Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk [In-Depth Hyatt Hotel Review]

After a few nights at the bustling Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, I spent the final night of my trip at the Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. While their names would make you think they’re next to each other, the half-mile distance between the properties felt worlds apart during the annual Fiesta San Antonio activities.

I had an expiring Category 1–7 free night award, and World of Hyatt was offering double stay credits at Thompson properties, so this seemed like an excellent use of my free night award and a great way to end my stay. What started as a booking of convenience turned out to be a fantastic stay at a refined property with all the small touches you’d expect at a luxury property.

Here’s what my 1-night stay in late April was like at the Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk.

Booking Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk

At first, the cash rates for the Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk didn’t look too bad: $282 for a night at a World of Hyatt Category 5 property seemed decent.

However, the rate jumped by nearly 20% on the final page, thanks to all the taxes and fees. A final price of nearly $336 made me glad I was booking an award stay.

As a Category 5 property, the Thompson costs 20,000 points per night under Hyatt’s standard pricing but could cost more or less on peak and off-peak dates. As I stayed on a Sunday night after the main parades and activities for Fiesta had ended, crowds were dying down, and so was pricing. Rates the previous night had used peak pricing.

However, I was able to book this property with a Category 1–7 free night award after 60 qualifying nights and reaching Globalist status the previous year.

Hot Tip:

If I had paid cash for this stay, I would’ve used The World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays — 4 bonus points per dollar spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels and up to 5 base points per dollar from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. If you don’t have this card or want to earn different rewards, check out our list of the best cards for Hyatt loyalists and consider paying with one of those.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk Location

The Thompson property is in San Antonio’s downtown area, but it’s not in the center of the nightlife or along the busier section of the River Walk. Instead, it’s near the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and set on quieter streets. Being more removed from the action, the stay felt more relaxing and upscale than my nights at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.

Reaching the Thompson from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) takes about 15 minutes by car or about 30 minutes with the No. 5 or 7 express buses.

Checking In

After I arrived via Uber, multiple employees greeted me warmly at the reception desk. I arrived shortly after 2 p.m. Even though the hotel’s posted check-in time was 3 p.m., I was able to check in and go straight to my room.

The woman helping me at the front desk was fantastic; she had the perfect combination of friendliness and efficiency.

Looking around the lobby as she pulled up my reservation, I loved the soft lighting that provided a warm feeling without being too bright.

The reception area had ample seating, such as the chairs and a semicircular sofa closer to the reception desk and another sofa near a faux fireplace further into the lobby.

After confirming my reservation and taking my credit card for incidentals, the desk agent asked if I had any plans during my visit or if I needed information about the local area. As I planned to relax, I thanked her but declined the offer. However, she gave me a copy of The Thompson Tea, a 2-sided information pamphlet that gave off newspaper vibes while conveying information about the hotel and local happenings.

Thus, I could explore the hotel and the local area with the information available here.

After checking in, I headed toward the elevators at the rear of the ground floor. I loved this lighting setup under the stairs to the next floor, where the event spaces were.

Elite Benefits

I enjoyed several benefits during my stay thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status. First, all members are entitled to complimentary bottled water during a stay, and Thompson provided branded, reusable bottles that could be refilled at drink stations around the property.

If I’d had a car, I would’ve received complimentary parking during my stay, as this is a Globalist benefit on award stays. The desk agent also searched for any suites available during check-in, but the hotel was at capacity. All she could provide was a room on a higher floor, which is listed in my World of Hyatt preferences.

I also received a Globalist benefits letter outlining benefits like 4 p.m. late checkout and the inclusion of daily breakfast. It was interesting that a maximum dollar amount was listed here ($60) and that the benefit could be used for in-room dining or at the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant, Landrace.

Amenities

As an upscale property, the Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk had a lot of amenities to offer.

Internet

Complimentary Wi-Fi was available throughout the property. Unfortunately, speeds were a bit of a bummer, hovering just under 10 Mbps on average.

Fitness Center

On the fifth floor, the large fitness center was accessible around the clock.

There was a mix of cardio machines to the left and multifunctional weight machines on the right.

Benches and free weights were along the wall, closer to the entrance.

Next to the entrance were kettlebells and medicine balls on a rack.

Shelves near the entrance held a minifridge stocked with water and towels for guests. There also was a radio for playing music during workouts.

I loved finding a bowl of earbuds here. No excuses for those people who disrupt the gym by playing their music on speakerphone!

Interestingly, there was a sign about membership costs for those who weren’t hotel guests but wanted to use the facilities. Options ranged from $150 (gym access plus spa discounts) to $675 (gym access plus several spa inclusions) each month.

At the far end of the gym, there was a “Zen zone” that provided space for stretching and yoga.

Additional mats were on the back of this post, along with the mats already on the floor.

But the best part of the Zen zone was likely the view over the pool on the next floor down.

Bathrooms were in the hallway near the gym. However, there were no locker rooms on this floor.

Pool

The hotel pool was on the fourth floor’s outdoor deck. It wasn’t large, but it was a great place to cool off in the Texas heat.

The pool had a chair lift and was flanked by several covered tables with seating — great for ordering a poolside meal or drink. Numerous lounge chairs and a full-service bar were closer to the entrance.

During the afternoon, the pool provided a great place to relax and was impressively quiet despite the major festival in the city below.

Access to the pool deck required tapping your key card. A seating area was between the elevators and the doors to the pool deck. Towels were on a rack in the corner.

Public bathrooms with small lockers for guests’ belongings were off of the seating area. However, there were no showers or private changing areas.

Meeting and Event Spaces

Ample event space was on the second floor, accessible via stairs from the lobby.

Known as the Solana Foyer, this area, with its 2,111 square feet, can hold up to 150 people. The wooden doors lead to the 3,000-square-foot Solana Ballroom, which can accommodate another 200 people.

Seating was at the edge of the Solana Foyer, and bathrooms were around the corner.

The Mirador Boardroom was on the fifth floor, next to the fitness center. It could fit 20 people in its 672 square feet of space.

Spa

On the third floor, a full-service spa offered “treatments intended to relax your mind, rejuvenate your body, and find your inner peace.” The spa hours were 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. most days; however, it stayed open until 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Massages, facials, a sauna, manicures, waxing, and more were treatments available.

Parking

The only option for parking at the hotel was valet. It included in-and-out privileges at a steep cost of $52 per night. The valet stand was in a covered area next to the lobby.

While I did accidentally find stair access to the garage from inside the hotel, there was no way to drive in or out of the garage without the valet employee’s pass.

San Antonio River Walk Access

As the hotel’s name implies, the Thompson San Antonio was set along the River Walk, and these stone steps led from the street level down to the River Walk.

While the ground-floor restaurant Landrace overlooks the River Walk and offers outdoor seating, there is no direct River Walk access from inside the hotel. Moreover, the hotel doesn’t have any features along the River Walk itself (such as a café) or any handicapped-accessible method of reaching it.

Elevators

The hotel had 3 elevators: 2 along this wall and 1 along the opposite wall (behind the photo’s vantage point). When the elevator behind me would arrive and ding, it always surprised me.

Interestingly, not every floor’s elevator waiting area was the same. Public floors (such as the lobby or the pool) had this wood paneling, though guest floors had a charcoal gray look.

Floor mats in the elevator had a greeting for the relevant time of the day.

When I arrived, they read “Good afternoon” and said “Good morning” when I went to breakfast the next day.

The elevators had that middle ground of size — not large but not cramped. To access guest floors, you needed to tap a key card.

Signs in the elevators mentioned which floors had which facilities, which was convenient.

However, my favorite aspect of the elevators was the slate walls that provided a beautiful look and interesting texture.

I also appreciated that there was a calendar of events in the elevator waiting area (and at the front desk) on every floor, highlighting hours for the hotel’s facilities and special events.

Hallway Drink Stations

The guest floors had water and ice stations to refill the bottles received at check-in. They also had a large supply of green apples.

1 King Bed Guest Room

I stayed in room 1003 on the 10th floor. Stepping off the elevator, I saw subdued signage that told me which way to turn.

The halls had a basic color palette of grays, blacks, and whites. Lighting was a happy medium between “hospital bright” and “can’t see where I’m going.”

Bedroom

Stepping into my 1 king bedroom, I found a full-length mirror on the wall opposite the sliding door to the bathroom. Next to the door was a closet.

The soft lighting and color palettes continued in the room, using lots of earth tones that I enjoyed.

The room’s main feature was the king-size bed, which was surrounded by several pieces of artwork. A unique lamp hung from the ceiling on each side of the bed. The bed was comfortable, though the pillows provided absolutely zero support.

On the side of the bed closer to the bathroom, a small, circular table held a phone, the TV remote, and a sign with a QR code for the in-room dining menu. There were also 3-prong and USB outlets here.

On the other side of the bed was a green, 2-drawer nightstand with outlets. The drawers were empty, and I found a retro-style clock radio on the nightstand.

The nightstand also held a pamphlet for a self-guided tour of the hotel’s artwork.

The most curious item in the room, by far, was these straps holding up a leather back support in front of the headboard. At first glance, these look like you could tie someone to the bed, but they’re supposed to evoke horse-riding stirrups. It felt like the hotel was trying a bit too hard here.

A leather loveseat and a small wooden table were in front of large windows that had thick blackout curtains.

The view from the window wasn’t particularly beautiful, though: It looked over a parking lot and rooftops.

Across from the bed was a TV, folding luggage rack, minibar, and a desk, plus more artwork on the walls.

The wooden desk had a wood-plus-leather chair that I’ll give a 6.5 out of 10 for comfort.

A pop-up panel on the desk had 2 USB outlets and a pair of 3-prong outlets, and there was a pen and notepad.

On the wall near the bathroom, I found a digital thermostat that was easy to operate.

Bottom Line:

I found the room really beautiful and loved the hardwood flooring. The leather pillow with coarse hair and the straps on the headboard were a bit odd, but overall, I thought the room had a luxurious feel.

Closet

Between the bathroom and the door, French doors opened to a closet.

The wooden closet had ample hangers and another bathrobe.

There also was a second hair dryer, another pair of slippers, a drawer for storage, and a small safe.

Laundry bags and pricing were also available here.

Minibar

Across from the bed, this unique stand with a door divided down the middle held the minibar.

Inside was a minifridge with everything from Coke to beer and hard sweet tea.

A Nespresso machine, ice bucket, and numerous snacks for purchase were available on top of the minibar.

A price list was available both at the minibar and in the bathroom.

The hotel referred to this as an honor bar, and the spa hours were also included on the back of the price sheet.

Bathroom

I thought the bathroom was really unique, especially accessing it from a sliding barn door with privacy glass.

Along the wall was a long counter with a sink in the middle and a giant mirror.

To the left of the sink, I found a box of tissues and a small bottle of hand lotion, as well as drinking glasses and a washcloth. But I also found some more items, like a copy of the minibar price list, a hydrating gel mask, and an oxygenating bubble mask — which I’d never heard of before.

I found towels, a hair dryer, and a spare toilet paper roll on a shelf under the sink.

Next to the sink was a bottle of L’Avant liquid soap.

At the far end of the counter, I found a small container plus a note about the hotel’s conservation efforts.

Inside the brass container were makeup-remover wipes, cotton balls, and a vanity kit that included dental floss and pads for removing makeup.

Past the counter, hanging on the wall, I found a bathrobe for use during my stay.

A small bag in the robe’s pocket held the traditional Thompson slippers.

Across from the sink and counter, along the opposite wall, the toilet was on the left, and the glass box for the shower was on the right.

One of the toilet seat’s anchor points was broken, so the seat moved when I sat on it. I almost fell into the toilet.

The shower had both handheld and overhead options, and I liked the marble look on the walls — though it didn’t really match the theme or decor of the rest of the hotel.

Pump bottles in the shower had Bowmakers toiletries with a nice citrus scent.

Food and Beverages

Landrace

The hotel’s main restaurant was Landrace, at the rear of the ground floor near the elevator bank. It continued the earth tones and had a long banquette that ran across the restaurant.

Landrace also had a fully stocked bar and barstools.

The restaurant was open from 7 a.m. daily, closing at 9 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and at 10 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays. I visited for breakfast on the sole morning of my stay and was rather disappointed with the scant vegan options.

I ordered a latte and the overnight oats and was shocked by how small they were.

To sate my hunger, I added breakfast potatoes to the order. These were delicious.

The Moon’s Daughters

On the 20th floor, The Moon’s Daughters functioned as a rooftop bar but also offered much more than that seems to imply. For example, there was this huge indoor space near the main bar.

Outside, a handful of tables were available in this covered setting.

On the opposite side of the 20th floor, a smaller bar could accommodate overflow guests or be reserved for a private party. There was also some indoor seating here.

Passing through this smaller bar led to an outdoor deck with tons of seating around barstools, sofas, and traditional tables and chairs.

The views from up here were excellent.

The Moon’s Daughters was open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Room Service

Room service was also available. Signs advertising this feature were next to the elevators on every guest floor, and a QR code to access the menu was included.

Service

“What constitutes service?” is always an interesting question. The very friendly experiences I had at check-in and checkout are obviously included here, as are the smiles and offers of assistance from employees I passed during my stay.

I also found the waiter at breakfast very friendly, though he shouldn’t have been working alone given how many people were eating at the same time as me. Did he do the best he could? Absolutely. But is not having enough staff to reduce delays part of service? I tend to think so.

Additionally, the end results of a room service order were sitting in the hallway when I arrived at the hotel (shortly after 2 p.m.). When I passed by at nearly 10 p.m. that night, nearly 8 hours later, the tray and dishes were still there. That seems like another negative aspect of service here.

Overall, I’d summarize service like this: It was friendly, but the actual implementation left something to be desired.

Final Thoughts

When checking out, I checked with the personable desk agent that the breakfast bill had been cleared from my account, since breakfast was included, and that meant I had no bill to settle. He offered to email me a final bill showing a $0 balance, given that I’d booked with a free night award, and I called for an Uber to the airport while this was happening.

All of the employees I met at the Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk were friendly and did their best, but that doesn’t mean service was perfect. And while the hotel provided an upscale stay, it’s not ideal for those wanting to be closer to the action or wanting direct access from the hotel to the River Walk. All in all, I thought it was a nice hotel, but for my personal tastes it wasn’t enough that it would justify the higher cost on a future visit.