22 editor picks in San Antonio.
22 brunch places in San Antonio we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in San Antonio | Brunch across every city.
Brunch in San Antonio runs from breakfast tacos and barbacoa to white-tablecloth hotel dining, often in the same morning. The Pearl anchors the upscale end with Supper at Hotel Emma and Best Quality Daughter, while The Guenther House in King William and Magnolia Pancake Haus on the north side draw the longest weekend lines. For a Mexican-leaning start, Tellez Tamales and Barbacoa and Garcia's Mexican Food on the west side are the early-morning staples.
Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa is a west side weekend ritual that tourists never reach, where families queue for barbacoa by the pound before sunday breakfast.
TipCome Saturday or Sunday morning for the pit barbacoa and a dozen tamales. This is how San Antonio families eat the weekend.
Garcia's Mexican Food on the West Side is a small, cash-friendly counter where the cheap carne guisada taco is the order; go early before the breakfast crowd.
OrderBreakfast tacos and carne guisada
TipThe carne guisada taco is cheap and excellent. Small and cash-friendly; come early before the breakfast crowd.
Lucy's Cafe on the north side keeps breakfast cheap, with a bean and cheese with bacon taco under three dollars; it is cash-friendly and busy at breakfast.
OrderBean and cheese with bacon taco
TipThe bean and cheese with bacon is the order under three dollars. Cash-friendly and busy at breakfast.
Rolando's Super Tacos on the north side is famous for El Gigante, a single taco big enough to be a whole breakfast for the price of a coffee elsewhere.
OrderEl Gigante, one taco that feeds a person
TipOne El Gigante is a whole breakfast for the price of a coffee elsewhere. Order at the counter and add beans.
Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa on the West Side sells tamales by the dozen and pit barbacoa by the pound, a high-value weekend stock-up for a family breakfast.
OrderTamales by the dozen, barbacoa by the pound
TipBuy tamales by the dozen and barbacoa by the pound for a cheap family weekend breakfast. Go early on Saturdays.
The Original Donut Shop on Fredericksburg Road sells a breakfast taco and a fresh donut for a few dollars, the cheapest and most San Antonio of breakfast.
OrderTaco-and-donut combo for a few dollars
TipA taco and a donut for the price of a coffee elsewhere. The drive-through line moves fast.
Mendez Cafe has sold cheap, generous carne guisada tacos since 1986, a South Side breakfast counter where a couple of dollars buys tender beef in peppery.
OrderCarne guisada taco in spicy gravy
TipThe carne guisada taco is the cheap order to make. Small and busy, so expect a short morning wait.
Magnolia Pancake Haus is a walk-in-only north-side breakfast institution off Embassy Oaks, scratch-making German pancakes and apple-cinnamon crepes to crowds.
OrderGerman pancakes and the apple-cinnamon crepes.
TipIt is walk-in only and the weekend wait is real; arrive before 9am. The German pancake is the signature order.
Cullum's Attaboy in Alamo Heights pairs a champagne brunch with a famous smash burger, a Michelin Bib Gourmand diner whose small room fills fast on weekends.
OrderChampagne brunch with the smash burger.
TipThe champagne brunch and the smash burger are the orders. The small room fills fast on weekends; arrive early.
Snooze brings a retro-diner brunch to the Quarry area, with creative dishes like pineapple upside-down pancakes and shrimp and grits plus morning cocktails.
OrderPineapple upside-down pancakes and breakfast tacos.
TipPut your name on the app waitlist before you arrive. The pineapple upside-down pancakes are the brunch splurge.
Maverick Texas Brasserie does a Southtown weekend brunch with mimosa bottle service, where the omelette du fromage and the salmon bagel are the orders.
OrderOmelette du fromage and the salmon bagel.
TipWeekend brunch comes with mimosa bottle service. Book on Resy; the brasserie room fills by late morning.
The Guenther House sits in the 1860 home of the Pioneer Flour Mills family in King William, serving sweet-cream waffles and biscuits made with Pioneer flour.
OrderSweet cream waffles and biscuits with the Pioneer flour gravy.
TipIt is walk-in only with a weekend wait; the sweet-cream waffle is the order. Ask for a table on the garden patio.
Best Quality Daughter does an Asian American weekend brunch at the Pearl, with a crab rangoon dip and a dim-sum spread; book ahead and request the patio.
OrderCrab rangoon dip and the brunch dim-sum spread.
TipBook ahead and request the patio. The crab rangoon dip is the must-order; the brunch cocktails are worth it.
Supper inside Hotel Emma runs a market-driven weekend brunch at the Pearl, leaning on the adjacent farmers market and the hotel garden for seasonal plates.
OrderSeasonal market plates and the pastry basket.
TipThe brunch and the Sternewirth bar make a full Pearl morning. Book on Tock and pair brunch with a market walk.
Bakery Lorraine at the Pearl is the lighter brunch before the market, where a quiche makes it more than the usual coffee, croissant and macaron run.
OrderQuiche, a croissant and a macaron with coffee.
TipBest for a lighter pastry brunch before the market. The quiche makes it more than a coffee-and-croissant stop.
Bar Loretta in King William turns its modern Texas kitchen toward a weekend brunch with proper cocktails, a polished neighbourhood room with a market.
OrderBrunch plates with proper cocktails.
TipThe cocktails are as serious as the food at brunch. Grab provisions from the adjoining market on your way out.
La Panaderia's downtown cafe does a Mexican-bakery brunch of chilaquiles and breakfast tacos with a cafe con leche; finish with a concha from the counter.
OrderChilaquiles, breakfast tacos and a concha.
TipThe chilaquiles and a cafe con leche make the brunch; finish with a concha. A walkable downtown brunch stop.
Las Canarias at the Omni La Mansion del Rio runs one of downtown's grandest Sunday brunches, a riverside terrace spread for special occasions.
OrderThe Sunday brunch spread on the river terrace.
TipThe Sunday brunch on the river terrace is the occasion order. Book a riverside table well ahead on OpenTable.
Halcyon in the Blue Star complex runs an easy all-day brunch where you can pair eggs and pastries with a coffee or a cocktail, a relaxed Southtown room.
OrderBrunch plates with a coffee or a morning cocktail.
TipIt works for a casual, no-reservation brunch with coffee or a cocktail. The Blue Star setting draws an arts crowd.
Box St. All Day at Hemisfair is a downtown brunch room between the Tower and Yanaguana Garden, with brunch cocktails, a selected espresso bar and plates.
OrderBrunch plates with a shortlisted brunch cocktail.
TipBook ahead on weekends. The Hemisfair Garage gives the first 30 minutes free, handy for a quick stop.
CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery handles a pastry-led brunch on South Flores, pairing French-style bakes and quiche with careful espresso in a bright room.
OrderQuiche, kouign-amann and a flat white.
TipLean on the French pastry case; the kouign-amann and quiche are the picks. Plenty of seating for a slow morning.
Rosario's is a two-storey Southtown Tex-Mex landmark whose weekend brunch leans on migas, breakfast enchiladas and frozen margaritas, with a rooftop bar.
OrderMigas, breakfast enchiladas and a frozen margarita.
TipHead to the rooftop bar with a frozen margarita and the migas. First Friday in Southtown turns brunch into a party.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Explore San Antonio’s vibrant food culture on a Downtown guided walking tour. Taste authentic Tex-Mex favorites, family-owned specialties, and creative bites while dis...
2 hours
Learn to make Asian dumplings from scratch! Mix, fold, and cook your own pork and shrimp dumplings in this hands-on, beginner-friendly San Antonio class.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Explore San Antonio with a small group. Enjoy a river cruise, views from the Tower of Americas, and explore the Alamo. Taste local flavours at Biga, an award winning r...
