The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Antonio

Character and identity

Open since 1909 and reputedly the country's first fully air-conditioned hotel, this 277-room downtown landmark trades in Old Hollywood glamour with a Texas accent. The public spaces are dressed with museum-grade fine art and French antiques; upstairs, the rooms shift to a quieter, more practical register, with nearly half overlooking Travis Park. Five food and drink concepts anchor the social scene, from Rebelle's surf-and-turf to The St. Anthony Club, a Dorothy Draper-designed speakeasy where Southwest Airlines and the Spurs ownership were reportedly hashed out. A rooftop pool and attentive, door-opening service complete the picture.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The draw here is the ground floor: the art, the antiques, the bars, and a service team that actually anticipates. Book it for the social scene and the history rather than the bedrooms. Splurge on a Travis Park-facing room for the view, and time a stay around summer outdoor films or the winter ice rink across the street.