Lisa’s guidebook
Neighborhoods
This is the neighborhood where you're staying! Monte Vista is an historic district where most homes (including ours) are a hundred years ago. You'll find a wide variation of home types, even varying by street, from cute cottages to giant mansions. (For the largest of these, go two blocks south from our house and stroll W. Kings Highway.) This is a very walkable neighborhood, with a cluster of shops and restaurants around Woodlawn and Main Avenues. Enjoy!
12 locals recommend
Monte Vista
This is the neighborhood where you're staying! Monte Vista is an historic district where most homes (including ours) are a hundred years ago. You'll find a wide variation of home types, even varying by street, from cute cottages to giant mansions. (For the largest of these, go two blocks south from our house and stroll W. Kings Highway.) This is a very walkable neighborhood, with a cluster of shops and restaurants around Woodlawn and Main Avenues. Enjoy!
Food scene
Barbaro
2720 McCullough AveGreat craft beers and specialty pizzas!
Capparelli's On Main
2524 N Main AveDelicious Italian food. And their baked salmon is excellent.
A local icon, with excellent Mexican dishes. The patio is a lovely, relaxing place to dine!
154 locals recommend
La Fonda On Main
2415 N Main AveA local icon, with excellent Mexican dishes. The patio is a lovely, relaxing place to dine!
Scratch Kitchen
607 W Russell PlCute little local bakery!
One of our favorite restaurants. Located within the Hotel Emma, at the Pearl Brewery complex.
56 locals recommend
Supper
136 E Grayson StOne of our favorite restaurants. Located within the Hotel Emma, at the Pearl Brewery complex.
Our newest French restaurant, not an extensive menu but quite good. Within the Pearl Brewery complex.
21 locals recommend
Brasserie Mon Chou Chou
312 Pearl ParkwayOur newest French restaurant, not an extensive menu but quite good. Within the Pearl Brewery complex.
Known for "Mexican street food", different from the local Tex-Mex. At the Pearl Brewery complex, with nice outside seating on the Museum reach end of the Riverwalk.
137 locals recommend
La Gloria
100 E Grayson StKnown for "Mexican street food", different from the local Tex-Mex. At the Pearl Brewery complex, with nice outside seating on the Museum reach end of the Riverwalk.
Sightseeing
Ignore the awful photo that populated here . . . this is the coolest place to eat, stroll, or shop! Fabulous dining, local shops, live music often heard either from street players or musicians in the bar at the Hotel Emma (worth seeing) or at La Gloria Mexican Restaurant. Farmer's market here on the weekends, not to be missed. You can also stroll the Riverwalk from here (this end of it is called the "Museum reach"), starting at La Gloria, then stroll along the San Antonio river for a mile, or more, or less. You'll pass the San Antonio Museum of Art and eventually come to downtown.
527 locals recommend
Pearl Brewery
303 Pearl PkwyIgnore the awful photo that populated here . . . this is the coolest place to eat, stroll, or shop! Fabulous dining, local shops, live music often heard either from street players or musicians in the bar at the Hotel Emma (worth seeing) or at La Gloria Mexican Restaurant. Farmer's market here on the weekends, not to be missed. You can also stroll the Riverwalk from here (this end of it is called the "Museum reach"), starting at La Gloria, then stroll along the San Antonio river for a mile, or more, or less. You'll pass the San Antonio Museum of Art and eventually come to downtown.
The most-visited area in San Antonio, right downtown and blocks from the famous Alamo. Usually quite crowded, and can be "touristy", but the river runs through historic buildings on both sides, with lots of restaurants and river-side outdoor seating, so it's worth a stroll. The boat tours actually give you a nice little tour-by-river of the downtown area and its history!
135 locals recommend
River Walk
River WalkThe most-visited area in San Antonio, right downtown and blocks from the famous Alamo. Usually quite crowded, and can be "touristy", but the river runs through historic buildings on both sides, with lots of restaurants and river-side outdoor seating, so it's worth a stroll. The boat tours actually give you a nice little tour-by-river of the downtown area and its history!
A cute little Texas town that is about 45 minutes from us, heading northwest on the IH-10. Quaint shops, cute restaurants. Would make a nice little day trip.
97 locals recommend
Boerne
A cute little Texas town that is about 45 minutes from us, heading northwest on the IH-10. Quaint shops, cute restaurants. Would make a nice little day trip.
Besides the lovely gardens, they've recently added a very cute kids' section! And stroll around to the authentic, historic cabins toward the back of the property. They also have a great restaurant on-site, Jardin.
255 locals recommend
San Antonio Botanical Garden
555 Funston PlBesides the lovely gardens, they've recently added a very cute kids' section! And stroll around to the authentic, historic cabins toward the back of the property. They also have a great restaurant on-site, Jardin.
The museum covers lots of natural history, Texas history, and has great traveling exhibits.
421 locals recommend
Witte Museum
3801 BroadwayThe museum covers lots of natural history, Texas history, and has great traveling exhibits.
Nice art museum housed in a converted brewery. Also have events and kids' activities on the weekends.
352 locals recommend
San Antonio Museum of Art
200 W Jones AveNice art museum housed in a converted brewery. Also have events and kids' activities on the weekends.
Family Activities
A fabulous children's museum, one of the best I've been to! Enough fascinating activities to keep your family busy all afternoon (and you won't be bored, either!).
328 locals recommend
The DoSeum
2800 BroadwayA fabulous children's museum, one of the best I've been to! Enough fascinating activities to keep your family busy all afternoon (and you won't be bored, either!).
San Antonio Zoo
3903 N St Mary's StGood place to bring the kids for the day!