Hotel Emma
- The old brewery that houses Hotel Emma was built in 1894 but has been tastefully renovated—think industrial chic with an elegant Texas twist.
- Artesian rooms feature large bathrooms with clawfoot tubs.
- Walking distance to the downtown San Antonio area and St. Mary’s Strip.
- There are two excellent food and beverage options at Hotel Emma, but the Pearl District has a huge variety of restaurants that have won awards.
Out of all the major Texas cities—Austin, Dallas, and Houston—San Antonio has long been the underdog. San Antonio is my hometown, and I admit that I have a soft place for it. The Alamo, Riverwalk and other attractions were not enough to draw tourists to San Antonio. For a large part of my childhood, Olive Garden was the only place in town that offered upscale dining. All that changed in 2008 when The Pearl opened.
The Pearl, located on a quiet stretch of the San Antonio River is a mega-complex that combines dining, culture and entertainment. It was built using the bones of the Pearl Brewing Company. Hotel Emma is its crowning glory, located in the heart of the district.
Interior design features vintage factory equipment like cast iron pipes and ducts. There are also flecked patinas on refrigeration compressors. Every historic hotel is full of charm. You can also find out more about us here. You may want to look closer at the wall that pays homage to its glorious past.
Otto Koehler, a German-American entrepreneur, bought the Pearl Brewery in 1883. Emma Koehler, who was his wife, suffered a severe car accident in 1910. She became housebound. Otto then hired Emma Dumpke to care for his wife and, shortly thereafter, began an affair with her. Dumpke introduced Otto to Emma Burgermeister, a nurse who was a friend of Dumpke’s. (You guessed it!) Otto had an affair with Emma Burgermeister. Burgermeister, who had purchased the home for Dumpke, shot Otto Koehler to death in 1914. Burgermeister was later tried for murder but was acquitted. She later married one man on the jury, adding to her daytime soap story.
Emma Koehler then took over and saw it through Prohibition. It became the Texan beer legend it is today. You can now toast the Pearl’s steamy history with a welcome cocktail that is complimentary upon arrival. It is a tasty concoction made of gin and Amontillado Sherry.
It is rare for hotels in the United States to retain their public’s interest after 10 years. But Hotel Emma managed to do so thanks to Southern Hospitality, thoughtful interior design and an excellent location.
What’s it like to stay in San Antonio’s most prestigious hotel?
The Rooms
The hotel has 146 rooms on seven floors. The 12 room categories range from a 350-square-foot Classic—take your pick between a queen or king bed—to the downright dazzling, two-story Emma Koehler suite, which is kitted out with floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, a grand piano, and a 718-square-foot terrace with downtown views.
During my stay, I stayed at one of the Artesian Rooms. These rooms are named after the springs which bubble up all over the state. The bedroom was equipped with everything a San Antonio visitor could want: plush bedding and ranch-inspired furniture, a separate seating area, River Walk views and an icebox filled with locally made treats. The bathroom is a large, spacious room with a separate cast iron bathtub and shower. It’s the perfect place to relax after a day of sightseeing in the city.
Food and Drink
Hotel Emma has two restaurants: Supper The following are some examples of how to get started: Sternewirth.
Supper, helmed by Geronimo Lozano, serves farm-to-table new American cuisine for breakfast and lunch. The morning menu offers the usual classics—pancakes, steak and eggs, and French toast, but there are a few creative surprises, such as the breakfast burger with chorizo and a sunny side up egg, and the crispy hill country quail and biscuits. Supper is best visited for dinner, when the heavy-hitters of Supper are available. Start off with a half dozen grilled scallops or a dozen oysters seasoned in spicy mezcal butter. Choose an entree that has a Texas twist, like the double-boned pork chop served with apple and pear sucotash, maple butter and a steak. If you want to splurge on something special, choose a slice of Akaushi wagyu. It melts in your throat.
For a tasty after-dinner drink, visit Sternewirth. The menu includes classic cocktails as well as innovative concoctions. The Dreamsicle features a healthy dose orange sherbet and The Elvis is a mix of peanut-infused whisky, banana liqueur, simple syrup, and a variety of other ingredients. You can order small bites, from marinated olives, to a foie-gras-topped burger, and desserts like a rich seven-layer cake.
The Pearl is home to many other award-winning bars and restaurants. My favorites include the elevated Southern Comfort Food outpost Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, which won a Michelin Bib-Gourmand award in 2024. LadinoAlso Michelin recognized Brasserie Mon Chou ChouI think that the best French restaurant is in California.
Activities and Amenities
Jason Risner/Courtesy Of Hotel Emma
No matter which room category they choose, Hotel Emma guests enjoy a host of luxurious amenities. Each guest receives a token that entitles them to a complimentary cocktail upon check-in. The 3,700 volumes of Sherry Wagner’s collection are located in the Library. You’ll find a large collection of anthropological books, as well as classics by William Faulkner like “As I Lay Dieing” and Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn”. Take your wooden nickel and give it to the mixologist. Choose between La Babia or Three Emmas. Grab a book from the shelves. Every morning, the library offers free coffee.
The rooftop pool is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun. A beer van will serve drinks and food. The hotel also offers a 24/7 fitness centre with downtown views. A culinary consultant can help you arrange cultural experiences and dining in the area.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden and the San Antonio Museum of Art are all nearby. If you’re staying for the weekend, don’t forget to check out the Pearl Farmers MarketEvery Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy a live music show at Sternewirth. If you don’t want to venture out, you can watch a live show at Sternewirth every week.
The Spa
There are two spas at Hotel Emma. Hiatus Day Spa & Med Spa Locations on the Pearl Campus. Here, guests will find nail therapy rooms with zero-gravity chairs, a hydro therapy room, a med-spa room, and a relaxation room. You can choose from treatments like the Emma series massages (ranging between a Swedish traditional massage and a hot stone massage), as well as body wraps and face masks. The best part is that you can order a massage to be performed in your hotel room.
Accessibility, sustainability and accessibility
Jason Risner/Courtesy Of Hotel Emma
The Hotel Emma offers six types of accessible rooms: Terrace King, Terrace Double Queen and River Suite. The accessible units are equipped with features like roll-in bathtubs or showers, visual alarms and visual telephone notification devices. They also have portable tub seats, text phone devices and televisions that include closed captions.
Silver Ventures’ owner, Silver Ventures was responsible for making several sustainable decisions during the construction of Hotel Emma. The company designed the Pearl area so that it could be accessed by walking, biking, or using public transportation. Recycled materials were used in the construction of many materials and low-water landscaping around the area. The building is equipped with energy-efficient lighting, low-flow water fixtures and dining venues that use locally-grown ingredients. On every floor there are water refilling stations, and in the in-room refrigerator guests will find reusable water bottles.
Location
Hotel Emma is approximately 7 miles (or a 15-minute car ride) from San Antonio International Airport. Renting a car is a great idea if you’re planning to explore San Antonio, but the area around the Pearl, and other nearby areas, can be reached on foot.
Hotel Emma is located in the heart of the Pearl, giving you easy access to some of the best restaurants, cafés, and shops in San Antonio without ever having to cross an intersection. You can reach downtown San Antonio by following the River Walk. Major attractions like the Alamo should be within an hour.
San Antonio, however, is much more than the famous Mission. You can walk to St. Mary’s, a hip area with restaurants like Texas BBQ, Thai-fusion-knockout Curry Boys BBQ and upscale fried poultry joint Cullum’s Attaboy.
The Best Value for Your Stay
Hotel Emma is part Preferred Hotels & ResortsA brand that represents independent luxury hotels, allows travelers to accumulate points during their stay.
The hotel is also a participant in American Express’s Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program. If you hold a premium travel credit card, such as Platinum Card by American Express and book through FHR, you will earn points that can be used to access perks, such as an early check-in or a room upgrade, when available, as well as a $100 credit for food and beverages.
Get special rates on nights at Hotel Emma Starting at $455
Each T+L Hotel Review is written by a reporter or editor who has visited the hotel. The hotel chosen must also align with our standards. core values.
