(includes Floresville & Selma)
BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
●Bakery Lorraine – 306 Pearl Parkway #110 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-862-5582; bakerylorraine.com.
●Baklovah Bakery – 9329 Wurzbach Road; 210-982-3231; baklovah.com; try chocolate schwarma.
●Bird Bakery – 5912 Broadway Street (Alamo Heights); 210-804-2473; birdbakery.com; gluten-free products.
●Fruteria y Botanero – 1401 South Flores Street (Downtown); 210-251-3104; chefjohnnyhernandez.com/thefruteria; fruit cups & smoothies.
●Hearthstone Bakery & Cafe – 4212 McCullough Avenue (Uptown); 210) 826-5667; hearthstonebakerycafe.com; other locations; American cafe bites (breakfast, soups & sandwiches) in low-key setting with outdoor tables.
●Mi Tierra & Panaderia – 218 Produce Row (Downtown); 210-225-1262; mitierracafe.com; even if market surrounding Mi Tierra is “little sad,“ once inside, this margarita-fueled spot is merry place; huevos rancheros 24 hours daily.
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
●Alchemy Kombucha & Culture – 1123 North Flores Street (Five Points); 210-320-1168; alchemysanantonio.com; cocktail bar that serves snacks good enough to count as meal, as well as home-brewed Kombucha; poorly air-conditioned so go when can sit outside.
●Bohanan’s – 219 East Houston Street (Downtown); 210-472-2600; bohanans.com; bespoke cocktails; this is primarily steakhouse.
●Blue Box at Pearl – 312 Pearl Parkway #2107 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-227-2583; blueboxbar.com; vaulted ceilings & great decor; try pear martini; also, if wait too long downstairs, try going upstairs but be careful (stairs are tricky).
●Cured – 306 Pearl Parkway #101 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-314-3929; curedatpearl.com; buzzy, rustic-chic restaurant serving charcuterie-focused New American cuisine & craft cocktails.
●Esquire Tavern – 155 East Commerce Street (Downtown, on River); 210-222-2521; esquiretavern-sa.com; established in 1933, oldest San Antonio Riverwalk bar (longest wooden bar in Texas); quintessential downtown bar.
●Friendly Spot – 943 South Alamo Street (Arsenal); 210-224-2337; thefriendlyspot.com; kid-friendly ice house with 250-plus brews, Mexican & American fare & brunch in relaxed setting.
●Fruteria y Botanero – 1401 South Flores Street (Downtown); 210-251-3104; chefjohnnyhernandez.com/thefruteria; tequila & lots of it; more than 50 varieties, which can be ordered for sipping; 15 cocktails (tend to be on sweet side) made with fruit-infused liquors & fresh-squeezed juices; wines from Argentina, Chile & Spain; beers from Mexico.
●Green Lantern – 20626 Stone Oak Parkway (Far North Central, Stone Oak Park, at Plaza Ciel); 210-497-3722; thegreenlanternsa.com; speakeasy-atmosphere; no sign; comfy booths; try Sazerac.
●Luxury – 103 East Jones Avenue (Downtown, on River); 210-354-2274; facebook.com/TheLuxurySA; name is play on surroundings, open-air landscaped plot adjacent to San Antonio Museum of Art (on San Antonio River’s other side); bar, bathrooms & kitchen are refurbished railroad cargo cars; drink at picnic tables (most have shade); bocce court behind drinks car; beer & wine.
●Ocho – 1015 Navarro Street (Auditorium Circle, at Hotel Havana, on River); 210-222-2008; havanasanantonio.com/restaurant-and-bar/ocho; located on Riverwalk, with indoor & outdoor seating; inside, Prohibition-Speak-Easy-style; outside, red lanterns & twinkling Mexican patio lights shine over alley leading to river.
●Sancho’s Cantina & Cocina – 628 Jackson Street (5 Points); 210-320-1840; sanchosmx.com; cool joint with rustic patio bar & rooftop seats for Mexican staples, clever drinks & live music.
HOTELS
●Arbor House Suites Bed & Breakfast – 109 Arciniega Street (Downtown); 210-472-2005 or 888-273-7739; arborhouse.com; 4 adjacent, 1903 historic houses with 11 suites; less than block from historic La Villita; 14-minute walk from Alamo; 7 individually decorated suites with private baths & sitting rooms, as well as cable TV, minifridges, microwaves & coffeemakers (some have kitchenettes); several suites feature private balconies; complimentary continental breakfast & garden courtyard with fountain & patio tables.
●Bullis House Inn – 621 Pierce Avenue (Near East Side/Fort Sam Houston); 210-223-9426 or 877-477-4100; bullishouseinn.com; graceful, neoclassical mansion, just down street from Fort Sam Houston quadrangle; excellent bed-&-breakfast bargain; shared bathrooms (except for 1 room); built 1906-1909 for General John Lapham Bullis, frontier Indian fighter who played key role in capturing Geronimo; oak paneling, parquet floors, crystal chandeliers & marble fireplaces (in 3 rooms); 14' ceilings; furnished with some period antiques along with good reproductions.
●Hotel Emma – 136 East Grayson Street (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-448-8300 or 844-296-3662; thehotelemma.com; 19th Century brewhouse; extraordinary 146-room hotel.
●Hotel Havana – 1015 Navarro Street (Auditorium Circle, on River); 210-222-2008; havanasanantonio.com; located on Riverwalk; by hotelier Liz Lambert.
●Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort – 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive (Far West Side); 210-647-1234 or 800-323-1234; hillcountry.regency.hyatt.com; 4 restaurants, 4-acre water park that includes 950' “Ramblin’ River,” spa & 27-hole championship golf course.
●JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa – 23808 Resort Parkway (Northwood Hills); 210-276-2500 or 888-236-2427; jwsanantonio.com; 1K rooms; 600-acre complex; large spa; multiple pools.
●Mokara Hotel & Spa – 212 West Crockett Street (Downtown, on River); 210-396-5800 or866-605-1212; mokarahotels.com; beautiful roof-top pool.
●Oge House – 209 Washington Street (King William District); 210-223-2353 or 800-2422770; ogeinn.com.
●Picosa Ranch – 1936 Texas FM 2579 (Floresville); 830-393-9262; picosaranch.com; John Connally’s former home; 543 acres with 7 room property, 2 pools.
●Riverwalk Vista Bed & Breakfast – 262 Losoya Street (Alamo Plaza, on River); 210-223-3200 or 800-828-6547; riverwalkvista.com; offers more boutique experience in historic Dullnig building; 17-rooms; individually designed; plush leather chairs & big windows; more hotel than B&B.
●St. Anthony Hotel – 300 East Travis Street; 210-227-4392 or 866-716-8136; thestanthonyhotel.com; recently renovated; check out Sky Terrace.
●El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel – 110 Lexington Avenue (Downtown, on River); 210-223-9461 or 877-214-9768; eltropicanohotel.com; downtown hotel in beach resort-inspired 1960s building; by San Antonio Riverwalk & 12 minute walk from Alamo; sleek, modern rooms offer free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers & desks; some rooms have balconies; suites add wet bars with microwaves & mini fridges; upgraded suites in tropical colors offer access to private roof terrace; on-site espresso bar & casual restaurant, plus fire pit, pool, sundeck & fitness center.
●Valencia Riverwalk – 150 East Houston Street (Downtown, on River); 210-227-9700 or 866-842-0100; hotelvalencia-riverwalk.com; dark, moody décor offset by friendly staff; comfortable rooms.
RESTAURANTS
●Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine – 20079 Stone Oak Parkway (Stone Oak Park); 210-494-0561; aldacosrestaurants.com; big portions Tex-Mex in noisy space (patio overlooking hill country quieter); try shrimp enchiladas.
●Azuca Nuevo Latino Restaurant & Bar – 713 South Alamo Street (Arsenal); 210-225-5550; azuca.net; colorful Pan-Latin eatery with eclectic menu, mojitos, sangria, happy hour, live music & patio; convenient to AT&T Center.
●La Barca de Jalisco – 606 Steves Avenue (Riverside); 210-534-3111; facebook.com/Labarcadejal; ask for fresh, hand made corn tortillas & you may just find yourself eating best of your life.
●Big Z’s Burger Joint – 2303 North Loop 1604 West (Far North Central); 210-408-2029; bigz-burgerjoint.com; closed Mondays; 2 locations.
●Biga on Banks – 203 South St. Mary’s Street (in International Center, on River); 210-225-0722; biga.com; big, eclectic menu; dining atmosphere manages to be both bigger than life & romantic; dishes change daily to take advantage of freshest food available, ranging from seared red grouper grits to 11-spice axis venison chops; dessert, which may be best in town, to ask for is sticky toffee pudding; reservations.
●Cascabel Mexican Patio – 1000 South St. Mary’s Street (Downtown); 210-212-6456; facebook.com/pages/Cascabel-Mexican-Patio/111548762218051; among city’s best-kept secrets; wonderful outdoor patio with umbrella-covered tables; features regional specialties from interior Mexico, serving everything with thick yet soft homemade corn tortillas & refried black beans; try Birria, rustic goat stew or huaraches (corn tortillas smothered in refried black beans, shredded cabbage, your choice of meat, spicy red chile sauce & sour cream.
●Bliss – 926 South Presa Street (Downtown); 210-225-2547; foodisbliss.com; rarified, classic, Texas-modern; great fried oysters.
●Bracken Store Café – 1 Retama Parkway (Selma); 210-651-6515; brackenstore.com; closed Sundays; burgers.
●Bun ‘n’ Barrel – 1150 Austin Highway (Alamo Heights); 210-828-2829; bunnbarrel.com; barbecue for over 60 years.
●Burger Boy – 2323 North St. Mary’s Street (Midtown); 210-735-1955; facebook.com/BurgerBoySA/; old stand-by housed in what looks like converted Wienerschnitzel hot dog restaurant.
●Cappy’s – 5011 Broadway Street (Alamo Heights); 210-828-9669; cappysrestaurant.com; Alamo Heights institution; New American–Eclectic; upscale dining without stuffy atmosphere; often crowded; comfortable (can carry conversation); sticky toffee pudding.
●Chez Vatel Bistro – 218 East Olmos Drive (Uptown); 210-828-3141; chezvatelbistro.com; low-key bistro; fish, hanger steaks & other French fare; good-value.
●Cove – 606 West Cypress Street (Five Points); 210-227-2683; thecove.us; closed Sundays; great hamburgers; funky restaurant/Laundromat/carwash.
●Chris Madrids – 1900 Blanco Road (Midtown); 210-735-3552; chrismadrids.com; burgers & Tex-Mex staples; longtime local favorite.
●Cured – 306 Pearl Parkway #101 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-314-3929; curedatpearl.com; charcuterie, salumi & other hand-made, farm-to-table dishes; in restored Administration building at Pearl Brewery complex.
●Dough Pizzeria Napoletana – 6989 Blanco Road (North Central); 210-979-6565; doughpizzeria.com; wood-fired pizza ovens; also, excellent Italian food in general.
●Earl Abel’s – 1201 Austin Highway #175 (Alamo Heights, in Terrell Plaza); 210-822-3358; earlabelssa.com; popular since 1933 & existed at 1 location from 1940-2006; diverse menu ranges from fried chicken & rainbow trout to Reuben sandwich to German chocolate cake & lemon meringue pie; clientele includes well-to-do from nearby Alamo Heights, businessmen & politicians (including Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez who got in fist-fight in 1986 with fellow customer who called him communist).
●España Bar de Tapas – 5638 Hausman Road (Northwest Side, at I-10 West); 210-690-4433; espanabar.com; tasty, truly Spanish tapas; flat screen tvs show soccer; live flamenco shows & karaoke.
●Feast – 1024 South Alamo Street (King William District); 210-354-1024; feastsa.com; modern American cuisine in ultra modern decor.
●La Fogota – 2427 Vance Jackson Road (North Central); 210-340-1337; lafogata.com; lush courtyard filled with fountains & greenery; potent margaritas at this longtime North Side hacienda nestled in subburbs; authentic Mexican comida that is priced well.
●Folc – 226 East Olmos Drive (Uptown); 210-822-0100; folc-restaurant.com; intimate restaurant serving inventive New American plates & cocktails in casual, industrial digs.
●La Fonda on Main – 2415 North Main Avenue (Midtown); 210-733-0621; lafondaonmain.com; Mexican; among San Antonio’s most historic dining options; breezy garden.
●Fratello’s Italian Market & Deli – 2503 Broadway Street (Near East Side); 210-444-0277; fratellosdeli.com; part deli, part market & part restaurant; dishes come from hearty family recipes; Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, Linguine with meatballs & traditional tomato sauce; all breads made from scratch; only place in town for Bucatini al’Amatriciana.
●La Frite Belgian Bistro – 728 South Alamo (Downtown, near St. Mary’s); 210-224-7555; lafritesa.com; in charming neighborhood; outdoor tables provide perfect atmosphere for mussels; also, reserve table for 1st Friday “art walk”; European food.
●Fruteria y Botanero – 1401 South Flores Street (Downtown); 210-251-3104; chefjohnnyhernandez.com/thefruteria; by La Gloria’s Johnny Hernandez; fresh, light Mexican food; cocktails.
●La Gloria Ice House – 100 East Grayson Street (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-267-9040; chefjohnnyhernandez.com/lagloria; Mexico City street food.
●Granary ’Cue & Brew – 602 Avenue A (Midtown); 210-228-0124; thegranarysa.com; in converted old house near Pearl Brewery; bit flash for barbecue joint; still, excellent, if slightly upscale.
●Grill at Leon Springs – 24116 I-10 (NorthWest Side); 210-698-8797; leonspringsgrill.com; European-inspired destination serving eclectic fare & fine wines in rustic locale with live music.
●Guenther House – 205 East Guenther Street (Arsenal); 210-227-1061 or 800-235-8186; guentherhouse.com; museum, restaurant & store originally built as private residence in 1859 by Pioneer Flour Mills founder, Carl Hilmar Guenther; listed on National Register of Historic Places.
●Henry’s Puffy Tacos – 6030 Bandera Road (Far West Side); 210-647-8339; henryspuffytacos.com; other locations; made-to-order tacos, burritos & seafood dishes plus margaritas.
●Hot Joy – 1014 South Alamo Street (Downtown); 210-368-9324; hotjoysa.com; MUST GO; try black sesame ice cream.
●Jacala Mexican Restaurant – 606 West Avenue (Los Angeles Heights); 210-732-5222; jacala.com; Quiñones family operated & owned for more than 50 years; classic Tex-Mex, fast service & good margaritas; patio.
●Lüke – 125 East Houston Street (Downtown, on River); 210-227-5853; lukesanantonio.com; Texas-tilting, New American fare (French & German with New Orleans thrown in); emphasis on seafood.
●Luxury – 103 East Jones Avenue (Downtown, on River); 210-354-2274; facebook.com/TheLuxurySA; name is play on surroundings, open-air landscaped plot adjacent to San Antonio Museum of Art (on San Antonio River’s other side); bar, bathrooms & kitchen are refurbished railroad cargo cars; eat at picnic tables (most have shade); bocce court behind drinks car; chef trained in France; menu includes perfect French-style rolled omelet inside sandwich called tico, which also features ham, pureed black beans, avocado, plantain halves & pico de gallo (term tico refers to someone from Costa Rica, chef’s wife Maureen’s home); steak sandwich made with organic beef chunks, roasted tomatoes & chimichurri with extra garlic; chef Andrew Weissman serves among best fries in town; dessert pudding is pure joy in cup.
●Mary Ann’s Pig Stand – 1508 Broadway Street (Near East Side); 210-222-9923; sanantoniospigstand.com; comfort food in old diner.
●Mi Tierra & Panaderia – 218 Produce Row (Downtown); 210-225-1262; mitierracafe.com; even if market surrounding Mi Tierra is “little sad,“ once inside, this margarita-fueled spot is merry place; huevos rancheros 24 hours daily.
●El Mirador – 722 South St. Mary’s Street (Arsenal); 210-225-9444; elmiradorrestaurant.com; traditional Mexican food; fabled spot under new management.
●MoMak’s Backyard Malts & Burgers – 13838 Jones Maltsberger Road (Uptown); 210-481-3600; momaks.com; burgers.
●El Nogal Mexican Restaurant – 1605 North St. Mary’s Street (Downtown); 210-225-8356; facebook.com/pages/El-Nogal-Mexican-Restaurant/580450378760552; very inexpensive & dive-y; good place for breakfast & lunch.
●Paesano’s Italian Restaurant – 555 East Basse Road (Alamo Heights); 210-828-5191; paesanos.com; local fixture that has been offering Italian dishes & extensive wine list since 1969; other locations; upmarket Italian cuisine, served in spacious digs with enclosed terrace.
●Paesanos 1604 – 3622 Paesanos Parkway (North Central); 210-493-1604; paesanos1604.com; beautiful location; longtime Italian favorite.
●Pancho’s & Gringo’s Deli – 900 Nolan Street (Dignowty Hill); 210-227-6700; panchosandgringosct.com; dimly lit surroundings; family-owned & operated restaurant is hidden gem; large menu of primarily breakfast foods & sandwiches; food is inexpensive & always fresh & hot; staff is extremely attentive; best breakfast potatoes & fries in city.
●Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant – 5703 Evers Road (Northwest Side); 210-647-5524; facebook.com/PiccolosItalianRestaurant; looks like bad, out-of-date cafeteria (old banquet style red chair, oiled table cloth & cheap silverware); beloved if mediocre.
●Ray’s Drive Inn – 822 Southwest 19th Street (Inner West Side); 210-432-7171; raysdriveinn.net; best puffy tacos; scruffy West Side setting in deliciously retro drive-in since 1966; puro San Antonio.
●Rosario's Mexican Cafe Y Cantina – 910 South Alamo Street (Downtown); 210-223-1806; rosariossa.com; upscale Mexican food; other locations.
●Saveurs 209 – 209 Broadway Street (Downtown); 210-639-3165; saveurs209.com; contemporary, family-owned, French restaurant; menu is short but distinctive.
●Schilo’s Delicatessen – 424 East Commerce Street (Downtown); 210-223-6692; schilos.com; reasonably priced German delicatessen in historic building.
●Shuck Shack Oysters & Such – 520 East Grayson Street (Near East Side); 210-236-7422; shuckshack.com; fresh oysters on half-shell from all 3 coasts; casual family friendly atmosphere; clam chowder, lobster rolls & crab fritters; dine on outdoor patio with glass of wine or craft brews; playground with dueling slides.
●Sichuan Cuisine – 2347 Northwest Military Highway (North Central); 210-524-0100; sichuancuisinesa.com; San Antonio’s most authentic Sichuan cuisine.
●Smokehouse – 3306 Roland Avenue (East Side); 210-333-9548; thesmokehousebbqsa.com; excellent barbecue.
●Il Sogno Osteria – 200 East Grayson Street #100 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-223-3900; atpearl.com/food/restaurants; does not take reservations so get there early; Italian; industrial chic; try white bean puree, lasagna with wild mushrooms & Nutella tart.
●Timbo’s – 1639 Broadway Street (Near East Side); 210-223-1028; timbosburgers.com; tasty gourmet burgers; Shiner Bock on tap!
●Tre Trattoria – 4003 Broadway Street (Alamo Heights, on River); 210-805-0333; tretrattoria.com; slightly formal but with family-style, Italian menu.
●Two Bros. BBQ Market – 12656 West Avenue (North Central); 210-496-0222; twobrosbbqmarket.com; classic pit barbecue.
●Van’s Restaurant – 3214 Broadway Street (Alamo Heights); 210-828-8449; vansrestaurantonline.com; reliable, old-school Pan-Asian where biggest surprise is not food – it’s 200-plus wine varieties on offer; though it’s set in unassuming storefront, inside impresses with immense fish tank & wine racks.
SERVICES
●Blue Star Bike Shop – 1414 South Alamo Street (Downtown); 210-858-0331; bluestarbikeshop.com; bike rentals.
●1st Friday Art Walk – southtown.net.
●Mokara Hotel & Spa – 212 West Crockett Street (Downtown, on River); 210-396-5800; mokarahotels.com.
SHOPPING
●Casa Clasal Copper Gallery – 418 Villita Street #400 (Downtown, at La Villita, on River); 210-271-3856; beautiful copper items.
●Cheever Books – 3613 Broadway Street (Midtown); 210-824-2665; abebooks.com/Cheever-Books-San-Antonio-TX-U.S.A/837013/sf; rare & used books.
●Melissa Guerra Latin Kitchen Market – 303 Pearl Parkway #104 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-293-3983; melissaguerra.com; kitchenware store owned by cookbook auther.
●Alice Knight – 418 Villita Street #1700 (Downtown, at La Villita, on River); 210-226-7220; aliceknight.com; art.
●Richter Goods – 2202 Broadway Street; 210-473-9075; richtergoods.com; clothing by Mario Guajardo.
●Twig Book Shop – 306 Pearl Parkway #106 (Midtown, at Pearl Brewery, on River); 210-826-6411; thetwig.com; books.
SIGHTS & SITES
●Alamo (Mission San Antonio de Valero) – 300 Alamo Plaza or 955 South Alamo Street (Downtown); 210-225-7363; thealamo.org.
●Artpace – 445 North Main Avenue (Downtown); 210-212-4900; artpace.org; non-profit centers.
●Aztec Theatre – 104 North St. Mary’s Street (Downtown, at Commerce Street); 210-812-4355; theaztectheatre.com; San Antonio’s premier historical multi-purpose entertainment & events facility; among Alamo City’s most cherished architectural & historical landmarks; considered Meso-American architectural artwork, boasting dramatic combination of authentic columns, reliefs & artifacts.; Meyer & Holler design firm combined Aztec elements with modern touches creating ancient American look, complete with polychromed plasterwork, duplicating murals, massive columns & sculputre from ancient Mexican temples; lobby centerpiece is 3-ton chandelier, 2 stories tall & 12' wide, largest in Texas at time; San Antonio Conservation Society rescued from demolition in 1989 & theatre listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1992; re-born in 2014.
●Buddhist Temple of San Antonio – 6292 Lockhill Road (Northwest Side); 210-561-1225; facebook.com/pages/Buddhist-Temple-of-San-Antonio/114740084368; beautiful grounds open to public; worth special trip.
●Brackenridge Park – 3910 North St. Mary’s Street (Alamo Heights); 210-207-7275; san-antonio-parks.com/BreckenridgePark/html or brackenridgepark.org; 340-acre park on west side town; visit Japanese Tea Garden.
●Casa Navarro State Historic Site – 228 South Laredo Street (Downtown); 210-226-4801; thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/casa-navarro-state-historic-site; original house complex was residence of Texas patriot José Antonio Navarro.
●Guenther House – 205 East Guenther Street (Arsenal); 210-227-1061 or 800-235-8186; guentherhouse.com; museum, restaurant & store originally built as private residence in 1859 by Pioneer Flour Mills founder, Carl Hilmar Guenther; listed on National Register of Historic Places.
●Headwaters at Incarnate Word – 4503 Broadway Street; 210-828-2224; headwaterscoalition.org; see Blue Hole from which San Antonio River springs.
●Intersection of Shane & Villamin Roads – just south of Loop 410 (McCleless Meadows); “anti-gravity” intersection (supposedly).
●McNay Art Museum – 6000 North New Braunfels Avenue (Alamo Heights); 210-824-5368; mcnayart.org; intimate space in Spanish colonial mansion; worth visiting for standing collection alone.
●Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña (Mission Concepción) – 807 Mission Road (RiverSide, at Felisa Street); 210-534-1540; nps.gov/saan/learn/historyculture/conc_history1.htm
; Franciscan friars established in 1716; originally meant to be base for converting Hasinai (Hasinai Confederacy was large Caddo-speaking Native American confederation located between Sabine & Trinity Rivers in eastern Texas, today enrolled in Oklahoma Caddo Nation) to Catholicism & teaching them what they need to know to become Spanish citizens; friars move mission in 1731 to San Antonio; after its relocation, most people in mission are Pajalats (Coahuiltecan language speaking); Catholic Mass held to this day every Sunday; on 28 October 1835, Mexican troops under Colonel Domingo Ugartechea & Texian insurgents led by James Bowie & James Fannin fought Battle of Concepción (first major Texas Revolution engagement) here; convent, granary, nave & sanctuary; when originally built, brightly painted frescos decorated both exterior & interior, traces still extant, but weathered, in places; best preserved Texas mission; in 2015, UN designated Concepción & 4 other San Antonio missions, including Alamo, as World Heritage Site, 1st in Texas & 1 of 23 in US.
●Mission San Francisco de la Espada (also Mission Espada) – 10040 Espada Road (South Side); 210-627-2064; nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/espada.htm; Catholic mission established in 1690 by Spain in present-day San Antonio, built to convert local Native Americans to Christianity & solidify Spanish territorial claims in New World against encroachment from France; 1 of 4 Missions that comprise San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
●Mission San José – 701 East Pyron Avenue (East Pyron); 210-922-0543; nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjose.htm; largest of 5 missions; known as “Queen of Missions“ because largest; almost fully restored to its original design in 1930s by WPA; Spanish missions were not churches, but church-focused communities; known for rose window; visitor center & great gift shop.
●Mission San Juan Capistrano – 9101 Graf Road (South Side); 210-534-0749; nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjuan.htm; originally christened in 1716 as La Misión San José de los Nazonis & located in East Texas, founded in 1731 by Spanish Franciscan Order Catholics; new settlement named for 15th Century theologian & “warrior priest“ from Abruzzo region of Italy.
●Museo Alameda – 101 South Santa Rosa Avenue (Downtown); 210-299-4300; thealameda.org; Chicano & Latino art.
●Old Spanish Trail Centennial Marker – 100 Military Plaza (Downtown); 210-207-6000; sanantonio.gov or sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/2007Bond/ParkCommittees/Old%20Spanish%20Trail%20Information.pdf; have to wander around grounds to find.
●Pearl Brewery – 200 East Grayson Street (Midtown, on River); 210-212-7260; pearlbrewery.com; mixed-use complex; Saturday morning farmers’ market.
●Riverwalk (Paseo del Río) – Downtown; thesanantonioriverwalk.com; network of walkways along San Antonio River, 1 story beneath streets of downtown San Antonio; loops & winds under bridges as 2 parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants & shops, connecting major tourist draws from Alamo to Rivercenter Mall, to Arneson River Theatre, to Marriage Island, to La Villita, to HemisFair Park, to Tower Life Building, to San Antonio Museum of Art & Pearl Brewery; during annual springtime Fiesta San Antonio, River Parade features flowery floats that float down river.
●San Antonio Museum of Art – 200 West Jones Avenue (Downtown, on River); 210-978-8100; samuseum.org; more than 30K objects representing 5K years of culture & history from every region in world; includes important works from Egyptian, Greek & Roman antiquities, Asian art, Latin American art & Contemporary art; among largest & most comprehensive collections of ancient Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek & Roman art in southern US; Asian art collection, housed in Lenora & Walter F. Brown Asian Art Wing, among most impressive in US, including more than 1.5K works from China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet & Vietnam; Latin American collection, housed in Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art, offers artwork from Mexico, Central & South America, & many Caribbean countries, being among world’s most important repositories of Latin American folk art (over 7K objects); significant portion Contemporary collection devoted to post-WWII American painting & sculpture.
●San Antonio Zoo – 3903 North St. Mary’s Street (Alamo Heights); 210-734-7184; sazoo.org; 35-acre zoo; over 3.5K animals representing 750 species; successfully has bred 53 endangered snow leopards since 1970.
●San Fernando Cathedral – 115 Main Plaza (Downtown); 210-227-1297 or 210-225-9800; sfcathedral.org or mainplaza.org/san-antoniothe-saga; see light show called “The Saga.“
●Barney Smith Toilet Seat Art – 239 Abiso Avenue (Alamo Heights); 210-824-7791; facebook.com/SATXTSAM; toilet seat art museum.
●Texas Star Trail – begins & ends at Alamo Plaza (Downtown); 210-224-6163 (San Antonio Conservation Society); saconservation.org (downloadable brochure & mobile app); self-guided, 2.6-mile walking tour of downtown historic sites; includes O. Henry House (where writer worked in 1890s) & Richter House (where barber-surgeon William Richter used leeches from nearby irrigation ditch to treat patients); 79 interest points identified by aluminum pavement markers, including 29 “must see” stops; note also Wolfson Building (100 North Main Street, on Main Plaza, Site #35) once home to Wolfson’s Dry Goods & Clothing Store, as well as site where Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna planned his assault on Alamo in 1836; likewise, Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders outfitted for their 1898 charge up San Juan Hill at saddlery shop in Main Plaza & at 231 East Commerce Street; finally, stop at Tower Life Building, net-gothic skyscraper & take look inside.
●Tobin Center for Performing Arts – 100 Auditorium Circle (Auditorium Circle, on River); 210-223-8624; tobincenter.org; San Antonio’s performing arts center; located next to Riverwalk.
●La Villita – 418 Villita Street (Downtown, on River); 210-207-8610; getcreativesanantonio.com/Explore-San-Antonio/La-Villita; just off Riverwalk; crammed with artisanal shops.
●Witte Museum – 3801 Broadway Street (Alamo Heights); 210-357-1900; wittemuseum.org; established in 1926, located adjacent to Brackenridge Park, on San Antonio River banks; dedicated to natural history, science & South Texas heritage; permanent collection features historic artifacts & photographs, Texas art, textiles, world-renowned Hertzberg Circus Collection, dinosaur bones, cave drawings, Texas wildlife dioramas & 4-story H-E-B Science Treehouse.
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