Top 7 Spots Along the Museum Reach Section of the San Antonio Riverwalk

By Nolan Sandome - July 27, 2021

The Museum Reach is a famous pedestrian park in Texas along the San Antonio River, winding by some of the city’s most exciting shops, hotels, and restaurants. Here are a few notable stops along the Museum Reach Riverwalk.

Hotel Emma

Located at the 19th-century Pearl Brewery, Hotel Emma is a luxe landmark along the San Antonio Riverwalk. This 146-room hotel adds luxury to the industrial aesthetic of the building with a two-story library/bar that hosts evening cocktails, and an old generator flywheel-turned-art installation in the lobby.

Best Quality Daughter

Located along the northern end of the riverwalk, this uniquely named eatery is a chic comfort food kitchen. A new Asian-American pop-up by chef-owner Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, it offers fun treats, like vegan meat pot-stickers, served in four colorful rooms inspired by folk figures from Chinese constellations.

Carriqui

One of the most recent and ambitious offerings of the city, Carriqui is a culinary ode to South Texas. Run by chef Jaime Gonzalez, this 11,000-square-foot restaurant along the San Antonio riverwalk offers barbeque, Gulf seafood, and delicious Tejano dishes like beef-cheek barbacoa and cabrito. The renovation of the landmarked 19th-century white-clapboard building took eight long years.

Dos Carolinas

This beloved boutique is the San Antonio outpost of famed Texas shirt-maker Dos Carolinas. Here designer Caroline Matthews stocks pajamas, dresses, and her coveted seersucker ‘guayarobe,’ which are often sold out. But the most popular item is her signature handmade ‘guayaberas,’ a type of front-buttoned men’s shirt widely worn across Latin America.

Full Goods Diner

Full Goods Diner is a contemporary café, located along the Museum Reach, offering scratch-made dishes served in a lively greenhouse-styled space. The seasonal menu is equal parts traditional and edgy. The ricotta toast with guajillo gastrique, pickled jalapenos, and peaches is a must-try here.

Elsewhere Bar & Kitchen

Opened just two years ago, Elsewhere Bar & Kitchen has already been very popular among locals and visitors. This expansive place offers an open setting overlooking the San Antonio River. Go and enjoy a spiked lemonade with a fried-chicken sandwich, while sitting on a porch swing amidst the fresh breeze coming from the river.

Thompson San Antonio-Riverwalk Hotel

Located at the western end of the Museum Reach, this towering 20-storied hotel opened in 2021. Along with 162 modern pet-friendly rooms, the hotel boasts three distinct dining venues and a remarkable art collection. There is a pool bar ‘Cenote,’ a restaurant ‘Landrace,’ and a rooftop lounge ‘The Moon’s Daughters’ with a stunning view of the flowing San Antonio River.