Hotel Emma — Hotel in San Antonio

My recent stay at Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Texas, was nothing short of enchanting. From the moment we arrived, the hotel's historic vibe transported us back to the late 19th century, when it was originally a brewery. The building's industrial architecture, with exposed brick walls, towering silos, and repurposed machinery, creates an atmosphere that's both nostalgic and luxurious. We've stayed in many boutique hotels, but Hotel Emma stands out for its seamless blend of history and modern comfort. Our room, a spacious suite overlooking the San Antonio River, featured elegant furnishings that nodded to the building's past—think reclaimed wood accents and vintage-inspired decor—while providing all the contemporary amenities like plush bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a well-stocked minibar.

What truly elevated our experience was the personalized service. The staff at Hotel Emma go above and beyond to make every guest feel like a VIP. Upon check-in, we were greeted by name with a warm welcome drink—a refreshing cocktail inspired by the hotel's brewing heritage. Our concierge, Maria, remembered our preferences from a previous email and arranged a customized itinerary for our three-night stay. Whether it was recommending hidden gems in the Pearl District or ensuring our room was stocked with our favorite snacks, the attention to detail was impeccable. One evening, after mentioning our love for local craft beers, the team surprised us with a private tasting session in the hotel's Sternewirth bar. It's this level of thoughtfulness that turns a good hotel into an unforgettable one. In an era of impersonal chain hotels, Hotel Emma's team restores faith in genuine hospitality.

The food at Hotel Emma is another highlight that we thoroughly enjoyed. The on-site restaurant, Supper, helmed by Chef John Brand, offers farm-to-table American cuisine that's both innovative and comforting. We started our days with breakfast there, savoring dishes like avocado toast topped with heirloom tomatoes and perfectly poached eggs, paired with freshly brewed coffee from their in-house roastery. Dinners were equally impressive; the grilled Texas quail with seasonal vegetables was a standout, bursting with flavors that celebrated local ingredients. For a more casual vibe, the Larder market provides gourmet grab-and-go options, including artisanal cheeses and house-made pastries. Even the room service menu impressed, with prompt delivery and generous portions. If you're a foodie, this hotel is a paradise—every meal felt like a culinary adventure tied to the region's heritage.

No review of Hotel Emma would be complete without mentioning the daily historical tours—a must-do for any guest. These complimentary guided walks, offered each afternoon, delve into the hotel's fascinating backstory as the former Pearl Brewery. Our guide, a knowledgeable local historian, shared captivating stories about the site's transformation from a bustling industrial hub to a chic hotel. We learned about the innovative brewing techniques of the era, explored hidden nooks like the original engine room, and even saw artifacts from the 1800s. It's not just informative; it's immersive and fun, lasting about 45 minutes and ending with a tasting of the hotel's signature brews. We made it a point to join every day of our stay, and each tour revealed new insights. Pro tip: Book in advance if you're traveling in a group, as spots fill up quickly.

Overall, Hotel Emma exceeded our expectations in every way. The personalized service made us feel truly valued, the good food satisfied our palates, and the historic vibe provided a unique backdrop that...

I started communicating with Ashley West a reservation agent on 04/08/21. She was very patient with me and catered to my every request. I asked her to send me some pictures of the room and she sent pictures and included some video. She was very knowledgeable and accommodating to my every request. Because of her going the extra mile I booked my reservation on 04/16/21. I received an email from Kalan Walker the culinary concierge on 07/03/21 welcoming us to the hotel for our upcoming stay on 07/07/21 referencing our anniversary. She provided us with information about what was going on at the hotel during our stay.  07/07/21 We arrived at the entrance of the hotel and were greeted by the most friendly, kind, personable and helpful valet staff greeting us. I am handicapped and have a power scooter with a trailer for my wife. The trailer is in parts requiring assembly. The staff was very patient with me and followed my instructions with no problems getting my scooter and trailer ready for use. We went to the registration desk and were pleasantly greeted. After giving my name she congratulated us on our anniversary and said if there is anything they can do to make our stay more memorable to let them know. The bell staff asked if we needed assistance with our luggage to the room and I said yes. He accompanied us to the room placing our luggage as requested and explained the lights and thermostat. He asked if we needed further assistance with the scooter and I said no. We were pleasantly surprised upon entering the room to see the flowers and balloons already placed as ordered. A couple minutes later, champagne and fruit and chocolates were delivered (complimentary). The suite was beautifully decorated and very comfortable, with a wonderful view of the river walk and downtown San Antonio. I told the valet attendant Sean when checking in that we had a dinner reservation at the Tower of the Americas and to have our vehicle ready at 5:00 pm. He told me that he could take us and I asked about the scooter and trailer. He told me that they do not have a vehicle to transport the scooter and trailer and then suggested I use my vehicle because it is quite a distance from the parking lot to the Tower requiring a lot of walking which we are not capable of. We had a free tour of the hotel scheduled at 2:00 pm and the staff person Hannah was very knowledgeable and friendly with complimentary drinks during the tour. Upon completion of the tour we went to the room to change for dinner. We arrived at the valet where our vehicle was waiting for us. The staff assisted with disassembling my trailer and loading the trailer and scooter. When we returned from dinner the valet staff again helped with the scooter and trailer removal from my vehicle. Everything went without incident and like clockwork. The room accommodations were first-rate. The bed was most comfortable and the room very quiet and dark for sleeping. The turn down was really nice with complimentary items for a better sleep. The bathroom was great with all handicap necessities and roll in shower. We had the most wonderful complimentary breakfast the next morning. After breakfast we toured around the Pearl on our scooter until time to check out. The check out went very smoothly. The valet staff helped once again with getting my scooter and trailer back into my vehicle. We could not have had a more pleasant experience and I am sure that is why this is rated a five star hotel.We highly recommend you stay at this hotel. You won’t be...

We had the pleasure of visiting Hotel Emma with friends and family and had a wonderful experience overall. Before our arrival we had the pleasure of communicating with "Gabs" Gabrielle Angelica and Montse Diaz /Culinary Concierge. Gabs and Montse reached out to see if there was anything the hotel could do for us before our party arrived at the hotel. During the previsit exchange a tour was booked for us in addition to a very specific selection of foods.

Once we arrived at Hotel Emma, Jasmine - The bell hop was the first person we were able to interact with. Jasmine had a very upbeat attitude was great, she was great the few times we saw her. She addressed everyone by their name at each encounter with her. During checkin we received a few tokens that could be redeemed for one of three drinks:

La Babia Margarita (served in a blue etched glass)

3 Emma’s Cocktail (this one is gin based)

Prohibition Punch (non-alcoholic beverage)

Our party only had the La Babies Margarita and would definitely recommend this drink.

Mannie- The driver of the house car was very personable and provided us with a variety of options whether food or entertainment for our stay in San Antonio. We had the pleasure of riding with him on a few occasions and each experience was amazing!

Jackie - One of the housekeepers saw us walking to the elevator and started asking us how was our stay. She was delightful and provided us with a rundown of events that happen at the hotel.

Marisa - One of the manager at Southerleigh a restaurant inside of Hotel Emma. She was very welcoming and was a good talker as well as litsener. She let us know there was about a 15 minute and before 15 minutes had passed we were called to have a head. Our visit to Southerleigh took place with friends and family. Almost everyone who had a plate said the food was pretty good with the exception of a fillet that was ordered, that contained a lot of bones. The manager was informed which was a manager different than Marisa and she apologized for the bones.

The next restaurant we at was Supper and we ate their for breakfast on two (2) different occasions. Evan - was our server and did a phenomenal job at coming by the table and ensuring we did not need anything.

We had the pleasure of meeting Hannah - Who was our guide during our Hotel tour as well as our guide for the river walk tour which was at no additional cost since we were staying at the Hotel. Both tours were very informative. During the Hotel Emma tour Hannah provided us with details about the story behind Emma. The end was intriguing 😏 which took place in the nice Hotel Library.

The Boat tour was informative however it did not have an intriguing story at the end like the story about Emma.

Juliette- Was our server at Supper on 4.9.2023 provided good customer service and was helpful when we encountered a problem with the drinking glasses. Martha- One of the managers at Supper came to our table to address the drinking classes. She was very sincere and apologetic and discounted a great portion of our meal due to the concern with our drinking glasses.

Overall everyone we came in contact with was helpful and friendly. Our stay at Hotel Emma was Amazing and we would definitely recommend this Hotel based on the exception customer service provided by all the staff, the rich history of the building as well as it's location in The Pearl District.

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