10 Best Restaurants For Group Dining In San Antonio

By Kelsey Kennedy | July 6, 2023

Anytime someone asks me for the best restaurants for group dining in San Antonio, I share a few suggestions but I also start with this caveat: any restaurant can be a good restaurant for big groups! Nearly every restaurant in San Antonio is willing to host a group of 8, 10, 12, or more if you're able to call ahead and make a reservation.

(Online reservations typically tap out at tables for 6. Not always, but this is typical for most restaurants.)

If you're visiting San Antonio for a conference at the Henry B Gonzalez convention center and you're in charge of booking a big group dinner for your group, here are 10 of the best restaurants in San Antonio for large groups.

Best Restaurants for Group Dining in San Antonio

1. Mi Tierra

We've gotta start with the big one! Mi Tierra Café y Panadería has been a family-owned Tex-Mex spot in downtown San Antonio for more than 80 years. The restaurant itself feels larger than life, with a MASSIVE mural on the wall, multi-room dining, streamers, and piñatas dangling from the ceiling, and the fragrant smell of Tex Mex wafting through every nook and cranny of the space. This is an iconic restaurant with a standard Tex-Mex menu. Think nachos, taco salad, enchiladas, sizzling fajitas, and classic margaritas.

While Mi Tierra does not accept reservations, it's a very large restaurant. If your group walks into the lobby and finds a big queue in front of you, don't be deterred! They typically move pretty fast here.

Mi Tierra isn't directly on the river walk; it's located at Market Square, which is just a short walk (or a VERY short drive) from the convention center. Let's face it: the Tex-Mex cuisine on the riverwalk isn't very good, so it's actually a good thing that Mi Tierra is slightly removed.

It's a world-famous landmark and anyone who knows anything about San Antonio has been to this famous Texas restaurant. If you're visiting SA with a big group, this is a very fun, memorable spot to try to visit.

WEBSITE | 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207

2. Pinkerton's BBQ

While there are a lot of great BBQ spots in San Antonio and many could work for big group dining, Pinkerton's is the most convenient. Why? It's located in downtown San Antonio!

It's rare for a downtown restaurant to have this much space, and that's why I'm including Pinkerton's on this guide to the best restaurants in San Antonio for group dining. The restaurant itself opens up to Legacy Park, so it essentially has a massive front yard with picnic tables.

Pinkerton's serves classic Texas bbq: smoked brisket, craft sausages, excellent sides and desserts, and craft beer. Arrive very hungry and pile on a bit of everything. It's a large menu but it's all wonderful! The pork ribs are especially great here, glazed in a sweet, sticky sauce, and the jalapeño cheese sausage, potato salad, rosemary bacon mac and cheese, and duck and sausage jambalaya are can't-miss items.

The interior of Pinkerton's is just as spacious. Dine at any of the long, shareable tables in the indoor large dining area, or gather on the covered patio. (Psst: this is also one of the great spots to dine with kids in San Antonio!)

WEBSITE | 107 W Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205

RELATED: San Antonio’s Best BBQ Spots

3. Dough Pizzeria (Hemisfair)

Dough Pizzeria serves delectable Neapolitan-style pizza. It's among the best pizza spots in San Antonio and has been featured on Food Network for its authentic pies. This is great for group dining in San Antonio for a couple of reasons. (Psst: be sure you're going to the HEMISFAIR location, located near downtown!)

While the restaurant is pretty small on the inside, there's a great big back patio that opens up to Hemisfair. You'll be right next to Yanaguana Garden, the brand new Kunstler tap haus, and the sound of kids playing happily in the distance at the splash pad.

But if you don't want to dine at the restaurant, you can easily order pizza to go. Plan on about 1 pizza for every 2 people (plus sides, like their salads and handmade pasta) and then take the food-to-go and enjoy it in the park.

WEBSITE | 518 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205

4. Maverick Texas Brasserie

Looking for a San Antonio restaurant that offers private dining rooms? Maverick is not only one of the most spectacular restaurants in San Antonio for ambiance, cuisine, and exceptional service...but they also offer private dining!

You can reserve a space at the restaurant to host anywhere from 14 people to a full restaurant buyout at 200 people, and every size in between. Their semi-covered private garden area is my personal favorite, which seats 40 people. Whether you're hosting a private party or you just want an intimate dining space, Maverick has plenty of options.

Maverick's outstanding cuisine is a Texas take on French food, using local ingredients on classic favorites like steak frites, beef tartare, and an exceptional au poivre burger. The cocktails are loads of fun, and the ambiance is romantic yet elevated. It would be an excellent restaurant for a big group that wants a memorable dining experience in San Antonio.

WEBSITE | 710 S St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78205

5. Alamo Beer Co

Switching gears to something a bit more casual, Alamo Beer Co. is a top pick for group dining in San Antonio for a fast-casual, outdoor, no-reservations dinner. This San Antonio craft brewery has a full menu of pub food that you can order at the bar, making it an easy spot to host a group of any size.

If you want to forego reservations, servers, and group tabs, and you love beer, yard games, and live music, add Alamo Beer Co. to your list for group dining in San Antonio.

WEBSITE | 202 Lamar St, San Antonio, TX 78202

6. Blush Restaurant

Blush is quickly becoming the go-to spot for a group brunch in San Antonio. This darling Southtown restaurant has a lovely bakery component, but their brunch entrees are where they really shine.

Dine with a big group of your girlfriends for a boozy weekend brunch with caviar, creme brûlée French toast, bougie benedicts, and all sorts of pink and bubbly cocktails.

Blush is an entire vibe. The indoor space is adorned with gorgeous wallpapers, white tabletops, and magnificent textiles all around. The outdoor patio is wonderful on a cool spring day.

From the flavorful dishes to the spectacular ambiance, this new restaurant in Southtown is a must-try if you're looking for a good group brunch option in San Antonio.

WEBSITE | 713 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205

7. La Fonda On Main

La Fonda On Main is adored in San Antonio as one of the best Tex-Mex restaurants around. It's the oldest Mexican restaurant in San Antonio (since 1932!) and still shines.

This isn't an exceptionally large restaurant, so place a reservation for your group in advance. But they are capable of hosting groups in the indoor dining room or the outdoor patio (the patio is gorgeous, BTW!) if you plan ahead.

They have the best steak fajitas in town, wonderful Mexican cocktails, succulent seafood plates (try the pepita-crusted salmon a la playa), and an absolutely beautiful ambiance. This is a must-try restaurant in San Antonio, whether you're dining with a big group or not.

WEBSITE | 2415 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212

8. Restaurant Claudine

The new and charming Restaurant Claudine features elevated southern cuisine in one of the most beautiful spaces you've ever seen! The renovated bungalow house has various rooms, each decorated differently with stunning wallpaper, eye-catching sconces, and unique touches that will have you wanting to Instagram your way through dinner.

Restaurant Claudine has a few large tables that are available for groups. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

The menu items at Restaurant Claudine are just as aesthetically pleasing as they are delicious. Take Grandma's Corn Bread with Smoked Wallflower Butter, for example; it's a simple starter that's elevated with real flowers that are pressed into the smoked butter log.

This isn't "down home southern cooking'" but rather an elevated take on southern classics. The fried chicken with fermented hot honey is delicate and crisp, and the short rib with black garlic bbq sauce is fall-of-the-bone tender and wrapped in the most luscious, memorable flavors.

You most likely won't be able to just swing by the restaurant and expect them to be able to seat a group of 10, but if you can make reservations in advance, Restaurant Claudine is a fun spot to dine with a large group in San Antonio.

WEBSITE | 517 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

9. Biga On The Banks

Iconic, legendary, unstoppable...this is how I think of New American waterfront restaurant Big On The Banks. Biga has been a long-time favorite for fine dining on the Riverwalk. If you aim to impress and you have a significant budget to work with, you can't go bigger than reserving the private dining spaces at this exceptional steak house.

Biga On The Banks not only offers various private dining spaces with spectacular views, but they also have a dedicated staff and a dedicated kitchen for their private groups. This means that if you've booked a big dinner for your office party or gathering, you don't have to worry about slow service or being forgotten.

The New American menu goes beyond the predictable steakhouse offerings you'd expect at a white tablecloth restaurant. While chef changes the menu daily, you can expect exciting starters like seared Hudson Valley foie gras with brioche French toast, stonefruit-raisin chutney, and duck cider jus, or a fun Texas fusion take on scallops with the habañero jerk scallops, served with cheesy Texas grits and pineapple rum chutney.

Biga is so much more than just a steakhouse. Entrees span from local Texas antelope and quail to an Australian lamb rack. Gourmet takes on chicken, beef tenderloin, grilled fish, and vegetarian options round out the menu.

For dessert, the sticky toffy pudding is what Biga On The Banks is most known for. But they offer a pretty robust dessert menu with enough options to make sure that everyone at the table finds something they love.

Biga On The Banks isn't a cheap option for group dining, but it is one of the best places to eat with a group in San Antonio. If you have a budget to work with and you want to impress the group, reserving a private dining space at this New American restaurant is going to be your best move.

WEBSITE | 203 S St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78205

10. Allora

Best Restaurants For Group Dining In San Antonio

With big, breezy archways and tall ceilings, Allora is a fun restaurant to dine with a group in San Antonio because it feels so spacious, calming, and fun! The coastal Italian cuisine is a crowd-pleaser, and the cocktails are fresh and fun.

The antipasti (starters) are made to be shared, so order a bunch for the table. Try the various takes on bruschetta, topped with chicken liver mousse or whipped buretta, or anchovies. They have a few fresh salad options, including a bright farro salad with cranberries and parsnips, as well as an olive-brined grilled octopus for something a bit more substantial.

Allora's shareable menu items expand into their sashimi-grade crude section of the menu. It's quite robust, with red snapper, striped bass, caviar, and more. These are delicate, delicious ways to share food with your table.

And then there are even MORE shareable items in the "content" sides portion of the menu. Load up on grilled cauliflower, crispy potatoes, and green asparagus with parm reg.

After all the sharing, the group will probably be ready to order their own entree choices. And there are plenty, including small housemate pasta and larger meat entrees.

But if you just reeeeaally love to share, Allora has a few large format entrees that are made to share. These include an entire fried red snapper, veal chop, and tomahawk ribeyes.

Despite all of the easy-to-share food options at Allora, one of the reasons this is the best group restaurant in San Antonio is its delightful outdoor patio. If you visit San Antonio on a cool evening, try to get an outdoor table for your group. With the striped upholstery, breezy archways, and bright yellow umbrellas, you might actually feel like you're dining in a coastal Italian town.

WEBSITE | 403 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215