Review of Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk Luxury Hotel

By Kelsey Kennedy | April 27, 2023

I recently stayed at the new(ish) Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk hotel. If you’re not up to speed on your luxury hotel brands (I’m not…), the Thompson is a line of boutique hotels owned by the Hyatt. Thompson also recently opened a location in Austin, but seeing as I own a home pretty close to the Austin location, I couldn’t quite justify an overnight stay. San Antonio, though? I was excited to book a night in this gorgeous, luxury hotel in San Antonio and see what all the fuss was about.

Review of the Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk Hotel

For starters, it’s lovely. It really is a beautifully designed hotel with soaring ceilings, a sleek and modern design, celebrity-run in-house restaurants, and some of the best concierge service you can find in a luxury hotel.

But.. (you knew there was a “but,” didn’t you?) you’ll have to pay for it. Rooms are pricey, valet parking is an additional cost, and the restaurants and bars in the hotel are above average costs for the San Antonio food scene.

But if you love staying in upscale hotels and you're looking to splurge, the Thomposn San Antonio - Riverwalk might be a fun option for you. If you’re interested in staying in this exceptional hotel and you want an in-depth review, read on.

Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk: Quick Facts:

Opened in: 2021

Parent company: Hyatt

Number of rooms: 162

Number of floors: 20

Design style: Texas modern

Pool? Yes

Other locations: there are more than 20 Thompson hotels around the world, including 3 in NYC, a Cabo location, and even a Thompson Madrid.

Review of the Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk

The location is excellent. The Thompson San Antonio is on the Riverwalk, but not the annoying touristy part of the Riverwalk. It’s about a ½ mile (a 12 minute walk) from the Alamo and the main portion of the Riverwalk, and a 5 minute drive to the Historic Pearl district. Worth noting: the restaurants at the Pearl in San Antonio are where it’s at. Definitely check out this guide to know where to eat.

I drove up to the front entry at the Thompson and I was greeted by one of the friendliest valet parkers I’ve ever met. It was as if it was an honor for him to take my french fry-encrusted mom SUV and park it underground for me. (I guarantee you…it was not an honor. He’s just really good at his job.)

I was then greeted by one of the friendliest front desk staff members of my life. As we started talking, he later told me that he was a manager of the Thompson San Antonio, and before that he had helped open the Thompson Austin. So he clearly had some skin in the game and wanted to make sure hotel guests had a lovely stay.

But before that conversation, I asked if a late check out was possible.

“What time would you like?” he asked.

“Hmm, how about noon?” I replied. (Standard check out is 11 am at the Thompson San Antonio.)

“I can give you 3 pm.” He said it very matter-of-factly and it took me a minute to realize he wasn’t negotiating against me…he was giving me 3 bonus hours beyond what I asked for!

Sweet!! Extra pool time the following afternoon.

He also made sure I was aware that the purified water dispenser at the end of my floor was acting up and that he would provide copious amounts of water bottles instead.

Anyway, these stories are just to share with you the quality of staff members that you might meet during your stay at a Thompson Hotel. Sure, the nightly price per room is higher than a typical Hyatt hotel, but in exchange you’ll be treated a bit like royalty. Quite a fun contrast from normal life, if I do say so.

I booked a standard king room, and it was beautiful. The Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk ensured that the hotel’s design mimics the rich history of the Alamo city: deep blues and greens to reflect the riverwalk’s significance on the town, sultry leather and suede (because Texas, y’all), and wide-plank hardwood floors.

The bathrooms feature spa-inspired features like marble floors, waterfall shower heads, and decadent bath and shower products.

The beds at the Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk are insanely comfortable. (Trust me…I used that late check out and slept in as long as I could!) They feature luxe Sferra linens, custom-made leather headboards, and flattering lighting that creates an “artful residential feel.”

Other amenities in a standard room include a locally-stocked bar in case you want a night cap, a plush robe and slippers, black-out curtains (for the BEST night of sleep!), a 55-inch flat-screen TV, and a nespresso machine in every room so you can get caffeinated before you head out on your next adventure.

I have to say: as someone who doesn’t do hotel stays very often, this room was a treat. I wanted to get out and explore San Antonio, but I also just wanted to enjoy the luxurious linens, the beautiful decor, the giant TV, and the excellent night of sleep. The rooms at The Thompson San Antonio are perfect.

Restaurants At The Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk

Amazing food is definitely a thing at Thompson Hotels.

(I’ve also eaten at every restaurant at the Austin Thompson hotel, and I can confidently say that the chefs and restaurants at the Thompson hotels are at the top of their game.)

Here’s a peek at what’s offered in the food and beverage department at Thompson San Antonio.

Landrace

From James Beard Award - nominated chef Steve McHugh (Cured, Luminaire), Landrace is an American restaurant that highlights Texas ingredients. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from 7 am - 10 pm daily, making it highly convenient as a hotel restaurant option.

For breakfast you can expect classic menu items like wagyu beef steak & eggs, a goat cheese omelet with asparagus, and avocado toast with an optional poached egg, as well as lighter options like a “rise and shine smoothie” or a yogurt bowl.

Lunch and dinner mains include a lot of beef options. This is, after all, a Texas-inspired restaurant, and chef Steve is all about meat. If you’re not into beef, there are plenty of delightful salads, gulf-inspired options like red snapper crudo and grilled BBQ oysters, as well as both sweet and cheese plates available for dessert. |LANDRACE WEBSITE|

The Moon's Daughters

This 20th floor rooftop bar and restaurant at The Thompson San Antonio might be its crown jewel. It offers unobstructed views over the city of San Antonio, incredible cocktails, and a surprising menu of both small bites and larger main courses.

It opens in the afternoon and stays open late (midnight or 2 am, but check their official hours for brunch offerings, etc.) so while it’s not quite as accessible as Landrace, you should be able to squeeze in a visit during your stay at The Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk.

The menu is mediterranean-inspired, with offerings like lamb ragu with hummus and fried mint, seared branzino with Israeli couscous and basil, and a greek lamb burger with two smashed lamb patties, tzatziki, and local tomato (and fries, of course.)

The food is good, but the views are really what you’ll be overtaken by. Even if you’ve already eaten dinner elsewhere (because there are a lot of great restaurants in San Antonio), try to get to The Moon’s Daughters at The Thompson San Antonio for a late night cocktail on the outdoor deck.

***A small yet important note: at certain times of the year it can get really windy up there on the roof, so bring a hairband. |THE MOON'S DAUGHTERS WEBSITE|

Cenote Pool Deck

And then, of course, there’s the Cenote Pool Deck at the Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk, which shouldn’t be an afterthought. Sure, it’s just a pool-side restaurant with burgers, fries, and cocktails, but when you’re enjoying your sunny afternoon in SA and you want a really, really good lunch without having to leave the property, this poolside restaurant delivers.

Pool at the Thomspon San Antonio - Riverwalk

The cocktails range from craft (Pepino Pecante made with serrano infused el jimador, ferrand dry curacao cointreau, cucumber agave,and firewater tincture) to classic (frosé, anyone?).

If you’re feeling snacky, there are little offerings like chips and salsa or a caesar salad. But if you need something substantial, the handhelds section has a really good hot dog, a beef burger torta that looks very intriguing to me, and a lobster roll if you’re feeling classy.

Other Amenities At The Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk

Full spa // The Spa at Thompson San Antonio features a full-service menu of massages, facials, manicures, hair services, body treatments, and waxing.

Pet friendly // The Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk is a pet-friendly hotel. Dogs (up to 50 pounds) are allowed for up to 30 days. After 30 days, the hotel might require a pet-cleaning fee. But I’m guessing that if you’re staying at the Thompson with your small dog for 30+ days, a pet-cleaning fee isn’t going to bother your wallet.

Weddings // There are 6 different areas you can book for your wedding. They range in size, with the smallest capacity at 75 people and the largest capacity at 350 people.

Conclusion: Is Thompson San Antonio A Good Place To Stay?

I mean...yes. It's beautiful, it's swanky, it's loaded with incredible restaurants and a rooftop pool and a luxurious spa, and it's in a wonderful location in San Antonio.

Prices are a bit high, sure. (I won't list them, because they change based on day of the week and time of the year.)

But you truly get what you pay for in this hotel, and you'll be treated like royalty. The Thompson is a much-needed addition to the San Antonio hotel scene.