4 Best Places to Shop in Alamo Heights and Brackenridge Park, San Antonio

Look for the distinctive smokestacks at this open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment center (the area was once a cement factory). Today, Alamo Quarry Market includes a Regal movie theater complex and many standard mall stores, such as Gap, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Williams Sonoma. This entire area boasts many retail offerings. Quarry Village is across from Quarry Market, and the nearby Shops at Lincoln Heights are at the intersection of Broadway and East Basse Road.

If you think a supermarket can't be a destination, think again. The only location of the chain in San Antonio (there are nine others in Texas), Central Market is both a foodie heaven and a popular gourmet grocery store in Alamo Heights. Among the many offerings, you'll find scratch-made baked goods, chef-prepared meals, a great wine selection, products from around the world and a knowledgeable staff to answer questions. Top off your finds with a fresh flower arrangement from the well-stocked floral center up front. An in-house cooking school provides classes (for a fee) in such areas as croissants, seafood basics, a Tuscan dinner, and more. Don't miss the very popular Hatch Chile Fest every August.

Upscale boutiques, especially in tony neighborhoods like Alamo Heights, can be intimidating, but there's no such vibe in this jewel of a find in the Uptown Alamo Heights Center. It's a cozy space, but the multi-category store is comfortably filled with a wide variety of designer offerings in women's high-end fashion, perfumes, greeting cards, home accessories, gifts, and antiques. The fine artisan jewelry is irresistible—whatever you choose for that perfect gift, you will absolutely want one for yourself. Everything is beautifully displayed, and customer service is attentive and helpful.

Previously known as Sunset Ridge Home and Hardware, the name Sunset & Co. may be new, but it's the same wonderful place to browse to your heart's content. The store seems endless, brimming with gifts and accessories for him and her, bath and body products, travel bags, clothing and accessories for babies and kids, and more. Home decor and accents abound, as well as hardware, Weber grills and accessories, coolers, tool sets, organizational and storage products, and high-end cooking appliances.