Where to Eat at the Pearl Brewery: 15 Best Restaurants

By Sara Branstetter | September 11, 2024

The Historic Pearl Brewery in San Antonio, TX has transformed over the last 20 years from a dilapidated industrial complex to a sprawling, lively, full-service area, complete with apartments, restaurants, and entertainment.

It has basically become the IT place in San Antonio for locals and guests alike looking for a pedestrian and family-friendly locale to eat and while away a few hours. And, with an extremely dense concentration of restaurants all within about a half mile of each other, hungry people have lots of excellent options to choose from.

Where To Eat at the Pearl Brewery Historic District

To take the guesswork out of selecting a restaurant, we have put together list of our favorite places to eat at the Pearl Brewery Historic District including everything from coffee shops to fine dining.

No matter what you are in the mood for, there is something for you to dine on and enjoy at the Pearl.

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.

TL;DR

Just need 3 quick, delicious ideas? Here are our favorites:

Cured - Heavy on the meat, but doesn't skimp on the flavor or inventiveness.
Brasserie Mon Chou Chou - Traditional French bistro that feels like stepping into a Parisien cafe.
Food Hall - Quick, affordable, lots of variety, and always something new.

Where to Eat at the Pearl Brewery Historic District

Ladino

Best for: Unique Mediterranean

The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Ladino, is one of the newer restaurants at the Pearl and already exceedingly popular with locals. Flavors here are a blend of the unique ingredients and dishes from the executive chef’s cultural roots in Turkey, Israel, Greece, and the Balkans.

Between the unusual Mediterranean ingredients and flavors and the Sephardic tradition of cooking over a charcoal grill, Ladino has managed to create some highly inventive and original dishes.

Highlights include a range of dips and freshly baked pita bread, cold and hot mezes, and full-size entrees.

We really enjoyed the Muhammara dip with a mix of peppers and Texas pecans as well as the hot meze, Arayis, with lamb and beef, spicy tomato, and whipped tahini.

For the main dish, we recommend the pork souvlaki covered in a creamy, garlicky tzatziki.

There is one con worth mentioning regarding Ladino, the music can be on the louder side which makes it difficult to hear at times. If you or a member of your party are hard of hearing or sensitive to volume, this may not be the place for you.

Ladino is a great option for those on a date night, for adventurous eaters, or for anyone looking for something brand new or very unusual.

WEBSITE | 200 E Grayson St #100, San Antonio, TX 78215

Carriqui

Best for: Higher End Tex-Mex

The uniquely titled, Carriqui (pronounced KHER-ih-key, and the local name of the Green Jaybird) is housed in a lovely old saloon that dates back to 1890, and previously held the SA institution, Liberty Bar, from 1985-2008.

After a painstaking renovation, the building has been beautifully restored to its original glory, minus the trademark tilt of its previous occupant.

And while the building and location are stunning, it’s not just the setting that makes a visit to Carriqui worth it. The service and food are also top notch.

The menu is heavy on Tex-Mex cuisine - tortilla soup, enchiladas, fajitas, and gulf shrimp. Carriqui also smokes their own brisket and it can be found in a number of dishes like their outstanding Brisket Pastrami Sandwich (which is mind-blowingly good).

But Carriqui is best known (as least locally) for their nachos. The restaurant received a nod from the SA Express News in 2023 for having the best nachos in San Antonio. While I don't know if I wholeheartedly agree with this only because there are great nachos EVERYWHERE here, Carriqui's version is certainly delicious and a great way to begin your meal.

WEBSITE | 239 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

Restaurant Claudine

Best for: Southern Gourmet

Restaurant Claudine, an upscale southern comfort food restaurant located near the Pearl district, serves cocktails, wine, and elevated southern food with French influences in a truly adorable, renovated bungalow house.

From the same owners behind Little Em's Oyster Bar, Restaurant Claudine wows with the decor and design, but is absolutely perfect with regard to the food as well. Expect standard southern favorites with a twist.

For instance: the cornbread is served with smoked wallflower butter, made with real edible flowers on top. (Just try to eat that without taking a picture first...)

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

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

Best for: Authentic French Cuisine

Continuing with the theme of comfort food, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou hits it hard on the French side of this particular food spectrum.

The menu has both time-honored French classics like Cordon Bleu and Croque Monsieur as well as more elaborate options like the Filet de Beef. Our personal favorite though is the ooey-gooey, oh-so-cheesy Sandwich Au Fromage Raclette – just one bite and you will find yourself floating in fancy-cheese heaven.

WEBSITE | 312 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery

Best for: Upscale Brewery and Southern Cuisine

It’s all in the name – and at Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery, you get exactly that - delicious food, craft brew, and personal service.

The restaurant is built in the old Pearl brewhouse and continues the tradition of the original occupant by brewing all the beer that they serve in their in-house brewery.

Southerleigh’s seasonally shifting menu consists of traditional southern favorites like deviled eggs, cornbread, and their famous fried chicken (currently holding the title for best friend chicken in San Antonio according to the Reader's Choice Awards).

WEBSITE | 136 E Grayson St Suite 120, San Antonio, TX 78215

Full Goods Diner

Best for: Brunch or Casual Lunch

Full Goods is one of the most recent additions to the Pearl, having made its debut in September 2022. The concept is a classic all-day diner, with cheerful red and white striped booths carrying this concept throughout the design of the restaurant.

The menu centers on breakfast, brunch, lunch, and cocktail options with a blend of Mexican and US flavors. All food is scratch made in house using seasonal and local ingredients.

Pastries are a feature of Full Goods with a few unique options that are made in-house daily. But if you aren’t jonesing for sugar, try their decadent Chicken & Biscuit with spicy honey or Ruvin’s breakfast - a potato, egg, and cheese scramble, barbacoa, and refried beans all on delicious, fresh tortillas.

WEBSITE | 200 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

Bakery Lorraine

Best for: Baked Goods or a Light Brunch

This nationally recognized bakery, headed by 2023 James Beard Award semi-finalist Anne Ng and her partner Jeremy Mandrell, is the place to head to at the Pearl when the bread cravings hit. The croissants, tarts, and macarons are all out of this world.

If you require something a little bit denser, you will also find delectable sandwiches, soups, and salads.

While there is seating at Bakery Lorraine, we suggest you grab your food, and then head back outside and find a table along the Pearl’s green space. Or better yet, bring a blanket and make a picnic of it. Pastries + picnics = perfection.

WEBSITE | 306 Pearl Pkwy #110, San Antonio, TX 78215

Cured

Best for: Meat (and lots of it!)

As the name suggests, Cured is all about cured meats and foods – think everything from charcuterie to pickles. The restaurant occupies the Pearl’s original Administration Building from 1904 and the now renovated rustic chic design is a fitting theme for a menu of delicately cured meats and cheeses.

Cured’s chef is a James Beard Award finalist, and his menu is absolutely one-of-a-kind. Guests to Cured will undoubtedly be exposed to exciting new flavors and textures so this is the perfect place to bring adventurous eaters.

Pro tip: No meal at Cured is complete without trying one of their signature charcuterie boards. If you're all about new and innovative, make sure to save room in your stomach and wallet for one of these.

WEBSITE | 306 Pearl Pkwy #101, San Antonio, TX 78215

Supper

Best for: New American (or for those Staying at the Hotel Emma who want a convenient dining option)

The queen mother at the Pearl Historic District is undoubtedly the Hotel Emma. This beautiful boutique hotel (and one of the best boutique hotels in San Antonio), is home to Supper, where guests can dine for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Supper is a new American, upscale restaurant that is the whole package – superb service, outstanding food, and a design aesthetic that makes the restaurant a true extension of the hotel itself.

The rotating menu at Supper highlights seasonal flavors that have been sourced from local farms, and dishes are always creative and well-balanced.

WEBSITE | 136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215

Boiler House

{Photo credit: Boiler House}

Best for: Steak and Texas Fare

The Boiler House is a true Texas gem. Located in a 130-year-old building, the Boiler House’s kitchen is built right into the original Pearl Brewery’s boilers, and much of the original architecture remains in the restaurant.

The Boiler House’s menu is all about the steak, with a number of steak toppers and sides to enhance. Salads, sandwiches, and burgers are also available for those looking for lighter fare.

The Boiler House offers an expansive wine list, craft beers, and a Texas-centric cocktail menu, and all of the drinks are best enjoyed outside on nice days in the restaurant’s outdoor patio and wine garden.

WEBSITE | 312 Pearl Pkwy Building 3, San Antonio, TX 78215

Food Hall at the Bottling Department

Best for: Speed, Affordability, and Variety

For those looking for a quick-service option rather than a full sit-down meal, the Pearl offers its own version of a traditional food court.

The Food Hall, built on the original site of the Pearl Brewery’s Bottling Department, kicks out quality, scratch-made food meals, but with the speed, efficiency, and affordability of a quick counter service restaurant.

The Food Hall houses 4-5 rotating, pop-up eateries, giving local chefs a chance to flex their culinary muscles and develop a loyal following before they take the plunge into opening up a brick-and-mortar location.

As the occupants change on a somewhat frequent basis, you can get the most up-to-date info on the latest offerings by visiting the Food Hall’s website.

To dine at the Food Hall, simply order your food and retrieve it at the counter once you have been paged. The Food Hall has limited indoor dining available, but more tables can be found right outside along the Pearl’s green space.

WEBSITE | 312 Pearl Pkwy Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215

Lick Honest Ice Creams

Best for: Ice Cream

Lick was born in Austin, TX, when two friends decided to open an ice cream shop where they could source every ingredient in their artisanal ice cream so as to guarantee freshness. Lick Honest Ice Creams has since expanded, and they now run three shops in San Antonio.

Lick’s menu strikes a balance between the traditional (chocolate, caramel, and mint chocolate chip) and the unexpected (roasted beets with fresh mint, and goat cheese with thyme and honey).

As many of Lick’s flavors are seasonally driven, you can expect a rotating menu that highlights whatever is fresh and currently available. All of their milk and cream is sourced from family-owned dairies in Texas and Wisconsin, so regardless of whatever flavor you choose, you can rest assured that your ice cream is made from only the best ingredients available.

WEBSITE | 312 Pearl Pkwy #2101, San Antonio, TX 78215

Best Quality Daughter

Best for: Asian Fusion

With the closing of Botika, the Pearl Historic District now just has one solid Asian option - the cutely wall-papered Best Quality Daughter.

Best Quality Daughter is under the direction of chef Jennifer Dobbertin who brought SA staple Hot Joy to the Alamo City years ago.

Best Quality Daughter is located in the historic Mueller House at the Pearl and is absolutely adorable with brightly colored wallpaper and vibrant flavors to match.

The menu is a mix of smallish plates, noodle dishes, and family-style entrees, that are best shared with a group. Nightly specials are also available but plan to get there early as these often sell out quickly.

WEBSITE | 602 Avenue A., San Antonio, TX 78215

Local Coffee Founders

Best for: Coffee Fix

If you’re at the Pearl and all you want is a solid cup of coffee, look no further than Local Coffee Founders, San Antonio’s original Local Coffee Shop, and the genesis for specialty coffee in SA beginning in 2009.

Cappucino at Shotgun House Coffee Roasters

Today, Local Coffee Founders, one of the best coffee shops in San Antonio, is as consistent as they were the day they opened with excellent cappuccinos, lattes, and pour-overs. LCF proudly brews beans from the Tag Coffee Company, a local roaster that gives 50% of its profits back to local children’s shelters.

WEBSITE | 302 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

Pullman Market

Best for: Quick Lunch or Snack

The Pullman Market is the newest addition to the Historic Pearl Brewery. And while it is indeed a market, it is also a great place to grab a quick lunch or snack.

Situated all around the perimeter of the market are "deli-like" counters where hungry shoppers can grab a coffee, sandwich, ceviche, or insanely delicious wagyu burger. All meals are made to order and hit the spot for when you get snacky while shopping.

Need something even more robust? The Pullman Market also has three full service restaurants (Fife & Farro, Mezquite, Isidore). And while it isn't exactly a full service restaurant, dessert experience Nicosi is a must not miss full service dessert restaurant.

WEBSITE | 221 Newell Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78215