San Antonio has many iconic and picturesque attractions along with great weather and mild winters to enjoy outdoor activities.

So whether you prefer wandering through the historic Alamo or gazing at the animals in the San Antonio Zoo, you’ll find a wealth of things to do outside.
Furthermore, many restaurants in San Antonio have outdoor patios surrounded by greenery that offer epic views of the city’s skyline and riverwalk.
The Cove
606 W Cypress St, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: 210-227-2683
Visit Website
Featured on the Food Network, Texas Monthly, and The New York Times, The Cove is a farm-to-table, sustainable restaurant and music venue.
They have a giant backyard with a vegetable garden that provides the bulk of their produce. Led by Lisa Asvestas, The Cove has been serving the Five Points neighborhood for over 20 years.
They have wonderful options for vegetarians and vegans. The food takes influences from the southwest with items like nachos and fish tacos, but they also have a full list of burgers.
I wanted to try a vegan burger, so I chose the BBQ Vegan Delight with a house-made veggie patty, caramelized onion, tomato, spinach, pickles, avocado, and BBQ sauce.
Southerleigh Fine Food And Brewery
136 E Grayson St Suite 120, San Antonio, TX 78215
Phone: 210-455-5701
Visit Website
Located in Tobin Hill in a 19th-century brewery and San Antonio’s oldest brewery building known as the Pearl, Southerliegh Fine Food and Brewery is a revival of both the building and the art of beer making.
The stunning interior preserves the original building’s integrity and opens out onto a massive tree-covered patio.
The kitchen is led by Galveston native Chef Jeff Balfour, who uses his southern roots and fine-dining experience to create a refined American menu with heavy Southern influences.
There is a brewery on-site with 15 rotating beers on tap. For a true taste of Texas, try the grilled gulf shrimp in pozole with roasted poblano, hominy, and tomatillo.
Boudro’s on the Riverwalk
On The Riverwalk Level, 421 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-224-8484
Visit Website
A riverwalk staple since 1986, Boudro’s on the Riverwalk is a Texas Bistro and cocktail bar with an old-fashioned vintage chic interior with limestone walls and a lovely outdoor patio right on the river.
The high-end menu features wild game and fresh gulf coast seafood using a fusion of Southern and Southwestern flavors.
Their expertly mixed craft cocktails are superb. I had a prickly pear margarita to accompany my Mesquite Grilled Quail on pepper jack grits with fried parsley and jalapeno chips and a chipotle demiglace. The main entrees are all seafood dishes made with gulf-caught shellfish and fish filets.
Bliss
926 S Presa St, San Antonio, TX 78210
Phone: 210-225-2547
Visit Website
Located in the artsy and historic neighborhood of Southtown, Bliss is a fine-dining restaurant specializing in contemporary American cuisine that is both chef and market-driven.
The uber-modern and intimate interior opens out onto a glorious, enclosed patio surrounded by succulents, greenery, and romantic tee lighting.
The menu, created by proprietors Mark and Lisa Bliss and talented chef Tony Hernandez has won the diner’s choice award and traveler’s choice award.
The presentation of food is as artistic as the surrounding neighborhood. The braised rabbit with wild mushrooms and creamy taleggio cheese polenta was certainly as good as it looked.
Cappy’s Restaurant
5011 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: 210-828-9669
Visit Website
Established in 1977 in Alamo Heights, Cappy’s is an elegant yet inviting cocktail bar and New American bistro with a loyal following and one of the more extensive scotch and bourbon menus in San Antonio.
They offer a robust wine list and espresso bar, as well as a stellar cocktail menu to accompany a delicious brunch, lunch, or dinner.
They are voted best brunch in San Antonio, so I recommend going on the weekend for an over-the-top bloody mary and a super fancy multi-course brunch.
Whether you want steak and eggs or a Texas pot roast, the savory brunch menu will not disappoint. I couldn’t resist the Louie, a blue crab cake topped with poached eggs, hollandaise, and hash browns.
Supper American Eatery
136 E Grayson St Pearl Brewery Area, San Antonio, TX 78215-1397
Phone: 210-448-8351
Visit Website
Located inside the lovely boutique Hotel Emma, Supper American Eatery is a contemporary New American eatery from head chef John Brand.
The hip, country chic décor, bright and green outdoor patio, and creative menu at Supper have garnered acclaim from The New York Times, Eater, Culture Map, and the Chicago Tribune.
You can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Supper. The multi-course menu has colorful vegetable-centric shareable plates, bowls of veggies and stews, salads, and entrees.
I was there on a brisk day, so I went with the comforting braised lamb stew with celeriac, parsnip, cipollini onions, kale, and mint.
Pharm Table
611 S Presa St Suite 106, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-802-1860
Visit Website
Led by James Beard recognized Chef and nutrition enthusiast Elizabeth Johnson, Pharm Table combines her travels and passion for global cuisine with her healthful and environmentally conscious culinary philosophy.
Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, Pharm Table has won a James Beard Award, Critics Choice Award, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and 60 Minutes.
The menu is organic, locally sourced, and gluten-free. It has my favorite selection of cocktails and mocktails, using spices and tincture combos that benefit your health and your tastebuds.
My favorite dish was the Tamarind Amchur Curry Bowl with tamarind amchur curry, cabbage, onion, and seasoned veggies over basmati rice.
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana
Multiple Locations
Visit Website
With locations in Castle Hills and Downtown San Antonio, Dough Pizzeria Napolitana is an upscale yet family-friendly authentic Neapolitan pizzeria and wine bar.
They use a wood-burning oven to create the characteristic bubbly char that denotes a Neapolitan pie while using locally sourced farm-fresh ingredients for the scratch-made sauces, dough, and toppings.
They even make their own burrata which you can order as an appetizer if not as a decadent topping on one of their delectable specialty pies.
I wanted the house-made burrata on my pie, so I opted for the Nero Tartufo pizza with San Marzano tomato sauce, burrata, heirloom cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, basil, pecorino romano, and balsamic glaze.
La Fonda On Main
2415 N Main Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: 210-733-0621
Visit Website
Established in 1932 in a historic and charming colonial-style hacienda, La Fonda is San Antonio’s oldest continuous Mexican food restaurant.
The Monte Vista location has an enclosed outdoor patio with lush tropical greenery and red brick grounds.
The interior is an ode to Mexican American culture, with colorful chandeliers, antique fixtures, and old-school art pieces.
The menu at La Fonda has a mix of authentic regional Mexican as well as Tex Mex specialties. Of course, the cocktail bar serves a variety of delicious tequila and mezcal cocktails.
I had a frozen margarita to accompany my delicious Chile Relleno, a breaded and fried poblano pepper stuffed with prime beef, pecans, raisins, and potatoes, served with a cheese enchilada Verde.
Bakery Lorraine
Multiple Locations
Visit Website
Bakery Lorraine is a classic French bakery café, and wine shop with locations inside the Pearl brewery, the Rim, the San Antonio Medical Center, and at The DoSeum.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and evening snacks, Bakery Lorraine is a friendly and quaint spot to study or meet friends for a mid-morning coffee and pastry break.
You can get whole loaves of freshly baked bread, specialty cakes for parties, and every kind of pastry imaginable. They also have a full espresso bar.
They’re known for their colorful and delicious French macaroons. Their lemon blueberry frangipane tart was almost too pretty to eat.
La Tuna Icehouse & Grill
100 Probandt St, San Antonio, TX 78204
Phone: 210-212-5727
Visit Website
A longstanding and beloved Southtown haunt for business professionals and rowdy weekend crowds alike, La Tuna Icehouse and Grill is a friendly and no-frills beer bar and fusion grill with bar fare that fuses Cajun, Mexican, and American favorites.
The outdoor patio is lined with giant pecan trees and is the perfect place to enjoy an ice-cold beer al fresco.
They have a robust selection of local and imported beers to accompany a full menu of comforting Mexican appetizers, soups, and salads.
I loved their unique Nachos Gueros with white bean chili, grilled chicken, melted jack cheese, jalapenos, and guacamole served over thin and crispy tortilla chips with pico de gallo.
18 Oaks
23808 Resort Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78261
Phone: 210-276-2500
Visit Website
Located inside the ritzy JW Mariott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, 18 Oaks is a traditional fine dining steakhouse in a stunning dining space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a giant outdoor deck with views of the surrounding Texas hill country.
They are a fancy cocktail and dinner establishment, offering the finest cuts of prime steak, fresh seafood, and luxurious service.
The classic multi-course menu has raw bar seafood starters, hot small plates, various cuts of steak, and seafood and poultry entrees.
For the best of surf and turf, I recommend starting with the seared diver scallops with jalapeno honey, followed by a Texas Wagyu New York strip.
Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen
103 E Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
Phone: 210-446-9303
Visit Website
Established in 2020, Elsewhere Garden Bar and Kitchen has quickly become a treasured and popular spot for beer and farm-fresh food with a view.
It is located right on the riverwalk and has a massive dog-friendly outdoor patio shaded and adorned with countless potted plants, large wood picnic tables, and neat light fixtures. Elsewhere is a fun social bar for friendly breakfast, lunch, or dinner get-togethers.
There are 27 beers on tap and 30 imported cans at Elsewhere. The food menu is expertly crafted bar fare at its best.
I started with a hot soft pretzel with whole grain mustard. Their selection of sandwiches is amazing, with everything from creative burgers to pimento grilled cheese.
The Guenther House
205 E Guenther St, San Antonio, TX 78204
Phone: 210-227-1061
Visit Website
In addition to being a restaurant, The Guenther House is also a museum and store inside a historic home built by Pioneer Flour Mills founder Carl Hilmar Guenther in the mid 19th century.
Located right on the San Antonio River in King William, The Guenther House is a gorgeous limestone mansion with beautifully preserved Victorian-era furniture and immaculate grounds to observe from the outdoor patio seating.
The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, using locally roasted coffee and fresh ingredients for their classic American dishes.
The signature dish at Guenther’s is the Guenther’s Favorite Breakfast platter with two freshly baked, utterly fluffy, and buttery biscuits, a side of sausage gravy and fruit preserves, fresh fruit, and applewood smoked bacon.