San Antonio, TexasDowntown
Omni La Mansión del Rio
Spanish Colonial riverfront campus
Downtown San Antonio, Texas
Renovated
2020
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LocalOutside the door
The house
Omni Hotels & ResortsSpanish Colonial riverfront campus
Limestone arches and quiet courtyards wrap around a central pool, preserving the cloistered layout of a nineteenth-century riverside school.
“What began in 1854 as a high school—then grew into a college and, later, a law school—has served as one of San Antonio’s top hotels since 1968.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
An 1853 Marianist schoolhouse and law library converted for HemisFair sixty-eight.
Notable
Arched colonnades and terra-cotta floors open onto courtyards and riverfront balconies.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
The character of the old structure provides a great shell for rooms with beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, and Spanish colonial furnishings.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
The River Walk runs right beside the terrace, and the historic Alamo sits three blocks away on foot.
The rooms
Bedrooms keep their original timber beams and exposed brick, and river-facing balconies look straight into tall cypress trees.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated outdoor pool sits in the enclosed central courtyard, flanked by fountain features and lounge seating.
At the table
Four Brothers serves South Texas dishes along the River Walk, and El Colegio mixes craft cocktails in the former law library.
How it began
In 1966, former law student Patrick J. Kennedy bought his old campus, converting the 1850s limestone academy in time for HemisFair '68.
San Antonio
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.