Thompson San Antonio, a new 162-room lifestyle hotel, opened February 2021 in San Antonio, Texas’ Art District, along the city’s celebrated River Walk neighborhood.
Bringing modern flair to the Texas Hill Country, the 20-story Thompson Hotels property captures the vibrant contemporary spirit of this historic Texas city, offering elevated culinary offerings, a social scene, pool, Jeff Koons and views of the city skyline.
Here are 5 reasons to book the new Thompson San Antonio.
- The hotel’s incredible design and art
Inspired by the intricate fabric of contemporary San Antonio, designer Mariana Valero of Mexico-based interior design firm Amass & G created a magnetic, inviting gathering place where travelers, locals and neighbors can be inspired.
Thompson San Antonio’s unapologetically stylish design pairs handcrafted materials, including natural parota wood and custom handstitched leather, with lavish furnishings and Texas-inspired touches. Residential-style indoor and outdoor spaces feature bold design elements, intriguing materials and textures, bespoke furniture and the curated works of internationally renowned artists and photographers.
Captivating paintings, installations and sculptures are featured throughout the property, including original sculptures by Jeff Koons and Koray Akay, a limited-edition piece by Lucio Carvalho, photography by Lynne Douglas and a 3-D acrylic ink on aluminum painting from San Antonio-based artist, Eric Breish.
Thompson San Antonio’s lobby welcomes guests to an environment of tailored design and rich textures. Dark flooring is softened with subtle abstract-patterned rugs, and black granite and rusted Corten steel contrast with natural wood walls paneled in a chevron pattern. A custom-designed floating staircase with vertical handrails wrapped in handstitched leather makes a statement as it draws the eye upward. Lighting is intimate, furnishings are layered for a residential feel, and rich touches, such as a bookcase surrounding a fireplace and large circular columns wrapped in artisan brass belts, tempt all who enter to get comfortable and stay awhile.
2. A Great Collection of Culinary and Bar Concepts
Four restaurant and bar destinations cross indoor and outdoor spaces, offering culinary and beverage options.
Landrace, a new destination restaurant helmed by James Beard Award finalist and beloved San Antonio chef Steve McHugh, honors the pastoral beauty of foods that can be traced back to the land where they are naturally shepherded over time. McHugh’s seasonal menus celebrate regional Texas ingredients and heritage growers close to home.
With Landrace, McHugh shifts his focus to heritage and place, collaborating with an extensive list of Texas farmers and growers for ingredients ranging from quail eggs and cabrito to black garlic, edible flowers and Bloody Butcher corn. A collection of Landrace’s dishes will be prepared on the coals, courtesy of an impressive Grillworks wood-fired grill.
Overlooking the River Walk and adjacent to the hotel, the 200-seat Landrace features a 40-seat riverfront terrace and a distinctly independent mood, with a light color palette, soaring ceilings and walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. The setting evokes a warm mid-century feel with upholstered banquettes and chairs and custom-designed patterned screens in rose gold. A showstopping bar and a semi-open kitchen showcasing the wood-fired grill add to the ambiance. Landrace also offers two expansive private dining rooms, one of which features views of the River Walk.
Floating high above the River Walk is The Moon’s Daughters, an indoor-outdoor rooftop restaurant and bar that dazzles from its 20th-story perch over the city. Inspired by the Greek goddess of the moon, the 300-seat restaurant and bar – opened mid-March – offers indoor-outdoor spaces with city lights and all the excitement of starry San Antonio nights. Here, some of the city’s best live music will elevate the mood. With programming scheduled around the lunar cycle, The Moon’s Daughters will offer live music and DJ sets every Friday and Saturday night, in addition to pop-up events such as a Super Full Moon party, tarot card readings and aerial performances.
A Mediterranean-inspired menu from Executive Chef Robert Cantu, a San Antonio native and an alum of The Angad Arts Hotel’s Grand Tavern by David Burke and The Cheshire Hotel in St. Louis, Mo.,features flavorful dishes that conjure a sun-soaked holiday along the Aegean Sea. A compelling selection of small plates features ingredients such as charred and preserved lemon, local honey, roasted pistachios, local eggplant, fried mint and Marcona almonds. Entrées encompass meat and fish dishes, as well as vegetarian Stuffed Leek Kebobs. Side dishes range from roasted local squash and mushrooms to labneh, artichoke hummus and marinated olives. The Moon’s Daughters is open for happy hour, dinner and late-night dining.
In addition to Landrace and The Moon’s Daughters, Thompson San Antonio also offers two venues for dining and imbibing. A bustling lobby bar designed to ignite conversation among guests and locals alike and an al fresco bar on the fourth-floor pool deck that is exclusive to hotel guests and residents of the adjacent Arts Residences.
During their stay, guests have access to Thompson San Antonio Tastemakers, ultra-connected insiders who can help curate under-the-radar experiences locally. Guests of Thompson San Antonio also receive priority booking for Landrace and The Moon’s Daughters.
3. Elevated Guest Amenities & Immersive Experiences
Thompson San Antonio features an expansive pool deck on the fourth floor, offering panoramic city views. This oasis, exclusively for hotel guests and residents of The Arts Residences, features a 2,000-square-foot swimming pool, inviting lounge areas, a pool bar, lively performances on the weekends and private luxury cabanas with lush greenery, a water-ledge, TV and dedicated VIP service. During their stay, guests can experience day parties and a nightlife scene on the pool deck.
Guests will enjoy pampering and relaxation therapies at Thompson Spa, the hotel’s 5,000 square-foot full-service spa featuring five treatment rooms, intimate relaxation areas, a steam room, and a sauna.
Thompson Spa offers an extensive menu of facials, peels, body treatments, massages, scrubs, and is the only hotel spa in downtown San Antonio to offer the HydraFacial, a replenishing and hydrating treatment that features a combination of hyaluronic acid and patented Boletus extract to reactivate skin’s natural hydration levels and reveal a more youthful complexion.
Thompson Spa’s menu also features regionally inspired body treatments, including the multisensory Texas Orange Blossom and Cedar Wood manicure and pedicure. Guests in the know can unwind with secret off-menu experiences, such as artistically crafted skincare treatments, which change regularly. Creative fitness classes include Drop the Beat Yoga, which pairs mood-elevating yoga with rhythm and sound. A 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center allows guests to squeeze in a workout when it’s most convenient for them.
Each Thompson San Antonio guest receives a personal water bottle during their stay that can be refilled at multiple hydration stations throughout the property. Thompson San Antonio also provides guests with a Thompson safety pack that includes a face mask and disposable wipes.
4. Versatile Meeting & Social Event Venues with Downtown Views
Thompson San Antonio’s nine indoor and outdoor venues span more than 10,000 square feet and feature a versatile selection of layouts. The flexible space encompasses
with advanced videoconference technology.
Anchored by a curated collection of original artworks, Thompson San Antonio features an original Red Balloon Dog sculpture from Jeff Koons and a large wall sculpture from Koray Akay titled Push in the corner. Made from wood, Push in the corner is a large sculpture created with mixed painting techniques that consists of 6,000 pieces and took Akay two and a half months to complete.
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Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.
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