Best Things to Do in San Antonio

Ray’s is the San Antonio-style puffy taco godfather. The first to ever do it, they are still one of the best too. Plus they serve Lone Star beer, another longtime Texas staple.

In the 1950s, founder Henry Lopez got his start working at his brother Ray’s restaurant (sound familiar? See above). Today, Henry’s is a puffy taco machine, serving more than 1,000 a day.

Family-style Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. Their presidential puffy taco plate is the way to go. FYI: Wednesday is margarita happy hour all night long.

A traditional counter-service BBQ joint that doesn’t try anything crazy, just plates up classic smoked meats.

Temporarily closed as of July 2022

This is the family-oriented counterpart to the esteemed Two Bros BBQ Market. They have some of the same great food (peach-glazed baby back ribs) served on a patio big enough for a playground and a stage for live music.

Don’t be put off by the long lines. This trendy spot offers a variety of meats and does all their pickling in-house. But it’s first come, first served, and the meat doesn’t last all day, so get there early.

An unassuming spot on St. Mary’s Strip serving traditional Vietnamese fare and some incredible banh mi sandwiches.

San Antonio’s first food hall cultivates community and gives local chefs a space to share their craft. It’s home to five diverse eateries and a bar.

For Caribbean fare, this West Side restaurant is a must. The obvious choice is their jerk chicken, but their jerk ribs and jerk tacos are worth a try too.

It’s named for a bygone local amusement park, and the pizzas are no less of a ride. They feature a sourdough base topped with creative locally -sourced ingredients.

The complex’s busiest gallery, Blue Star Contemporary, offers a smorgasbord of exhibits, workshops, artist talks, film screenings and more. But for Latin and American “outsider art,” don’t miss the funky and eclectic San Angel Folk Art Gallery, which blends culturally significant historic works with contemporary ones from self-taught artists. Then discuss your favorite pieces over beers at Blue Star Brewing Company.

St. Mary’s was a big-time party spot in the ’80s and ’90s, when it was pretty much the only place to drink and catch garage rock shows. Now, after years lying dormant, it’s resurging. Hit Rumble or The Mix for cocktails, Faust Tavern for a Lone Star and pub food, then Paper Tiger or Limelight for a show.

The centerpiece of this flourishing neighborhood is a giant former brewery, transformed into a mixed-use space with some of San Antonio’s hippest eateries and shops. Like Bakery Lorraine, which serves Instagram-worthy pastries, and Cured, the venture of Steve McHugh, a 2020 James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Texas. The Pearl is also home to one of only three Culinary Institute of America locations.

Full disclosure: This cave is full of bats. 20 million of them. It’s the summer home to the world’s largest maternity bat colony, but that’s what makes it a one-of-a-kind experience. You’re not going to go spelunking here (don’t try). Instead, if you make a reservation, you can sit at dusk and watch a swirling vortex of bats emerge from the cave.

Skip the aboveground touristy stuff and go for their subterranean tours, where you’ll see vast, naturally formed caverns 180 feet below the surface.

Visit this historic site, to see where the Mexican-American War’s most legendary battle happened.

This hiking/biking trail will take you past San Antonio’s five colonial Spanish missions (including The Alamo).

The first church built in San Antonio, this 18th-century cathedral is known for its Gothic architecture and a light show called “The Saga” that illuminates the building on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

A laid-back café where you can catch some of the city’s best folk and Americana acts, with some indie rock, country, soul and funk mixed in. It’s worth a trip for their burgers alone.

A cool, artsy bar on St. Mary’s Strip that hosts local rock and blues acts, as well as DJ nights. They’ve got cheap drinks, so down a couple of their famous pickle shots and get dancing.

Huge, old cypress trees stand guard over the river’s calm waters. It’s also a great place to camp, fish and float.