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. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.

At the end of 2024, my partner and I decided it was time to stop renting and buy our first home. At the time, we were living in Beacon Hill, a neighborhood that always had a small-town feel with beautiful homes and an incredible sense of community. As we started looking for a home, we knew we wanted that same feeling — a place we could truly call home and grow into as we got older.

We found that in Highland Park.

One of the biggest reasons we chose this neighborhood was location. My partner owns Tandem, a coffee, beer, and wine shop that has become a gathering place for so many people, and our home is just seven minutes away. My office is only about ten minutes away, and honestly, we can get almost anywhere in San Antonio without spending forever in the car. 

A community event at Tandem, a coffee, beer, and wine shop owned by Nadia’s partner. Credit: Courtesy / Nadia De La Garza

When we walked into our 1930s home, we knew it was the one. It had all the charm we were looking for with the updates we wanted, and plenty of room for our five dogs, my mom, and the life we’re building together.

What I didn’t expect was how quickly Highland Park would start to feel like home.

We’re surrounded by so many things we love. The San Antonio River is nearby, along with Riverside Golf Course, McCreless Library, Bode Community Park, and we’re only a few miles from downtown and the Alamodome. Whether we want to grab dinner, take the dogs for a walk, or spend the day exploring the city, everything is close by.

Our neighbors genuinely care about one another. Many have lived here for decades, while others, like us, are just starting their next chapter. 

My neighbors have also gotten to know me as the person to call when a community cat needs help. I volunteer with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), so if a cat needs to be trapped, spayed or neutered, and returned safely, my phone usually rings. It’s one of the ways I can give back and help make sure the animals in Highland Park are cared for, too. 

Nadia and Noah pose for a portrait with 3 of their 5 dogs as they prepare to take them for a walk through the Highland Park neighborhood. Credit: Clint Datchuk for the San Antonio Report

One of my favorite things about Highland Park is its diversity. You’ll find longtime residents, young families, veterans, new homeowners, renters, and small businesses that make this neighborhood feel alive. It has a personality all its own.

One of Nadia’s favorite spots in the Highland Park neighborhood, Con Amor Cocina, resides within walking distance of Nadia’s home. Credit: Clint Datchuk for the San Antonio Report

Highland Park may be one of San Antonio’s best-kept secrets, but I hope it doesn’t stay that way forever. If you’re ever on the Southeast Side, grab a cup of coffee at Tandem, breakfast at La Morenita #2, or lunch at Con Amor Cocina, then take a walk through Bode Community Park and explore the neighborhood. I think you’ll quickly understand why we fell in love with this community and why we’re so excited to call Highland Park home.