Shopping · San Antonio · United States
Shopping in San Antonio
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Csyberblue, Public domain
Quick answer
San Antonio's distinctive buys are Mexican crafts, Western wear and Texas food products. Market Square and La Villita have the crafts; the Pearl has local designers; outlet malls lie on the road to Austin. Best souvenirs: Fiesta medals, Mexican folk art and Cowboy boots and hats.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Fiesta medals
Where to shop
Market Square
Mexican crafts, pottery, embroidered dresses and piñatas.
La Villita
Artist studios and craft shops in historic cottages.
The Pearl
Local boutiques, cookware and the Culinary Institute of America shop.
The Shops at La Cantera
Upscale outdoor mall in the north-west of the city.
Markets
Pearl Farmers Market
Regional produce and prepared food on weekend mornings.
Market Square (El Mercado)
Craft stalls and shops in the city's historic Mexican market.
What to buy
Fiesta medals
Collectible medals issued each year for Fiesta, sold and traded around the city.
Mexican folk art
Talavera pottery, papel picado and painted crafts from Market Square.
Cowboy boots and hats
Western-wear shops downtown sell boots, hats and belts.
Texas pantry
Salsas, hot sauces and pecan pralines from local shops and markets.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Pearl
The Pearl
The red-brick Pearl Brewery complex, which brewed beer for over a century, now holds restaurants, a bakery, shops, a Culinary Institute of America campus and the Hotel Emma, built around a plaza by the river.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Architecture
Market · Downtown West
Market Square (El Mercado)
Three blocks of shops and stalls selling Mexican crafts, pottery, papel picado and embroidered dresses, plus restaurants and bakeries.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- Kids
Historic site · Downtown
La Villita Historic Arts Village
One of San Antonio's first neighbourhoods, La Villita is a block of small 19th-century stone and adobe houses now used as artists' studios and craft shops.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Art
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Pan dulce, Mangonada and raspas and Margarita. Mi Tierra's bakery counter at Market Square and panaderías across the West and South Sides. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl and Museum Reach | $$$$ | A restored 1880s brewery with restaurants, a farmers' market and river trails |
| Alamo Heights | $$$ | Leafy, affluent enclave near the McNay and Brackenridge Park |
| Tobin Hill and the St. Mary's Strip | $$ | Bars, live music and taquerías between downtown and the Pearl |
| Northwest and La Cantera | $$$ | Resort hotels, outlet malls and Six Flags Fiesta Texas |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January and August–September; the busiest months are April.
- May: Tejano Conjunto Festival (usually May)
- May: Cinco de Mayo celebrations at Market Square
- September: Diez y Seis — Mexican Independence Day celebrations at Market Square (around 16 September)
- October: Día de los Muertos celebrations at La Villita and Hemisfair (late October to early November)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and shopping
Northwest and La Cantera
Resort hotels, outlet malls and Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in San Antonio?
Fiesta medals, Mexican folk art, Cowboy boots and hats and Texas pantry.
+Where is the best shopping in San Antonio?
Market Square: Mexican crafts, pottery, embroidered dresses and piñatas.
+What are the best markets in San Antonio?
Pearl Farmers Market and Market Square (El Mercado).