SAN ANTONIO – As 2022 comes to an end, we reflect on some of this year’s standout restaurant openings across the Alamo City.
From southern comfort food and Mediterranean cuisine to tasteful cocktails and swoon-worthy desserts — these dining spots made for a delicious year.
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The self-proclaimed “neighborhood oasis” opened in September at 239 East Grayson St. inside the former home of Liberty Bar near the Pearl. The restaurant serves meals with a unique spin on South Texas food, offering guests coastal seafood, brisket, botana planters, and barbacoa.
Located in the 200 block of East Grayson Street at the Pearl, the diner serves scratch-made, seasonally-driven food for breakfast and lunch. Its delicacies are made using ingredients native to South Texas.
The iconic 24-hour doughnut shop known for its extravagantly decorated pastries debuted in December at 400 E. Houston St. downtown. The menu includes over 50 artisan flavor options, including 25 of the vegan variety. They offer classic favorites like the Bacon Maple Bar and Memphis Mafia and constantly concoct new additions.
A southern comfort food restaurant with a French twist came from the San Antonio couple behind Little Em’s Oyster Bar and Up Scale. Located on Government Hill, the menu includes sweet tea brine pork chops, chargrilled oysters, frog legs, and gumbo.
Located at 111 Soledad St. on the top floor of the new AC Hotel by Marriott, the rooftop lounge offers an incredible view of the San Antonio River Walk. The drink menu includes wine from Texas vineyards, cocktails, and a wide selection of beer. The food menu is inspired by Southwestern American influence, with options like brisket tacos and fajita shrimp and grits.
The Mediterranean grill opened in September in the Pearl at 200 E. Grayson St. The menu features pita, coal-charred eggplant dip, Jerusalem mix, meat dumplings in yogurt, and a traditional Sephardic fish in a zesty egg sauce.
The River Walk gained a new eatery this year that serves over-the-top desserts and dishes like the 24K Gold Burger for $150. It offers guests extravagant treats like rainbow sliders and fried macaroni cheese pops.
An Austin-based restaurant known for its comfort food like queso and pancakes opened its first San Antonio location this year. Located at 5515 N. Loop 1604 West, Ste. 103 at The Rim Crossing, it is the first Kerbey Lane Cafe outside the Austin area in its over 40-year history.
The team behind The Modernist debuted a tropical-themed downtown bar in September. Situated in a well-worn brick building at 410 Austin St., the bar’s ambiance combines historical San Antonio accents with tropical décor. The drink menu features cocktails with tequila, rum, wine, and mezcal.
The popular Airstream coffee stop moved into a full-service sit-down café this year. Located at 11745 I-10 in the Huebner Oaks shopping center, the shop serves coffee, lattes, and pastries.
The River Walk in downtown San Antonio became home to a new pizza restaurant and wine bar this year. Fiume is located near the Arneson River Theater, specializing in “Texapoletana” offerings — a mix of Texas and Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The ice cream shop started scooping up one-of-a-kind booze-packed desserts this year at its first San Antonio location. Located at 2903 North Loop 1604 East, the franchise offers 30 flavors — flash frozen with liquid nitrogen — that can be infused with alcohol, starting at 5% ABV, according to the shop’s website.
The Hawaiian cuisine chain opened its first area location at 7929 Pat Booker Road in Live Oak in September. The chain is known for serving “island-inspired” food like the Hawaiian plate lunch with chicken or pork, macaroni salad, white rice, and vegetables.
The café is located in the shops at La Cantera and is open to everyone, whether they are Capital One members or not. It offers private workspaces, free Wi-Fi, access to ATMs, coffee beverages, tea, sandwiches, and an assortment of snacks.
Dutch Bros Coffee set to open first San Antonio
The West Coast drive-thru coffee company, known for its plethora of coffee drinks, smoothies, freezes, teas, and signature energy drinks, set up shop at 8614 Potranco Road this year.