Things To Do In The Pearl Neighborhood
Pearl is a neighborhood and like all great neighborhoods it has a rich history that just keeps going, added to and upheld by the many people who have ties to the place, the river and the Brewery since its founding in 1881. Pearl is also a place where we like to get together – to share meals, to learn, to work, to live. With 324 apartments, fifteen restaurants and cafes, thirteen retailers and eighteen resident businesses, as well as the twice-weekly Farmers Market, this neighborhood is thriving with life and activity. Find a list of things to do at the Pearl below.
Uptown
Head north on Broadway and you’ll find an older upscale residential area called Alamo Heights. The McNay Art Museum is here with a truly world-class art collection housed in a Pre-Depression Era mansion on 26 acres of lush grounds. Nice place for a picnic. Alamo Heights is also home to some venerable restaurants and bars (Cappy’s, Broadway 50/50, Silo, La Paloma) and posh shops (Sloan-Hall, Lin Marche and the best grocery store in town: Central Market.)
Midtown
Pearl’s renovation was the catalyst for Midtown’s exciting growth and Hotel Emma is upping the ante. The area has gone from mostly shabby and not very chic to cutting-edge in the last decade. At its heart is Brackenridge Park, a 343-acre public park where the San Antonio River meanders through a wooded landscape. Our namesake, Emma Koehler, donated land for the park in 1915. Check out the Witte Museum, San Antonio Zoo and the Japanese Tea Garden — all there in the park.
Downtown
San Antonio is justly famous for the River Walk downtown. It was conceived in 1929 by Walter Hugman to save the river from being turned into a flood-controlled concrete wasteland. Today, it winds through downtown among 200-year-old cypress trees, historical buildings, restaurants and shops. River taxis ply the shallow waterway — catch one at Hotel Emma for a pleasant boat ride into downtown. P.S. And that’s where the Alamo is, too.
King William
Further south on the river you’ll find a lovely neighborhood of ornate mid-19th century homes built in Victorian, Greek Revival and Italianate styles. It’s well worth a few hours of meandering along the tree-lined streets and popping into the grandly renovated mansions that offer tours. Fuel your visit with a meal at El Mirador or Rosario’s, beloved Tex-Mex restaurants that have been serving the neighborhood for decades.
Southtown
Once dubbed “Texas’ most eccentric neighborhood” by Texas Monthly magazine, this bohemian area is also known to some locals as “Baja King William.” It’s become slightly more mainstream lately, supporting excellent restaurants (Brigid, Hot Joy, Feast and others) and new lofts and apartments popping up everywhere. But, it maintains its boho cred with many art studios and galleries — Blue Star Contemporary Art Space is a good place to see/buy art while partaking of craft beer and gourmet pizza.
