Guidebook for San Antonio
Food Scene
We play here every Friday. They have great live music and even greater food: fish tacos, bison burgers, lamb burgers, vegetarian and vegan offerings, BEER and wine.
191 locals recommend
The Cove
606 W Cypress StWe play here every Friday. They have great live music and even greater food: fish tacos, bison burgers, lamb burgers, vegetarian and vegan offerings, BEER and wine.
Barriba Cantina
111 W Crockett StBest tacos on the Riverwalk. Excellent service. Great live music!!
Live music most days of the week especially Tunesday (Tues.) open mic night with The Whipples.
17 locals recommend
Olmos Pharmacy
300 W Olmos DrLive music most days of the week especially Tunesday (Tues.) open mic night with The Whipples.
Our favorite local Mexican cafe. Great food, friendly efficient staff, and excellent prices.
30 locals recommend
El Milagrito Cafe
521 E Woodlawn AveOur favorite local Mexican cafe. Great food, friendly efficient staff, and excellent prices.
Excellent German food. Favorites include pea soup, Reuben sandwich, hot mustard and homemade rootbeer. Excellent prices, friendly staff. Iconic old deli near the Riverwalk and Alamo.
22 locals recommend
Schilo's
424 E Commerce StExcellent German food. Favorites include pea soup, Reuben sandwich, hot mustard and homemade rootbeer. Excellent prices, friendly staff. Iconic old deli near the Riverwalk and Alamo.
Excellent BBQ brisket especially the Grill Cheese Brisket sandwich. Sunday brunch is awesome with live music. Tuesday night open mike, TuNesday with The Whipples is great--good sound, good musicians and songwriters.
17 locals recommend
The Pigpen Neighborhood Bar
106 Pershing AvenueExcellent BBQ brisket especially the Grill Cheese Brisket sandwich. Sunday brunch is awesome with live music. Tuesday night open mike, TuNesday with The Whipples is great--good sound, good musicians and songwriters.
Excellent coffee. A good walk from the house to San Pedro Springs park (second oldest park in the nation behind Boston Commons-dedicated to settlers of New Spain by King Phillip).
37 locals recommend
PRESS Coffee
4035 BroadwayExcellent coffee. A good walk from the house to San Pedro Springs park (second oldest park in the nation behind Boston Commons-dedicated to settlers of New Spain by King Phillip).
The panaderia at Mi Tierra in the Market Square (El Mercado) is so beautiful it is worth a photo. My favorite light breakfast spot for tourists.
231 locals recommend
Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
218 Produce RowThe panaderia at Mi Tierra in the Market Square (El Mercado) is so beautiful it is worth a photo. My favorite light breakfast spot for tourists.
New gluten free restaurant with vegan and omnivore options. Favorite are the Warrior bowl and the 'Shroom bowl. Good coffee. YOGA classes upstairs.
54 locals recommend
5 Points Local
1017 N Flores StNew gluten free restaurant with vegan and omnivore options. Favorite are the Warrior bowl and the 'Shroom bowl. Good coffee. YOGA classes upstairs.
Good locally owned fast food. BBQ brisket, turkey, sausage, and chicken. Fried chicken. Salads. Sides. Sweet tea. Desserts. Very economically priced especially for downtown. Many locations throughout city.
55 locals recommend
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
1030 E César E. Chávez BlvdGood locally owned fast food. BBQ brisket, turkey, sausage, and chicken. Fried chicken. Salads. Sides. Sweet tea. Desserts. Very economically priced especially for downtown. Many locations throughout city.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great selection of alcohol, frozen margaritas and Mexican beers. Awesome street tacos and empanadas. Live music. Great people!!
48 locals recommend
Sanchos Cantina & Cocina
628 Jackson StGreat selection of alcohol, frozen margaritas and Mexican beers. Awesome street tacos and empanadas. Live music. Great people!!
Overpriced observation deck but a good happy hour at the Chart House' spinning bar/eatery will give great views of the city.
374 locals recommend
Tower of the Americas
739 E César E. Chávez BlvdOverpriced observation deck but a good happy hour at the Chart House' spinning bar/eatery will give great views of the city.
Sundays are my favorite day with Bill Lewis' Most Dangerous Picking Circle. Afternoon concerts are also favorites.
35 locals recommend
Luckenbach Texas
412 Luckenbach Town Loop Sundays are my favorite day with Bill Lewis' Most Dangerous Picking Circle. Afternoon concerts are also favorites.
Gruene Hall
1281 Gruene RdGreat music venue in the oldest operating dancehall in Texas
Arts & Culture
Live music, touring bands. Great sound system. Monday night Swing dancing.
56 locals recommend
Sam's Burger Joint
330 E Grayson StLive music, touring bands. Great sound system. Monday night Swing dancing.
Oldest continuously operating Catholic cathedral in the US. Built for the Spanish colonists who arrived from their former colony in the Canary Islands. Bones of the heroes of the Alamo interred here. San Antonio history in light projected on front Thursday-Sunday.
108 locals recommend
San Fernando De Bexar Cathedral
115 Main PlazaOldest continuously operating Catholic cathedral in the US. Built for the Spanish colonists who arrived from their former colony in the Canary Islands. Bones of the heroes of the Alamo interred here. San Antonio history in light projected on front Thursday-Sunday.
Favorite times are for breakfast at Mi Tierra Panaderia, during Fiesta for live music, shopping for interesting tourist items and arts/crafts from Mexico.
El Mercado
110 Produce RowFavorite times are for breakfast at Mi Tierra Panaderia, during Fiesta for live music, shopping for interesting tourist items and arts/crafts from Mexico.
Sightseeing
Of great historical significance to Texas and our history as part of Spain then Mexico, then as an independent Republic before annexation to the United States. FREE. They will have a long queue for photos then try to sell it to you. Worth the wait. Read the outside placards for a good self-guided tour. Spend some time in the chapel to soak up the vibe. Gift shop has great books, maps, coins, along with the usual tourist stuff. Public restrooms out back. Gardens are peaceful with koi in the acequia. Best time to visit is during Texas Independence week from March 2-6. Re-enactors onsite. Slip next door for a drink at the Menger Bar where Teddy Roosevelt gathered his Rough Riders.
879 locals recommend
The Alamo
300 Alamo PlazaOf great historical significance to Texas and our history as part of Spain then Mexico, then as an independent Republic before annexation to the United States. FREE. They will have a long queue for photos then try to sell it to you. Worth the wait. Read the outside placards for a good self-guided tour. Spend some time in the chapel to soak up the vibe. Gift shop has great books, maps, coins, along with the usual tourist stuff. Public restrooms out back. Gardens are peaceful with koi in the acequia. Best time to visit is during Texas Independence week from March 2-6. Re-enactors onsite. Slip next door for a drink at the Menger Bar where Teddy Roosevelt gathered his Rough Riders.
The best way to get there is on a bike (B-Cycle or mine) along the Mission Reach of the Riverwalk. A short ride if I drop you at either the Guenther Restaurant for breakfast or Halcyon in Blue Star Arts Complex for coffee or adult beverage. Bird life is abundant. Gentle sloping trail. Peaceful. Stop in to see Mission Concepcion and Yturri Edwards house on the way.
63 locals recommend
Mission San Jose
The best way to get there is on a bike (B-Cycle or mine) along the Mission Reach of the Riverwalk. A short ride if I drop you at either the Guenther Restaurant for breakfast or Halcyon in Blue Star Arts Complex for coffee or adult beverage. Bird life is abundant. Gentle sloping trail. Peaceful. Stop in to see Mission Concepcion and Yturri Edwards house on the way.
Parks & Nature
Government Canyon State Natural Area
12861 Galm RdGood hiking and mountain biking.
Phil Hardberger Park
13203 Blanco RdFriedrich Wilderness Park
21395 Milsa DrEnchanted Rock Summit
Everything Else
Restaurants, bars, romantic walks, riverboat rides, historic CCC and WPA bridges and walkways.
804 locals recommend
San Antonio River Walk
610 River WalkRestaurants, bars, romantic walks, riverboat rides, historic CCC and WPA bridges and walkways.