La Cantera Resort & Spa is a Hill Country oasis located atop the highest point in San Antonio. You will have the perfect vantage point, overlooking the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It is about a 3-hour drive from Houston making it a perfect weekend escape for couples or families.
If you want to explore the River Walk, which has great shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, it is only about a 20-minute drive. Or, if you would like something more in touch with nature, the Natural Bridge Caverns it is a 45-minute drive. Read on for our review to know why you should stay here during your visit to San Antonio!
1. Enjoy the sun at the pools
One of the best ways to enjoy the Texas sun is relaxing by the pool and our main reason to visit La Cantera. The resort has 5 pools. The 3 main pools are clustered together on the west side of the resort away from the conference area. The vista pool is the largest with stunning views of the Hill Country and perfect for families. Next to the resort pool is a kids pool with two water slides and a splash area. Below the resort pool is the adults-only infinity pool which also offers amazing Hill Country views. If you would like more privacy and space the adults-only pool has 10 cabanas. I recommend requesting the cabana in the middle (#5) as it has a better view of the Hill Country.
However, if you prefer a more secluded pool, I recommend the spa pool. You can only access this pool if you booked a treatment at the spa or purchased a day pass. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic day passes cannot be purchased due to the capacity limit at the spa. The fifth pool is located at the Villas and is only for guests staying at the Villas.
2. Play a round of golf
La Cantera Resort’s two world-class golf courses offer some of the most scenic vistas in the Texas Hill Country. The Resort Course, built-in 1995, was designed by noted golf course architect Jay Morrish and PGA Tour professional Tom Weiskopf. It was a PGA tour stop for 15 years. It underwent an extensive renovation in 2017.
The Palmer Course built-in 2001 was designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer and was voted the #8 golf course in Texas by Golf Magazine in 2016. This 6,926‐yard, par 71 masterpiece winds through the Texas Hill Country and offers the ultimate test of ability for even the most skilled player.
To help get your game into shape, a driving range, practice area, well-stocked pro shops, and a golf school with lessons from PGA teaching professionals are available.
3. Luxurious accommodations
La Cantera offers different types of rooms to accommodate everyone’s preferences. The 496 rooms and suites have a classic style with earth tones reflecting their Hill Country surroundings. We stayed in a Junior Suite with a pool view on the third floor which included a patio. The suite is spacious and has good views of the pool. The patio is connected to the rooms on the same floor and we did notice people wandering back and forth. So, if you prefer more privacy we recommend requesting a Junior Suite with a balcony instead of a patio.
La Cantera is a very family-friendly resort. However, if you are looking for a more relaxing time away from the kids, we recommend booking a room on “SEVEN,” the adults-only floor. Additionally, it comes with extra perks such as complimentary valet parking and private check-in.
4. Get pampered at the Loma de Vida Spa
The spa was one of my favorite places at La Cantera. It is a standalone building across from the main resort. The pathway to the spa is surrounded by nature and has soft zen music playing, setting the mood before even entering this secluded sanctuary. The building has two levels. The Himalayan salt sauna, herbal steam room, indoor saline vitality pool, treatment, and relaxation rooms are located on the second level. The pool, fitness room, and cafe are located on the first level. There are also many private areas perfect for a girls’ getaways. Currently, the spa is only offering massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures to limit capacity. If you decided to have a treatment, I highly recommended coming early to enjoy the space.
5. Gourmet dining
La Cantera offers nine unique bars and restaurants from casual to gourmet. So, you will never run out of options for a weekend stay.
- Signature Restaurant features Chef Andrew Weissman, a four-time James Beard Award nominee, and his contemporary interpretations of classic dishes. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try this restaurant as it was temporarily closed due to La Cantera limiting the number of dining experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- SweetFire Kitchen is located on the lobby level, and features an open-air kitchen. The menu offers twists on home-style cooking and steaks. This is where we also had our breakfasts al fresco overlooking Plaza San Saba.
Dinner – S’more inspired dessert (right)
- Primero Cantina is located next to the main pool below SweetFire Kitchen. The style is Tex-Mex. We had delicious grilled shrimp tacos.
- Sire Bar is located in the lobby and offers hand-crafted cocktails that are brown-spirit forward. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the bar only serves to-go beverages.
- Bocado is a charcuterie bar located in the lobby, next to Sire Bar.
- Quenche Juicery is located at the spa and offers healthy food and cold-pressed juices.
- Henrietta’s Market is a cafe with additional items such asa ice cream and grab-and-go options.
- Vista Grille & Topaz are the pool bars. Vista Grille is located at the main pool and Topaz is located at the adults-only pool. The drinks menus are identical but there are slight differences with the food. For example, Topaz has tuna poke and Vista Grille has nachos.
6. Extra hotel amenities
La Cantera Spa & Resort is a Virtuoso property, which means if you book through LBL Travel you will get the following amenities:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Full breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom
- $100 resort credit
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Do you need a relaxing break? Contact us today to plan your trip or book on-line right now to lock-in your complimentary Virtuoso amenities.