School Nights
Luxury hotel preserving 19th century schoolhouses debuts in San Antonio
It's a hot month for San Antonio hotels, and now one of the most anticipated openings is upon the Alamo City. The Kimpton Santo, the first Kimpton in the city so far and the largest in all of Texas, is debuting with some dining discounts on August 29. Located at 431 S. Alamo St., it overlooks Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair and brings a handful of luxe, new restaurants and bars to the already bustling area.
Kimpton Hotels, a luxury boutique brand under InterContinental Hotels Group, is joining the fray alongside the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk, which opened its doors about a mile away on August 1. San Antonians also got news this month about Morgan's Hotel, a new venture by Morgan's Wonderland, a theme park built around accessibility. The Santo broke ground in 2022.
The Kimpton Santo contains 347 guest rooms, which images show off in earthy, but bold colors and a modern sensibility. Some of the hotel's design as a whole — led by design firm KTGY — comes from the property's scholastic history, with some 19th century schoolhouse buildings preserved and used to house eight guest suites today.
The cultural sensibility follows more threads than that, though, including "vintage craftsmanship fused with modernist touches and Spanish-inspired décor," according to a release. It also commits to some nods to the namesake of both the hotel and the city, Saint Anthony, who is the patron saint of lost things.
A fuller view of a guest room.Photo by Garrett Smith
The school theme reaches into the food and beverage landscape, which includes:
- Dean’s Steak & Seafood, which is also in one of the schoolhouses and is the main restaurant for the property.
- The Bar at Dean’s, a bar where guests can order the entire steakhouse menu, plus rare Bourbons and vintage wine.
- The Study at Dean’s, which serves high-end cocktails and small plates in a reservation-only lounge and shaded patio.
- Tenfold Rooftop, a tequila and mezcal bar with curated food pairings.
Discounts to celebrate the opening are available at the steakhouse, the brunch service, and the rooftop. They include 50 percent off the entire food bill; a buy one, get one entree; 50 percent off for their next visit; and more. More specific details are available on Instagram.
Finally, an Epicurean VIP Package pairs an overnight stay with bespoke cocktails at the Study at Dean’s, plus dinner and sunset nightcap.
The Kimpton Santo pays attention in history class.Photo by Garrett Smith
“We’ve had the pleasure of showcasing Kimpton Santo to influencers, travel experts and local leaders through behind-the-scenes tours for over a month; it’s truly inspiring to bring this amazing property to the people of San Antonio,” said Kimpton Santo general manager Lynn Snyder in a press release. “Through our grand opening month offers and specials, we want everyone in San Antonio to experience the exceptional service and cuisine we’ve all been waiting for.”
More information and booking links are available at santohotelsanantonio.com.