Alamo Plaza

The Emily Morgan San Antonio, a DoubleTree by Hilton

★★★★★

The Emily Morgan is the hotel with the closest relationship to the Alamo, and it gives first-time visitors a memorable, historic base at a sensible price. It stands at 705 East Houston Street on the north side of Alamo Plaza, so the shrine is essentially across the street, and the River Walk is about two blocks away. The building was completed in the 1920s as the Medical Arts Building, a Gothic Revival tower designed for doctors' offices, and its pale facade is decorated with carved details and gargoyles, some with medical themes, that make it one of the most distinctive buildings downtown. It later became a hotel named for Emily Morgan, a figure in Texas Revolution legend, and today it operates as part of Hilton's DoubleTree brand, with the familiar warm cookie at check-in. The hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Rooms are comfortable and updated, with the character of an older building, and many have views over Alamo Plaza or the city. The on-site ORO restaurant looks out onto the Alamo, which makes breakfast or a drink here a pleasure. There is a fitness center, a business center, meeting rooms, connecting rooms and pet-friendly rooms for pets up to medium size, for a fee. Parking is valet only, at typical downtown rates. The trade-offs: the plaza is in the middle of a long construction project for the Alamo museum and visitor center, scheduled to open in 2028, with fencing and traffic changes around Houston Street, so expect some disruption; and some rooms are on the small side, as in many historic buildings.

The location is the main reason to stay. You can be at the Alamo when it opens, before the crowds, return to the hotel for a break in the heat of the day, and walk to the River Walk, Rivercenter and the river cruises in a few minutes. The Majestic and Empire theaters, Houston Street shops and the downtown core are close, and La Villita and Hemisfair are an easy stroll.

The building rewards a little attention. Look up at the gargoyles and carved details as you approach, and ask staff about the hotel's history and its reputation as one of the city's most talked-about haunted hotels, a favorite stop on ghost tours. Request a room with an Alamo Plaza view if you can; watching the plaza wake up in the morning is a highlight.

As a base, the Emily Morgan suits first-time visitors, history buffs and couples who want character and a central location at a mid-range price. Families with pets will appreciate the pet-friendly rooms. Travelers who need a pool or resort facilities should look elsewhere, and anyone sensitive to construction noise should ask about room placement given the ongoing Alamo works. Because the hotel sits so close to the Alamo, it is also a practical choice for travelers with limited mobility who want to see the shrine and the River Walk without long walks or repeated rides; the main sights of the historic core are all within a few blocks. Evening is a lovely time on the plaza, when day-trippers have left and the facade of the Alamo is lit. Ask the front desk about the latest construction updates and any changes to the walking routes around the plaza before setting out.