Meet the Team at The Esquire Tavern

Stephan Mendez is the owner of The Esquire Tavern and Downstairs, but remains a bartender at heart.
After joining The Esquire in 2013, he worked his way through nearly every role in the organization—from bartender and bar manager to beverage director and director of operations—before taking ownership in 2026.
A founding member of San Antonio's chapter of the United States Bartenders' Guild and founder of the Raising Spirits Foundation, Stephan is passionate about supporting and strengthening the local hospitality community. Whether leading the team or stepping behind the bar, his focus remains the same: preserving The Esquire's legacy while creating memorable experiences for every guest.

Christopher Hill, architect, developer and occasional preservationist, refers to himself as the “reluctant restaurateur” and swears that he restored and reopened The Esquire Tavern against his better instincts. The quality of the tavern’s food and drink and the obvious care lavished on the renovation belies Chris’s purported second thoughts. The team he has assembled to put The Esquire back on the map is meeting his high expectations… and then some. Chris’s other projects include Sendero Ranch, Retablo Ranch, San Antonio Loan and Trust Building, the Gallagher Headquarters and St Benedict's Lofts.