Where to Eat at the Pearl Brewery

By Sara Branstetter | January 19, 2023

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.

To take the guesswork out of selecting a restaurant, we have put together an exhaustive 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.

Where to Eat at the Pearl Brewery Historic District

Allora or Arrosta

Best for: Italian

Sister restaurants, Allora and Arrosta, entered the SA food scene in early 2022 and have been a welcome addition to a city not exactly known for its Italian flavors. Both restaurants are under the helm of the same executive chef and offer slightly different takes on Italian food. Allora’s game is upscale coastal Italian with an emphasis on freshness and overall experience. Arrosta focuses more on Italian comfort food with classic staples like Chicken Parm and Lasagne Bolognese. Whether you are searching for the familiarity of a bowl of Fettuccine Alfredo or the refined elegance of seafood like Grilled Octopus, Allora and Arrosta have the Italian aficionados covered. Both Allora and Arrosta are two of San Antonio’s best new restaurants.

WEBSITE | 403 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

WEBSITE | 1803 Broadway Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78215

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

Best for: French

Continuing with the theme of comfort food, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou hits it hard on the French side of this particular food spectrum. Mon Chou Chou, part of the Southerleigh Hospitality Group, is the brainchild of three French food lovers who met in SA in 2001 and wanted to share the delights of their home country and their grandmothers’ kitchens with the good folks of South Texas. The result is a restaurant with a quintessentially French culinary style and pure food perfection. 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: Southern

It’s all in the name – and at Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery, you get exactly that. Southerleigh recently reopened after a short remodel and menu change and while a few things have changed, the delicious food, craft brew, and personal service certainly haven’t. 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 southern cuisine with standards like deviled eggs, cornbread, and their famous fried chicken. Though, a surprising menu standout (we’re talking MAJOR standout here) is their pork schnitzel and spaetzle drizzled with a buttery beurre blanc sauce - your heart may stop mid-meal while eating this, but at least you will die happy.

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

Full Goods Diner

Best for: Brunch

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 includes scratch-made brunch specialties like Cinnamon Toast, Steak and Eggs, and Migas, as well as fluffy pastries, made daily. Full Goods also boasts an extensive cocktail list because no brunch is complete without a Bloody Mary or Mimosa.

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

Bakery Lorraine

Best for: Baked Goods

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.

Photo credit: Bakery Lorraine

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. And no meal at Cured is complete without one of their signature charcuterie boards, any of which can be enhanced with 8 additional types of meat including unusual options like Hazelnut Salami, Diablo Goat Salami, or Smoked Habanero Oysters.

Photo credit: Facebook

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

Supper

Best for: New American

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), casts an imposing shadow over the entire area and simply cannot be missed. With a hotel that prominent, you might expect there to be an equally noteworthy restaurant attached. And in this case, you would be right.

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. Supper is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is one of San Antonio’s best restaurants.

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

Boiler House

Best for: 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 (don’t miss the yummy gulf shrimp or bacon-wrapped quail) 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.

Photo credit: Boiler House

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

Food Hall at the Bottling Department

Best for: Speed and affordability

For those looking for a quick meal 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 items, and 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 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

In 2011, two friends got together in Austin, TX, and decided to open an ice cream shop in which they could source every ingredient in their artisanal ice cream so that absolute freshness could be guaranteed. And with that, Lick was born. 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 | 2, 312 Pearl Pkwy #2101, San Antonio, TX 78215

Botika or Best Quality Daughter

Best for: Asian fusion

The Pearl Historic District has not just one, but two great Asian fusion restaurants to choose from – Botika and Best Quality Daughter. Botika is a Peruvian-Asian restaurant that blends the dynamic flavors of pan-Latin cuisine with the spectrum of Asian flavors for a truly unmatched experience in San Antonio. A few menu highlights at Botika include the Cebiche Caribe, Aji de Gallina Empanadas, Potstickers (the best we have EVER had!), and Lomo Saltado. Be sure to pair any dish with a traditional Peruvian cocktail, the Pisco Sour.

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.

Botika Photo credit: Botika

WEBSITE | 303 Pearl Pkwy #111, San Antonio, TX 78215

WEBSITE | 602 Avenue A, San Antonio, TX 78215

Local Coffee Founders

Best for: Coffee

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. Today, Local Coffee Founders 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. At Local Coffee Founders, one of the best coffee shops in San Antonio, you can feel good about feeding that caffeine addiction since with each cup of coffee you drink, you are giving back to the community.

WEBSITE | 302 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78215

Honorable Mentions

If you have made it through this list and are still on the hunt for a few more recommendations, check out Pearl newcomers Ladino, Carriqui, and Restaurant Claudine. Each restaurant opened in the latter half of 2022 and brings even more variety to the culinary scene at the Pearl Historic District. For more information on these restaurants, check out our post on the best new restaurants in San Antonio.