SNEAK PEEK

First San Antonio Kimpton hotel unveils over-the-top bar and restaurant concepts

In building construction, topping out is a huge thing. The tradition marking the laying of the highest beam on a structure has a long history of rites from chugging beer to placing a tree atop the roofline. Forest-dwelling spirits, after all, are in constant need of appeasement.

Now that San Antonio's first Kimpton Hotel has hit that all-important milestone, it has chosen to appease a different crowd — the public busybodies thirsting for more information. When the 423 S. Alamo property broke ground in October 2022, developer White Lodging offered scant details. Now, it's leaking details on the hotel's four upcoming concepts.

The marquee space will be an upscale steakhouse settling into the main building of a repurposed 18th-century German-English schoolhouse. Additional historic structures will be used for eight tony guest suites and a shaded courtyard cocktail bar.

More booze will come from another bar focused on whiskey. A rooftop bar, a modern must for any high-end hotel, completes the nightlife picture. Menu details have been promised closer to the opening date.

In addition to the bustling hospitality program, Kimpton will offer plenty of amenities for guests. CultureMap previously reported that the sleek new structure will feature a rooftop pool and more than 11,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.

With its prime positioning, the hotel will be convenient to some of San Antonio's most popular sites, including the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, River Walk, Alamo Plaza, King William District, La Villita, and Hemisfair.

"This is a pivotal moment not only for Kimpton San Antonio, but the surrounding community," said White Lodging Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Barone in a statement. "Together with other surrounding developments, we are creating a new destination district by solidifying the connection from downtown to Southtown."

Rendering courtesy of White Lodging

The Kimpton plans include a stunning rooftop lounge.

hotels bars nightlife southtown downtown openings

In-slider knowledge

Well-known brunch eatery adds location at changing Riverwalk mall

Photo courtesy of Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia

Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia is joining a growing list of businesses flocking to the Shops at Rivercenter.

The well-known San Antonio brunch spot Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia is continuing its takeover of the city with a third location. The new eatery is expected to open in March 2025 at 849 E. Commerce St., adjacent to the Shops at Rivercenter.

The new restaurant will span a 7,000-square-foot space, including a 1,200-square-foot patio, which will host a total of 250 guests. San Antonians may remember the space from its days as Enrique Tomás, an upscale Spanish restaurant. Things will be different at the very casual Alamo Biscuit Co., which operates more like a diner.

Biscuits are, of course, the anchoring menu item, and are served in sweet and savory flights when they're not providing support for other dishes like Nashville hot chicken, eggs Benedict with various proteins, or a classic sausage, egg, and cheese. Other specialties include pancakes (sometimes with extravagant toppings), French toast, and tacos.

The new location comes with new menu items that haven't been announced with, plus a full bar and espresso bar, according to a release.

Alamo Biscuit Co. is hiring 80-100 team members starting in January, according to the release. That will include "management, servers, cooks, and dishwashers."

The Shops at Rivercenter are in the middle of a larger renaissance. The mall opened in 1988, and has weathered the coming and going trends of retail. Since 2005, it's been owned by Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation, which also owns famous properties like Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace and New York City's Plaza Hotel.

Just in 2024, projects announced at the Shops at Rivercenter include an overhaul of dining by celebrity chef Jason Dady, as well as the San Antonio debut of the trendy Australian mini-golf chain Holey Moley.

“To be invited to open a location on the San Antonio River Walk is an incredible honor and a blessing,” said Alamo Biscuit Co. owner and UTSA graduate John Vale in the release. “In just five years, Alamo Biscuit Co. has become a part of San Antonio’s culinary fabric, and now, we’ve been given the opportunity to share our passion for great food and community in what I believe is the best location in Texas. This is a gift from God and a privilege we don’t take lightly.”

brunch riverwalk openings