The lucha libre theme bursts to life inside, the marquee attraction the array of wrestling masks mounted behind the bar. Those able to name the wrestlers that once donned those masks may not officially win anything at the bar, but the topic does make for a naturally entertaining drinking conversation. Though multiple wrestlers are featured here throughout the interior El Luchador Bar space, Mil Mascaras is the predominant subject of multiple pieces, including a massive wall-height mural depicting the wrestler and his signature “M” mask.
Lucha libre-themed displays are varied and prolific throughout El Luchador Bar, framed photos bearing the images of wrestlers over the years paired with custom artwork occasionally involving green neon and a romantic embrace between wrestler and adoring fan. Santo, perhaps the most popular wrestler to ever live, also features heavily here, the subject of a San Antonio Spurs-themed custom piece as well as a number of framed movie posters devoted to Santo fighting all manner of evil. Staged displays of matches exist under plastic casing in the form of plastic toys and hand-crafted wrestling rings, again a tribute to Mexico’s long history of masked wrestlers.
The space is split into two levels, the first dedicated to the bar, a few stools and a handful of hightop tables. A much larger second level dims the lights even further than already established, the more spacious area filled with short tables easily moved out of the way for live music events when the square footage can be repurposed as a dance floor. An elevated platform in the corner of this second room, under a disco ball of course, serves as presentation area for DJs, trivia events, Bingo and karaoke nights that cycle through the nightly El Luchador Bar calendar.
