Rooftop Reveal

Renovated luxury hotel now open along San Antonio River Walk

The highly anticipated InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk is now open. Previously the Wyndham San Antonio River Walk, this hotel was sold and dramatically updated to include 390 rooms and four new bar and dining concepts. This transformation has been in the works for at least three years.

The 21-story hotel sits along the River Walk at 111 E. Pecan St., across from Frost Bank and CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery. The convenient downtown location is great for walking, but guests can also opt for a water taxi. Other big features include a rooftop pool and the Club InterContinental Lounge, which is not a member lounge but a perk for guests who book at a luxury rate.

As expected at a luxury hotel, the InterContinental San Antonio also offers 24-hour in-room dining, a valet and dedicated car house, a 24-hour fitness center, and an impressive 18,000 square feet of event and conference space. All 10 meeting rooms have built-in food and beverage stations.

The rooms are neutral and calming.Photo courtesy of InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel

"The InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk embodies the vibrant culture and rich heritage of San Antonio,” said the hotel's general manager, Stefan Gruvberger. “Whether you're a local seeking a cultivated retreat or a visitor eager to explore our city's charms, the hotel’s luxury accommodations and amenities offer something for everyone."

The hotel's design by Leo A Daly is earthy and sleek, with a few carefully chosen colors bringing it to life and lots of textures keeping things interesting: velvet, leather, brass, marble, wood, and glass share the space. In a concierge gallery, local products make an appearance.

Rosebelly Cafe shows off several of the hotel's key design elements in one place.Photo courtesy of InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel

InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel Cavalier bar

Photo courtesy of InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel

The Cavalier bar is the hotel's most dramatic space to get a cocktail.

All four restaurant and bar concepts are under the leadership of executive chef Andres Farias. Cavalier is the main restaurant, moody and formal in appearance but according to a release, focusing on "farm-fresh ingredients." Bites are available at all four concepts, but busy travelers will likely gravitate toward Rosebelly Coffee, with grab-and-go items like pastries and locally roasted coffee.

Finally, two cocktail bars round things out: Deco Bar, an oval-shaped lobby bar for craft cocktails and European shareable plates; and High Praise, a rooftop lounge with cocktails, beer, live music, and more.

Until December 30, the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk is offering complimentary parking and a $50 food and beverage credit per night for anyone who books a stay. More information is available at ihg.com.

hotels openings cocktails pools downtown

T+L in HOU

Travel + Leisure includes Houston stay on 100 best new hotels list

Photo by Julie Soefer

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Hot on the heels of being named one of Esquire magazine’s best new hotels in the world of 2025, Houston's Hotel Saint Augustine has picked up another accolade. The Montrose property landed on Travel + Leisure’s 100 Best New Hotels of the Year this week. It's the only Texas hotel to make the list.

The magazine noted the property “feels true to the destination and is a perfect addition to Houston's growing hospitality scene,” noting details that pay tribute to Houston’s history, like the Night Heron cocktail named after the city’s official bird and that the hotel itself takes its own name from Augustus Chapman, one of Houston’s founders.

When Austin-based Bunkhouse Hotels opened Saint Augustine back in December of 2024, it was a much-anticipated addition to the Bayou City’s hospitality scene. Adjacent to the world-renowned Menil Collection, the Hotel Saint Augustine blends seamlessly into its surroundings with a quiet elegance and luxury amenities.

“For us, Hotel Saint Augustine offers a chance to become part of a neighborhood that deeply aligns with the Bunkhouse ethos,” Bunkhouse senior VP of design and development Tenaya Hills said when it first opened. “Montrose, and by extension, the Museum District and Houston at large, foster an incredible sense of community, of creativity, of old world and new. We wanted to create a place where everyone could come and feel as welcome and inspired. As the next iteration of our Saint hotels, we aim to provide the same unique feeling of seclusion, of permission to be indulgent, and, most of all, completely at ease.”

With 71 rooms across five, two-story buildings, many with courtyard views, the Saint Augustine has quickly become known for being both upscale and approachable. Reviews thus far on sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp call the property “simply stunning,” with a “fun atmosphere,” and “a treasure…in the heart of Houston.”

On the Travel + Leisure list, the hotel is ranked among properties such as the Hotel Hana in Paris, The Lotus Palace in India, and the Palm House in Palm Beach, Florida. Room rates start at $429 per night.

Rooftop Reveal

Renovated luxury hotel now open along San Antonio River Walk

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