San Antonio, Texas Travel Guide
Given its proximity to Austin, San Antonio makes for a quick, easy weekend getaway destination. We’ve visited dozens of times and always enjoy the food, the margaritas (!) and the variety of things to do. Typically the weather in San Antonio is pretty pleasant, too (okay, outside of the dead of summer!). Because we visit San Antonio relatively regularly, I’ll continue to add to these lists as I explore new spots.
Where We Stay
This is a short list! In all of our visits to San Antonio, we’ve repeatedly stayed at two different properties and have enjoyed both of them so much that I don’t know that we’d venture elsewhere.
Hotel Emma is a masterclass on how to be a world-class, luxury hotel, as far as I’m concerned. They simply get everything right, every time. The attention to detail sets them a notch above the rest. For example, they offer complimentary coffee delivered to your room daily. No, you don’t have to schlep on clothes and head to the lobby to get coffee in the morning. What’s better than that? The beds are sumptuous and the turndown service includes macarons. The location cannot be beaten if you want to stroll the Pearl leisurely (and you do). It’s my top pick any time we visit San Antonio.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is another resort we’ve stayed at a few times and thoroughly enjoyed. It’s located on the northwest side of San Antonio and is a destination in and of itself with its waterpark, spa, restaurants and golf amenities. This is our pick for a family weekend getaway. There’s no need to leave the property between the pools, waterslides and restaurants, and we typically don’t. They cater to families with fun events like s’mores in the evening and movie nights in the pool during summertime.
Where We Eat
We’re big fans of The Pearl Brewery so most often, that’s where we stay and dine when we visit San Antonio. All but a few of the restaurants listed below are in that area.
Best Quality Daughter is the cutest little spot serving Asian fusion. It’s in the historic Mueller House at The Pearl Brewery which is so beautifully decorated with vibrant colors and kitschy, thoughtful decor. For example, the toile wallpaper in the bar showcases iconic San Antonio landmarks. We’ve dined at both lunch and dinner and the food is incredible. Everything’s delicious and the mochi cheddar hush puppies are unique and fun. They have many cocktail options but I always stick with “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margarita” simply because of its great name (and, it’s delicious). The bar area is rather small and I wish they had seating as it would be a fun spot to linger over a cocktail.
Botika serves Peruvian-Asian cuisine. There’s a little something for everyone across the South American and Southeast Asian flavors. As it’s in the heart of the Pearl, there seems to often be a crowd.
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana is a place we recently tried and will happily return! I can recommend the shrimp calamari appetizer along with margherita, prosciutto crudo and fontina e salsiccia pizzas. Bonus: they offer pizza dough to keep kids’ hands busy while they wait.
Down on Grayson is a place we’ve gone many times over the past several years for a casual lunch or day drinking. There’s a lot of outdoor seating but it can fill up quickly on a sunny day.
Full Belly Cafe & Bar is a hidden gem tucked in a strip mall. The giant brown butter cinnamon roll and lobster benedict at brunch were both yummy.
Ladino is a sister restaurant to one of our Austin favorites, Emmer & Rye, focusing on Mediterranean dishes. Everything is delicious but the Shishbarak (beef and lamb dumplings) is a favorite.
Lick Honest Ice Creams is just steps from Ladino if you need an after-dinner sweet! They offer a lot of unique seasonal flavors but the Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey on their everyday menu is a good pick, too.
Southerleigh is always a go-to anytime we’re at The Pearl. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve dined there. It’s a solid spot for brunch, lunch, an afternoon frosé and a snack, and I’m sure dinner (the one meal I haven’t eaten there).
Sternewirth in Hotel Emma is our favorite spot to grab a cocktail. Plus, the name has a neat history. I often opt for Emma’s famed La Babia Margarita but I’ve tried lots of different libations, including the “Alkoholfrei” Prohibition Punch. My all-time favorite bar snack is their crispy cauliflower and Brussels sprouts with caramel popcorn, chili garlic honey and Muzquiz peanuts. Yes, caramel popcorn with cruciferous veggies—genius. The space is dark and cozy, making it a perfect spot for an after-dinner cocktail, but the patio is also fun for people-watching.
Supper has an excellent dinner menu and is also fun for an afternoon cocktail and fries. I love the Fly Like Paper cocktail.
What We Do
The Alamo If you’re interested in Texas history, a visit to the Alamo is a must-do. The first time I went I was surprised that it’s just there, in the middle of downtown San Antonio. Admittedly, I’m not much of a history buff and that’s what’s nice about the Alamo—you can explore as much or as little as you want (if you opt for a self-guided audio tour, which I recommend).
Hardberger Park Just north of downtown, the park has nearly 10 miles of trails as well as the usual suspects like a basketball courts, picnic tables, playgrounds and dog parks. If you’re lucky, you can spot wildlife like deer also out for a stroll.
Historic Market Square This is a fun area to walk around and take in whatever might be happening in the plaza. There are plenty of restaurants and shops, too, celebrating Mexico.
The Pearl Brewery One of my favorite spots in San Antonio, the Pearl has several neat shops and plenty of restaurants, along with Hotel Emma. Even though I’m not a voracious reader, I love browsing The Twig book shop. Other favorites include Rancho Diaz for gifts, home items or even just inspiration; Adelante Boutique for fun, colorful womenswear; Feliz Modern Pop for gifts, art and decor; and Ten Thousand Villages for all kinds of things! I love the hand-woven baskets as I always seem to need a catch-all for something or other, and they have endless gift items, too.
The Riverwalk My favorite thing to do on the Riverwalk is stroll. Since we typically stay at Hotel Emma, we access the Riverwalk from the hotel to get out and walk. Of course, there’s much more to do as the Riverwalk is dotted with bars and restaurants and plus tour options.
San Antonio Missions Baseball It’s so much fun to take in a minor league baseball game! Though I can’t say I’d recommend doing this in July when it’s 100+ degrees.
San Antonio Spurs Basketball Or if basektball’s your game, you can check out a Spurs game.
Segway Tour Touristy? Yes! But it was so much fun. I regret not remembering our guide’s name because he was awesome and made the tour such a good time. There are tons of operators who offer tours but we used Nation Tours.
Witte Museum This nature and science museum is San Antonio’s most-visited museum and there’s often interesting exhibits.
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