San Antonio Travel Itinerary
So you’re coming to San Antonio for the weekend? Let us help you out with a local’s guide and our favorite suggestions! As avid weekend travelers, we know that squeezing in as much as possible is vital for any trip, so we’ve featured things that won’t have you driving from one end of town to the other. Brandon and I hope that this itinerary helps you when planning! As always, leave a comment or question below!
Friday:
You’ll arrive from your flight sometime on Friday afternoon and it’s a short drive from the airport to Hotel Emma. This is hotel is our number one recommendation because it’s so close to many of the other spots you’ll want to visit! Check in is at 4:00 PM. If you’ve got some time to kill waiting, or if you just want a treat, stop by Bakery Lorraine for macaroons and iced coffee.
Once checked in, scope out the hotel. There’s an amazing library, bar, and historical features around the hotel. It’s got a great story and we suggest looking around for a little while!
Next, spend some time this afternoon walking around The Pearl. This is convenient because Hotel Emma is located within all of The Pearl shopping, so just a step outside your door will be boutiques and darling little shops to keep you occupied for a few hours.
Take an Uber or drive your car down to the Alamo Heights neighborhood for Mexican food at Paloma Blanca. Be sure to get one of their frozen margaritas; we think they are the best in town. Enjoy live music with their Spanish guitarist and take the evening slowly, or “despacito” as we like to say in San Antonio.
Head back to your hotel for a drink at the bar of Hotel Emma. Their cocktails are hand crafted and absolutely delicious.
Saturday:
Rise and shine! Brandon and I like to seize the day, so get that caffeine in your system with a quick walk outside your hotel to Local Coffee (just around the corner). Their iced coffee is amazing and they also have delicious breakfast items. Don’t forget that Hotel Emma offers complimentary pastries in the lobby for all guests, so make sure to grab one of those before you start your day.
Take an Uber or drive to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Enjoy the garden while it’s not as hot in the morning. Spring is definitely the best time for this, but they have plants in bloom year round. We love taking a peek in the greenhouses as well! This is a fabulous photo location as well.
Since you’re already in the area, you could easily stop at Bird Bakery for lunch. Their chicken salad sandwich or grilled cheese is amazing! If you want something a little different, head back to the Pearl and eat at Green Vegetarian Cuisine. With a vegan/vegetarian menu, it’s unique but SO good. We love their sweet potato fries.
Take a class in the Pearl: either a floral arrangement class like the one we did here, or sign up for a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America. This would be a great little activity for the afternoon.
When you’re done, put some pep in your step with a scoop of ice cream at Lick. Their flavors are so creative and we can’t resist stopping in anytime we go to the Pearl.
Freshen up for dinner back at your hotel. Brandon and I sometimes need a power nap at this point in the day, depending on how much we’ve done. This is also a great time to shower and fully get ready for the evening.
Drive or take an uber downtown. If you’ve got time, do a riverboat tour to learn about the history of San Antonio and get great views of the iconic riverwalk. Then, go for drinks at Ocho/Havana Bar, a speakeasy bar that’s close to the River Walk. The cocktail list is wonderful and this would be a great way to start the night.
Walk the River Walk from Ocho to your restaurant destination. We’d recommend a later reservation to give you plenty of time to stroll and enjoy the colorful lights in the trees. Biga on the Banks or Boudros would be our top two choices for River Walk restaurants. Both of these are ideal date night spots.
Continue to stroll the streets in the romantic setting of downtown! If you’re really a nightlife person, there’s always something good at The Majestic Theatre, The Tobin Center, or even a comedy club. We’re big fans of shows and San Antonio has lots to offer.
PS: You can see our full city guide here.
Sunday
Everyone’s flight time will be different, but we’d recommend getting brunch at Snooze because it’s close to the airport. Get one last meal in before you leave this wonderful city! Enjoy your trip! Leave a comment below or email us with any questions that you may have about SA or this travel itinerary 🙂 oneswainkycouple@gmail.com