Romantic Restaurants in San Antonio, Texas

1. Esquire Tavern

The Esquire Tavern is the oldest San Antonio bar on the Riverwalk. It is famous for having the longest wooden bar top in Texas featuring 100 feet of elbow-rubbed, beer-soaked old wood. The Esquire Tavern is a real, old-world bar, cool and dark, with lovely old wood paneling, a favorite watering hole for downtown patrons looking for cold beer, hot food and interesting conversation. The bar opened in 1933, just after Prohibition ended.

The food is mostly Texan, a bit Mexican and fairly spicy. Draft beers are mostly from Texas microbreweries, but they have everything else too, including a nice wine selection and original cocktails that will put you in the right mood for food. For a snack to go with your beer, try their chalupitas, pork belly rillettes or shrimp campechana. They have great burgers and sandwiches and their plates are Texan, big and awesome.

155 E Commerce St, San Antonio, Texas 78205, Phone: 210-222-2521

2. The Guenther House

San Antonio’s iconic Guenther House restaurant serves delicious Southern comfort foods and Tex-Mex fare. Dive into tasty treats like Chicken Pot Pie, Pioneer Meatloaf, Buttermilk Biscuits & Country Sausage Gravy, or Champagne Chicken Enchiladas. Or stop in for brunch and try the Southern Sweet Cream Waffle.

The restaurant, owned by C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc., resides in the lower level of the historic home of Pioneer Flour Mill’s founding family and encompasses the Art Nouveau style of the 1920s. You will find this charming, treasured eatery downtown nestled between the historic King William and Arsenal districts.

205 East Guenther Street, 800-235-8186

3. 18 Oaks

The upscale 18 Oaks restaurant serves up some of the best steak and seafood in the area – all made from sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy breath-taking views of TPC, San Antonio’s famous PGA Tour golf courses, while dining on exquisitely prepared dishes such as the 18 Oaks Benedict (with short rib), Spicy Garlic Tuna Sandwich, or the Béarnaise Stuffed Maine Lobster.

18 Oaks also boasts a full bar. Executive Chef Alex Glass is the mastermind behind these culinary creations, which never fail to impress. 18 Oaks is located at the Golf Clubhouse at the The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country.

23808 Resort Parkway, San Antonio, Texas, Phone: 210-491-5825

4. Rebelle

If you love seafood and you’re in San Antonio, a visit to Rebelle is a perfect addition to your weekend plans. Celebrated for being the city’s most successful seafood restaurant, Rebelle features a revamped menu, a wave-making approach to gastronomy, and a historic location to match within the St. Anthony Hotel. The cuisine at Rebelle is drop-dead delicious and, visually, a treat for the eyes to behold. Tuck into fantastic small plates like the Hot Crab Rangoon Dip, Deviled “Creole” Spiced Eggs, or Char-Broiled Oysters before digging into impressive entrees such as the Shrimp Bucatini with Rockefeller White-Wine Cream Sauce, Herb Crusted Mahi-Mahi with Spinach Pudding, or the Cioppino, an Italian fish stew with redfish, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, and tomato broth.

300 East Travis Street, San Antonio, Texas 72805, Phone: 210-352-3171

5. Acenar

Acenar is a wonderfully innovative and contemporary Mexican restaurant located on the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. The large multi-level space has seating in the main dining room, outside, and on the wonderful balcony overlooking the river. The design is a beautifully executed contemporary take on Mexican esthetics, in color and form, with a touch of Asia. Acenar’s menu continues with the original and innovative, with such items as the young Texas goat with ancho salsa ranchera, duck crepes, and buttermilk-fried oysters. There are also plenty of everyone’s favorites cooked to perfection, such as San Antonio-style enchiladas, sizzling parrilladas, savory chiles rellenos, asadas, and cabrito. On the Houston Street level, Átomar Bar offers Latino-style cocktails, margaritas, and premium tequilas as well as a chef-selected small plates menu.

146 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205, Phone: 210-222-2362

6. Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar

Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar is a laid-back, relaxed country-style kitchen with a menu of delicious farm-to-kitchen dishes and handcrafted cocktails made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Using slow-cooking methods such as wood-fired, smokers, spits, and grills, the menu features a host of hearty all-American fare such as grilled meats, chicken and fish, homemade burgers, sandwiches, stacks and melts, crispy salads, and a range of snacks and sides. Start with Fire-Roasted Shishito Peppers in grilled lemon and chili butter sauce followed by Grilled Texas Striped Bass served with carrot and Tuscan kale slaw and roasted gold pepper romesco.

End your dining experience on a sweet note with a Toffee Torte Whiskey Cake. Whiskey cocktails and specialty drinks such as a Guava Gimlet Mighty Agamemnon can be enjoyed with your meal, and you have the option of dining alfresco-style on the outdoor patio. Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar is open seven days a week for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

15900 La Cantera Pkwy Suite 21200, San Antonio, Texas, Phone: 210-236-8095

7. Saveurs 209

Inspired by their rich French heritage, Parisian natives Sylvain and Sylvie Nykiel established Saveurs 209 in San Antonio to share their passion for French cuisine with everyone and bring a little slice of France to Texas. Saveurs 209 boasts a menu of contemporary French cuisine with dishes such as starters of fig and mushrooms carpaccio with bucheron goat cheese and hazelnuts and warm toasted foie gras set in a black and red berries coulis with dry meringue with juniper.

Entrées (mains) range from roasted monkfish, clams, and shellfish served with fingerling potatoes and leeks in a kaffir lime emulsion, roasted Maine lobster served with sautéed fennel and anise star, and Angus beef tenderloin with butternut squash pureé, shaved mushrooms, and pumpkin seed jus.

Indulge in a dessert of Bischoff cookie pannacotta with orange tuile and drizzled in Grand Marnier granite, and order a refreshing beverage from a selection of fine wines and spirits. Saveurs 209 serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

209 Broadway St, San Antonio, Texas, Phone: 210-223-0209