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The Best Places in River North District & around

Updated October 28, 2026
Eat + Drink + Stay, change section

  1. Rank 1. Nicōsi

    Creative Dessert

    A dessert-only tasting menu tucked inside Pullman Market, where phones stay pocketed all night by house rule. The multicourse format chases four flavor arcs, acid through sweet, and the kitchen rarely repeats itself season to season. Cotton candy spun tableside and caviar on cheese crackers give you a sense of the register. The chefs narrate as they go, which helps. A Michelin star, and a James Beard nominee for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.

    The awards

    +1 more awards at Nicōsi
    Address
    221 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  2. Rank 2. Cullum's Attaboy

    French

    A chalkboard outside suggests a Champagne breakfast, and inside this little bungalow on the St. Mary's strip, that feels like the most sensible advice you'll get all week. Cullum's Attaboy is a walk-in, counter-service brunch spot doing affordable French luxury, think proper omelets, hollandaise, and caviar appearing with suspicious regularity. The Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand, and a James Beard nomination followed.

    The awards

    +5 more awards at Cullum's Attaboy
    Address
    111 Kings Ct., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  3. Rank 2. Isidore

    Steakhouse

    A live-fire hearth anchors the open kitchen at this midcentury modern restaurant in San Antonio's Pearl District, where the menu is organized around Texas ingredients and built for sharing, with a dedicated steak section and a Texas-focused wine list. The name nods to the patron saint of farmers, and the sourcing follows through. It holds a Michelin star and landed on the New York Times Restaurant List in 2025.

    The awards

    +2 more awards at Isidore
    Address
    221 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 5 PM

    Wednesday 5 PM–10 PM

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  4. Rank 4. Hotel Emma

    The bones of a 19th-century brewhouse, chimney stacks and all, give this mid-sized hotel its industrial-chic personality before you even check in. It holds a Michelin 2 Keys distinction and sits inside the Pearl, a riverside stretch that has become San Antonio's most interesting neighborhood, with farmers markets, a CIA campus, and a cluster of serious restaurants all within walking distance.

    The awards

    Address
    136 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  5. Rank 5. Ladino

    Mediterranean

    A wood-burning oven churns out sourdough pita at this Mediterranean grill house in San Antonio's Pearl District, where the menu roams from North Africa to the Levant without losing the thread. The terrace overlooks a courtyard, the cocktails lean into the same bold spicing as the food, and the Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand. Dress is casual, the vibe is lively, and the food punches well above the price point.

    The awards

    +2 more awards at Ladino
    Address
    200 E. Grayson St. #100, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  6. Rank 5. Mezquite

    Sonoran

    Paper-thin flour tortillas arrive with a spread of grilled onion, toreado chili, and black garlic before any protein lands on the table, which tells you where this place is coming from. Mezquite is a Sonoran Mexican restaurant inside Pullman Market, sun-bleached decor and all, serving the hyper-regional cooking of the Sonoran desert rather than anything resembling Tex-Mex. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

    The awards

    +1 more awards at Mezquite
    Address
    221 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

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  7. Rank 7. Best Quality Daughter

    Chinese

    The Chinoiserie wallpaper alone could anchor a design magazine spread, but this is a Chinese American restaurant where the food keeps pace with the room. The chef started with pop-ups exploring identity and landed somewhere more interesting than a thesis: Korean corn cheese egg rolls, dan dan noodles with wagyu guisada. A James Beard semifinalist, and the Victorian veranda fills up fast on sunny afternoons.

    The awards

    +4 more awards at Best Quality Daughter
    Address
    602 Ave A, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

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  8. Rank 8. Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

    American

    The working brewery behind the bar is the first thing you notice, copper tanks visible through the glass while the dining room fills up around you. This is a Texas American restaurant and brewpub set inside the old Pearl brewhouse, where the kitchen leans hard into Gulf seafood and Southern comfort food. The house beers are brewed on site, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand acknowledges the whole relaxed, unpretentious operation.

    The awards

    Address
    136 E. Grayson St., Ste. 120, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

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  9. Rank 9. Shiro Japanese Bistro

    Sushi

    The awards

    Address
    107 W Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Reserve
    Resy
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  10. Rank 10. Chika

    Sushi

    The awards

    Address
    875 E Ashby Pl, Ste 1030, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed today, opens Thu 6 PM

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    SevenRooms
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  11. Rank 10. Cured

    The awards

    Address
    306 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  12. Rank 10. Supper

    American

    The awards

    Address
    136 E Grayson St., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 7 AM–10 PM

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  13. Rank 13. Curry Boys BBQ

    Thai Barbecue

    The awards

    +1 more awards at Curry Boys BBQ
    Address
    536 E Courtland Pl, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

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  14. Rank 14. Carriqui

    The awards

    Address
    239 E Grayson St., San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  15. Rank 15. Holy Diver Tiki Lounge

    Tiki Bar

    Tiki bar named after a Dio song, perched above a dive bar on St. Mary's Strip, with rattan furniture and proper mugs but none of the animatronic pageantry the genre has lately embraced. The drinks run from tropical classics to stranger originals, and the whole setup feels more like a cool relative's cluttered attic than a theme park. Which, given the name, is probably the point.

    The awards

    Address
    621 E Dewey Pl, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  16. Rank 15. Sternewirth Tavern & Club Room

    The awards

    Address
    136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 11:59 PM

    Wednesday 3 PM–11:59 PM

    Online
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  17. Rank 17. Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

    French

    The awards

    Address
    312 Pearl Parkway Bldg 2, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

    Online
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  18. Rank 18. Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden

    Texas American Steakhouse

    The awards

    Address
    312 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  19. Rank 19. Nola Brunch & Beignets

    The awards

    Address
    1101 Broadway St, Unit 120, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Online
    Website
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  20. Rank 20. Down on Grayson

    American

    The awards

    Address
    303 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  21. Rank 20. La Gloria

    Mexican

    The awards

    Address
    100 E Grayson, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  22. Rank 20. Naco

    The awards

    Address
    310 W Grayson St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens Thu 8 AM

    Wednesday 8 AM–3 PM

    Online
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  23. Rank 23. Akhanay Coffee Roasters

    Southeast Asian Coffee Shop

    A bright blue truck parked outside a rock climbing gym is perhaps the least likely setting for a serious coffee program, and yet here we are. Akhanay is a specialty coffee truck drawing on Thai and Southeast Asian tradition, pouring drinks like a coconut cold brew and a mango sticky rice matcha. Orders go in online, and you collect them curbside, ideally before someone asks if you're there to climb.

    The awards

    Address
    1119 Camden St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  24. Rank 24. Tycoon Flats

    The awards

    Address
    2926 N St Marys St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  25. Rank 25. El Milagrito Cafe

    The awards

    Address
    521 E Woodlawn Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  26. Rank 25. Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen

    The awards

    Address
    103 E Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 4 PM

    Wednesday 4 PM–Midnight

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  27. Rank 25. Josephine Street

    The awards

    Address
    400 E Josephine St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

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  28. Rank 28. Nineteen Hyaku

    The awards

    Address
    1900 Broadway St, Unit 119, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 5 PM

    Wednesday 5 PM–10 PM

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  29. Rank 29. Pullman Market

    The awards

    Address
    221 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 9 PM

    Wednesday 8 AM–9 PM

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  30. Rank 29. The Newstand

    The awards

    Address
    1900 Broadway St, Unit 106, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 9 PM

    Wednesday 7 AM–9 PM

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  31. Rank 31. Amelia Social Lounge

    The awards

    Address
    875 E Ashby Pl, Ste 1120, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 5 PM

    Wednesday 5 PM–10 PM

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  32. Rank 31. Faust Tavern

    The awards

    Address
    517 E Woodlawn Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
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  33. Rank 31. High Street Wine

    The awards

    Address
    302 Pearl Pkwy, Unit 104, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 1 PM–10 PM

    Online
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  34. Rank 31. Jue Let

    The awards

    Address
    312 Pearl Pkwy, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 4 PM

    Wednesday 4 PM–2 AM

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  35. Rank 31. Savor

    The awards

    Address
    200 E Grayson St, Unit 117, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 5 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–1 PM, 5 PM–8 PM

    Reserve
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    Online
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  36. Rank 31. The Modernist

    The awards

    Address
    516 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Online
    Website
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  37. Rank 31. Tre Trattoria

    The awards

    Address
    200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 9 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM

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  38. Rank 38. Ming's at Midtown

    The awards

    Address
    914 E Elmira St, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

    Online
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  39. Rank 39. Fife And Farro

    The awards

    Address
    221 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX · San Antonio
    Hours

    Open now, until 10 PM

    Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

    Online
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Eat Score

The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

    How we score →

    Drink Score

    The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

      How we score →

      Stay Score

      Four fifths of the score is the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin Key outweighs a listicle. The last fifth is where it is: the ranked places to eat and things to do around it, and how safe the country is. When you sort by what's nearby, distance from you changes the order, never the score.

        How we score →

        Do Score

        The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

          How we score →

          Best Place Score

          The Best Place Score rates the area around a point, not any one place. The places are 60% of it: the best of what's within reach, weighed by distance. The setting is the other 40%: how life goes in that country (how people rate their own lives, how long and how well they live, how safe they are) and what it's like right there (the air, and the weather). If the score looks low, we probably haven't found enough critics out here yet.