My favorite girls and I recently celebrated my bachelorette party weekend in San Antonio! After thinking about the cost, vacation time, etc, it made sense to stay somewhat local. San Antonio was the perfect spot for activities, food, and distance (about 1.5 hours from Austin).

While I had a little bit of stress not knowing the final details of the trip, it was also fun being surprised by the activities! Also, my friend Rochelle planned the perfect party. Read on for details of my bachelorette weekend.

Bachelorette Party Weekend

We took advantage of Labor Day Weekend for a longer trip. Our weekend started Saturday with everyone meeting at Bottling Department Food Hall for lunch. In addition to a bar, this food hall in the Pearl Brewery had plenty of options to choose from, including burgers, sandwiches, ramen, and more.

After fueling up on caffeine, our next stop was a glassblowing class! I had never done this before but had always wanted to try. It was one of my favorite things about the weekend. We got to pick our colors and go through the process one by one (about 15 minutes each) of creating a friendship globe. We could choose to make our orb into an ornament or with a base. Glenn and Ruth of Caliente Hot Glass were excellent! Since glass needs time to cool slowly, we picked up our balls at the end of the weekend. This was a really fun activity, and I would definitely try it again! Plus, we each got a pretty memento.

After the class, we went to our Airbnb house in Tobin Hill to get ready for dinner. (There are lots of cute, spacious houses to rent in San Antonio!) The house was close to all our outings, no more than 10 minutes away. Divided into two sides, the house could fit 5 people on each side with everyone having their own bed. My only complaint is I wish it was one big house so we could all be together, though it was easy to pop next door. 

My friend Rochelle, master planner and cook, made us a yummy Tex-Mex dinner of a nacho bar and enchiladas. We fueled up before going out to St. Mary’s Strip, a happening entertainment area, for drinks and dancing. We all wore red, pink, or orange.

The next morning, Rochelle was back at it again with breakfast. After breakfast, we each went off on our separate errands or naps, with a group of us picking up pastries from La Panaderia. This restaurant is known for its pastries and brunch and was busy! 

Back at the house, we made tie-dyed shirts, an idea we came up with the night before. Our house had a spacious backyard that was perfect for getting crafty.

For dinner, we went closer to downtown to eat at Toro Kitchen + Bar. This Spanish restaurant is known for its paella and tapas. We ordered plenty of small plates to share. This was a small view of our table and the many plates we had!

After dinner, we stopped by the oldest bar on the San Antonio Riverwalk, The Esquire Tavern. It’s also the home of the longest wooden bar top in Texas! The drinks were great and we were mesmerized by the quality of the ice cubes!

We made a quick walk on the Riverwalk to Howl at the Moon, a piano bar. If you’ve never been to a piano bar, I recommend it. They take requests and play lots of hits. I’m always impressed by the musicians’ vast repertoire and talent. If you’re like us, you’ll do a lot of sing-yelling, and if you’re a bachelorette, they might make you get on stage to shake a tambourine. It was a fun night!

The next morning, decked out in our fresh tie-dyed shirts, we went on the hunt for brunch. We went through a couple of options because of holiday closures and crowds before we made it to La Villita Cafe. Plenty of breakfast tacos here!

After brunch, we picked up our friendship globes, and just like that, our weekend was over. We had so much fun getting crafty, staying up late, and laughing a lot!

Other San Antonio Bachelorette Ideas

If you’re planning a San Antonio bachelorette party, here are more recommendations you should consider.

For Drinks:

• Rumble
• Paramour Rooftop Bar
• Dorcol Distilling + Brewing
• Still Golden Social House

For Dancing: 

• Brass Monkey
• Bonham Exchange
• Babios Night Club
• Wax Club
• Industry
• Midnight Rodeo

Also, check out my San Antonio guide for more ideas. People might not think to visit this historic city, but with all its hidden gems, it’s a city with plenty to do for a weekend getaway.

It was so special to have a long weekend away with some of my girls! With kids and other responsibilities, it’s hard to make time for friends, so I’m grateful for this time away to celebrate. This trip and our wedding/marriage conversations on the trip definitely reminded me that a big life change is on the way! I can’t wait to bring all these faces together again in a few weeks!

Have you had or been to a bachelorette party? What was your favorite activity?

P.S. The top photo is from the Amurica TX photo booth. It was parked outside of a bar on St Mary’s.

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From the historic sites to an abundance of restaurants, San Antonio is full of culture and activity. You might be surprised to know that San Antonio is the second largest populated city in Texas after Houston, the seventh most populated in the U.S., and one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. This San Antonio Travel Guide will help you get to know the city and plan your trip.

Why Visit San Antonio?

San Antonio has experienced a bit of growth in attractions and restaurants in the past few years. This isn’t the same San Antonio I visited with my family years ago! While San Antonio is still known as a family vacation destination, there are plenty of activities for all ages. Yes, I went for the food! There has always been good food in San Antonio and outstanding chefs have raised the level of creativity, so there are new restaurants to discover. If you live in Texas, it’s a quick destination for a weekend getaway.

If you’re planning a bachelorette party or girls’ trip to San Antonio, be sure to read about my fun weekend! See the post here.

Quick Tips

• If you’re a runner in Texas, the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Half Marathon is probably on your short list of race options. The race is usually in early/mid-December. This is a good opportunity to visit a new place and run a race.
• If you want to come for festivities, Fiesta is a multi-day celebration of the city held in April. You’ll see parades, shows, and events. More info here.

Weather

San Antonio sees the typical Texas weather. Expect temperatures upwards to 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. February, March, and November are the best months to visit as it averages a high in the 70s. You don’t need to worry much about rain.

Getting There

From Austin, the trip is about an hour and a half. From Dallas, it’s four and a half hours and from Houston, almost three and a half hours. The airport is San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and is eight miles from downtown.

Getting Around

I stayed near downtown on multiple trips and found that nothing was more than 15 minutes away and there were always easy parking options. Most downtown hotels will have you pay for overnight parking (around $15) and there is metered parking on the street. Lyft and Uber are available if you’d rather not worry about parking or directions.

Where to Stay in San Antonio

Three-star hotels will range from $80-200 a night while five-star hotels will be $300+. Hotels on or closer to the Riverwalk will be higher and also expect to pay an overnight parking fee. The Airbnb average is $102 a night.

Hotel Havana

This gorgeous, chill hotel is part of the Bunkhouse Group, which also owns Hotel San Jose and Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin and El Cosmico in Marfa. If you’re a Texas resident, be sure to check out their special discounts! It’s a small hotel – only 27 rooms – and each room is spacious and filled with pretty things like a SMEG refrigerator and fresh bath products. Downstairs you’ll find Ocho, a restaurant and bar, and Havana Bar, a speakeasy-type bar/lounge.

Hotel Indigo

The Hotel Indigo chain is a product of InterContinental Hotel Group. Their River Walk location was a comfortable stay and a good option for a mid-range hotel. If you’d like to relax at the hotel, they have a pool and a patio looking out at the River Walk. It’s also convenient if you want to take a river taxi towards the main River Walk area.

St. Anthony Hotel

Since the time I stayed at the St. Anthony Hotel it has gone through a major restoration and it looks beautiful and luxurious! Gorgeous jewel tones are highlighted throughout the hotel and they offer a rooftop pool with private cabanas for relaxation. They also offer a discount for Texas residents. Blocks away from the center of downtown, this hotel is in a great location.

Hotel Emma

The restored Hotel Emma was and is a historical landmark at Pearl Brewery. Their rooms are luxurious, unique, and stylish. While exploring all of their beautiful spaces on the property, you’ll definitely see what your splurge is worth.

Where to Eat and Drink in San Antonio

Click over to my Best Restaurants in San Antonio post to read all about where I’ve indulged!

What to Do in San Antonio

I’ve got a handful of recommendations for your weekend getaway to San Antonio. Read my post about the Best Things to Do in San Antonio to get the scoop.

Anything else we should know about San Antonio? Comment below!

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I went to San Antonio for the food. It had a little bit to do with all the best things to do in San Antonio, but my to-try restaurant list was growing out of hand. The culinary scene is growing in San Antonio, like much of the city, and it’s an exciting time to experience it. If you want a weekend trip to a Texas foodie town, you should definitely consider San Antonio.

Here are my recommended San Antonio restaurants! (This post has recs from multiple trips to San Antonio, most recently in 2022.)

Cured

We stepped into the restaurant and discovered it was happy hour, which is always a great discovery! For happy hour, we enjoyed 50-cent fried quail legs and a discount on charcuterie. The fried quail legs were lightly fried and small nuggets of flavor. I almost wish we got more than two each! The charcuterie was a hit also. My favorite things on the board were the salmon rillette, smoked duck ham, and bresaola (dried, salted beef). The accompanying spreads and mustards on the board were perfect pairings.

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

While we were only able to try their in-between menu (a short menu available between lunch and dinner service), we really enjoyed our time at Southerleigh. The inside of the building is really cool because you can see the old building mixed with the new. You can try their many beers with a beer flight. Since they focus on flavors of the gulf, we snacked on fried snapper throats and raw oysters, both very tasty! We enjoyed a beer flight each, and my favorite beers were the Koalas, Cocker Spaniels & Unicorns (a cucumber Gose), Darwinian (IPA), and the Drop, Hop & Roll (a Pilsner).

Mixtli

As I mentioned, Mixtli was one of the big adventures we were looking forward to in San Antonio. To dine here, you must reserve and pre-pay your spot online. By serving 12 people every night they’re open, the restaurant is full every night, so get your tickets early if you want to try it. Every couple of weeks, the chefs focus on a different region of Mexico and create the menu around it. Paired drinks – alcoholic and not – are included with the price and they ranged from beer and red wine to tea.

Our menu was La Huasteca, featuring a region that is on the Gulf of Mexico. We enjoyed seven courses with variations of tamales, enchiladas, seafood, and beef. My favorite part of the impressive meal was dessert, of course! The lemon curd tart was perfectly cohesive and I loved the additional drops of coconut meringue, guava, and raspberry. All-in-all, Mixtli was a fun, intimate, and adventurous experience that I’d love to do again!

Bakery Lorraine

This is the perfect breakfast spot and judging by the long line, many others agree! If you’re a lover of baked goods like me, you would probably like to know that this place was created by alumni of Bouchon Bakery. You’ll order at the counter, which will test your limits because you’ll be staring at a plethora of beautiful baked goods. We went with a kouign amann and some macarons. We also ordered the quiche du jour (with roasted red pepper and artichokes) and a sandwich with roasted red pepper, spinach, and poached egg. Everything was fresh, delightful, and filling. My favorites of the meal were the light quiche with flaky crust and the crispy and buttery kouign amann.

La Fruteria

We made a quick stop here because we had spent the last hour outside and were parched! We enjoyed some agua frescas of two different flavors: strawberry lime and cantaloupe. They were a little sweeter than I expected. La Fruteria also has a wide selection of juice, smoothies, and Mexican food options.

Ocho

Ocho is the restaurant at Hotel Havana and swoon-worthy. The room is filled with light and impeccably color coordinated. I especially loved the tabletops. I indulged in the Cubano con Huevo which was an open-faced torta with Achiote roasted pork shoulder, griddled ham, swiss cheese, and pickles with a side of dressed home fries. It was a mess of deliciousness that begged not to be left on the plate.

Dough

When I went to San Antonio to run a half-marathon a few years ago, I re-fueled with Dough after the race. This restaurant makes wonderful Neapolitan pizza in wood-burning ovens and they have a variety of combinations. Sit at the bar to see the pizza-making “show.” You also need to try their burrata made in-house.

Other suggestions on my to-eat list for next time:

• Indy Coffee – If you like coffee, this shop comes recommended and the pretty interior is a plus.
• Supper – Located at Pearl Brewery at Hotel Emma, this restaurant serves American fare and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I had a bite from this restaurant at an event in Austin and it was superb!
• La Gloria – Another restaurant by Chef Johnny Hernandez (same as La Fruteria above), this Pearl Brewery restaurant features the wonders of interior Mexico.
• Cullum’s Attagirl – Come here for the spicy fried chicken and cold beer!
• South Alamode Panini & Gelato – The name says it all: panini sandwiches and gelato. Sounds like a delish combo to me!
• Garcia’s Mexican Food Restaurant – This is a chef-recommended place for tacos and Mexican food.
• Hot Joy – This restaurant is a dinner and late-night spot with Asian fusion food and drinks.
• Freetail Brewing Company

For more about San Antonio restaurants, visit Eater.

Where are your favorite eats and drinks in San Antonio?

Want suggestions of things to do in San Antonio besides eat? Check out this post!

Planning a San Antonio bachelorette party? See the recap of mine for ideas.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Visiting San Antonio is a fun idea for a weekend getaway! There’s more than meets the eye, and I’m not only talking about the top-notch selection of restaurants. While this list includes some of your typical San Antonio sights that you can see once to cross off your list (or maybe want to avoid altogether), there are some fresh options for an adventurous weekend.

Here are my recommendations for the best things to do in San Antonio.

Cathedral of San Fernando

The Cathedral of San Fernando is one of the oldest active cathedrals in the United States. The historic building was built between 1738 and 1750 and restored in 2003. It’s a beautiful building and you can attend services there. At night, you can enjoy the free, 24-minute, video art exhibit “The Saga” at 9, 9:30, and 10 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This beautiful video features the story of San Antonio and includes brilliant designs and music.

McNay Art Museum

The McNay Art Museum is perfect for anyone wanting to see art but doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by it. You can easily see the whole museum in about an hour. They have noteworthy pieces by Monet, Picasso, Rodin, and others. The collection’s mix of age and theme makes the museum interesting. In the summer, the museum has free admission, though their temporary exhibit requires a ticket. From paintings to sculptures, I thoroughly enjoyed this sight!

Pearl Brewery

This newer part of town is fantastic and we spent a lot of time there. You’ll find excellent restaurants and fun shops. These shops will have gifts and souvenirs: Adelante Boutique and Rancho Diaz. Some of the restaurants are in the old buildings, which are cool to see. It’s not far from the center of downtown and the River Walk also reaches this point, though it’s best if you took a water taxi instead of walking. Stay tuned for my food post to see the restaurants you can enjoy!

Farmers Market at Pearl Brewery

On the weekend, Pearl Brewery is bustling with the Farmers Market. You’ll find the usual farmers market features – local vendors and food stands – and live music. It’s always interesting to walk around and see what products a city has to offer. Visit Saturdays from 9am-1pm and Sundays from 10am-2pm.

F.I.S.H. by Donald Lipski

After the sun sets, this art installation under a bridge lights up with 25 seven-foot fiberglass fish. It’s a pretty and unusual thing to see.

San Antonio Murals

Around every corner is art and murals are some of my favorites. (Remember HOPE Outdoor Gallery in Austin or Clarion Alley in San Francisco?) Plan a tour of popular murals or keep your eyes open for what you might run into. The mural below was next to our hotel at Richmond and St. Mary’s Street and tagged with Gravelmouth Gallery, Nik Soupè, and Christopher Montoya. Instagram is a good source to find murals also.

The Classic San Antonio

These are some places that are known as the “to-see” of San Antonio because of the significance of the landmark and their value to the city. While these can be marked the most touristy of activities, some you need to see at least once!

The San Antonio River Walk

The walkways of the River Walk are one story down from the street and expand five miles around downtown, following the San Antonio River. Restaurants, hotels, shops, and bars line the walkways. Riverboat tours and river taxis help you explore the River Walk by boat. Familiar restaurants, like Hard Rock Café, are available for meals and drinks, especially if you want outside seating for people watching. Walking the main loop would take about 20-30 minutes. It’s a very crowded walkway and lines for the boat tour can be up to two hours.

Historic Market Square

If you’re looking for souvenirs, this is your place. You’ll find colorful Mexican blankets, toys, dishware, and other trinkets. You’ll also find street food vendors. The main building is air-conditioned and the street leading up to it is lined with shops.

The Alamo

If you grew up in Texas, you would have heard the story of The Alamo over and over. This historic site was where the Battle of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution was fought in 1836. It was a loss for Texas but inspired many to join in the fight which led to independence. It’s free to explore and a humbling place to visit. The must-see for history enthusiasts!

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

In this park, you can visit four special areas and main buildings to learn about Spanish and Native American life: Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan, Mission Espada, and Mission San José. We visited the largest mission – Mission San José – and it was interesting to learn the history and view the reconstructed mission. The park is free to visit.

Artistic San Antonio

In addition to the McNay Art Museum, here are some artistic places you can check out.

Majestic Theater
As the city’s oldest theatre, the Majestic is located downtown and was built in 1929. It is now a National Historic Landmark. You can see Broadway, comedy, and a variety of shows here. It’s so gorgeous inside!

The Tobin Center
This performing arts center is a sight to see on the outside and brings many wonderful shows inside. You’ll see musical performances, comedy, and musicals here.

San Antonio Museum of Art
This art museum has expansive collections and temporary exhibits. Free admission on Tuesday 4-9 pm and Sunday 10 am-12 pm, otherwise, it is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and $7 for seniors.

Family Fun San Antonio

If you’re looking for family-friendly activities, here are some suggestions.

The DoSeum
This museum looks like a lot of fun! This children’s museum opened in 2015 and features many hands-on, interactive exhibits. Admission is $12 and kids under one year are free.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas
For families with younger and older kids, this amusement park will give you all the thrills. There’s a section of the park for younger kids and an adjoining section of the park includes water rides. Prices are $52-58 per person.

Natural Bridge Caverns
Stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstones, oh my! This astounding underground cavern with rock formations is a sight to see. They have a variety of tours with costs from $20-35 per ticket.

Did I miss any of your favorite San Antonio sights? Comment below!

Looking for the best restaurants in San Antonio? Check out this post.

If you’re planning a bachelorette party in San Antonio, see this post for a recap of mine.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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