2 days ago
How to Spend 24 Hours Dining and Drinking in San Antonio
Blessed with revered landmarks like the Alamo and theme parks like Six Flags, San Antonio has long been one of Texas's favorite day trip destinations. In recent years, however, the visitor experience has changed vastly. Stumbling around the chain restaurants in the River Walk is out; lingering over an aged bavette is in. A new generation of restaurants like Ladino and Best Quality Daughter centered around Downtown has enhanced the city's surfeit of Tex-Mex. And now, the buzz comes from elegant cocktail bars and new-school ice houses.
Whether in town for a quick overnight stay or lingering over an entire weekend, here's the ultimate guide on how to spend at least 24 hours dining and drinking in San Antonio.
8 a.m. Coffee at Gravves Coffee
Less for early risers than those who stayed up all night, this coffee shop offers a hangover-friendly black interior and a welcoming, unchipper staff. Along with the usual espresso drinks and cold brews, the funereal parlor pours appropriately goth specialty drinks. The ghostly black sesame latte blends activated charcoal and milk, and the swampy Forest Dweller adds pandan. Food is usually limited to a few spooky pastries, but the business frequently hosts morning pop-ups.
10:30 a.m. Breakfast/Brunch at Con Huevos Taco
It's impossible to drive through San Antonio without passing by incredible taquerias, but this Dignowity Hill staple merits a slight detour East. The pillowy flour tortillas wrap up fillings like buttery scrambled eggs, thick bacon, carne guisada, and creamy avocados. Those who don't have room for an afternoon nap window can go for the lighter Lupe — calabazas, black beans, and queso fresco on a spinach and nopales tortilla. Either way, greet the morning with a peppery Michelada or refreshing Topo Chico preparado on the brightly painted picnic tables.
2 p.m. Lunch at the Newstand
Sandwiches are lunch classics for a reason, but it is challenging to settle for a fast food log while this Broadway shop ups the ante. Chef Page Pressley starts with house-baked focaccia, then loads the halves with imaginative toppings. There's the Parisian, which is stuffed with white asparagus, truffle honey, Parmesan, arugula, and a black pepper custard, and the Chronicle, whipped roasted beet root creme cheese, sheeted and dressed beet root, hazelnuts, sprouts, fine herbs. The wildest ride is the Gazzette, an improbable mix of stracciatella, mortadella, seasonal fruit, pistachio butter, and arugula. The interior has a contemporary edge, too, with sleek marble and blond wood. An attached vintage store gives diners something to do while waiting for their order.
5 p.m. Happy Hour at Little Death
Located in a former service station and graffitied with psychedelic murals, this tiny bottle shop and bar is one of San Antonio's few spots to buy low-intervention wine. Amateur oenophiles shouldn't worry about snobbery: The counter staff can advise based on a favored grape or a vague vibe. Expected wine bar snacks like nuts and cheese make up the permanent window, but the Airstream trailer on site partners with local chefs to offer everything from raw oysters to Palestinian fare.
This cozy New American restaurant is the centerpiece of Pullman Market, the Pearl District's food hall and grocer from Austin's acclaimed Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group. The wood-fired menu focuses on Texas ingredients like reserve Akaushi steaks and heritage breed chickens. Expect to find more mischief in the snacks section, where the kitchen features two-bite wonders like buttermilk pie with mustard greens and fennel. If ending the evening early, stop by the wood-paneled lounge for a nightcap like the Midnight Mass, a riff on an espresso martini infused with raspberry miso and yogurt whey.
For comforting cuisine that gives a snapshot of San Antonio's culture, consider Best Quality Daughter. As much of an art project as a restaurant, BQD began as a series of pop-ups exploring Chinese American identity. The food, however, never feels academic. Chef and owner Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin turns out witty pan-Asian surprises such as Korean corn cheese egg rolls, mochi cheddar hush puppies, dan dan noodles tossed with wagyu guisada, and a drunken noodle dripping in red curry mole. Even the drinks get inventive, with boozy boba and cleverly named cocktails, like the Over My Dad Body, a combination of Toki Japanese whisky, gentian liqueur, lemongrass syrup, and Thai spice bitters. The Victorian veranda has plenty of outdoor seats for lolling away sunny days, but the four Chinoiserie wallpaper-wrapped dining rooms glow brighter.
San Antonio has two days of winter and a thousand days of summer, making chilly desserts a lifeline when the thermometer glows an angry red. This Austin-based mini-chain is a fitting coda to any summertime dinner. The most balmy days call for the pucker of a grapefruit paloma cone made with tequila and a hint of sea salt. Should San Antonio's nightlife scene beckon, power up with an affogato made with local honey and a Madagascar vanilla scoop.
11 p.m. Late Night: Decisions, Decisions
Rave into the wee hours at 1912 Nightclub, housed in a historic train station that once served as Selena's 'No Me Queda Mas' video set. Stick to St. Mary's Strip for bar-hopping, where visitors can stumble into honky tonk Lonesome Rose, tiki favorite Holy Diver, and raucous bar Midnight Swim. Should hunger pangs strike, cheeky Downtown smash burger joint Pumpers keeps the party going until midnight.
Stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden: This historic park is one of San Antonio's most breathtaking selfie spots. The grounds, converted from a limestone quarry in the early 20th century, include charming stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall, and spacious ponds filled with hundreds of koi. Those with limited mobility can take advantage of the upper garden by ramp, but the lower garden requires stairs.
Shop at Pearl: Adapted from the former site of the Pearl Brewing Company, this mixed-use development nestles some of the city's most unique boutiques among its restaurants and bars. Pick up a bespoke guayabera at Dos Carolinas, stock up on artisan home goods at Rancho Diaz, or browse literary fiction at the Twig Book Shop. On the weekend, take advantage of the farmers' market.
Catch a show at Paper Tiger: This mostly outdoor venue books some of the most well-known indie acts in the city, but the weekly lineups are a chance to discover emerging artists. The eclectic schedule pays little mind to genre, making room for country, metal, hip-hop, dream pop, and goth rock.
Get a chill up your spine with Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours: Over its more than 300-year history, San Antonio has collected more than a few things that go bump in the night. Visit some of its more notable former citizens during this theatrical tour. Ghost hunters can pick from two experiences: a walking tour downtown or a bus tour venturing through a historic cemetery.
Cheer on the San Antonio Spurs: Win or lose, the San Antonio Spurs have one of the most loyal fan bases of any NBA team. When the season ends, the Frost Bank Center also hosts the San Antonio FC and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
If staying more than 24 hours, these hotels are near San Antonio's cultural, dining, and nightlife hubs.
For a truly luxe experience, book an evening at this Pearl District anchor, renovated from Pearl's former brewhouse. The well-appointed rooms are steps away from San Antonio standard-bearers like Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, Ladino, Full Goods Diner, and dessert tasting menu restaurant Nicosi. The hotel itself includes an upscale restaurant, Supper; the chic and bustling bar, Sternewirth; and a library lounge just for guests.
Named for its Mediterranean Revival architectural style popular in Cuba in the 1910s, this River Walk boutique hotel is from the Bunkhouse team, who are also behind Marfa's El Cosmico and Mexico City's Hotel San Fernando. Amenities include Ocho, a stunning glasshouse conservatory restaurant overlooking the River Walk; a speakeasy-style bar; and serape robes.
Squeezed between Downtown and artsy Southtown, this new kid on the block offers contemporary amenities like a fitness room, complimentary city bikes, and a heated rooftop pool. The onsite Dean's Steaks and Seafood impresses with a 19th-century schoolhouse atmosphere and decadent raw bar.
The largest pool Downtown is serviced by Anaqua, its adjacent bar that delivers tropical cocktails and bites with Japanese and Latin influences. The wellness concierge at the spa can recommend services such as dark chocolate wraps, radiofrequency stimulation, or holistic manicures. See More:
