OPENING ALERT

French Riviera-inspired rooftop bar debuts near San Antonio's Pearl

Seaspice is finally opening on September 4.

Rendering courtesy of Gusto Group

San Antonio may be far away from the aquamarine shores of the Mediterranean Sea, but that’s not stopping a local restaurateur from borrowing the glamor of Côte d'Azur. After originally projecting a June opening, Gusto Group will debut Seaspice on the fifth floor of 1900 Broadway’s Jefferson Bank Building on September 4.

The new bar and restaurant is the latest concept from the prolific team behind Toro Kitchen + Bar, Cuishe Cocina Mexicana, and Stylus Mixology. A few details have changed since Gusto first filed paperwork with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, but the overall vision — French Riviera decadence — has remained steadfast.

The food menu jet sets through iconic coastal dishes like lobster rolls, salmon tartare, grilled octopus tacos, and cocteles, all supplemented by a raw bar serving oysters and seafood towers. Drinks include clarified cocktails and tableside martinis with splashy accouterments such as truffles and caviar olives. More roe is served with traditional fixings or as “bumps.”

"For us, it always comes down to the experience," said Gusto Group CEO Gerardo de Anda, via a previous release. "We pay attention to details — how the cocktails arrive, how the seafood is presented, the energy of the room."

The original renderings showed a brasserie-like space with marble counters, French wicker bistro chairs, and olive trees planted in oversized pots. It’s unclear how closely the final decor followed the initial inspiration. Although Gusto has been previewing the space in a series of “coming soon” videos, they have been composed mostly of construction stills and a shot of de Anda sprinting past a Prussian blue mural depicting various sea life.

Whatever the final shape of the interior, Seaspice will join a wave of new and proposed concepts extending the immediate areas around Pearl into one of the city’s most dynamic dining and nightlife districts.

Gusto says Seaspice will serve brunch, lunch, and dinner Tuesday through Wednesday, noon-11 pm; Thursday through Saturday, noon-2 am; and Sunday, noon-9 pm. The weekday happy hour will run 4-7 pm.

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DUBLIN THE FOOTPRINT

Irish tavern debuts new indoor space in historic New Braunfels home

Kennedy's Tavern/ Facebook

Kennedy's Tavern is finally opening St. Patrick's Day weekend.

After opening its outdoor portion in March, New Braunfels bar Kennedy’s Tavern is giving its customers some relief from the heat. The Irish pub has finally completed the revamp of its inside space at 308 E. San Antonio St.

The renovation of New Braunfels' landmark Voigt House has been painstaking. The 1870 Mansard-roofed home has deep connections to the town, sitting on land once owned by early cultural leader Hermann Seele. The building is a registered Texas Historic Landmark, so owners Joe Collins and Lalita and Kyle Kennedy couldn’t just slap on drywall.

The property has been in the Kennedys’ family hands for more than two decades. Gary Mathis had previously used the space as a law office before selling it to his daughter Lalita in 2025.

The partners kept the historical details of the space intact, including the original stone. Textured walls give the space a lived-in feel, not unlike the Irish public houses from which Kennedy’s drew inspiration.

Besides now offering air-conditioned comfort, the bar hasn’t changed its business model much. Guests can still enjoy live music outdoors and order pub grub like fish and chips and fried cheese curds. And the drink menu still focuses on Irish-inspired craft cocktails, whiskey, and 25 draught beers. The latter can be zhushed by a machine that “prints” designs into a pint’s foam.

Kennedy’s Tavern joins two other high-profile concepts that have recently opened in historic near-downtown spaces. Old City Hall, from the family behind McAdoo's Seafood Company, is now dishing out steaks and martinis in a former municipal building. Nearby, ¡Saludos! Cocina + Bar is serving Mexican street food in the historic Dittlinger Roller Mills building.

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