International Bar, the cocktail spot at 114 E. Mills Ave. in Downtown El Paso, is closing its doors on September 27 after a decade in business. The bar announced the closure in a social media post, thanking staff and what it called its loyal, supportive customers while inviting people to stop by for one last goodbye before the lights go out.
The venue built its reputation on an upstairs patio overlooking San Jacinto Plaza, a feature that Downtown El Paso has pointed to as one of the district's more scenic outdoor perches. Over the years, the space hosted weekends, weddings, graduations, concerts and holiday gatherings, according to the bar's own account of its run. It also became a food-and-drink crossover spot when it welcomed Lick It Up inside its walls.
A Decade Tied to San Jacinto Plaza's Nightlife Scene
International Bar's run unfolded amid Downtown El Paso's nightlife scene. Park Tavern was another downtown nightlife destination. Its profile included a covered patio and a cocktail.
Part of that identity came from how the bar adapted to city rules rather than around them. International Bar previously hosted a silent disco in its outdoor space, an event tied to the city's noise ordinance, per an earlier ABC-7 report cited by KVIA.
International Bar's Response to Downtown Sound Limits
The city's noise ordinance shaped how International Bar held some events.
International Bar's social media announcement did not list financial or regulatory reasons for its closure, citing only a decade of memories.
Another Longtime El Paso Bar Calls It Quits
International Bar's exit isn't the only one rattling El Paso's bar scene this month. Whiskey Dicks, a fixture for more than 20 years on George Dieter Drive, also announced its own shutdown in September, marking a notable stretch of closures for established watering holes across the city.
For now, International Bar's message to regulars is simple: come by before September 27 for one more drink and a proper send-off. The bar's rooftop view of San Jacinto Plaza, its silent discos, and its connection with Lick It Up leave behind a decade's worth of downtown memories as the venue prepares to shutter for good.
