Hotel Emma

Top choice in San Antonio


Is steampunk-glam a thing? Going by this showcase hotel, originally a 19th-century brewhouse and now the centerpiece of the Pearl District, it most certainly is. Common areas impress with a striking mix of Victorian-era decor and post-industrial fixtures like the colossal pipes that snake through the lobby, while guest rooms evoke the charms of a stylish but understated Texas ranch.

With three on-site restaurants, a rooftop pool, a guests-only library holding 3700 books and rooms with terrace fireplaces, you'll never want to leave the grounds. And everyone looks good in the sultry confines of the Sternewirth bar, where you can squeeze into an old beer tank for cocktails and camaraderie. The hotel is named for Emma Koehler, who ran the brewery in the early 1900s.