very cool

Make a splash this summer in San Antonio's top 9 luxury hotel pools

The sun-dappled deck of Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa.

Photo courtesy of Plaza San Antonio Hotell & Spa

Swimming pools have always been a part of human civilization, spanning from the Great Bath of Bronze Age Pakistan to the early Roman piscinas to the diving clubs of Victorian England. Who are we to argue with old world wisdom? If we dare to step away from an air conditioner during the peak of summer, it’s going to be for a quick dip.

Luckily, the days of squishing one's toes in an algae carpet or jumping the bars of an apartment gate are now ancient history. Thanks to services like Resort Pass, San Antonio’s most luxurious pools are only a tap away.

Éilan Hotel & SpaHotel & Spa
Hankering for a White Lotus experience without all the murder and deceit? This Tuscan-inspired hotel’s palm-shaded pool is a perfect excuse to break out the resort wear. Striped-red cabanas whisper la dolce vita while the Blu Pool Bar keeps guests glowing with Aperol spritzes. An Olympic-style indoor pool is also available for Speedo types, and a hot tub for soothing sore muscles.

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
Children deserve a little luxury too. This breathtaking property includes a five-acre water park with a twisting slide, wave machine, and lazy river. Adults can stretch out in the spacious cabanas while enjoying frozen piña coladas and light bites from Vince’s Watering Hole. No kids? No problem. The resort also has a swimming pool just for adults.

Hotel Emma
Alamo City’s poshest hotel reserves its rooftop pool for guests, but we all deserve an occasional treat. Book a staycation through September 2 and enjoy the property’s Summer Vacation special, which includes complimentary valet and a $50-per-day food and beverage credit. Then indulge in some pampering from Restore Hyper Wellness, who will be on deck until Labor Day weekend giving cryo-facials, IV drips, and glow-up shots.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
Only a short drive away from the city’s core, but far from urban troubles, this gorgeous resort sweeps guests away with Hill Country vistas and quiet luxury accommodations. Water-wise, there’s plenty to savor like an adult pool with unmatchable views, a sandy beach pool perfect for budding architects, and a 1,100 square foot lazy river. Did we mention the full-blown water park?

La Cantera Resort & Spa Resort & Spa
Although the resort itself has a giant manicured pool, pros escape to the Loma de Vida Spa. For the cost of a facial, massage, or body treatment, guests can access a slew of amenities like saunas and mineral pools. And yes, that also includes access to a secluded outdoor pool overlooking a canopy of trees.

Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa
One of the newcomers to the San Antonio scene, Plaza is already hopping with guests. Who can blame them? The pool is shaded by old-growth trees,so revelers don’t have to get blisters before taking a dip. Just a few steps away, guests can sidle up to the chic Anaqua Garden Bar to enjoy creative Latin-Japanese fare served with vacay drinks like the rummy House of Don Ramon. Order it in a pineapple when feeling cute. Ahh, vacation vibes.

Ranch Motel
Miraculously, the owners behind this Broadway spot transformed a ratty old inn into a modern hideaway. The pool is its charming centerpiece. Beautifully landscaped with native plants and spotted with pagoda umbrellas, it gives Palm Springs atmosphere without the desert parch. Caftansand costume jewelry are optional, but one does need to be prepared for selfies.

The St. Anthony Hotel
The grande dame of San Antonio hotels may be steeped in history, but the heated rooftop infinity pool is all about modern luxe. The vibe can be scene-y, especially when a DJ pumps up the crowd, but that designer swimsuit deserves to be seen. Plus, the bar’s dining and drink options make a splash with punchy hand-held bites and stuff margaritas.

Thompson Hotel San Antonio
Ever wanted to live in an aughts music video? This downtown tower has all the sleekness of a McG epic, starting with magnificent city views and sleek cabanas. The Cenote pool deck bar keeps thebeat going with heady tropical drinks and Yucatan-leaning fare. Best of all, summer activations like step classes and movie nights keep the pool thumping all season.

summer vacation hotels travel pools

NYT loves AUS

Pastry chef from San Antonio makes New York Times Best Bakeries list

Comadre Panadería/Instagram

Comadre Panadería is known for nostalgic Mexican bakes with feminine flair.

The New York Times has once again shined its spotlight on Austin’s culinary scene. It included Comadre Panadería, an Austin bakery by San Antonio native Mariela Camacho, on its new list of the 22 of the Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now.

Interim food critic Priya Krishna praises pastry chef Camacho’s pastries that include conchas and her signature pink cake. “Despite their saccharine appearances, not one of the desserts is overly cloying, and even the coffee drinks (Texas pecan horchata! Cranberry vanilla agua fresca!) strike the playful tone of the pastries,” she writes.

Comadre Panadería has been widely recognized, including by this publication; Camacho, who is now based in Ausitn, won Pastry Chef of the Year in the 2023 CultureMap Austin Tastemaker Awards. She also earned a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.

Camacho and Comadre as a whole are both invested in using baked goods to make a more equitable world, from the bakery's early days as a fundraiser for disaster relief, to a current insistence on charging enough to support ethical and organic foods, and paying staff enough to keep up with rising costs in Austin.

Although Camacho was born in San Antonio and started her baking career there, she also spent a significant time in Seattle, Washington, where Comadre started as a pop-up. According to Austin Monthly, she then moved back to San Antonio, and then to Austin. But no matter where she is, the Mexican cooking traditions of her ancestors take precedent.

Mariela Camacho of Comadre Panaderia in Austin Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panaderia. Courtesy photo

The Times also recognized Houston's Koffeteria. Krishna hails the bakery for pastry chef-owner Vanarin Kuch’s creative fare that includes dishes such as beef pho kolaches, Chinese sausage breakfast tacos, and butter mochi.

“Some of Mr. Kuch’s offerings are rooted in his Cambodian American identity — he makes cornbread with the coconutty, scallion-forward flavors of Cambodian street corn — while others are odes to Houston’s multicultural makeup. But most of the fun of Koffeteria is having no idea what Mr. Kuch will do next, and eagerly awaiting his next innovation,” Krishna writes.

Open since 2019, Koffeteria has been riding high this year. It earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Bakery and a CultureMap Houston Tastemaker Award for Pastry Chef of the Year.

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Comadre Panadería and Koffeteria are the only Texas establishments to make the Times’ list. Only California and New York City, which each have three representatives, earn more recognition.

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