The video above takes you on a walking tour through downtown San Antonio, starting at Main Plaza and winding through some of the city's most historic streets before ending up at a live music gig along the Riverwalk. If you're curious about what you'll actually see walking around downtown San Antonio on foot — the old buildings, the landmarks, and where to catch live music — this is a solid overview from someone experiencing it for the first time.
Where Can You Find Live Music in Downtown San Antonio?
Downtown San Antonio has several spots where you can catch live performances, ranging from historic theaters to casual outdoor patios. Based on what's covered in the video and general knowledge of the area, here are some worth knowing about:
- Majestic Theatre — A 1929 Mediterranean-style theater on Houston Street hosting live music, plays, and comedy shows. It's one of the most well-known performance venues in the city.
- Aztec Theatre — Located along St. Mary's Street near the Riverwalk, this venue hosts a wide range of live music and entertainment acts in a beautifully restored historic space.
- Devil's River Whiskey Distillery — Situated in a historic building on Houston Street, they advertise live music nightly on their patio. A good option if you want drinks and music in one spot.
- Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen — A beer garden about a mile north of the Alamo along the Riverwalk, with solid food, drinks, and regular live music. This is where the video's host played his set.
The video also mentions that the Gunter Hotel, which dates back to 1909, houses a spot called Bar 414 — notable because it's where Robert Johnson recorded his first session. That alone makes Houston Street a significant place in American music history.
Historic Landmarks Along the Walking Route
The walk covers a lot of ground. It starts at Main Plaza, where you'll find San Fernando Cathedral — a Catholic church dating to 1730 and the oldest continuously functioning religious community in Texas. Across the plaza sits the Bexar County Courthouse, the largest and oldest continuously running historic courthouse in the state. From there, the route heads down Houston Street, a brick-lined stretch full of old hotels and buildings that served as the city's main retail and theater district in the early 1900s. The walk ends at the Alamo, the 18th-century Spanish mission that was the site of the 1836 battle during the Texas Revolution, where Davy Crockett is commemorated with a statue. The Hipólito F. García Federal Building, a post office and courthouse built during the Great Depression, and the Emily Morgan Hotel (which bills itself as the official hotel of the Alamo) round out the route.