The time has come to celebrate all the people and places who make San Antonio such an exciting city to dine in. The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards are back, and we can now reveal the 2025 nominees.

We’ve asked leaders of the city's hospitality community to tell us which chefs, restaurants, bars, and more have set the standard in dining for the past year. Our judging panel will pick the winners in seven of the eight categories. CultureMap readers will pick the winner of Best New Restaurant in a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament that's sure to get heated.

We’ll celebrate the nominees and reveal the winners at our awards ceremony and signature tasting event on Thursday, April 10 at The Briscoe Western Art Museum.

More than a dozen of this year’s finalists will be serving bites, and our sponsors will supply all of the drinks necessary to keep the party going. Then we’ll reveal the winners in our short and sweet awards ceremony.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP (includes early access to the event and a dedicated bar). Tickets will sell out. Act fast. You don’t want to miss out.

We’ll dive more deeply into the nominees in a special editorial series that celebrates their accomplishments. But first, a round of applause for all of this year's finalists:

Restaurant of the Year

• Bar Loretta
• Best Quality Daughter
• Clementine
• Burnt Bean Company
• Isidore
• Ladino
• Mixtli
• Nicosi
• Stixs & Stone
• The Magpie

Chef of the Year

• Berty Richter, Ladino
• Christopher Cullum, Cullum’s Attaboy
• David Kirkland and Ernest Servantes, Burnt Bean
• Emil Oliva, Leche de Tigre
• Francisco Estrada and Lizzeth Martinez, Naco Mexican Eatery
• Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Best Quality Daughter
• John Russ, Clementine
• Leo Davila, Stixs & Stone
• Paul Petersen, Bar Loretta
• Stefan Bowers, Pumpers

Bar of the Year

• Bombay Bicycle Club
• Chifladas Cocktail Bar
• El Honky Tonk
• Elsewhere - Garden Bar & Kitchen
• Francis Bogside
• Holy Diver Tiki Lounge
• Gimme Gimme
• Tony's Siesta

Pastry Chef of the Year

• Alessia Benavides, Chocolatl
• Elise Russ, Clementine
• Jessica Philpot, Extra Fine Bakery
• José and David Cáceres, La Panadería
• Manny Martinez, The Grim Bakers
• Sophie Jeffery, Spread the Loaves
• Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Nicosi

Brewery of the Year

• Back Unturned Brewing Co.
• Black Laboratory Brewing
• Cactus Land Brewing Company
• Cibolo Creek Brewing Co.
• Dos Sirenos Brewing
• Freetail Brewing Co.
• Idle Beer Hall & Brewery
• Longtab Brewing Company
• Roadmap
• Wild Barley Kitchen & Brewery

Best New Restaurant

• Bánh Mì 102
• Casa Catrina
• Dean's Steak & Seafood
• El Maizal Tortillería
• Fife & Farro
• Freight Fried Chicken
• Leo's Hideout
• Maíz Cocina Mexicana
• Mezquite
• Nixtamali Molino + Comedor
• Pumpers
• Roca & Martillo
• Smash’d
• The Golden Goose
• The Newstand
• tryst. Kitchen + Cocktails

Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year

• Beacon Hill Market & Deli
• Bistr09
• Con Huevos Tacos
• Cullum's Attagirl
• Full Belly Cafe & Bar
• Garcia Barbecue
• Luna Rosa
• Outlaw Kitchens
• Reese Bros Barbecue
• The Hayden

Best Coffee Shop

• Bright Coffee
• Folklores Coffee House
• Gravves Coffee
• Early Bird Coffee
• Estate Coffee Company
• Mila Coffee
• Press Coffee
• San Antonio Gold
• Theory Coffee Company
• What's Brewing Coffee Roasters

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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is brought to you by PicMe Events, Audio Visual Consultations, and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, Culinaria. To learn more about the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth, visit culturemaptastemakers.com.