Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk [In-Depth Hotel Review]

If you asked Hyatt to build a hotel right in the middle of the action, you’d get the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. As the name implies, this hotel is located along San Antonio’s famous River Walk. Even more, it was right near the festivities for the annual Fiesta San Antonio, which occurred during my 3-night stay in late April 2024.

The hotel had other positives beyond its location, such as friendly service at the reception desk and a great weekend buffet, but its centralized location also presented some drawbacks, such as noise. Join me as I detail what the experience was like, from booking to checkout.

Booking

As a World of Hyatt Category 3 property, the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk was using standard pricing on the first night of my stay, available for 12,000 points. However, the price jumped to 15,000 points per night (peak pricing) on the remaining nights, given that I was checking in on a Thursday and checking out on a Sunday. I was happy to use points for 2 nights of my stay and a Hyatt Category 1-4 free night award for the other night to cover all 3 nights.

The average nightly cost for a standard room during my stay was $297. Thus, redeeming 15,000 points here provided a redemption value of 1.99 cents per point — well above our average valuation of World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents apiece.

Hot Tip:

If you pay for a stay at this hotel, consider using The World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn up to 9x points total for Hyatt stays — 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels and up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member.

Location

The Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk is situated in the heart of the River Walk area, surrounded by numerous restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s also conveniently located just over a block from the famous tourist attraction, The Alamo.

Sitting in the central area of San Antonio’s downtown, I didn’t need a rental car while staying at this property. Numerous tourist spots were within walking distance.

The parade route for the Fiesta Flambeau Parade also passed very close to the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk — another strength of the hotel’s location.

When arriving from the San Antonio International Airport (SAT), you can reach the Hyatt Regency in about 15 minutes by car. Alternatively, you can take the number 7 bus from the airport and reach the hotel in 20 to 25 minutes. The price for an adult ticket is $2.60.

Checking In

When I arrived at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk after 11 p.m., the lobby and front entrance were pretty quiet.

Stepping through the sliding glass doors, I immediately noticed the large atrium inside the hotel, open to the top (11th) floor and full of glass to let in natural light. It also provided views toward the River Walk from every floor of guest rooms.

The atrium extended to the underground level, from which you could access the River Walk. Thus, the hotel’s lobby was actually 1 floor above the River Walk entry point.

Located to the left of the entrance, I found several leather sofas in front of the reception desk. Approaching the desk, several friendly employees smiled and greeted me, which was a surprise, given the late hour.

After I gave my name, ID, and a credit card for incidentals to the front desk agent, they explained to me the location of my room, a few basics about the hotel, and mentioned where I could find more information about the Fiesta event happening during my stay.

She also highlighted the hotel’s food and beverage options, including their hours, and asked if I had left a car with the valet service outside (I hadn’t).

Elite Benefits

As a Hyatt Globalist, I enjoyed several additional benefits during my stay. Each morning, I received complimentary breakfast at Q Kitchen | Bar, complimentary bottled water during my stay, and I would’ve received free parking if I’d had a car. I also was eligible for a room upgrade.

Since the hotel was at capacity, there weren’t any suites or deluxe rooms available for upgrade at check-in. However, I did receive a room on the top floor (11).

Amenities

The Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk had far more amenities than I expected. I typically associate a long list of amenities with resort properties, but there was a lot going on here.

River Walk Direct Access

The hotel’s main selling point is probably its direct access to the River Walk, available through 2 sets of doors on the underground level. This level was accessible via stairs, elevators with access to guest floors, and a separate elevator that connected the lobby to the underground level.

There also was a small pond inside the atrium on this underground level, fed by water from the outside, with this cute pedestrian bridge straddling the inlet.

Fitness Center

Located on the 11th floor, the hotel had a small fitness center that was open 24 hours a day. Access required tapping your keycard.

Going through the door, I immediately found a set of steps up to the fitness center, but there was a lift available for those who needed it.

The fitness center wasn’t large by any stretch of the imagination, but it had a few multi-function weight machines around the periphery and a few cardio machines in the center.

Pool

The pool was located past the fitness center, accessed through the same door on the 11th floor. The pool was up another set of stairs from the gym.

However, there was a lift to reach the pool, located past the gym (not on the first set of steps I came to).

The rooftop pool deck had a generous number of lounge chairs and towels available for guests, as well as bins for dirty towels.

The pool wasn’t large and didn’t get very deep, but it could be a great spot to hang out to escape the South Texas heat. Alternatively, it’s heated during winter. There also was a lift available for getting in and out of the pool, and it was open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (weather permitting).

Along with a few cabanas available around the pool, there were QR codes posted around the pool deck. Scanning these brought up a menu for ordering food and drinks.

The rooftop pool deck also had views over the city, given that most of the buildings immediately next to the hotel were shorter.

Shops

There were multiple shops on the hotel’s underground floor. One sold Texas-themed clothing.

A salon offered manicures, pedicures, hair styling, cuts, and more.

The Dasa Spa offers a full range of services, including facials, massages, and more. The giant QR code on the door made it easy to look up hours and prices.

There was 1 shop space that was currently empty, located between the ATM and an ice cream shop in the far corner.

Elevators

Aside from the elevator near the reception desk (which only moved between the lobby and the underground shops/River Walk entrance), there was a bank of elevators on the opposite side of the lobby, near the restaurants. These elevators were fast — much faster than your typical hotel elevator that crawls between floors.

The elevators were large and easily accommodated the crowds as they surged in. The glass walls in the back prevented the claustrophobic feeling that an elevator might produce.

Accessing guest floors required tapping your key card, and the panel displayed what floor you were on (or passing) clearly.

There also was a sign in the elevator with information about food and beverage options at the hotel, including QR codes to scan for menus.

Looking out the elevator’s glass windows into the atrium was a nice change from the closed box that is your average hotel elevator.

Meeting and Event Spaces

The Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk has 2 floors of conference and event space located just above the lobby. In total, the hotel offers 40,000 square feet of event space, including this terrace option overlooking the lobby.

In addition, more standard meeting and event rooms were available, the largest of which was an 18,000-square-foot ballroom.

Business Center

A FedEx Office store was located one floor above the lobby, near several of the meeting rooms. It was a place to purchase office supplies, ship, print, and more.

Adjacent to the store was a self-serve business station where you could pay to use a computer, print some documents, or make copies.

Parking

The hotel offered both valet and self-serve parking. Given how busy it was during my stay, seeing a line of guests waiting at the valet station wasn’t uncommon. Valet parking cost $59 per day for most vehicles, though that jumped to $69 for oversized vehicles.

Across the street, self-serve parking was available in a garage for $47 per night. That seems a bit steep for me, but remember that parking fees are waived for Globalists when staying on points or free night awards.

Digital Services

A QR code next to my bed led to this digital services menu, which I appreciated. The menu contained information about restaurant hours, hotel amenities, and even local attractions.

Internet

Given how busy the hotel was, I wasn’t surprised that internet speeds were very modest. With a large number of people using the hotel Wi-Fi at the same time, I got average speeds of around 14 Mbps. In my room, the connection was sometimes unreliable, and I moved to the tables near the MKT Place (more on this later) in the lobby to get a more reliable connection while working one day.

Ice and Vending Machines

Each guest floor had a hydration station where you could refill your water bottle.

The guest floors also had ice machines and vending machines selling Pepsi products, Gatorade, and bottled water. I couldn’t help but laugh when I found this Pepsi machine next to the gym’s entrance.

Guest Room

Stepping out of the elevator on the 11th floor, I found baskets hanging on the wall and some unique lamps on a table. However, these were the only decorations on the 11th floor.

Beyond this, the guest floor hallways felt very plain with their soft gray and white palette.

My room (1166) was a standard room with a king-sized bed and was located at the corner of the hallway. The gym and pool entrance were immediately to the left, just out of the photo below. There also was a glass panel at the corner for looking out over the city.

I came to regret the location of my room. First, there was constant noise from people entering and exiting the gym and pool area. Furthermore, being so close to those amenities, it often felt like someone was following me to my room, only to change their mind at the last minute and go to the gym or the ice machine. It just felt odd.

Moreover, even though I was on the 11th floor, my room overlooked numerous bars and nightclubs, and I heard the noise from these venues throughout my stay.

Hot Tip:

If you are a light sleeper or prefer a quieter room, request a room facing away from Broadway.

Entry

After tapping my key card and entering the room, I found an open closet with several hangers, an iron, and an ironing board.

At knee level was a shelf that was great for holding a suitcase, plus a drawer for storage.

Along the wall, I found a full-length mirror.

And these collapsable coat hooks near were really convenient.

Bedroom

The bedroom itself felt spacious, with plenty of room to move around.

The king-size bed was comfortable, and bonus points for the pillows not just being 4 of the same thing. Each side of the bed had a firmer and softer pillow option.

On the bed, I found a note about conservation efforts from the housekeeping staff.

The side of the bed closer to the bathroom had a nightstand with both 3-prong and USB plug options, plus a clock radio.

The side of the bed closer to the window had a small nook with outlets before coming to this solid desk with a chair. The chair looked nice, but I found it very uncomfortable. After working here for an hour, my body was screaming for a different seat.

The desk had a notepad, lamp, and phone on it.

Near the window was a small sofa (which folded out into a bed) and a table.

My room had floor-to-ceiling windows, with views over the San Antonio downtown area and the Tower of the Americas in the distance.

A large TV was across from the bed between the entryway and the room.

A leather bench and a folding luggage rack were under the TV.

In the corner of the room, I found an empty minifridge and a small safe.

An ice bucket and a Nespresso machine with pods were on the shelves above the safe and minifridge.

On the wall near the window was an easy-to-use digital thermostat.

Bathroom

Turning right from the entryway, the bathroom was compact but didn’t feel cramped. The toilet was in the center, the sink and mirror were to the left, and the shower was to the right.

I found towels, hand towels, washcloths, a spare roll of toilet paper, and a hair dryer under the sink.

In the corner, there was a makeup mirror and a pump bottle of Pharmacopia hand lotion, as well as 2 drinking glasses.

At the other end of the counter, I found a bar of soap (also Pharmacopia), a box of tissues, and a small box that had a few essentials like cotton swabs and makeup-removing pads.

I enjoyed the fact the mirror was backlit and that it had a digital clock in the corner.

To the right of the toilet, the shower was in a glass box with sliding doors.

The shower had both rainfall and handheld options.

I found 3 pump bottles of Pharmacopia argan oil products (shampoo, conditioner, and body wash) mounted on the marble tile at the rear of the shower.

Food and Beverage

There were several options for eating and drinking at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.

Q Kitchen | Bar

Q Kitchen | Bar was the main restaurant, serving American fare and hosting live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. The restaurant served 3 meals a day, opening at 6:30 a.m. daily and closing at midnight every day but Saturday. On Saturdays, it stayed open until 12:30 a.m.

The restaurant is on the ground floor, opposite the reception desk. An open seating area is located in the atrium, and there is also an interior seating area.

On weekdays, Q Kitchen | Bar used a menu for breakfast. It included local specialties alongside traditional items like eggs, pancakes, and pudding. Menu items were marked for allergens and what was vegan or vegetarian, which I appreciated.

On my first morning (Friday), Q Kitchen | Bar was using a menu only, while it had a buffet on Saturdays and Sundays (though the menu was still available as well). I ordered the avocado toast, coffee, and orange juice.

Signs on each table stated that the restaurant only accepted credit cards and room charges as payment — no cash.

As a Globalist, my breakfast was included, as was the tip. However, I was surprised to see that staff had already included a service charge on the bill when I signed for it.

On the Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge

On the underground level, On the Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge could be accessed from the interior part of the hotel, near the shops. This oyster bar and seafood restaurant was open daily from 12 p.m. to midnight.

Mad Dogs

Outside, along the River Walk, Mad Dogs was located next to On the Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge. This British-themed pub had live entertainment daily and was open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sauced on Losoya

It’s not what you would think of as food and drink at a hotel, but there was a food truck immediately outside the hotel, to the left of the valet area (when facing the hotel, or turning right when going out the hotel’s entrance).

Sauced on Losoya served pizza, margaritas, and beer from 12 p.m. to midnight.

At night, it was very popular, including a line of customers waiting to order every time I passed.

MKT. PLACE

MKT. PLACE was located next to the reception desk. This convenient, small market sold prepackaged drinks and pastries, made-to-order sandwiches, and coffee beverages.

Interestingly, Q Kitchen | Bar didn’t serve anything but drip coffee — no cappuccinos or lattes. This may be to avoid competing with MKT. PLACE.

Open from 6 a.m. to midnight, MKT. PLACE did have an issue where the espresso machine stopped working, and a repair team couldn’t get past the closed roads for the parade to come fix it. Barring this, guests could order drip coffee while waiting but would need to wait 24 hours for the espresso-based machine to start working again.

In-Room Dining

The Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk also offered room service from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Menus were available via QR codes in the guest rooms and elevators.

Service

Throughout my stay, service was overall excellent, barring a bit of rushing on the part of staff on my last day.

When I arrived after 11 p.m. for check-in, staff were friendly, helpful, and efficient without being too exuberant for the late hour or spending too much time talking, which would have delayed me getting to bed. I enjoyed the warm welcome that I received in a late-night-appropriate mode.

Each morning at breakfast, staff members were helpful and friendly without hovering. I received a friendly smile from each employee I encountered, and despite my waitress disappearing for a bit when I was trying to get the bill on the first morning, service was otherwise solid during the 3 breakfasts I had at Q Kitchen | Bar.

I stopped by the front desk once to ask for information about the local parades and received friendly smiles and helpful information, including a hand-drawn map of where to find a good spot within walking distance of the hotel.

I also appreciated the quiet hours signs near the elevators on guest floors, encouraging people to keep the noise down between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

The only negative mark for service comes from the final hours I spent at the hotel. On my final morning, I went to the front desk and asked for a late checkout. I even said that I understood if it wouldn’t be possible, given how busy the hotel was. The friendly agent at the desk told me I could stay until 2 p.m., which was great news.

However, at 1:30 p.m., housekeeping tried to enter my room and seemed upset (plus unaware) that I hadn’t checked out yet. Then, at 1:54 p.m., the front desk called to ask why I hadn’t checked out yet. I was actually walking out of the room to go check out, but I had to pause to answer the phone.

“You told me I could stay until 2 p.m., and it’s not 2 p.m. yet. I’m not late,” I told them. It annoys me when a hotel rushes you out of the room if you haven’t passed the agreed-upon checkout time. If they needed me to leave before 2 p.m., they shouldn’t have approved the late checkout time.

However, if that’s only my only complaint about service, that means things were good overall. And once I got to the front desk to check out, things were very efficient.

Final Thoughts

I truly enjoyed my stay at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. Despite some room noise from the nearby bars and the feeling of being rushed out the door, the stay had far more high points than low.

The hotel’s location is fantastic for numerous points of interest, the breakfast buffet was delicious, and service was mostly excellent.

I wouldn’t call it perfect, and some elements of the hotel felt dated, but I would stay here again on a future trip to San Antonio.