can also order a meal with your movie.
Santikos Palladium IMAX
For a slightly more upscale movie-watching experience, check out this theater where you can pick your seat in advance; you’ll find everything from standard buttery popcorn to gelato and gyros.
Cinemark Movies 16
Although you won’t find the most recent films here, you will have money to spare with these ticket prices.
Restaurants with live music
The Cove
Find tasty organic food and free performances from local bands here.
Sam’s Burger Joint
Explore a piece of downtown San Antonio with concerts and burgers,
plus dancing events like Monday night swing.
Olmos Pharmacy
Conveniently located at the corner of Hildebrand Avenue and McCullough Avenue, this pharmacy-turned-retro restaurant (recently nicknamed the “Bharmacy”) features live music almost every night.
Luther’s Cafe
At Luther’s, enjoy free live jazz on Fridays, classic rock and Latin fusion on Saturdays, or Rockabilly on Sunday evenings as you chow down on Texas-style burgers.
Boardwalk Bistro
At this venue, find free live jazz on Friday nights to go along with a Mediterranean meal.
Concert venues & dancehalls
The White Rabbit
The White Rabbit provides concerts on a small scale (approximately 1500 or fewer attendees per concert), with artists that range from local favorites to the nationally known. You can also treat yourself to a snack from local food trucks located in front of the venue.
Gruene Hall
A bit farther away from campus in New Braunfels, you can visit this hill country classic, where you’ll find dancing and live country music performances.
Cowboys Dancehall
If country music is your thing, look out for concerts here. Also, Wednesdays are free for college students with an ID, and ladies get in free for country dancing on Thursday nights.
These are just a few of the wonderful options for San Antonio residents who want to eat some good food, listen to some good music or watch a good movie. Be sure to do some exploring of your own as well, since this list is not exhaustive. And most important of all, remember to enjoy your city.
