The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story.
My husband and I got married this past March and moved downtown after previously having lived in Cibolo for about three years. We have quickly grown to love our new neighborhood. We’re within walking distance of so many of our favorite spots and everything we need is less than 10 minutes away. And not having a 30-minute (1-hour with traffic) commute to work is definitely a plus.
From our apartment complex we can walk to the San Antonio Museum of Art for the latest exhibitions, along the River Walk for some exercise, and to plenty of restaurants and coffee shops. We love Rosella and were happy when it opened back up in June after being closed since January. We also love that we can walk to most of our date nights! One of our favorite date nights includes a trip to SAMA (which is free Tuesday evenings) and all-day happy hour at Shiro Japanese Bistro right across from the museum — the perfect combo! The museum also hosts markets on the weekends with local vendors, and we like to pop by to browse. Elsewhere’s spacious garden bar just down the street is another great option for after-museum drinks.
Being in a walkable neighborhood is key for our dogs, who enjoy strolling along the River Walk and especially love the dog park, Maverick Park, which is a recent addition to the neighborhood. We’re also a short walk from the Pearl, so we enjoy hanging out at Sternewirth at Hotel Emma, Local Coffee, and the Twig Book store.
Downtown San Antonio and the surrounding neighborhoods have changed so much in these last few years, so to now be right in the middle of it all is exciting. The new Frost Tower adds a modern accent to the downtown skyline and the adjacent Legacy Park hosts events that bring the community together, like markets, movie nights, and live music.
Herrera purchases handmade clay earrings from BriAnna Martinez-Brooks at the pop-up market in front of Elsewhere Garden Bar and Kitchen Thursday. Credit: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report 
Herrera walks through the weekly market at Elsewhere Garden Bar and Kitchen Thursday. Credit: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report 
Herrera takes her dog Benny, a pit mix, to Maverick dog park Thursday. Credit: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report 
Herrera enjoys walking to the San Antonio Museum of Art and visiting the ancient Roman collection. Credit: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report 
The downtown skyline is visible from the sky lounge at the top of Herrera’s apartment complex. Credit: Bria Woods / San Antonio Report
My apartment complex also puts together events for residents to mingle and establish a sense of community. We enjoy having a gym on site, as well as a pool and our sky lounge, which has a gorgeous view of the Tower of the Americas.
Downtown San Antonio’s nightlife has also taken off these past few years, though things were quiet for a while because of the pandemic. We’ve recently seen the city come back to life. A few of our favorite spots include: The Modernist near the Pearl for a more laidback, intimate atmosphere and Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery at Hemisfair for their excellent wine selection. Hemisfair is another one of my favorite downtown spots. It’s truly a beautiful outdoor space to relax in, with tons of games, a coffee shop, and one of our favorite workout studios.
It’s really the simple things, like having a picnic in the park or getting coffee at my favorite coffee shop that bring me joy and make me feel at home. Coming from a military family that moved around a lot, I never truly had a hometown. Now, I feel like I’ve found a place where I can put down roots and build community. San Antonio feels like home.
