We love our city, San Antonio, and we’re excited to share it with you – so we’ve put together a list of our favorite things to do! See below for photos, brief descriptions, and links to more information. We hope you enjoy your stay!
This mixed use space just north of downtown is one of our favorite places. Enjoy countless restaurants, local shopping, and beautiful outdoor spaces. Take a stroll through (or stay at) Hotel Emma, book an appointment at Hiatus Spa, or grab a quick bite from The Bottling Dept. – if you only see one thing, this is truly not to be missed.
Saturday (9am – 1pm) or Sunday (10am – 2pm), you can stop by our favorite vendor at the Pearl Farmer’s Market, Humble House Foods, for the breakfast tostadas (choose the cilantro white cheddar pesto), or the thickest french toast you’ve ever seen.
You really can’t go wrong eating anywhere here, but we highly recommend Tenko Ramen & Fletcher’s (inside The Bottling Dept.) and Supper (sit down) or Larder (grab and go) at Hotel Emma.
Just south of downtown, make sure you head down S. Alamo street to see “Southtown” and the Blue Star Arts area. Some of our absolute favorite restaurants are here as well, along with some beautiful, historic houses, and the epicenter of the city’s visual art offerings.
Be sure to have the city’s best Mexican food at Rosario’s, and sit outside to enjoy a local beer, with over 75 taps and 300+ craft brews at The Friendly Spot. For the more adventurous eaters, we love Hot Joy, an Asian-fusion restaurant. A long-standing and well-loved breakfast spot can be found at the historic Guenther House – be prepared to wait, but know that it’s worth it. For those who REALLY love barbecue (you’ve been warned, it’s what we’re serving at the wedding) B&D Ice House is great (Alissa says, make SURE you order the mac & cheese).
If you’re in on time (by Friday evening, March 2nd) and feel like stepping out, take an Uber or Lyft to Southtown to enjoy First Friday – featuring live music, arts and crafts, and extended gallery hours.
It may be smaller than you expected, but stop by the Alamo to learn about one of Texas (and San Antonio’s) most famous historical spots. While you’re downtown, you can check out the Riverwalk.
Our favorite restaurants here include The Esquire and Iron Cactus (Juan says, try the donuts), and if you stop in at the first restaurant on the Riverwalk, Casa Rio, or at the 100-year old Schilo’s German Deli, be sure to look at the menus – a few of Alissa’s most recent design projects.
We are also home to the four southernmost Spanish-Colonial Missions. These four (along with the Alamo) were recently named a World Heritage site by Unesco. Visit one or all four of these beautiful sites: Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada.
You can further explore along the Mission Reach, an 8 mile stretch to walk, bike, or even kayak.
The Quarry is just a short drive up highway 281 (north of downtown and the Pearl) and has several major retailers, a movie theater, and restaurant chains.
Looking for shopping outside of the local experience? Be sure to visit The Shops at La Cantera. San Antonio’s premier shopping destination includes high-end retailers and upscale dining in an open-air environment.
Our other favorite restaurants nearby (but not specifically in one of the areas above) include Barbaro and Chisme. If you find yourself in or around Alamo Heights, check out Alissa’s favorite local shop, Aquarius, Bird Bakery, and Central Market.
A short drive away, you can visit Fredericksburg, Gruene, or Wimberley, all charming, smaller Texas towns.
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