When at the last minute, I was invited to a conference in San Antonio, Texas a few weeks ago, I was unable to secure a hotel near the conference center.
That worked to my advantage, because I booked a room at Hotel Contessa right on the iconic San Antonio Riverwalk. Hotel Contessa is right on the river’s edge.
The 15-mile San Antonio Riverwalk is an exciting vacation area allowing visitors to walk around among charming artisan shops and restaurants, while experiencing a wonderful piece of San Antonio history.
A fun fact about the San Antonio Riverwalk: The Riverwalk was developed as a response to a 1930s flooding issue. The plan solved the problem by building the floodwater into a beautiful riverbank with a pedestrian-friendly area and walkway. Over the decades, Riverwalk has expanded into a major tourist destination.
About Hotel Contessa
Hotel Contessa is located on West Market Street in the heart of downtown San Antonio, directly on the Riverwalk. I stayed two nights and from the moment I arrived, I was blown away by the upscale lobby décor, including the large statue of Lady Contessa, the hotel’s namesake. The friendly, helpful staff made check in a breeze.
I am all about sightseeing convenience when selecting a hotel and Hotel Contessa’s location offers easy access to San Antonio’s Riverwalk. It’s just steps from the hotel door. The hotel is set in a quiet part of the Riverwalk. Best yet, there were so many shops and sights to see within walking distance.
Hotel Contessa Offers ALL SUITE Accommodations
It was such a nice travel perk to not have to pick between a standard guest room and a suite. That’s because Hotel Contessa offers all suite accommodations. The suite not only has a cozy living area but it also has a separate bedroom through a door. The living area featured a sofa, flat screen television, desk area workspace, a refrigerator, personal room safe, and coffee/tea maker.
The suite’s décor mirrors the artsy style of the San Antonio culture and history with original local artwork, stylish accents, and large floor to ceiling windows (with blackout curtains for sleeping). Views overlook either the Riverwalk or the San Antonio city skyline.
My suite on the 11th floor offered a very cool river view from a Juliet-style balcony. The king bed with pillowtop mattress was comfortable and the bathrobe was a nice amenity. In addition to a spacious bathroom, other room amenities include a flat screen television, hair dryer, iron, and ironing board.
Suite types include:
:: Cityview Suites
:: Riverview Suites
:: Riverview King Corner Suites
:: Executive Suites
:: Contessa Suites
:: Accessible Suites
Hotel Contessa Extras
In addition to spacious suites and stylish artwork throughout, Hotel Contessa also features a rooftop pool with outstanding views of the San Antonio skyline.
Newly renovated, The Spa at Hotel Contessa provides a variety of popular spa treatments from Swedish, deep tissue, and volcanic stone massages to facials and full-body experiences. The spa offers locally sourced products, a relaxation lounge, Ayurvedic-inspired treatments, herbal-infused tinctures and tonics, a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes and other fitness equipment, complimentary valet, and a retail boutique.
The hotels onsite restaurant, Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails has excellent food, cocktails, and service. The restaurant is located on the hotel’s ground floor, so you can even opt to dine outside overlooking the river for maximum ambiance. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner and even room service dining. The breakfast tacos were very good but not as outstanding as the steak at dinner, cooked perfectly. The chimichurri sauce (guessing a flavor of the Lone Star State) took the steak to the next level of deliciousness.
Must-See San Antonio Riverwalk Attractions
In addition to a successful business conference and a wonderful experience at Hotel Contessa, walking the riverwalk pathway to the popular San Antonio tourist destinations was a real treat. There’s something for everyone along the way.
San Antonio Riverwalk, combines history, culture, and the beauty of nature along the San Antonio Rivers. Discover shops, dining, and cultural landmarks, including the world-famous Alamo.
The historic Alamo, a symbol of Texas independence, is just steps from the Riverwalk’s livelier area. There you can explore the grounds of the legendary Alamo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization). Once a Spanish mission, this iconic landmark was the site of a pivotal battle during the Texas Revolution. The Alamo is a fascinating piece of San Antonio’s heritage and a must-see for all history buffs. One note: Entry to the Alamo is free but a reservation is required and guided tours are available for an additional fee.
River cruises provide tours to see the sights from a different perspective than walking. Book a tour with Go Rio! Cruises, where you’ll glide along the river, beneath charming stone bridges and past colorful gardens. Go Rio! Cruises offers boat tours, boat taxis, and private dining boats. The boat cruise was a highlight of this trip, and I could have stayed on it all day long, just going up and down the San Antonio River.
Some other fun visits as you’re walking along the Riverwalk path:
:: Select from endless dining options, restaurants of every cuisine.
:: Unique shopping in charming boutiques, art galleries, and souvenir shops.
:: Enjoy live music, bars, and entertainment.
:: Head to Museum Reach, adorned with art, museums, and lush landscaping, and visit the Pearl Brewery, San Antonio Museum of Art, Brackenridge Park, and the Witte Museum.
:: Then, head south to Mission Reach, where the Riverwalk was extended for 8 miles, connecting the four San Antonio missions located at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Each mission (Mission San José, Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan Capistrano, and Mission Espada) has a unique story to tell so you’ll want to see them all.
As for outdoor activities near the Riverwalk, there are many hiking and biking trails along the river and opportunities to go kayaking, canoeing, and birdwatching. If you’d rather be guided around, there are many tours available on and near the San Antonio Riverwalk. Select from narrated boat tours, walking tours, bike tours, vespa tours and more.
Hotel Contessa is Highly Recommended: A Stylish Stay Right on the Riverwalk!
The Hotel Contessa turned out to be a very pleasant stay, such a nice hotel in such a special location. Riverwalk in San Antonio is a must-visit location if you ever travel to South Texas.
Whether attending meetings at the business conference or strolling along the Riverwalk, I always looked forward to arriving back to the hotel for much-needed quiet time.
Seeing the Alamo in person was such an added perk to this business trip as was viewing the missions at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. I enjoyed everything about San Antonio, like browsing the charming artisan shops, art galleries, and souvenir shops.
The Hotel Contessa is wonderful for anyone looking for a stylish, friendly place to stay in San Antonio. Sleeping in its spacious suite is going to make it hard for me to book a standard, small hotel room going forward.