Hotel Valencia Riverwalk

Hotel Valencia Riverwalk is housed in an earth-toned 12-story building with attractive Spanish-influenced architectural details, such as tiled roofing, ornate moldings, vaulted brick ceilings, and iron lanterns. The hotel's entrance is found on the street level, though you'll need to walk up a flight of stone stairs to arrive at the front desk. Overall the hotel's ambiance is dark, modern, and sexy -- a mood that is created through strategically placed lighting, richly colored carpeting, and dark hardwoods for walls and furnishings. This atmosphere tends to draw more of couples and singles than families, especially when taking into account that the hotel has a trendy lobby bar, where a flamenco guitarist performs several times a week, and a sophisticated Argentinian restaurant -- the only dining experience of its kind in the city. The hotel's adult-centric vibe also has a lot to do with the fact that it lacks family-friendly amenities, such as a pool.

Hotel Valencia is situated right on San Antonio’s RiverWalk with a number of excellent restaurants and historical attractions nearby. The Alamo is an eight-minute walk away, while walking to La Villita Historic Arts Village and Tower of the Americas takes 15 minutes or less. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center is an 18-minute walk or five-minute drive away. Driving to and from San Antonio International Airport takes about 20 minutes.

All 213 rooms at Hotel Valencia are on par with the overall hotel decor -- sleek and sophisticated. Furnishings consist of long solid-wood desks, custom-made beds topped with Egyptian cotton linens, and comfy armchairs (some leather) with ottomans. Plantation shutters over the windows or balcony doors and Spanish stencil patterns on the walls add some local flair. 

All rooms feature the same amenities, though balcony and courtyard rooms come at an upgrade. Every room comes with a nicely stocked honor bar with bottled water, candy bars, nuts, and cookies, as well as a coffee machine with a selection of Rishi teas and coffees by Katz, a Texas roaster. On the technology front, individual temperature controls, free Wi-Fi, and 42- or 50-inch LED Smart TVs are in all rooms.

Bathrooms have white marble countertops with stainless-steel sinks and standard shower/tub combos. Hotel-branded toiletries, hairdryers, and plush waffle-weave bathrobes are all provided. Housekeeping visits daily and turndown can be performed on request. Handicap-accessible rooms are available.

San Antonio's only full Argentinian restaurant, Dorrego's, is located at the hotel. Dorrego's is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, and offers indoor and outdoor seating (next to the RiverWalk). The restaurant has its own full bar, and there is also Naranja Bar, the hotel's lobby wine bar. In addition to wine by the glass, bottle, or flight, Naranja offers a light tapas menu and live Spanish guitar music three nights a week and Saturday afternoons. Room service is also available 24 hours.

The hotel's fitness center has cardiovascular equipment and weight machines. A large banquet hall and meeting rooms provide space for weddings, special events, and conferences, and a cozy business center has three computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.