An Honest Review of the Brand New Brunch at 18 Oaks: In A Word, YUM!

By Sara Branstetter | May 7, 2025

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The JW Marriott has long been known as one of the best resorts in San Antonio, offering high-end stays and premium dining experiences. Their flagship steakhouse – 18 Oaks – has reflected this in its quality lunches and dinners. But one thing they have lacked? An elegant Sunday brunch. Thankfully, they have rectified the issue and beginning in April of 2025, brought back their long absent, and extremely popular, Sunday brunch.

I made a recent visit to 18 Oaks to give their brunch a go and was absolutely impressed with the menu as well as the entire atmosphere that they have created which just screams brunch.

It’s a little bit bougie, but not so much it feels snobby. It’s a little bit refined, but not so much it feels stiff. And it’s a little bit fancy, but not so much you can’t bring your kids here to enjoy it with you. In short, it’s a FANTASTIC brunch experience.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Branstetter has called San Antonio, TX home for the last 20 years. She’s a wife of a veteran, mom of four, and a cuddler of the world's best dog. The army brought her family to San Antonio years ago, and the city, its culture, and its food have kept her here.

Review of the New Brunch at 18 Oaks

Location

18 Oaks is located at the sprawling JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. It is located just out back of the lobby, sandwiched between a wing of the hotel and the award winning TPC golf courses that host the Valero Texas Open (a stop on the PGA tour).

The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor patio seating with views of the hotel grounds and limited views of the golf courses. The outdoor covered patio, in particular, is absolutely lovely both with its views, and al fresco dining.

Indoors, the restaurant feels like a true extension of the resort itself, while avoiding just being a standard “hotel restaurant box.” Floor to ceiling windows, an impressive fireplace, and unique cork chandeliers keep the experience sophisticated.

But it also happens to be comfortable, and even a little bit fun thanks to a full sized piano and live musician. Music is upbeat without being obnoxiously loud or intrusive.

I often avoid restaurants with live music, especially if I am going with friends, because it can be loud and difficult to converse. Not so at the 18 Oaks. The music was just present enough to be enjoyable and add to the atmosphere, without being so loud as to require me to yell at the person seated across from me. In my estimation – the perfect amount.

Service

Service is exactly what you would expect from an upscale restaurant associated with an upscale property. It’s professional, it’s friendly, and it’s prompt.

Servers are there to make your brunch experience a success and they have great recommendations for both food and beverage. So go ahead and take advantage of their brunch expertise. It will be well worth it.

Food

Of all the things that made brunch a wonderful experience at 18 Oaks, it was the food that was far and away the most memorable. We are talking about a CRAZY fancy menu – wagyu beef tips, crispy pork belly hash, and caviar for days.

The menu managed to meld brunch foods, Texas cuisine, and high-end ingredients into something really special, and fairly unique in San Antonio. Add a refreshing summer sangria or mimosa flight and you have the makings of an excellent brunch meal.

And just for the record, if you happen to prefer more savory dishes, do yourself a favor (or get someone at your table to do you a favor) and order the banana fosters French toast. OHMIGOSH! It is absolutely decadent and should not be missed.

Brunchy Tips

There are two things you need to know to make your brunch experience at 18 Oaks a success. The first is this – make reservations. And not just on holidays (but especially on holidays). Between hotel guests (and at 1000+ hotel guest rooms, this can mean thousands of people) and interested locals, the restaurant will begin filling up well ahead of time. If you happen to be a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-bruncher, you may be out of look. Best to make reservations.

And second, guests who eat at 18 Oaks will receive 4 hours of validated parking. This is a HUGE benefit as parking at the JW is $29/day ($45/valet) – yikes! But with four hours of free parking, not only can you enjoy your lovely brunch at 18 Oaks but also spend a little time enjoying the resort. Brunch becomes so much more than a meal this way.

Maybe try taking a brief stroll through their artwalk and enjoy custom artwork including oils on canvas and blown glass. Or you could check out the JW Garden, a 5,000 sq. ft. garden that provides some of the produce used at 18 Oaks.

WEBSITE | 23808 Resort Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78261