A Map of the Best New Restaurants in San Antonio (March 2025)

By Sara Branstetter | March 1, 2025

You interested in what's new and exciting in SA's food scene? We have you covered with our list of the best new restaurants in San Antonio!

Over the last 15 years, we have watched San Antonio work its way up from a middle of the road food city to a gastronomic heavy hitter, even earning the coveted UNESCO creative city of gastronomy award in 2017.

With a fusion of cultures and flavors, chefs that are willing to get a little adventurous with food, and a population that just plain LOVES TO EAT, the city has proven to be the perfect petri dish in which to develop a thriving food culture. SA now boasts a number of internationally recognized chefs and award-winning restaurants, and, given the sheer volume of new eateries opening their doors, it looks to continue that upward culinary trajectory in the years to come.

With new places hitting the food scene all the time, it can get a little overwhelming trying to stay on top of what’s trending, so we have created a list of some of the best new restaurants in San Antonio. Each of these places is new or relatively new, having opened within the last 24 months, and definitely worth a visit.

As we will be updating this list frequently, plan to check back on the regular for new restaurant ideas and recommendations.

ABOUT US

We’re Kelsey and Sara, two local foodies with a combined 29 years of eating in San Antonio, two travel books, and millions of blog readers. We adore local spots, rarely visit chain restaurants, and we aren't afraid to tell you the truth. After spending thousands of our own $$$ at hundreds of local hot spots, we're sharing the best with you.

New Restaurants In San Antonio

Pumpers

(Opened January 2025)

Locally regarded chefs opening quirky burger shops? Yep, seems to be a thing in San Antonio. Chef Stefan Bowers (formerly of the fantastic seafood restaurant, Rebelle) has taken a page out of Andrew Weissman’s (current owner of Mr. Juicy) playbook and opened up the unconventional, “adult burger” store, Pumpers. And yes, all the descriptives beg for some further explanation.

First, unconventional. Pumpers has a real neighborhood diner vibe going for it. With neon lights and a seated bar, it feels like the kind of place you wanna go “where everybody knows your name.” But given its ultra trendy location in the river north area near Elsewhere, Shiro Japanese Bistro, and Nola Brunch and Beignets, it’s also the kind of place that both hipsters and tourists will seek out.

Second, adult. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with an “adult” description, but found it reasonably tame. The menu lists one item which might be offensive to some and the restaurant does sell a small amount of merch - mainly t-shirts - in the back that could be rated PG (maybe PG-13), but they weren’t front and center and you had to be looking for them to even notice. Would I bring my kids here? Probably, but they’re teenagers. Would I bring littles here? Maybe - though I would just likely sit toward the front of the restaurant or eat outside to be safe.

Third, burger. What Weissman managed to accomplish with a delicious, affordable, and freshly made burger, so Bowers has done with Pumpers. Burgers here are outstanding. They’re absolutely huge and all come with two patties, and are smothered in cheese and what feels like a lot of sauce. Messy? Yes. Ridiculously taste? Also yes.

Pumpers, unlike most restaurants in SA, is open late for the night owls who find themselves craving beer, burgers, and sweets until midnight, so it’s a great option to do a little late night snacking.

Only major issue with Pumpers is the parking. The only real options in the area are along the main streets, which means parallel parking. When its busy, it can be exceedingly difficult to find a spot to park that isn’t a ways away.

If street parking is full (and be sure to look all around the city park at Broadway and E. Jones Ave. which is where I found parking), you can head west on E. Jones Ave. and there is a parking garage across the street from the San Antonio Museum of Art, as well as a Metropolis parking garage at Ave. B and 9th St. Both lots are about 2-3 blocks away, but are a quick 5-10 walk from the restaurant.

WEBSITE | 1101 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78205

RELATED: Best Burgers in San Antonio

Fife & Farro

(Opened April 2024)

If it seems like all of the best new restaurants in San Antonio happen to be at the Pullman Market, that’s because they are! I finally managed to complete the set by visiting the new Pullman Market pizza restaurant, Fife & Farro. And just like all of the other restaurants at the market, F&F is something tasty.

The name of the game at Fife & Farro is wood-fired, handmade, sourdough pizzas - all words I like to hear with respect to the popular pie. The sourdough crust is absolutely phenomenal, done to “crispy on the edges but soft on the inside” perfection and the perfect taste complement to the toppings.

Crust aside the pizza choices here are on the smaller side, but they offer a stellar range from the common (margherita-style pizza) to very interesting (the Spicy Girl pizza with guanciale, red onion, Calabrian chile, Texas Mozzarella, and vodka sauce). Most of the pizzas had a real Italian/Texas crossover vibe going including the tasty Smoky’s pizza with Berkshire sausage and thyme.

If you find yourself visiting a day where pizza just isn’t sounding great, Fife & Farro also has a short list of handmade heritage grain pasta dishes that include the Italian classics cacio e pepe and chicken cacciatore.

Fife & Farro isn’t fancy, but it is comfortable, delicious, and a great place to take a break from the market bustle, enjoy a glass of wine and a slice of upscale pizza, and just relax. And don’t worry, they’ll hang on to your groceries for you so you don’t have to worry about loading up the car and then coming back in to eat.

WEBSITE | 221 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX 78215

Isidore

(Opened August 2024)

Isidore, the final addition to the Pullman Market, is an absolute stunner. Named for Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, the restaurant has gone to great lengths to utilize and celebrate Texas ingredients grown and produced on a number of local farms.

It has been awhile (a LONG while) since I have stepped into a restaurant and had a FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC experience from beginning to end, but that’s exactly what happened at Isidore. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. The aesthetic is minimalist industrial, but the exposed brick and open air kitchen make it feel cozy and classy - an arguably difficult environment to create, but somehow they did it.

Service was spotless. Every person we interacted with was friendly and knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed to care deeply about the restaurant and our experience. Service was quick and there was just a special touch of care and kindness radiating from the staff.

Our server even offered my husband the chance to select his own steak knife from a leather sheath which was unfurled with the same drama as a villain in a movie might do with his intimidating leather pouch of torture devices.

Pliers and hammers aside, the sheath contained 8 steak knives from around the globe and our server took some time to share a little bit about each knife with us. In the end, my husband selected the knife from Argentina. They’re known worldwide for their steak, so it stands to reason that they would have excellent taste in knives as well, no?

Decor and service are on point, but Isidore really shines in its food. Truly, this restaurant is at the top of its game with cuisine that dances circles around most restaurants.

I tried a number of appetizers and entrees and found that 99% of them were making a place in my collective memory as “the best ______ I ever had.” For example, the best popcorn chicken I’ve ever had - at Isidore. The best buttermilk pie (which was uniquely savory and absolutely amazing) - at Isidore. Beef tartare and red snapper - at Isidore.

The only course that didn’t claw its way to the top for me was the desserts. They were beautiful in presentation and creativity (the server actually roasted the marshmallow for our s’mores by bringing out a hot coal and holding it atop the marshmallow right at our table), but were just fine in flavor. Solid for sure, but not the best dessert I’ve ever had.

Still, I can’t wait to get back to Isidore. Because I think the chances of finding the next best food I’ve ever had are pretty darn good there.

WEBSITE | 221 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX 78215

The Newstand

(Opened May 2024)

The Newstand is a funky new addition among the best restaurants in San Antonio. This coffee and sandwich shop opened their doors to San Antonio from the Jefferson Bank Building on Broadway back in May. The goal was to bring back the age-old pairing of coffee and a newspaper.

When you walk in, you’ll notice TONS of reading material - papers, periodicals, and magazines - as well as a large projection wall with movies, and a small boutique store. Whether you want to eat/drink/read/watch/shop, or all of the above, the Newstand has you covered.

The eclectic feel of the shop is mirrored in its unique food where sugary breakfast cereals find their place next to gourmet sandwiches and housemade pastries. Sandwiches are named for different newspapers (think the Express, Times, Post, etc.) and all served on scratch made focaccia and ciabatta breads.

I tried the Express, a bizarre mashup of Hatch green chile pimento cheese, sprouts, mayo, and salt and vinegar chips, all stuffed in the Newstand’s delicious focaccia.

The verdict: so, so yummy, topped off with a delightful crunch. Throw in a coffee from their respectable coffee menu that includes interesting-looking seasonal specials, and you have a fun, albeit different, breakfast, brunch, or lunch.

Thanks to the interminable construction on Broadway, access to the Newstand will be a little difficult for the foreseeable future. The bank building is currently covered in scaffolding and you have to hunt a bit to find the entrance to the shop, but it is right on the corner of Josephine and Broadway.

I recommend looking for street parking off of E. Josephine to get you as close as possible to the restaurant, or down the street in the Oxbow garage if you want a little added protection for your vehicle.

WEBSITE | 1900 Broadway St., Ste. 106, San Antonio, TX 78215

Nicosi

(Opened June 2024)

One of the best new restaurants in San Antonio, is also one of the most unique places that I have ever dined at. Nicosi, San Antonio’s newest all-dessert concept restaurant, is a one-of-a-kind experience you can only have in San Antonio.

From the brains at the Emmer and Rye Hospitality group in Austin, Nicosi has rounded out the restaurant offerings (Isidore, Fife & Farrow, and Mezquite) at the new Pullman Market at the historic Pearl Brewery. And in terms of restaurant style - Nicosi is about as unique and fun as it gets.

Nicosi offers an 8 course tasting menu highlighting four different, distinct flavor profiles - acidic, umami, bitter, and sweet - in a variety of sweet, and not-so-sweet, dessert entrees. Utilizing traditional pastry prep techniques and ingredients, Nicosi’s chefs have managed to develop a totally new, totally fresh, and totally wild way to enjoy your next “dessert.”

The restaurant experience at Nicosi is as different and quirky as the food the chefs serve you. All reservations must be prepaid online and each seating time (of which there are two each night, Wednesday-Sunday) feels more like a performance than a normal dinner.

And while you will have every opportunity to chat with the chefs and staff, get all your culinary questions answered, and perhaps make some new friends in the process, don’t expect to have anything to remember it all by as Nicosi strictly prohibits phones and cameras from the dining area.

For more information on the restaurant and a rundown on what specifically an evening there looks like, head over to my honest review of Nicosi.

WEBSITE | 221 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX 78215

Roca & Martillo

(Opened May 2024)

Chef Jason Dady seems to have his hand in just about everything these days. Whether it’s slinging top tier BBQ at Two Bros BBQ Market on the city’s north side, perfecting Tuscan fare at Tre Trattoria at the San Antonio Museum of Art, or quietly mixing and matching Mediterranean small plates at Jardín – he’s doing just about everything.

Given Chef Dady's reach across San Antonio, it came as no surprise that he had another concept up his sleeve, and this one in collaboration with another San Antonio institution, the San Antonio Spurs. Roca & Martillo opened its doors in May 2024 at the Rock at La Cantera.

What started as a brand new practice facility for the Spurs, the Rock at La Cantera quickly morphed into a family friendly entertainment venue with food trucks, backyard games, a splash pad, lots of turf for picnics and lawn chairs, and a 40ft LED screen broadcasting all the Spurs action, all season long. In the off season, you can catch family movies, trivia nights, fitness classes, SAFC watch parties, and more.

The only thing lacking was a full service restaurant. Enter: Roca & Martillo, which marries the best of Italian fare with the best of Texas fare, to create an unusual, but super delicious menu. Seriously, smoked brisket lasagna, where have you been all my life?! Highly recommend the parmigiano fried chicken as well (which may have been the best fried chicken that I have ever put in my mouth).

Roca & Martillo offers ample outdoor dining on its patio right next to the Frost Plaza or on its rooftop bar with great views of both the plaza and La Cantera. Too hot to dine outdoors? Views are nearly as good from the inside thanks to the restaurant’s huge windows.

The Rock at La Cantera truly has it all, entertainment, fun, and thanks to Jason Dady and Roca & Martillo – definitely one of the best new restaurants in San Antonio – some really great food.

WEBSITE | 1 Spurs Way, San Antonio, TX 78256

Pullman Market

(Opened April 2024)

The all-new Pullman Market is a lot of things. It’s a grocery store. It’s a quick-service food hall. It’s a full on sit-down restaurant. It’s the newest addition to the Pearl Historic District. And it’s definitely worth a visit.

The newest venture of the Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group (managers of Ladino) is now open for business at the Pearl. Located in the former Samuels Glass Company headquarters, the Pullman Market is an enormous (40,000 sq. ft.) space. And like the Pearl itself, repurposes an older industrial building into something beautiful that’s all about the food.

First, Pullman’s a market (hence the namesake) for those who like to prepare their own food. Think: smallish Central Market or Whole Foods Market with a fab wine selection, quality meat counter, fresh produce, and specialty items from all over. While the selection is nothing to shake a stick at when compared to a standard sized HEB, home cooks could definitely do some damage here in terms of finding some of the best quality ingredients out there.

Second, it’s a quick service food hall for those who want someone else to make them some food, and fast! Situated around the market are counters where you can pop by and grab some coffee, a sandwich, ceviche, or a wagyu burger that might just blow your mind.

Seriously, it was insanely good - and not just for a counter-style burger, but for burgers in general. Great for those who get snacky while shopping or who are looking for a little more variety beyond the Pearl Bottling Department’s food hall (which is right next door).

Third, it’s a sit-down dining restaurant for those who want to be served. Actually, it’s three (soon to be four!). Guests to the Pullman who are looking to make a night of it can check out wood-fired pizza restaurant Fife & Farro, Sonoran Mexican restaurant Mezquite (the tacos and quesadillas were delish), dessert bar (yes, you read that correctly, strictly desserts) Nicosi, and the forthcoming Isidore which will offer a rotating menu of Texas faves.

Lastly, it’s a bar for those who just want to drink. The Mezcaleria has a variety of agave-forward cocktails (and a few non-tequila/mezcal options as well), wines, beers, and a handful of snack items to tide you over while you sip.

WEBSITE | 221 Newell Ave San Antonio, TX 78215

Bombay Bicycle Club

(Opened October 2023)

Hemisfair, the area in downtown San Antonio that once played host to the 1968 World Fair, has seen a massive revitalization in recent years.

The area is now home to some of San Antonio’s culinary big dogs – Dough Pizzeria Napoletana (one of the best restaurants in San Antonio), CommonWealth Coffeehouse and Bakery (one of the best coffee shops in San Antonio), and Box Street All Day (one of the best brunch restaurants in San Antonio). The full list of Hemisfair restaurants is really just a recipe for days of happy eating.

And the recent opening of the Bombay Bicycle Club’s second location only adds more depth to the Hemisfair’s already deep roster. The BBC is a fitting addition to Hemisfair as it is successfully working the old-revitalized-into-something-fresh vibe that seems to be the aesthetic for the whole area.

Bombay has made its home in an older house with a modern attachment and a patio bar overlooking Yanaguana Garden. Between the brightly colored palm frond wallpaper and GORGEOUS stained glass windows, Bombay has managed to create a sophisticated yet fresh space to dine.

American comfort food is the name of the dining game at Bombay. Nachos, burgers, sandwiches, and fried chicken make up the bulk of the menu here. And while you aren’t likely to discover something new and exciting or foreign and fun, your standard burger and fries will just be on point. Throw in a cold beer or one of their many cocktails and you’ve got the makings of a great American meal.

WEBSITE | 601 Hemisfair Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205

Blü Prime Steakhouse

(Opened October 2023)

Seven months ago, a new fine dining steakhouse hit the San Antonio culinary scene, exciting…nobody. In a city that feels like it achieved maximum steakhouse saturation (that’s a thing, I promise) years ago, it just wasn’t an appealing option. SA has a number of strong steakhouse chains as well as some great local choices. So news of Blü Prime’s opening was met with a resounding, “meh.”

But in just seven months, Blü Prime has managed to accomplish an astonishing feat by cracking into the Express News’s list of the 25 top restaurants in San Antonio for 2024. But perhaps even more mind-blowing, it managed to dethrone Bohanan’s (a San Antonio institution) by taking the number 1 spot for the best steakhouse in San Antonio earlier this year.

As a loyal Bohanan’s devotee, I was skeptical of Blü Prime’s meteoric rise and had to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Could it possibly outshine the best of the best in San Antonio?

In a word: yep.

Blü Prime, located just inside 1604 off of Huebner Rd., is not your everyday steakhouse. While most fine dining steakhouses try to create a sense of nostalgic elegance with dark wood and dark leather, Blü Prime takes a different approach that borders more on hip and chic.

It manages to achieve this without losing the sophistication or style of its counterparts. The blue lighting and LCD screens create a modern vibe that gives the entire restaurant an upbeat and urban feel.

But you don’t go to Blü just for the atmosphere. You go for the service. And you go for the food. Both were perfect. Service was attentive, knowledgeable, and welcoming. And the food was cooked perfectly, flavors were on point, and the variety, for a steakhouse, was exceptional.

Whether you are in the market for a traditional cut of meat, or you are feeling fancy and want to try the in-house, dry aged cuts (which sell out quickly and then take months to prepare again) or wagyu, Blü is more than up to the task. You won’t get adequate or even just good, you’ll get flawless.

Perhaps what pushed Blü to the top of the steakhouse list for me was how they went above and beyond to make it a memorable experience. It happened to be Mother’s Day weekend when we visited, and all the mothers were given a complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate, adding a special touch to the evening’s meal and demonstrating that the restaurant values its patrons and wants to see them return. And with a meal like that, I certainly plan on it.

WEBSITE | 1818 N Loop 1604 W Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78248, United States

Make Ready Market

(Opened January 2024)

San Antonio’s newest food hall and mixed-use space, the Make Ready Market, is up and running on the north side of SA’s downtown area, directly across the street from the CPS headquarters.

And while the market does not exactly fit neatly into the “best new restaurants in San Antonio” box, it contains 7 brand-spanking new eateries which are right now at the top of their game as they seek to woo their share of business lunchers from the surrounding corporate offices.

Like most food halls, the Make Ready Market offers a fantastic variety of places to nosh, making it a great place to dine in with friends - everyone will be able to find something they like!

A few of the restaurants here include Thai restaurant, Thai Bird, Venezuelan restaurant, Four Brothers, and American Burger joint, Eet Up. You can also find options for coffee, juices, ice cream, and booze (and the four most important food groups, obviously).

While there, I grabbed a quick lunch from the Mexican seafood restaurant, Pescado Bravo. My fish tacos - smothered in chihuahua cheese, pickled cabbage, and spicy mayo - were excellent and filling and something I would expect to find at a more formal sit-down Mexican establishment.

Each entree on the menu came with a choice of salad, chips, or pineapple/bacon rice (the only clear choice here), and was priced around $15. So definitely more than a fast food lunch, but way more filling/tastier/healthier. For my money, it’s the Make Ready Market over fast food any day of the week.

The Make Ready Market rounds out its offerings with a small, in-house boutique called The Fair Goods and large outdoor seating area that is sandwiched on the other side by the Idle Beer Hall. If you are on the hunt for a quick, yet solid, lunch on-the-go, or a casual weekend hangout with a large group of people, the Make Ready Ready is a legit option.

Parking at the Make Ready Market is available on the street at meters, or in nearby garages. You can download the SA Park app to easily pay for your “metered” parking with a credit card from your phone

WEBSITE | 203 8th St, San Antonio, TX 78215

Creamery District

(Opened Jan 2024)

San Antonio has seen a recent explosion in new developments (the SA Yacht Club and the Make Ready Market to name a few) looking to house mixed retail, business, and dining space. The newest kid on the mixed development block, The Creamery District, is now up and running and open for dining.

Located just two blocks north of the Pearl Historic District, the Creamery is aiming to bolster the area’s reputation as a cuisine powerhouse. With a coffeehouse, seafood restaurant, and three bars on tap, the Creamery is a one-stop shop for an evening of great food, drinks, and entertainment.

The Creamery is nestled right next to the San Antonio river’s flood control tunnel and offers really great views of the dam and river.

The beautiful white stucco building and gorgeous outdoor patio make for a lovely venue to enjoy some outdoor sunshine while sipping on some coffee from Créme, noshing on a plate from Hook Land & Sea, or sipping cocktails from Amelia.

The forthcoming rooftop bar, Lunatique, and underground jazz lounge, Easy Baby, will round out the dining options in the near future.

While the Creamery offers no small number of choices in the immediate vicinity to get your drink on, the fusion seafood restaurant, Costa Pacifica Margarita Garden (originally Hook, Land, and Sea) is your best bet for food.

Upon arriving, guests are instructed to order their food at the counter/bar, and then take a number to a table to be served. Quick service, counter-style seafood restaurants haven’t exactly wowed me in the past, so I was expecting this to be an underwhelming culinary experience. Thankfully, I was proven very wrong.

Once seated, our food was brought out and we had the opportunity to try a number of entrees including the shrimp aguachile, grilled octopus, fish chicharron tacos, ahi tuna poke bowl, and the carnitas bowl. Everything, and I do mean everything, was delicious. Colors were bright, flavors were bold and fresh, textures were spot-on, and our tastebuds were utterly delighted.

The fusion of Mexican, Asian, and seafood flavors at Hook Land & Sea is a masterclass, and an affordable one at that. Entrees average $15 and portion sizes are solid. We didn’t leave hungry or feeling like it was just another overly fried seafood diner.

If there aren’t already enough boozy options for you at the Creamery, Hook Land & Sea also has a sizable cocktail list that includes house cocktails, adult slushies, wine, and beer. Be sure to check out their happy hour where you can enjoy a variety of their adult beverages for just $5.

WEBSITE | 875 E Ashby Pl Bldg 2 & 3, San Antonio, TX 78212

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba

(Opened September 2023)

“A bit from both sides.” And an apt description of one of San Antonio’s best new restaurants, the Mexican/Cuban fusion restaurant, Paladar.

Marrying the spicy flavors of Mexico to the colorful and often bold flavors of Cuba, Paladar has absolutely nailed it in fashioning a delicious, unique menu that honors the flavors of both countries, while at the same time creating something brand new - especially for a city awash in Mexican food.

Paladar’s menu does a bang up job of giving patrons a bit of everything. The menu is subdivided into neat little sections including appetizers, Cuban dishes, Mexican dishes, fusion dishes, and the requisite sides/drinks/desserts/kids stuff.

Familiar Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and tacos are available to those looking for some local comfort food, while Cuban dishes of sauteed shrimp and slow-cooked pork check the boxes of traditional Cuban cuisine.

During our visit to Paladar, we sampled the Cuban ceviche and the Sandwich Paladar, a mouthwatering blend of Cuban and Mexican flavors with marinated piglet and Oaxaca cheese.

Both dishes were outstanding. The ceviche, which is made to order, along with everything else at Paladar, was fresh and vibrant. The strong citrus flavor provided a great balance to the red snapper and avocado. The sandwich, on the other hand, was an absolute work of art with perfectly blended flavors and savory yucca chips on the side.

Paladar may be a bit different than what the typical San Antonio palette has come to expect, but that difference makes for a fantastic addition to the landscape of SA’s cuisine. Highly recommend making a visit and trying something brand new. It may sound like a risk, but if the rest of Paladar’s cuisine holds up to what we experienced, it’s actually not a risk at all.

Paladar is located across the street from the Witte Museum’s parking garage. While you can enter the parking lot from Broadway, it’s easiest to locate the restaurant from Avenue B, or the parking garage.

WEBSITE | 3615 Broadway #4, San Antonio, TX 78209

SA Yacht Club

(Opened Nov 2023)

Beer, food, retail. Pretty much all you need to survive. And now all can be found at San Antonio’s newest, and quirkiest, retail center, the SA Yacht Club.

Located just two blocks west of the Pearl Brewery, the SA Yacht Club is an eccentric place to enjoy some of the best San Antonio has to offer. This really is an odd place. The buildings are recycled shipping containers and there’s a bright orange VW Beetle parked in front as a sign.

The location is a bit random with one side of the street filled with brand new buildings and designer townhomes while the other side is occupied by old (read: falling apart) houses and buildings.

And the Yacht Club businesses themselves are a mashup that don’t make a lot of sense. Tacos, coffee, Filipino food, leather goods, and vacation rentals. But in the case of the SA Yacht Club, weird works and odd is more than agreeable.

If you’re coming for food, you are coming for the right reason. One of San Antonio’s best taco joints, Naco 210, just closed up its shop at Los Patios (for which we are shedding a few tears - that place was gorgeous!) and decamped to the Yacht Club. They rebranded and are now Naco Grayson.

The menu is the same and the tacos haven’t lost a step. And for those of us mourning the loss of the Los Patios location, you can still catch their taco truck which is parked at 410 and Nacogdoches. Either location is a stellar taco option.

Other food options include the outstanding Filipino food truck, Jeepney Street Eats, where lumpia, pancit, and sisig rule the roost, and Drippy’s and Sippy’s, places to get your coffee and booze respectively. The SA Yacht Club rounds out its offerings with the Bexar Goods Co, a leather maker with a brick and mortar airstream for browsing, and upper level Airbnb vacation rentals.

Given the food and laid back vibe at the SA Yacht Club, it is definitely worth a visit for a chill lunch or evening.

But beware the parking situation. The only options for parking in the area are surface parking along the streets. Given that this is both a residential and industrial neighborhood, parking is tight and has the potential to be an irritant to local homeowners and businesses. So it’s best to be conscientious when parking and be prepared to walk.

WEBSITE | 310 W Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78212

Idle Beer Hall and Brewery

(Opened Oct 2023)

In preparation for the coming new food hall at the historic Cavender Cadillac building, the Make Ready Market, Idle Beer Hall and Brewery has thrown open the doors on their indoor/outdoor space in the adjacent building in San Antonio’s River North area.

Idle joins veteran vendor Mila Coffee to meet all the liquid needs (caffeine and alcohol) of the coming crowds to the future MRM.

Idle’s 15,000 sq ft space offers ample room for people to relax, enjoy a drink with friends, or bask in the sun-drenched outdoor patio area.

Indoors, guests to Idle will be enthusiastically greeted by the super-friendly brewery dog, Everest, who patrols the open-concept beer hall looking for pets. The high ceilings and steel beams give the entire room an industrial, though not cold, feel. There are lots of seating options including couches and tables, as well as a few ski ball machines and a pool table. Outdoors, Idle has picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and a ping-pong table.

Idle has a solid list of craft beers that are brewed in house and seem to rotate based on what’s available at the time. A few canned options as well, as house cocktails for the non-beer drinkers, round out the brewery’s menu.

Idle’s happy hour, which occurs daily from 12pm to 6pm, boasts a fantastic half-pour of any of their beers on draft for the pint-sized price of just $3. While they don’t currently offer a flight, for $12, you can get four half-pours during happy hour, and some good exposure to their products.

Parking is the only major challenge for Idle. and it’s only set to get worse once the Make Ready Market opens and the crowds show up. There is some public parking at the corner of Avenue B and 8th Street, but Avenue B is now a one way street with only minimal street parking.

If possible, plan your upcoming visit for a weekday between 1pm and 4pm. There should be street parking available during those hours (pay by downloading the SA Park app) across Avenue B from the CPS headquarters.

WEBSITE | 414 Brooklyn Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215

Nineteen Hyaku

(Opened Sept 2023)

Busy (so busy!) restaurateurs, Houston and Emily Carpenter, have done it again with the successful opening of yet another restaurant, and quite possibly their most ambitious project.

Nineteen Hyaku is located off of Broadway, just east of the Pearl Historic district and only about a block away from the couple’s popular southern eatery, and another of the best new restaurants in San Antonio, Restaurant Claudine.

Nineteen Hyaku officially opened its doors on September 27 and welcomed guests to its GORGEOUS indoor eating space that features high ceilings, wicker accents, and a white marble sushi bar that spans the entire length of the restaurant.

The decor is rounded out with pops of yellow, chinese lantern-style lighting, and an attractive full service bar with an eye-catching modern light fixture. The space truly has the “wow” factor in abundance.

Nineteen Hyaku’s menu works to keep pace with the interior by turning the spotlight on their Japanese inspired cuisine. But to just call it “Japanese inspired cuisine” is a vast understatement.

Nineteen Hyaku’s flavors are certainly traditionally Japanese, but they have a refined twist, resulting in elevated dishes you won’t find anywhere else in San Antonio.

The menu is broken down into categories including rolled sushi, hand rolls, hot and cold shareable plates, nigiri, and fire-roasted skewers.

While the extensive menu will leave you wanting to try EVERYTHING, try starting with the Ebi Toreado roll with shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, and green grapes, the wagyu gyoza with squid ink and ponzu, and the spectacularly delicious mushroom skewers.

Hungry and adventurous guests will be pleased to know that Nineteen Hyaku is offering omakase, or a trust-your-chef experience for $150/guest.

Those who choose to order this will have the chef personally curate dishes, and many of them at that, to fill you up and expose you to just about everything that Nineteen Hyaku does well. And if my experience is at all standard, there isn’t much they don’t do well.

Protip: While there is ample parking near Nineteen Hyaku at the Pearl, I recommend you park at the Oxbow Parking Garage in the Credit Human building. You park there for up to 3 hours at only $5, and it is about a one minute walk from the entrance to the restaurant.

WEBSITE | 1900 Broadway Suite #119, San Antonio, TX 78215