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King William Historic District

4.7 (37 reviews)

King William Historic District Photos

Recommended Reviews - King William Historic District

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Brittany S.

Pretty sure I could start a blog featuring all of the historic neighborhoods I've visited. Clearly, it's my jam. We own a registered historic home so I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for inspiration. I walked to this district from Hotel Valencia on Houston street among the riverwalk. It's an easy mile walk with shaded portions along the route. I enjoyed strolling five blocks of the neighborhood to find small wooden cottages from the 1800s to large mansions with gorgeous trees in the front yards. I feel I would have enjoyed my experience more if I could have found some signage/markers sharing the history of the neighborhood and significance of the architecture. I especially enjoyed that I was visiting the week after Fiesta- the festive decor on the porches, doors and fence made for fun photography.

Drew B.

When you hear about San Antonio, about 90% is The Alamo, about 5% is the other Missions, 4% about whatever is going on at The Alamodome, and 1% is everything else. Amongst that unfortunately unrepresented 1% is the King William Historic District. When friends go to Old San Antone, I recommend giving at least a half-day to the district ... and even longer if the weather's favorable. It's not just houses ... its museums (in some of the houses), eateries, tons of art stores and galleries. It's the most creative, dynamic, and fun area of town. The District actually has a connection to the Alamo, as the area was part of its irrigated farmland. In the mid-1800s, German immigrants began buying land and building homes in the area. From there, it was unofficially known as "Sauerkraut Bend" ... officially the immigrants named a street (and eventually the area) in honor of King Wilhelm I of Prussia. As time went on, the generations of immigrants became the generations of the well to-do ... and so came the grandiose homes that line the streets today. There are so many INCREDIBLE homes. Sartor House, Villa Finale (a.k.a. Norton-Polk-Mathis House), Carl Wilhelm August Groos House, the J.M. and Birdie Nix House, Anton Wulff House, Steves Homestead (which has a museum in it!), Margaret Gething House (which ALSO has a museum in it!), Carl Harnisch House, Ike West House, Max Oppenheimer House, Ernst H. Altgelt House, and about a zillion others should be on your to-do list. As this being Yelp 'n all, I recommend coming to the area with an appetite. There are so many choices: The Mexican meals of Rosario's, the snack-sized fare of Big Daddy's and The Frutera, La Tuna's fish tacos and Beer Garden; and, considered by many to be the pièce de résistance, the great meals and famed brunch of The Guenther House. The King William area is also considered an art district. There's San Antonio Art League Museum right there on King William Street. The real epicenter of art is on the 1000 through 1500 blocks of S. Alamo Street: Blue Star Arts, Carlos Cortes Studio, Hello Studio, MockingBird Handprints, Zollie Glass Studio ... and a whole bunch more. It's is a district fit for a King!

Historic homes

Breathtaking historic homes, unfortunately we didn't do our research and they are open for viewing on weekends only . However we drove and walked by them and enjoyed the architecture of each home . These historic homes are also near the end of the river walk, which is also a nice stroll through the walkway .

Angela F. W.

King William is one of the best places to take out of towners for a unique SA experience. Solid 5 star! It is a very beautiful and charming historic neighborhood with lots of trees and old mansions. Highly recommend for a tour while in the riverwalk area. The district actually has their own fair during fiesta. I've been here for the King Williams fair which is superb. The whole neighborhood is decorated and filled with music, food, entertainment and art. It's one of the best times to showcase what it has to offer. Last week, I drove a friend who came from Cali here for a tour. She was totally pleased and took lots of pictures of these old mansions. I also came here with my dad. He absolutely loved it. Walking or biking would have been so much better than driving but we didn't have much time. It's better to go to the King Williams association website to print out a map so you don't miss anything. You can also learn more about the history behind these mansions that way. Pretty neat. Oh and don't forget about all these excellent nearby restaurants and eateries. I suppose it would be an awesome place to come see the Christmas lights also. That's deff on my to do list. A must visit for both locals and travelers alike!!!

Dominik D.

This felt like the Garden District of New Orleans. Very nice, large, classical style architecture in a neighborhood that is separated from, but not far from, the city center. It's nice to walk around an take in the quiet area.

FALL... in love.
Karen N.

I am absolutely in love with this area. My day dream about owning a home and serving (spiked) lemonade to friends rocking themselves into a nap after supper on the porch of my historic home as we gaze at the river... But the reality is I'll take walking on the non-tourist section of the River Walk and maybe hitting up Halcyon for a coffee or brunch at the Guenther House. A stroll down any of the streets makes for a fantastic history lesson in what craftsmanship really is and a for me... A bit of jealousy of those homeowners. My favorite time of year? Fall. Enter the river near the River Authority and walk in towards downtown. Go over the dam and just let the colors melt over you. I love it here. Don't tell everybody about this, ya hear?

ChezZY S.

I fell in L-O-V-E with the King William area the moment I stumbled upon it. If you are visiting San Antonio and don't want to do the touristy thing (unless your crazy) and you rather see some amazing architecture and walk through old neighborhoods rich in history and boasting beautiful mansions and lawns then come to King Williams. I had the wrong perception of San Antonio from the start. I thought of chaps, spurs, rancheros and BBQ. I did tons of research on the area and looking on Yelp for things that I may be interested in. I didn't even find King Williams on Yelp. I stumbled upon it while looking for the Blue Star Art area. I ended u coming back to King Williams another time strolling through the neighborhoods that was once land belonging to the Mission San Antonio. I began to google information about this area as I was walking through it (love the iPhone) Old homes dating to the 1840's you can sense the European influence. Come to find out this area was also once called the "Sauerkraut bend". This area has a heavy German influence population. Who would of thought of Oktoberfest in San Antonio. There is. Trust me I walked in the middle of it. There are also some German Delis here as well. Here is a good link to info on the area.. http://www.kingwilliamassociation.org/neighborhood/history.htm I took so many photographs just of the homes... Speaking to a bartender at the Liberty Bar which is in the area I was told that to buy a home here is nothing insanely overpriced. I suggest visiting the Guenther House. The Guenthers were one of the earliest immigrants that built the still operating flour mill Pioneer Flour mill. Liberty Bar is another cool spot boasting amazing food, service and cocktails. The Friendly Spot restaurant/bar is also a spot of S. Alamo that has a park like atmosphere good for the kids. Blue Star art area has a few galleries. Some open some not and the main gallery is hmmmm OK. La Tuna is a little bit off the beaten track and hard to find. But good food as well.. The Jewelry Box is a cute jewelery shop with some vintage clothing and accessories and tons of novelty items. Jive Refried is also a cool little vintage boutique.

One of the awesome homes there
Adrienne C.

Thank you, Yelpers for recommending this place. We have never seen such a nice area of the Riverwalk before. The historic homes are beautiful and some of the landscaping is fabulous, including hedge mazes and fountains. You can learn a little of the history of the homes by reading the little plaques. We walked across a bridge enjoyed a serene area of the Riverwalk we would have never known existed. All that and it is FREE! The only small downside is you might feel like a stalker staring at people's homes, people still live in these historic homes. And you will probably sweat your butt off, but that's just how it is in Texas. I want to go back during the fair! It sounds like a lot of fun!

Allison F.

I absolutely adore this part of town. Huge old mansions, delicious restaurants and a quiet little river. Located not too far from downtown, the King Williams Historic District is the perfect place to take a stroll, especially if you love old architecture like me. I usually eat at Guenther House (a must stop for breakfast) before starting my leisurely walk through this district. A friendly tip: if you actually want to know about this history of each house, you can visit the website listed above to print out a walking tour that will give you fun historical facts about each residence. The map will also guide you past the most impressive houses and even along the river for a bit. One of my favorite features of this neighborhood is the marble blocks alongside the roads, where people used to step down from their carriages. It is really neat to be able to see little fun bits of history still hanging around. There's also an art museum which is fun to stop into, as well as a little park. Whenever we have family come visit, I make it a point to at least drive past these gorgeous old houses after eating at Guenther. Older family members love it especially, but I like it too!

Doug C.

Most of the time when you stand and stare at peoples' houses for long periods of time and take pictures, you're likely to be shot for casing the place. Strangely, this activity appears to be encouraged in the King Williams Historic District. There are even pamphlets at the Historical society that map out a route and specific houses you should stare at! After being reassured that this was common practice, I endeavored to try this for myself. Sure enough, I didn't come under fire and after a while was able to relax and consider some of the buildings. These are a number of (mostly) well-maintained Victorian homes: some appear to be of the Gothic variety with a few Queen Anne inspired touches. The association also apparently holds a street fair, but since this doesn't occur until April, I didn't feel like sticking around that long to check it out.

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

Beautiful old homes. And the people are so nice. I just love all the older things in that place. Wish I could live there

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3 years ago

Beautiful houses....it's b lien time stood still. They're so well preserved in their original state. Enjoyed the drive

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5 years ago

Beautiful neighborhood with gorgeous old mansions, easy walls from downtown corridor.

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11 years ago

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Review Highlights - King William Historic District

I usually eat at Guenther House (a must stop for breakfast) before starting my leisurely walk through this district.

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Meatopia Texas - After party

Meatopia Texas

4.4(7 reviews)
2.2 miTobin Hill

Like the food nerd that I am, I researched all 32 participating chefs weeks before the event. I…read moreconcentrated on their culinary training, foods they like to eat themselves, & heritage even. This was my Superbowl! I needed to know stats to build a game plan. I made notes and drew out plans of attack. I went over it many times with my eating assistant (aka my husband) and felt confident that we would be able to hit up every station, take great photos, try all the amazing food, & chat with the chefs. November 3rd... Game Day - Meatopia was finally here. I was pumped! We arrived at 11:58am. Easily found parking off Grayson. Crossed the street to the event area and was immediately accosted by the wonderful aromas of grilled and roasted meats....aahhhh...happy dance! Butterflied carcasses, organ meats, musicians, the media, foodies, chefs & assistant chefs galore...water stations, beer stations, food stations... it was a lot to take in at once. I started to take pictures of where we entered - by the big yellow Pearl can. My "assistant" was supposed to trail after me and help take notes, carry my bags etc. Next thing I know, he's in my frame and was heading towards the food like a hypnotized man. He was grabbing lamb chops, quail, ribs, chicken feet and was devouring everything like the Tasmanian Devil. Dude...we had a plan!!! So I spent the next few hours sampling like crazy without having a clue as to what I was eating exactly. My husband would dash off, grab something & dash back to me with several offerings. "Honey, which station did these come from?" I'd ask. "Don't remember," he'd reply in between greedy bites and satisfied sighs. Oy vey! Each portion was very generous. Some beautifully garnished. All tasting pretty darn good! Overall, I don't remember any clunkers. There were some standouts for me such as the lambs chops by HEB, sigsig by Chef Paul Qui, the breast, shoulders, knees, and toes of chicken by Chef Ford Fry, grilled lamb ribs by Chef Ned Elliot, the chicken by Chef Jeff Balfour and the bacon (yes, BACON!) brownie by Chef Laura Sawicki. I shared each plate with my husband. But there was one dish that I had to go back for more of and that was the Trifongo by Chef Nelson Millan. I want that recipe! The event was a home run in terms of food, entertainment, and layout. The lines moved quickly and we never felt squashed. However, the entry points and staff could use some tweaking and extra training. We were eating our way through Meatopia for almost half an hour before we realized we didn't have wristbands like everyone else. Doh...we totally forgot to check-in and no one called us out on it! In addition, we'd ask people in gray Meatopia Tshirts where XYZ was located and many would not know. Great 1st run overall. PLEASE COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, MEATOPIA!!!!! I have a game plan! Need to find a better assistant though :\

A carnivore's carnival! A meaty adventure! A protein spectacular!…read more Here's how it works: You buy a ticket, and you never get your wallet out again! It's a block party in Pearl Brewery, so even though there were close to 3,000 people in attendance, it was never shoulder to shoulder and the lines moved swiftly. Parking was, well, parking. They did their best to keep it organized and as uncomplicated as possible. Suffice it to say that the bang for your buck is pretty freaking remarkable at this event. $75 (they were even selling $50 tickets at times) for all you can eat and drink, and these chefs weren't skimping on the portions. My friends and I were wishing we hadn't eaten anything that day in preparation. These aren't measly bite-sized samples, but rather full on appetizer-sized servings per person. Adam Perry Lang's slider, as simple as it sounds, was barbecue comfort food at its finest. Those homemade spicy pickles kicked it up a notch. The lamb neck gyro from The Whole Beast was like melt in your mouth lamb barbacoa. And, of course, our local SA chefs represented our fine city wholeheartedly! Stuffed veal breast from Andrew Weissman, lamb heart anticuchos from The Monterey, Porchetta from Jason Dady, whole hog gumbo from Steve McHugh. Our guys are truly special, and I believe it's because of people like them that Meatopia chose San Antonio as it's Texas location. It's a pretty big honor! What I would change: I know better than most how things work when you have a beer sponsor situation and that when it's free, beggars can't be choosers, but I would have rather paid to drink better beer than Corona or Michelob Ultra. There were so many amazing chefs serving elevated meat dishes that better beer would've just rounded out the entire experience. Again, even if I had to buy it at the bar.

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Meatopia Texas
Meatopia Texas
Meatopia Texas

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Historic Market Square - San Antonio - Art outside Market

Historic Market Square - San Antonio

4.1(240 reviews)
1.0 miDowntown
$$

It was my first time since I was very young visiting SATX and I am so grateful to have visited the…read moreHistoric Market Square while I was in Texas. It was truly one of the highlights of my trip and I would highly recommend visiting to anyone in the area, and I hope to go again in the future! The parking nearby was a short walk but nothing crazy, and once we got to the Market it was shaded very well and had such a variety of stands both inside and outside of the buildings which I loved. It was a little hot outside so it was nice to be able to rotate between both areas. There was also such a great mix of stores, restaurants, snack stands, and artisans and crafts throughout. We grabbed some aguas frescas to sip on while we explored and they were delicious and a great price for how big they were. We had a big breakfast but it would be nice to try some of the many lunch spots they had throughout the market. The stores had everything but I loved the amount of talavera pottery to choose from and stocked up as much as my suitcase would allow. Prices are super reasonable as well considering these are handmade artisan pieces. I use my tazas everyday and they are the best coffee cups I have ever had. The merchants are super friendly and helpful as well. Everyone was very welcoming and made it a great experience. I hope to be back in the future!

Meh... I've lived in San Antonio a long time and was super excited to finally see market square…read more.. well. I'm disappointed!!! EVERYTHING looks the same. We went on a Sunday so it was not crowded but it was BORING. My 16 year old called it Lame and the best part about Market square for both of us was the caricature guy. I've waited many years to visit the place and wish I would have left it on my to do list. I'm sure it's really pretty at night but I was bored and Underwhelmed.

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Historic Market Square - San Antonio
Historic Market Square - San Antonio
Historic Market Square - San Antonio

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Ghost Tracks - And it's still an active train track!

Ghost Tracks

3.6(29 reviews)
6.6 mi

MUST DO! San…read moreAntonio legend or lore? Grab some talcum powder and head out to the south side. Shake some powder on the back end of your vehicle, jump back into your car, set it in neutral and hold on as it rolls... Sad to make this report, by next week this will no longer be available as Union Pacific is tearing the up the intersection for a remodel.

Ok, as my first review going towards my list of "haunted" places in San Antonio, I start with the…read moreGhost Tracks. The story is that around the 40s or 50s a bus filled with young kids (ranging in age from 7 - 11yrs) stalled on the railroad tracks at this crossing. A train came as the bus driver was trying to restart the engine but unfortunately it was too late. The children (or at least their souls) don't want the same incident to happen to anyone else so if you stop your car a few feet ahead of the tracks and put your car in neutral, the kids will push you up and over the tracks. It's also been said that the streets in the area are names of the children who perished in that crash (Shane, Cindy Sue, Richey Otis, Nancy Carole and Laura Lee). As with anything deemed 'haunted' people have come to denounce the whole story with scientific findings i.e., it sits on a minor slant which will make your car pull forward anyway. To this day there have been no articles regarding such an accident ALTHOUGH it's still a great place to come to on a late, dark night or especially halloween!! But FYI if you do decide to go on Hallow's Eve, SAPD will be out there to control the crowds.

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Ghost Tracks - N did not work so well on this side...

N did not work so well on this side...

Ghost Tracks - The neighbor

The neighbor

Ghost Tracks - The car drove by itself on neutral! We tried it other places up hill, down hill and the car wouldn't move :)

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The car drove by itself on neutral! We tried it other places up hill, down hill and the car wouldn't move :)

King William Historic District - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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