Downtown San Antonio is home to a variety of delicious food options from different cultures, fun activities and places to relax for everyone, including families, friends and couples. Plus, with year-round seasonal activities and special events hosted at the San Antonio River Walk, it’s the perfect area to visit any time of the year, weekday or weekend. 

Where to stay in Downtown San Antonio 

Book your hotel room at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter for direct access to the River Walk and the fan-favorite boat rides, popular restaurants, tons of shops and more. The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter is a popular lodging choice among families and couples due to the hotel’s accessible location, modern amenities and, most importantly, the contemporary rooms that overlook beautiful city views of San Antonio. Plus, many enjoy dining at the on-site restaurant, Tributary, which serves delicious New American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails and craft beers sourced from local Texas businesses. Whether you’re exploring downtown San Antonio or attending a business event, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter has everything you need to make your stay exciting and comfortable. 

 Where to eat Downtown and at the River Walk

La Panadería Bakery and Café – La Panadería translates to “the bakery” in Spanish. With locations currently only in San Antonio, the first location of this bakery-café opened in 2014 by brothers José and David Caceres in honor of their Mexican heritage and love for baking. Their story is quite inspiring and the baked goods as well as food served here are undoubtedly delicious. Plus, you’ll find that the portion sizes of the meals are very generous, and each bakery item is beautifully handmade with inspiration from Mexico’s Golden era. 

 La Panadería serves unique breakfast and brunch menu items, including large, round croissant sandwiches, breakfast toasts with a Mexican twist, tortas (translates to “cake” in Spanish) – which is their version of a sandwich – and beautiful, healthy salad bowls. They also offer classic espresso drinks, mimosas and even beers. If you’re visiting on a weekend, beware of a line with eager customers waiting to indulge in this must-visit café’s food and baked goodies. 

Ácenar Mexican Restaurant – Looking to satisfy your craving for Mexican food? Ácenar, one of the River Walk’s all-time favorite Mexican restaurants, is the perfect place to stop by for brunch or dinner to enjoy a laid-back meal while sipping on your favorite alcoholic beverage. Located in a quieter area of the River Walk, Ácenar serves modern Mexican cuisine with delicious options, including tacos, enchiladas and other classic appetizers and dishes. If the weather permits, enjoy your meal at their outdoor patio for a peaceful view of the River Walk. 

 Fig Tree Restaurant – Since 1971, Fig Tree Restaurant has served the River Walk as one of the most elegant restaurants in San Antonio. After pausing operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fig Tree Restaurant reopened September 2022 with a new menu, renovated interior and exterior, and dedicated staff to revive the charm the restaurant once held. Led by executive chef Luis Colón, Fig Tree Restaurant serves a French inspired menu curated with locally sourced ingredients and elegant cocktails to pair with their dishes.  

Fun activities to do in Downtown San Antonio and River Walk 

Hopscotch – Explore Hopscotch for an eye-catching and immersive art experience designed by over 40 local, national and international artists. With 15 rotating creative installations, Hopscotch strives to empower artists to showcase their work in sustainable and creative ways, while bringing joy to their guests of all ages. A visit to Hopscotch can make any family or friend outing and date exciting with unforgettable memories. Plus, any photos taken here can immediately transform you into an effortless model for your next social media post. 

 Hopscotch also houses a lounge that includes a full bar, patio, food trucks and gift shop. Their beverages range from specialty cocktails to non-alcoholic drinks, and ticket holders are welcome to enjoy their drink while exploring the gallery. Don’t forget to check out their gift shop for creative, unique gifts from local artists and Hopscotch merchandise. Tip: Purchase your tickets ahead of time on their website; Hopscotch doesn’t offer directly purchasing tickets at the venue.

 The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum – Live the full Texas experience at The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum for an iconic 2-in-1 lineup, including Texas’ oldest saloon and The Texas Ranger Museum. Bring your kids, family or friends to discover and learn about Texas’ rich history and culture, plus a full background about the Texas Rangers. At this famous San Antonio attraction, you’ll find an exotic animal collection, historic artifacts and, not to mention, delicious food and drink offerings inspired by the Lone Star State. 

 As one of the most popular destinations to visit in Texas, San Antonio has all your food, shopping and entertainment needs to make a vacation or weekend trip memorable. Plan your trip to San Antonio today with our insider tips and suggestions from Texas Lifestyle Magazine. 

San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter: 101 Bowie Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205

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Cover photo courtesy Kentaro Aoki

Amelia Yin currently works as a Digital Content Specialist for ADI Global Distribution, while occasionally writing for TLM as a contributor. Yin enjoys spending her free time traveling, exploring new restaurants and attending local Dallas-Fort Worth events with family and friends.