6 Best Places to Shop in San Antonio, Texas

This is about as close you can get to Old Mexico without crossing the border. Market Square (El Mercado) has been a favorite of locals and visitors for generations for dining, drinking, shopping, and celebrating. The three-block space houses restaurants, shops, galleries, and working artisans crafting their wares in everything from silver to leather to woodwork. The Market Square outdoor plaza often has music and dance performances, especially during the holidays. Check the website calendar for upcoming programming. It's a fun, colorful outing, especially if you're dining at Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia or La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar and are up for a lively afternoon or evening.

This longtime beloved independent bookstore has been part of San Antonio's literary world since 1972, residing in several neighborhoods before landing at the Pearl. The large, organized, and well-stocked store has thousands of books in all subjects as well as cards and gift items. It hosts regular author-signing events for local and national writers as well as events geared for children. Ask the very helpful and knowledgeable staff about the latest and best independent and mainstream bestsellers.

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.

A mixed-use lifestyle center of shops, dining, entertainment, and luxury residences, businesses at The Rim include Bass Pro Shops, Southerleigh Haute South, James Avery Jewelry, Bakery Lorraine, Woodhouse Day Spa, Nordstrom Rack, Panera Bread, and more. Disover current sales on the promotions tab of their website.

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.