Da Traxx

I was so enticed by the Unilocal reviews on this place, I had to see it for myself. I grabbed my neighbor and off we went. Located on Hildebrand just over the railroad tracks from Monte Vista is an experience. A sight to be seen. And unfortunately, I was so blown away by everything I didn’t even get my phone out to add pics to their Unilocal page, so rest assured I’ll be back.
This bar is frozen in time. I truly wished I had rocked a perm and a neon colored blazer with sleeves I could push up to my elbows. I mean, I’m pretty sure no one in here noticed it wasn’t 1983 anymore. Mirrors everywhere, water features *inside*, fog-​a-​plenty — very strip-​club chic. It’s absolutely beautiful.
This is for sure a place for regulars. They were a bit unsure of us as we dropped in. But we only stayed long enough for a couple drinks so we probably could have gotten them to warm up to us. Also, the drinks (beer only and cash only) are so cheap here and they have snacks all over the place like Heather said in plastic martini glasses, and the music. Ahhh the music. Let’s just say it’s a celebration at Da Traxx most of the time…
So, three stars to you, Da Traxx, one for each of the x’s in your name and another for all the neon you’re still rockin in your décor.

This place is a San Antonio icon-​I have never seen anything like it.
I grew up in Monte Vista, and remember laughing about it as a kid when we’d drive past it’s bizarre name exterior.
True to it’s name it is five yards from the railroad tracks that paralell San Pedro. Inside, the décor is… difficult to categorize-​mirrors everywhere, UV & DJ lights, fake torches, even a mirrored grotto fountain. Imagine the interior decoration equivalent of Manfred Mann’s Blinded By The Light translated to interior. I half expected to see a sugar bowl full of blow on one of the tables. You can tell by the way the building is finished out that the space was once a strip club. As my friend characterized it «Ths whole place is just a monument to when [the owner] was the s**t in the 80s.» On the wall by the pool table hang framed photos of the man, proudly posing with Tyson & assorted feather-​haired actresses and porn stars.
Closer inspection reveals the place to be very clean (for a bar) — we grabbed a table that was pre-​set with napkins and washed glass ashtrays.
All of this seems oddly juxtaposed to the older crowd and blaring tejano played from the owner’s CD collection. He was perfectly willing to put on a mix CD from my car upon request.
It is cash only, and they only have a beer license. If you want something different and funny-​check it out.

I have very mixed emotions about Da Traxx. I live just 2 houses down from this bar but didn’t work up the nerve to visit it until I had lived here for 2 years. I didn’t know what to expect from the bar, and now that I’ve been a handful of times, I’m still not sure what to think about this place.
Positives: Cheap beer, friendly staff and DJ, hilarious music collection, FREE SNACKS IN PLASTIC MARTINI GLASSES, and wonderfully tacky décor (includes indoor waterfalls, lots of mirrors, fog machine, WTF!)
Negatives: Cash only, usual crowd is very subdued and the staff gets nervous if any young people come in and want to dance
The typical crowd at this bar has an average age of at least 40 and only wants to listen to Tejano music. I have no problem with this, but get annoyed when the staff gets nervous about me and my younger friends having an energy level that is much higher than that of their regular patrons.
Who knows — It’s a ridiculous place and I think everyone should check it out at least once. I suppose the novelty has just worn off for me, but I still like to show it off to out-​of-​town friends because this is something that is truly unique to San Antonio.