If I’m being completely honest, before moving to San Antonio I dreaded living in Texas. When I looked it up, all I saw was Texas Barbecue and the River Walk. However, after spending 3 years in SA, I’m happy to share that there is so much more! I honestly LOVED living in San Antonio. Although there’s plenty to see and do in the city, I narrowed it down to my top 5 locations you should check out during your visit.

The Pearl

If you’ve ever seen my Instagram it’s no surprise that The Pearl is at the top of my list for places to see in San Antonio. There’s plenty of great restaurants, cafes, and IG worthy spots spread throughout. The Pearl stays pretty packed on the weekend, there’s usually a farmers market, the Pearl Street Church in session, and plenty of boozy brunches taking place; so if you want a photo without a ton of people, your ideal time is during the weekdays. Grab a coffee from a cafe, or a Prickly Pear Margarita from the food hall in the center, and feel free to roam around Hotel Emma and the surrounding areas. The Paramour is another cute spot about a block away that features 70’s style decor, a champagne vending machine, and a rooftop bar with city views.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden

I feel like Botanical Gardens are usually a safe bet to grab an IG worthy shot, and SA’s definitely delivers. There’s about 4-5 glass dome exhibits that are super picturesque. My faves were the desert and rain forest environments. Need a caffeine fix after shooting? Check out PRESS Coffee about 5-10min away for a tasty vanilla iced latte in a cute greenhouse cafe that’s equally IG worthy.

Downtown San Antonio

While most people think of the River Walk and the Alamo when they think of San Antonio’s downtown area (which is pretty nice), there’s SO much more! There’s tons of pretty architecture and missions to check out, and some super pretty hotels as well. One of my fave spots is the St Anthony Hotel, it’s filled with extravagant chandeliers and decor, and has a pretty amazing rooftop pool with a cool city view. Another must see is Ocho, the prettiest Cuban bar located at Hotel Havana; grab a spicy margarita in a picturesque windowed room right on the river walk.

La Cantera

This is actually an upscale outdoor mall, but it’s filled with plenty of IG worthy photo spots. I recommend grabbing brunch at Whiskey Cake or getting a crepe from Sweet Paris while you’re there.

Eilan Hotel

Right up the road from La Cantera, this hidden gem is the perfect backdrop for photo shoots. The resort also has a few upscale (& pricey) restaurants, but if you’re hungry after shooting, your best bet is to drive 5min away to The Rim, a cute strip of restaurants that offers tons of tasty cuisine for affordable prices (my faves are Torchy’s Tacos and Gloria’s Latin Cuisine).

A few notable mentions:

-Blue Star Arts Complex

-Japanese Tea Gardens

-Historic Market Square

-Essex Modern City

-McNay Art Museum