Southtown is the thriving bohemian arts and entertainment district south of San Antonio’s touristy city centre. The eclectic community comprises 3 overlapping neighbourhoods – King William, Lavaca, and Blue Star – and is packed with history, hipsters, art galleries, and a buzzing nightlife scene.
Locals and visitors flock to Southtown to enjoy the welcoming vibe, gorgeous Victorian-era architecture, and its wide variety of food and drink offerings. You can reach Southtown by walking along the paved River Walk route from downtown San Antonio.
It’s possible to explore the neighbourhood on foot. But if you want to see it all in one day, you’ll need to use some form of transport to help you visit all the spots. There are human-powered rickshaws, bicycles, taxis, trams, and ride-sharing services. Our guide below shows you why Southtown will be an unforgettable highlight of your trip to San Antonio.
Southtown in San Antonio - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in San Antonio (Read all about San Antonio here)
foto door Nan Palmero (CC BY 2.0) bewerkt
What are the highlights and features of Southtown?
The main draw of Southtown is the lively arts scene. To experience the district at its finest, plan your visit to coincide with the monthly First Friday nighttime street festival. Galleries and shops stay open late, and it’s an excellent opportunity for unique art finds and mingle with locals. The events are free and family-friendly.
On the second Saturday of every month, the South Flores Art District in the Lone Star neighbourhood hosts live music, art exhibitions, and food trucks. You can stroll a few blocks to explore stately residences of the King William Historic District, founded by German immigrants in the 19th century.
The Blue Star Contemporary Art Center is Southtown’s crown jewel. The renovated warehouse houses artist studios, galleries, art retailers and a microbrewery. Pop by Villa Finale, a beautifully restored Italianate mansion. On a self-guided tour, admire exquisite period furniture, decorative arts and a landscaped garden.
foto door J. Diaz (CC BY-SA 2.0) bewerkt
What else can you see and do in Southtown?
Southtown is a fabulous shopping destination in San Diego. Dedicate a couple of hours to exploring stores on South Alamo Street. You’ll find cute boutiques like Casa Margarita, which sells beautiful Mexican folk art and Day of the Dead items.
Discover Zapotec sterling silver and hand-embroidered clothing at La Vida Gallery. Pick up unique artworks like whimsical diablos and cubist metal animals from the San Angel Folk Art Gallery. And at Garcia Art Glass, shop for one-of-a-kind glass bowls, vases and chandeliers. On Saturdays, you can watch the talented glassblowing artists in action.
There is no shortage of incredible cuisine in Southtown. Locals love Tito’s for early morning breakfast, Rosario’s for Tex-Mex comfort food and margaritas and El Mirador for its famous Saturday-only sopa azteca (tortilla soup).
In the evenings, kick back and relax with a beer at neighbourhood favourites La Tuna and The Friendly Spot. Beethoven Maennerchor, a beer garden and singing club that’s been going since 1867, is also a fun spot to wrap up a day in Southtown.
foto door Tony Kent (CC BY-SA 2.0) bewerkt
Good to know about Southtown
A fun and easy way to get around Southtown is on a bicycle. B Cycle, San Antonio’s bike share program, has multiple stations all over the city. We recommend hiring a bike from the kiosk in Yanaguana Garden on South Alamo Street. From there, you’re just a few blocks from the start of the Southtown district. Be sure to dock the bike at a B-Station every 60 minutes to avoid additional fees.
If you’re feeling energetic, ride about 10 miles south along the Riverwalk and explore the San Antonio Missions Historical Park. The UNESCO World Heritage site is home to 4 colonial Spanish Catholic missions. Admission to the missions is free. Not much of the trail is shaded, so you’ll want to put on sunscreen and carry lots of water.
foto door Tony Kent (CC BY-SA 2.0) bewerkt