Downtown San Antonio Hotels on the River Walk
Downtown San Antonio is easiest to enjoy from a hotel on or near the River Walk, and the three best stays on this page are exactly that. Omni La Mansion del Rio sits directly on the River Walk with a courtyard pool and a spa, Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk adds a rooftop pool and free bicycles, and Element by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk is less than a kilometer from The Alamo. The fourth listing, DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio Northwest - La Cantera, is across from the University of Texas at San Antonio, not downtown, and I say so plainly so you can choose with the map in mind.
Downtown San Antonio is organized around the River Walk, a sunken path of restaurants and bridges that runs through the center, with The Alamo a short walk away. Hotels here trade a car for a stroll along the water.
River Walk Hotels and One Northwest Alternative
A downtown San Antonio stay works best when you can walk to the River Walk and The Alamo, then return to a pool or spa. Three hotels here are in the core, and one is a northwest alternative for drivers.
Omni La Mansion del Rio is the classic River Walk choice, rated 8.9 across more than 1,100 reviews. Its listing describes a four-star luxury hotel in downtown San Antonio directly on the River Walk, with a tropical courtyard, an outdoor pool, a spa and a restaurant serving Southwest cuisine. Rooms offer views of the courtyard, the River Walk or the city, and some include a balcony. I would choose it for a first visit, when the setting, the courtyard pool and the walk along the water matter more than a modern design.
Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk by IHG, rated 9.0 across nearly 550 reviews, is the alternative with a rooftop. The listing describes pet-friendly rooms with city views and modern amenities, a rooftop swimming pool, spa facilities, a fitness center and a family-friendly restaurant serving diverse cuisines, plus free bicycles for exploring the area. That combination suits couples, pet owners and families who want a rooftop pool without leaving the River Walk area. I would pick it over the Omni if the rooftop and the bicycles are more important than the traditional courtyard setting.
Element by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk holds the highest score on the page at 9.1 across nearly 500 reviews. Its listing describes comfortable air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and free WiFi, a modern restaurant serving American cuisine, a bar, a fitness center and complimentary bicycles, in the city center less than a kilometer from The Alamo. It does not list a pool, so I would choose it for walking, cycling and a simpler room rather than for a pool afternoon. It is a strong choice when The Alamo is the main stop.
DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio Northwest - La Cantera, rated 8.8 across more than 410 reviews, is the outlier on this page. Its listing describes an outdoor pool and hot tub, an on-site restaurant with American fusion dining, a 24-hour fitness center and a location across from the University of Texas at San Antonio. That is the northwest of the city, not the River Walk, so I would only book it for a drive-based trip. Anyone who wants to stroll to dinner on the water should choose one of the first three.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were planning a first trip, I would book Omni La Mansion del Rio for the River Walk setting and the courtyard pool. For a trip where a rooftop pool and bicycles appeal, my choice would be Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk. If The Alamo was the main plan and I wanted a simpler room, I would pick Element by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk, which sits less than a kilometer from it.
Element by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk
San Antonio
499 reviews
Modern comfort in the city center with free bikes and a fitness center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itElement by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk is less than 1 km from The Alamo, so the city's best-known historic site is an easy walk with children. Complimentary bicycles let older kids and parents explore the River Walk area at their own pace, and a minimarket on site covers forgotten snacks. The restaurant serves American cuisine for dinner, with a bar and outdoor seating. I would use it as a car-free base for the historic center.
Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk by IHG
San Antonio
546 reviews
Rooftop pool, spa, and pet-friendly luxury in downtown San Antonio
Check availabilityWhy guests love itKimpton Santo gives families a rooftop pool with city views and a pool bar, a good break from the San Antonio heat. The family-friendly restaurant serves American and international dishes, and the coffee shop handles quick breakfasts. Free bicycles let older children and parents explore downtown together. Parents can book a spa treatment or use the fitness center, and pets are accepted, so nobody stays home.
Omni La Mansion del Rio
San Antonio
1,123 reviews
Luxury hotel on the River Walk with a tropical courtyard and spa
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe hotel sits directly on the River Walk, so evening strolls along the water start at the door. The outdoor pool is set in a tropical courtyard, a calm retreat for children in the Texas heat. Rooms look onto the courtyard, the River Walk or the city, and some have a balcony, so a River Walk view is the one to request. The restaurant serves Southwest cuisine, and 1,123 reviews average 8.9.
DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio Northwest - La Cantera
San Antonio
413 reviews
Outdoor pool, hot tub, and American fusion dining near UTSA
Check availabilityWhy guests love itDoubleTree San Antonio Northwest sits directly across from the University of Texas at San Antonio, on the northwest side of the city. The outdoor pool and hot tub are the easy reward after a hot day out. Fire & Water Restaurant serves American fusion food at breakfast, lunch and dinner, so meals need no planning with children. Parents can use the 24-hour fitness center at any hour, and pets are accepted for families traveling with a dog.
Local tips
- 1Choose Omni La Mansion del Rio for direct River Walk access and a courtyard pool, with a spa and a Southwest restaurant on site.
- 2Pick Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk if you want a rooftop pool and free bicycles, and it welcomes pets according to its listing.
- 3Book Element by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk when The Alamo is the priority, since the listing places it less than a kilometer away.
- 4Check the map before booking DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio Northwest - La Cantera, because it is across from the University of Texas at San Antonio, not on the River Walk.
- 5Use the free bicycles at Element or Kimpton Santo to explore the River Walk area without relying on rideshares.
- 6Ask about the room view when booking Omni La Mansion del Rio, since rooms face the courtyard, the River Walk or the city.