“The Essentials” Guidebook
Personal List Best Food & Service
Tried and true restaurants with both excellent food & service to match. Pricing and atmosphere ranges from casual to upscale, but friendliness and service are consistent at the highest level appropriate for each restaurant.
Inspired New American fare, charcuterie, wine & beer in a stylishly restored former filling station. Incredible local chef, incredible food, excellent service and a wine list to match. Less than a block away.
123 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bliss
926 S Presa StInspired New American fare, charcuterie, wine & beer in a stylishly restored former filling station. Incredible local chef, incredible food, excellent service and a wine list to match. Less than a block away.
Absolute favorite for a cold treat! Family-owned with incredible, authentic, Italian gelato made by a local San Antonian-turned-gelato-chef. Excellent paninis as well.
52 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
South Alamode Panini & Gelato Company
1420 S Alamo StAbsolute favorite for a cold treat! Family-owned with incredible, authentic, Italian gelato made by a local San Antonian-turned-gelato-chef. Excellent paninis as well.
Vibrant atmosphere in historic Blue Star brewery. Incredible wood-fired pizza, appetizers and desserts with an extensive craft beer selection. Can sit at the bar to watch sports as well. Great for families or solo travelers. Dog-friendly dining on patio.
89 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stella Public House
1414 S Alamo StVibrant atmosphere in historic Blue Star brewery. Incredible wood-fired pizza, appetizers and desserts with an extensive craft beer selection. Can sit at the bar to watch sports as well. Great for families or solo travelers. Dog-friendly dining on patio.
My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIZZA EVER! Chef-owned & kitchen-run. Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas are made from locally sourced ingredients at this chill, rustic spot. Menu changes frequently, beer and wine available.
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Il Forno
122 Nogalitos StMy ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIZZA EVER! Chef-owned & kitchen-run. Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas are made from locally sourced ingredients at this chill, rustic spot. Menu changes frequently, beer and wine available.
Family-owned and run, typical neighborhood restaurant serving authentic Mexican fare. This has been my neighborhood go-to for the past 6-years, and other neighbors are often seen enjoying some breakfast tacos or caldo de pollo.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Las Tapatias De Jalisco
1506 S St Mary's StFamily-owned and run, typical neighborhood restaurant serving authentic Mexican fare. This has been my neighborhood go-to for the past 6-years, and other neighbors are often seen enjoying some breakfast tacos or caldo de pollo.
Other Restaurants Nearby
Local restaurants within walking distance.
Bustling mainstay with classic Mexican fare, breakfast all day & cocktails in a colorful setting.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Patio Southtown
1035 S Presa StBustling mainstay with classic Mexican fare, breakfast all day & cocktails in a colorful setting.
Breakfast & Brunch
Art nouveau home at Pioneer Flour Mills with homey American & Tex-Mex fare, brunch & outdoor dining. Excellent strawberry waffles and outdoor dining. Cute gift shop with unique souvenirs.
140 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Guenther House Museum
205 E Guenther StArt nouveau home at Pioneer Flour Mills with homey American & Tex-Mex fare, brunch & outdoor dining. Excellent strawberry waffles and outdoor dining. Cute gift shop with unique souvenirs.
Vibrant, retro chain serving a seasonal menu of creative breakfast & lunch fare, plus cocktails. Local ingredients + incredible recipes = excellent food. Gets very busy, sometimes requiring a long wait. Recommended to call ahead.
44 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
255 E Basse RdVibrant, retro chain serving a seasonal menu of creative breakfast & lunch fare, plus cocktails. Local ingredients + incredible recipes = excellent food. Gets very busy, sometimes requiring a long wait. Recommended to call ahead.
Popular mainstay known for its ample breakfast options, with a lunch menu, served in homey environs. RIDICULOUSLY ADDICTIVE pancakes paired with the best, local Texas ingredients for meats, eggs, dairy, etc. 20-min drive, but well worth it. Be sure to check in on Yelp to skip the wait!
128 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Magnolia Pancake Haus
10333 Huebner RdPopular mainstay known for its ample breakfast options, with a lunch menu, served in homey environs. RIDICULOUSLY ADDICTIVE pancakes paired with the best, local Texas ingredients for meats, eggs, dairy, etc. 20-min drive, but well worth it. Be sure to check in on Yelp to skip the wait!
Walking Distance Neighborhood Food Scene
Restaurants in Lavaca or King William within a 15-min walk worth checking out.
Stylish New American eatery with an eclectic menu, unique cocktails, patio dining & a buzzy brunch.
76 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Feast
1024 S Alamo StStylish New American eatery with an eclectic menu, unique cocktails, patio dining & a buzzy brunch.
Fun family atmosphere with outdoor dining. Kid & dog friendly.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Patio Southtown
1035 S Presa StFun family atmosphere with outdoor dining. Kid & dog friendly.
Eccentric pizzeria serving sandwiches & pies housed in a former gas station with patio seating. Unique and delicious sandwiches made with homemade bread.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Filling Station Tap Room
701 S St Mary's StEccentric pizzeria serving sandwiches & pies housed in a former gas station with patio seating. Unique and delicious sandwiches made with homemade bread.
Hip hangout featuring a range of coffee drinks, elevated cafe fare & creative cocktails. Opens early as coffee house with pastries and breakfast sandwiches, then evolves throughout day with sandwiches and salads for lunch, and finally dinner items and a full bar. Cigar and dog-friendly on patio. Located on river, and can easily access from parking lot for a nice, paved stroll along a less touristy stretch of the river walk.
128 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Halcyon Southtown
1414 S Alamo StHip hangout featuring a range of coffee drinks, elevated cafe fare & creative cocktails. Opens early as coffee house with pastries and breakfast sandwiches, then evolves throughout day with sandwiches and salads for lunch, and finally dinner items and a full bar. Cigar and dog-friendly on patio. Located on river, and can easily access from parking lot for a nice, paved stroll along a less touristy stretch of the river walk.
Eclectic microbrewery with an array of craft beers, upscale pub fare, live music & an outdoor deck.
150 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blue Star Contemporary
116 Blue StarEclectic microbrewery with an array of craft beers, upscale pub fare, live music & an outdoor deck.
Quirky kid-friendly venue with organic American fare, live music, a laundromat & car wash. Delish food, extensive craft beer selection, and al fresco dining with misting fans. Kid-friendly with a playscape in the center of dining area to keep one eye on the kiddos at all times.
191 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Cove
606 W Cypress StQuirky kid-friendly venue with organic American fare, live music, a laundromat & car wash. Delish food, extensive craft beer selection, and al fresco dining with misting fans. Kid-friendly with a playscape in the center of dining area to keep one eye on the kiddos at all times.
Stylish eatery featuring French-Chilean small plates served in colorful, artsy surrounds.
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bite
1012 S Presa StStylish eatery featuring French-Chilean small plates served in colorful, artsy surrounds.
Darned good BBQ and close to The Pearl and Witte Museum.
Hopping counter-service place with a rustic, retro feel offers BBQ sandwiches, platters & sides.
67 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Smoke Shack BBQ + Southern Kitchen
3714 BroadwayDarned good BBQ and close to The Pearl and Witte Museum.
Hopping counter-service place with a rustic, retro feel offers BBQ sandwiches, platters & sides.
Neighborhoods
King William
Lavaca
Bars & Nightlife
Full bar, excellent margaritas, and live Flamenco dancing.
Full bar with excellent margaritas and live Flamenco dancing.
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar America
723 S Alamo StFull bar with excellent margaritas and live Flamenco dancing.
Swanky speakeasy-style spot where hipster bartenders mix classic cocktails & also serve charcuterie.
97 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar 1919
1420 S Alamo StSwanky speakeasy-style spot where hipster bartenders mix classic cocktails & also serve charcuterie.
Window-filled eatery & bar in a restored convent serving unique American fare all day.
114 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Liberty Bar
1111 S Alamo StWindow-filled eatery & bar in a restored convent serving unique American fare all day.
Storied German singing-society beer garden/club room (open to the public) with live music & events.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Beethoven Maennerchor
422 Pereida StStoried German singing-society beer garden/club room (open to the public) with live music & events.