Surprisingly Charming San Antonio | Super Detailed Guide 📃

I recently visited San Antonio for a work trip and ended up exploring the city. I didn’t have high expectations at first, but it turned out to be such a pleasant surprise! 🌊 Downtown Riverwalk 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The downtown area is surrounded by small man-made canals, lined with hotels, restaurants, and shops. You can take a sightseeing boat tour—the water isn’t the cleanest, but the atmosphere is unique! Not many highly-rated restaurants here, but I’d recommend Iron Cactus for some solid Tex-Mex. 🍹 🥐 La Panaderia Bakery 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This Mexican-style bakery/breakfast spot is a long-time favorite. The line is always crazy no matter when you go—locals say everyone in San Antonio knows this place. I ended up ordering online and picking it up the next morning—no wait at all! ⚡ They’re known for their round croissants, which are huge and can be filled with different ingredients. Definitely something unique! The egg tart was too sweet for me, though. Maybe due to lack of competition among bakeries here? Still a solid 4/5. 🎪 Historic Market Square 🌟🌟🌟 About a 20-minute walk west of downtown. You’ll find various stalls, affordable Mexican street food 🍊, live music, and souvenir shops (though they get repetitive). Good for a 1-2 hour visit. 💎 The Pearl 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This neighborhood is a true hidden gem! Almost no one on Xiaohongshu talks about it. It’s a former brewery turned into a trendy, modern district popular with locals and young crowds. You’ll find chic cafes, tons of great restaurants, and a peaceful riverside walkway. There’s also a farmers market on weekends! 🛒 🍴 Restaurant recs: Best Quality Daughter (Asian fusion) Brasserie Mon Chou Chou (French) Carriqui (Southern/Tex-Mex) ☕ Cafe: The Local – great for studying or working! #TravelDiary #CulturalSpots #SanAntonio #Texas #BusinessTrip #HiddenGems #TexasGuide #SoloTravel