26 of the best restaurants in San Antonio’s Pearl District

Chef Steve McHugh is at the helm of Cured, and his numerous honors include being a “Best Chef: Texas” James Beard Award finalist. McHugh focuses on sourcing pure, natural, regional ingredients, and he employs immaculate culinary methods that he used to restore his own health. The hand-crafted cured foods range from charcuterie plates to pickles.

Winning recipes include creamy rice grits with gruyere, local beet and kale salad, lemon panna cotta with blueberry mint gelee and lemon zest, prickly pear sorbet with mesquite-grilled cake crumbles, the Texas Hye bourbon cocktail and fizzy mocktails. The restaurant’s renovated building was built in 1904 as Pearl’s Administration Building.

Find it: 306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-314-3929

High Street Wine Co.

Welcome to one of the country’s top wine bars. At High Street Wine Co., you’ll find wine by the bottle, by the glass, in smart wine flights and in wine classes as well as charcuterie and cheeseboards served with a baguette. Named a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program in 2022, Austin Tabbone hand-picks the scores of wine labels and distinctive small production wines. This hospitable spot also serves ciders, beer, flatbreads, chocolate, and build-your-own meat and cheeseboards.

Find it: 302 Pearl Parkway, Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-908-9144

Local Coffee

Head to Local Coffee to meet up, work or read in a cheerful, well-illuminated setting offering hot and cold classics. Enjoy a turmeric ginger chai, house-made horchata or salted caramel, alongside breakfast items (some of which are gluten-free), morning to mid-evening.

Find it: 302 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-530-1004

Pearl restaurants located at or near Hotel Emma 

Sternewirth Tavern

Enter an ambiance that combines classic and cool at Sternewirth Tavern. The layout resembles a beautifully decorated living room that’s classy and grand. The high ceiling soars over comfy sofas and big fireplace banquettes. For some privacy, claim a banquette amidst one of the towering repurposed fermentation tanks. The house cocktails are delicious: the Three Emmas (Pearl beer and Hotel Emma’s award-winning rose cordial) and La Babia, a satisfying citrus-forward margarita. Or, opt for a well-chosen wine, mezcal, sotol or local craft beer.

Find it: 136 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-223-7375

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

In the historic Pearl Brewhouse with its grand vaulted ceiling, and where huge copper and steel tanks gleam on the upper level, Southerleigh debuted a renovated setting and new menu in October 2022. Chef Jeff Balfour, who grew up in Galveston, has elevated Gulf and Cajun favorites, blending classic French techniques with down-home southern comfort. You can taste the influences in the flavors and textures of the sauces.

Standouts include cracker-crusted Gulf redfish with butter-poached crab and rice pilaf, the chef’s famous fried chicken, field pea hummus and PB&J mille feuille, a dessert composed of peanut butter mousse, paté de fruit and milk jam. Southerleigh has Pearl brewing again, offering an array of microbrews on tap. A very social drink spot too for wine, cocktails, mocktails and, of course, local beer. Reservations recommended.

Find it: 136 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-455-5701

Supper

Chef Jorge Hernández’s American bistro Supper at Hotel Emma hews to American cookery rooted in San Antonio’s heritage. All-day breakfasts include Texas French toast on Pullman brioche with maple pepita crunch, and huevo con rajas y migas with roasted poblano cream. Other solid choices include the loaded sandwiches and sautéed Gulf shrimp with whole-grain mustard butter and lemon. For dessert, how about burnt sugar panna cotta?

Drinks reflect a creative spirit. Try the creamed house Irish whiskey recipe, cold brew crème de cacao or the Tia Sally with sotol, hoja santa syrup, coconut cream, and lime. Reservations recommended.

Find it: 136 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX 78215; 877-524-0031

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

The French founders of Brasserie Mon Chou Chou stayed true to the cuisine of their homeland with rich bisques, salads, sot-l’y-laisse (chicken oysters), and gooey raclette cheese toasted on the wheel and slathered on a fresh-baked baguette. Dine in the bright dining room or at sidewalk cafe tables. Wine by the glass completes the experience day and night.

Find it: 312 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-469-3743

Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden

Filling two levels of the original Pearl Brewery boiler room, Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden has cleverly repurposed the original architecture. The kitchen is built into historic boilers and the catwalk holds loft dining tables. Favorites include the Texas-size tomahawk steak, sherry-garlic salmon and the variety of wines. Ingredients are sourced from Texas purveyors.

Find it: 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 3, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-354-4644

La Gloria

Chef Johnny Hernandez, one of the city’s masters of Mexican cuisine, has made La Gloria a Pearl icon with his sopes, quesadillas, ceviche, flan de cajeta, tres leches pecan cake and vegetarian dishes too. The prices are good and so is the kids’ menu. Zesty margaritas and mezcal choices are perfect for session drinking indoors and on the patio. Walk off the buzz and calories a few steps away on the River Walk.

Find it: 100 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-267-9040

Larder

Stock up or fill up at Larder, Hotel Emma’s deli/cafe that peddles fresh-baked goodies, coffee, wine, tart pickles, bratwurst with beer mustard and the Charcuterie Cone. Have a glass of wine in Brewmeister’s Alley and get a little sun on the deck. This is also a good place to pick up South Texas and Euro gourmet provisions for parties.

Find it: Hotel Emma. 136 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-448-8355

Located at Pearl Park

Bakery Lorraine

At Bakery Lorraine, you’ll find pretty desserts like macarons (choices have included matcha ganache and peach jam, but pistachio is the most popular). Menu items range from seasonal-themed veggie quiche to croissant sandwiches to yellow corn grits. You’ll find affordable kids’ plates, too.

Find it: 306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-862-5582

Botika

Botika is a sassy Peruvian-Asian restaurant that features “Chifa” (Chinese-Peruvian) and “Nikkei” (Japanese-Peruvian) cuisines directed by chef Geronimo Lopez, who previously worked at luxury resorts and as the Executive Chef and Instructor of Culinary Arts at The Culinary Institute of America branch at Pearl. Save room to sample several plates, such as cebiche, charcoal-roasted red miso-brushed salmon and the addictive dark chocolate Tequeños.

Find it: 303 Pearl Parkway, Suite 111, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-670-7684

Pearl restaurants at 1100 Springs Plaza

Carriqui

Showcasing South Texas foodways, from the Rio Grande Valley to the Texas coast and north to San Antonio, the menu at Carriqui includes fresh Gulf seafood, botana platters, barbacoa and brisket cooked in pits forged in the Texas Hill Country, and standard provisions such as nachos, barbacoa, pecan pie and margaritas. Bearing the nickname of the green jay, this sunny two-story social spot, nested in the historic Boehler’s Bar Saloon building, offers weekday happy hours and live music on Sundays.

Try the smoked grilled brisket with mole manchamanteles (a stew of meat, chili peppers, vegetables and fruits), adding on perfectly seasoned crispy papas bravas and the Spanish Rose, an anise-accented libation powered with Alkkemist gin, made under a full moon with sea fennel and muscatel grapes. Carriqui nixtamalizes corn in its own kitchen to create fresh, beautifully textured tortillas.

Find it: 239 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, Texas 78215; 210-910-5547

Full Goods Diner

Seasonal and local ingredients power this diner’s Texas hash, breakfast enchiladas, migas, salads and Alamo City-inspired pastries and breads all made in-house. Full Goods Diner gave a great makeover to the space formerly housing Green, with a bank of tall windows that let the sunshine in. Try the seasonal ricotta toast, avocado tostada, cheddar hash browns elevated with carrot habanero sauce, smoked trout with homemade lavash, capers and roasted tomatoes, pecan pie pop-tart and chai donuts — and everyone gets the special-recipe Rice Krispies treats after meals.

Find it: 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 120, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-819-4226

Ladino

The modern Mediterranean grill house’s name, Ladino, was inspired by executive chef Berty Richter’s Sephardic background; “Ladino” refers to the Judeo-Spanish language spoken along the route of the Jewish people’s migration. The menu reflects influences from Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria and Greece. Zesty dishes include the spicy muhammara, a blended pepper and nut dip made with Texas pecans, the cold and hot meze such as plum salad zested with cilantro and mangal, which is Mideastern-style barbecue. The pita comes fresh-made from Ladino’s wood-burning oven, and sweet and savory desserts include faloodeh toasted noodle ice cream with rosewater and the watermelon granita.

Find it: 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-325-6007

Lick Honest Ice Creams

Lick Honest Ice Creams sticks to its founding practices: “get pure, seasonal ingredients from local farms, artisans and dairies, churn each batch and pack each pint by hand daily, and roll each waffle cone made from the house recipe.” Dairy-free varieties include a chocolate coconut milk ice cream with rich chocolate sauce swirling throughout and Date Pudding Cake, pairing caramelized Texas date cake and vanilla oat milk ice cream.

Find it: 312 Pearl Parkway, Suite 2101, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-314-8166

Pearl restaurants in or near The Culinary Institute of America

Savor

At the Texas campus of The Culinary Institute of America at Pearl, Savor showcases the talents of CIA student-chefs who spend seven weeks working in Savor’s professional kitchen and seven more serving in the dining room. Four-course meal choices include Mushroom Escabeche Tamal Colado with lentils, chiltepin, cranberry beans, Wagyu Picanha with recado negro, almond puree, habanero and Smoked Meringues (crema, pulque, vanilla). Vegan options are available as well.

Find it: The Culinary Institute of America. 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 117, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-554-6484

Blue Box Bar

Decades ago, Pearl brewery employee perks included daily fresh brews, and the “third-shifters” grabbed theirs from an unmarked cooler called “the blue box.” These days, Blue Box Bar patrons can order seasonal craft beers, wines and cigars. How about a Verano de Oaxaca with blanco tequila, mezcal, lime, honey, muddled cucumber and ginger beer?

Find it: 312 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, Texas 78215; 210-227-2583

Pearl restaurants in the Food Hall at Bottling Department

Pick up your choice of food from the selections listed below, and gather around tables in the cheery Food Hall at Bottling Department or on the dog-friendly patio facing the lively green space.

Find it: 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-564-9140

Chilaquil

Husband-and-wife team Orlando and Susana Aguirre transitioned their popular food truck to this communal location. Make a meal of their traditional Mexican street food. Chilaquil also hosts pop-ups such as El Diente de Oro.

Mi Roti

Dig into Caribbean street food at Mi Roti via the build-your-own menu centered around roti, the Caribbean flatbread. Choose a wrap or bowl, add a protein from jerk chicken to curried chickpeas, rice (coconut, cilantro lime) and toppings. Finish with yummy coconut cornbread pudding. Chefs Nicola Blaque and Butch Blache offer kids’ meals, too.

Park Bar

Park Bar serves Texas beer, wine and seasonal cocktails using fresh ingredients. Mangonada fans: order the frozen mango margarita with Tajín and chamoy.

WonderSlice

At WonderSlice you can chow down on hand-tossed thin crust pizza by the slice or by the pie; salads, subs and soft serve ice cream are also on the menu.

Pearl restaurants underground at the Bottling Department

Jazz, TX

Step back in time when you enter the basement of Bottling Department, a replica of the original building that burned down in 2004. This favorite San Antonio live jazz club, aptly named Jazz, TX, packs the sass of a Texas dance hall. It’s the culmination of a dream by San Antonio bandleader Doc Watkins, who plays there with his 10-piece orchestra. Jazz, blues, big band, Texas swing, salsa, Latin jazz — it’s always a good time. Even just watching the dancers is worth the price of admission. While there, do not deny yourself the brisket tacos or a generous slice of Texas pecan pie.

Find it: 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-332-9386

Pearl restaurants along the Broadway Corridor

Allora

Imagine you’re on the Amalfi Coast while indulging in orecchiette with pistachio pesto and other housemade pastas, crudi, farro salad and Italian wines chosen by the sommelier at Allora. Pair an espresso or aperitif with luscious tiramisu in this fine dining spot where Mediterranean gets a Texas twist.

Find it: Ground floor of the Credit Human Building. 403 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-979-9950

Arrosta

Stylish restaurant Arrosta is inspired by the trattorias of Rome. It’s a comfort-Italian rotisserie that serves classic Italian dishes like chicken parma, rotisserie meats, salads, housemade breads, panini and pastries. Eat and sip in the bright airy dining room or outdoors.

Find it: The Oxbow Building. 1803 Broadway, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78215; 210-979-9950

Where and when to go to happy hour at Pearl

Allora (4 p.m.-6 p.m., daily); Best Quality Daughter (Mon.-Fri, 5 p.m.-6 p.m.); Blue Box Bar (Tues.-Sat., 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Sun.-Mon. all day); Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden (Mon.-Fri., 2 p.m.-6 p.m.); Botika (4 p.m.-6 p.m., daily); Carriqui (Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m.-6 p.m.); Cured (Tues.-Sun., 3 p.m.-6 p.m.); La Gloria (Mon.-Thurs., noon to 5 p.m.); and Park Bar (hours vary).

More Pearl experiences for foodies

Visit the Pearl Farmers Market located at Pearl Park and Parkito on Saturdays between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Pick up fresh produce and meats from local purveyors and eat breakfast or brunch. Prepared food vendors include Ming’s Thing, CrepeLandia, the Beignet Stand and What’s Brewing Coffee Roasters.

Want to get a taste of Pearl dining but don’t have time to dine-in? Order carryout food and drinks from various Pearl restaurants using this online portal.

You can also get cooking and take a class at The Culinary Institute of America at Pearl. San Antonio’s CIA Texas campus has become a magnet for food lovers who have a deep appetite for Latin cuisine.