5 Best Restaurants in King William Historic District, San Antonio

Ever since owners Chef Mark Bliss and his wife Lisa opened this spot in a former filling station in 2012, it continues to exceed all expectations. The cuisine is contemporary American, and that can mean custom charcuterie as well as delectable entrées (perhaps seared sea scallops, Lockhart quail, pan-seared beef tenderloin) ending with house-made sorbet, butter cake, or lavender goat cheese cheesecake. With a changing menu, loyal followers dine regularly to see what's new, just one reason that reservations are highly recommended. The intimate space suits the menu perfectly—warmly elegant and inviting. The outdoor dining has the same uncluttered feel, surrounded by greenery.

This popular restaurant, where breakfast is served from open to close (8 am–2 pm), is housed in a stately 1860 home built by the founder of Pioneer Flour Mills. Fluffy Pioneer Brand biscuits, pancakes, and Southern sweet cream waffles, fresh fruit, and delectable pastries are half the reason to eat here. The other half is the 1920s art nouveau decor of stained, beveled, and etched glass along with plant motifs that create the illusion of a fine home's conservatory. The lunch menu starts at 10:30 am.

If you want something different from the usual Mexican or Tex-Mex offerings, venture south to find festive fare here hailing from the Caribbean, Spain, and South and Central America. Executive chef Rene Fernandez mixes up flavors and styles con pasion. Start with an appetizer sampler (five different apps) and move on to Seafood Curry Latino or Parillada Mixta, a mix of chicken, pork, and sausage basted with chimichurri, a tangy basil sauce. Tempting desserts include coconut flan, chocolate truffles made to order, and a dessert sampler with five house creations and homemade ice cream. Dance it all off with live salsa music Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended for weekend nights.

Formerly a convent, this historic pink building now offers an eclectic, something-for-everybody menu that includes sourdough pizzas, homemade fettuccini, hearty pot roast, grilled salmon and late-night bites. The bar has seasonal cocktails, wines, and draft beer in bottles and cans. Reservations are recommended for weekend brunch.

A cute place with top-notch gelato and panini; fresh and handmade are the best words to describe the items here, from the gelato to the pickles and mayonnaise. They import their meats and cheeses from Italy and so far have created more than 125 flavors of gelato, although they only rotate 20 flavors a day. You'll just have to keep coming back to try them all.