Guidebook for San Antonio
Food Scene
High quality, authentic, inexpensive, home-style Mexican food and friendly service. Mini-tacos "al pastor" are some of the best around. Also great for breakfast (served all day). Open late-night, no alcohol.
18 locals recommend
Taqueria Datapoint
4063 Medical DrHigh quality, authentic, inexpensive, home-style Mexican food and friendly service. Mini-tacos "al pastor" are some of the best around. Also great for breakfast (served all day). Open late-night, no alcohol.
Very popular local breakfast spot, large variety German-influenced menu. Go early or be prepared to wait. Breakfast/lunch only.
128 locals recommend
The Magnolia Pancake Haus
10333 Huebner RdVery popular local breakfast spot, large variety German-influenced menu. Go early or be prepared to wait. Breakfast/lunch only.
Just down the street from our house, this place serves up excellent Mexican food, fabulous margaritas, and friendly service. Try the Carne Estilo Ajuua or their excellent tortas! Open late and also offering brunch buffet on Sundays. Large outdoor patio, live music on weekends.
6 locals recommend
Ajuúa! Mexican Grill
11703 Huebner RdJust down the street from our house, this place serves up excellent Mexican food, fabulous margaritas, and friendly service. Try the Carne Estilo Ajuua or their excellent tortas! Open late and also offering brunch buffet on Sundays. Large outdoor patio, live music on weekends.
Fresh and authentic Mexican food served in small plates. Known for their fresh seafood, including ceviche, fish tacos. Excellent margaritas, romantic riverside location in the Pearl .
137 locals recommend
La Gloria
100 E Grayson StFresh and authentic Mexican food served in small plates. Known for their fresh seafood, including ceviche, fish tacos. Excellent margaritas, romantic riverside location in the Pearl .
Best bakery in town, also serves lunch. Known for their [French] macarons and desserts, their sandwiches are also superb. Modern Pearl district location near downtown.
152 locals recommend
Bakery Lorraine
306 Pearl PkwyBest bakery in town, also serves lunch. Known for their [French] macarons and desserts, their sandwiches are also superb. Modern Pearl district location near downtown.
2nd best bakery, and close to our house! Great artisan breads, foccacia pizza, and french pastries. Samples always available in the store. They are also regulars at the Pearl Farmers Market (Sat/Sun).
Sol Y Luna Baking Co.
4421 De Zavala Road2nd best bakery, and close to our house! Great artisan breads, foccacia pizza, and french pastries. Samples always available in the store. They are also regulars at the Pearl Farmers Market (Sat/Sun).
Most famous burger place in town! Must try the Tostada Burger. Unusual burgers, thin patty, huge size with an apron of melted cheese. Try it Macho size, big enough to share. Casual, outdoor avail.
102 locals recommend
Chris Madrids
1900 Blanco RdMost famous burger place in town! Must try the Tostada Burger. Unusual burgers, thin patty, huge size with an apron of melted cheese. Try it Macho size, big enough to share. Casual, outdoor avail.
Good quality inexpensive Mexican and TexMex. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Handy location just north of downtown, close to museum reach access to riverwalk. Easy/free parking.
49 locals recommend
Pete's Tako House
502 Brooklyn AveGood quality inexpensive Mexican and TexMex. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Handy location just north of downtown, close to museum reach access to riverwalk. Easy/free parking.
Huge selection of craft beers and one of the best pizzas in town! Located in Blue Star Arts complex in Southtown, next to the southern reach of the riverwalk. Free parking. Also on trolley route.
89 locals recommend
Stella Public House
1414 S Alamo StHuge selection of craft beers and one of the best pizzas in town! Located in Blue Star Arts complex in Southtown, next to the southern reach of the riverwalk. Free parking. Also on trolley route.
Excellent food and cocktails in renovated historic building. Often has live music in bar area. Located in Southtown, on trolley route.
114 locals recommend
Liberty Bar
1111 S Alamo StExcellent food and cocktails in renovated historic building. Often has live music in bar area. Located in Southtown, on trolley route.
Sleek, modern restaurant serving excellent American food tapas style. Located in Southtown on trolley route.
76 locals recommend
Feast
1024 S Alamo StSleek, modern restaurant serving excellent American food tapas style. Located in Southtown on trolley route.
Near the house. Awesome happy hour menu! Nice Italian food, great martinis. Beautiful outdoor patio and inviting interior.
7 locals recommend
Luce Ristorante E Enoteca
11255 Huebner RdNear the house. Awesome happy hour menu! Nice Italian food, great martinis. Beautiful outdoor patio and inviting interior.
24-hour local mexican and tex-mex chain. Great value, huge portions, low prices, huge menu, good food and strong margaritas. Drive-thru or dine-in.
12 locals recommend
Chacho's
Interstate 1024-hour local mexican and tex-mex chain. Great value, huge portions, low prices, huge menu, good food and strong margaritas. Drive-thru or dine-in.
What more could you ask for? Donuts and homemade breakfast tacos in one place! Drive thru or dine in, pretty much always a line either way. Closes early afternoon.
21 locals recommend
Original Donut Shop
3307 Fredericksburg RdWhat more could you ask for? Donuts and homemade breakfast tacos in one place! Drive thru or dine in, pretty much always a line either way. Closes early afternoon.
Nearby homey coffee shop, great espresso drinks, wifi, comfy furniture. Also serve homemade baked goods and sandwiches.
6 locals recommend
Aspen's Brew Coffee, Cafe & Catering
11255 Huebner RdNearby homey coffee shop, great espresso drinks, wifi, comfy furniture. Also serve homemade baked goods and sandwiches.
A San Antonio institution since the 1930s. Small, casual diner, known for their chicken fried steak. Classic "greasy spoon".
12 locals recommend
De Wese's Tip Top Cafe
2814 Fredericksburg RdA San Antonio institution since the 1930s. Small, casual diner, known for their chicken fried steak. Classic "greasy spoon".
Excellent Greek food, with yummy bread served at the table with olive oil for dipping. Great service.
35 locals recommend
Pasha Mediterranean Grill
9339 Wurzbach RdExcellent Greek food, with yummy bread served at the table with olive oil for dipping. Great service.
San Antonio-based chain of BBQ and fried chicken fame. With the exception of the smoked chicken I am personally not a huge fan of the BBQ, but the fried chicken is the best!
55 locals recommend
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
1030 E César E. Chávez BlvdSan Antonio-based chain of BBQ and fried chicken fame. With the exception of the smoked chicken I am personally not a huge fan of the BBQ, but the fried chicken is the best!
One of the best BBQ places in town, but go early, they sell out fast! Don't miss the peach cobbler.
10 locals recommend
The Big Bib BBQ
104 Lanark DrOne of the best BBQ places in town, but go early, they sell out fast! Don't miss the peach cobbler.
Local inexpensive quality seafood, this is the original location, there is also one closer to our house. Casual place, order at counter, limited table service. Can't go wrong here!
16 locals recommend
Sea Island Shrimp House
10303 Interstate 10Local inexpensive quality seafood, this is the original location, there is also one closer to our house. Casual place, order at counter, limited table service. Can't go wrong here!
Italian-owned local place. Great pizza, calzones and salads, very small, casual place, mostly take-out. Very close to the house. Inexpensive.
Sapore's Pizza
2211 Northwest Military HighwayItalian-owned local place. Great pizza, calzones and salads, very small, casual place, mostly take-out. Very close to the house. Inexpensive.
Delicious gyro sandwiches, try the Zeus-size, big enough for 2 for about $10. Pleasant casual dining area, also close to the house, good for takeout.
Papouli's Greek Grill
11224 Huebner RoadDelicious gyro sandwiches, try the Zeus-size, big enough for 2 for about $10. Pleasant casual dining area, also close to the house, good for takeout.
So far BEST tacos I've had in this town. Voted best tacos in 2016 SA Current reader poll. Drive thru or dine in.
Pepe's Tacos N Salsa
12820 Jones Maltsberger RdSo far BEST tacos I've had in this town. Voted best tacos in 2016 SA Current reader poll. Drive thru or dine in.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar/restaurant inside Hotel Havana. Romantic setting overlooking the river, but off the beaten path. Intimate bar in basement. Excellent happy hour. Superb cuban-influenced food.
60 locals recommend
Ocho
1015 Navarro StBar/restaurant inside Hotel Havana. Romantic setting overlooking the river, but off the beaten path. Intimate bar in basement. Excellent happy hour. Superb cuban-influenced food.
Sightseeing
TOP PICK! "The Saga", an artistic musical video of the history of San Antonio, displayed on the cathedral facade . 20-min, various show times (after dark).
See mainplaza.org for details.
108 locals recommend
San Fernando Cathedral
115 Main PlazaTOP PICK! "The Saga", an artistic musical video of the history of San Antonio, displayed on the cathedral facade . 20-min, various show times (after dark).
See mainplaza.org for details.
Nice quiet northern section of the Riverwalk, with native plantings, hanging fish art, etc. Great daytime walk or bike ride. Easy parking/access from Brooklyn St. Can also access river taxi here.
25 locals recommend
Museum Reach
Museum ReachNice quiet northern section of the Riverwalk, with native plantings, hanging fish art, etc. Great daytime walk or bike ride. Easy parking/access from Brooklyn St. Can also access river taxi here.
Hemisfair
Lovely park and location of hemisfair tower.
Everything Else
Biggest, best farmer's market in town. Open Sat-Sun. Free parking. Several restaurants on site. You can also access northern end of riverwalk and river taxi from the Pearl.
115 locals recommend
Pearl Farmers Market
312 Pearl PkwyBiggest, best farmer's market in town. Open Sat-Sun. Free parking. Several restaurants on site. You can also access northern end of riverwalk and river taxi from the Pearl.
Parks & Nature
Huge, tree-filled park in the center of town. Also great picnic spot and near the zoo.
208 locals recommend
Brackenridge Park
3700 N St Mary's StHuge, tree-filled park in the center of town. Also great picnic spot and near the zoo.
Nice hilly walking/running park, with multiple trails of varying length and difficulty. Easily accessed just off I-10 on the edge of town.
99 locals recommend
Friedrich Wilderness Park
21395 Milsa DrNice hilly walking/running park, with multiple trails of varying length and difficulty. Easily accessed just off I-10 on the edge of town.
Huge park with many kike and bike trails, bird watching
118 locals recommend
Government Canyon State Natural Area
12861 Galm Rd Huge park with many kike and bike trails, bird watching
Arts & Culture
Great family-friendly science and natural history museum including exhibits of Texas history.
421 locals recommend
Witte Museum
3801 BroadwayGreat family-friendly science and natural history museum including exhibits of Texas history.
Wonderful historic modern art museum of modern art on lovely grounds. First modern art museum in Texas.
346 locals recommend
McNay Art Museum
6000 N New Braunfels AveWonderful historic modern art museum of modern art on lovely grounds. First modern art museum in Texas.
Essentials
Closest grocery to our house (5 min away), this HEB carries everything you might need, and also specializes in catering to the local Jewish community with a huge selection of Kosher items.
HEB Alon MARKET
8503 Northwest Military HighwayClosest grocery to our house (5 min away), this HEB carries everything you might need, and also specializes in catering to the local Jewish community with a huge selection of Kosher items.
If you haven't been to a Trader Joe's, check it out. This one is located in a large shopping center just off Hwy 281, near downtown.
69 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
350 E Basse RdIf you haven't been to a Trader Joe's, check it out. This one is located in a large shopping center just off Hwy 281, near downtown.