Hotel Valencia Riverwalk

My wife and I went down for a couple days for her birthday. Had a hard time deciding on what hotel to reserve but finally settle on Hotel Valencia. IT WAS GREAT!!!The hotel was clean and the staff was awesome. Located a block from the Riverwalk, and close to Alamo, St. Fernando Catheral. Great Location!!!Highly recommended and will stay there when we return. more

We stayed there on our anniversary and loved everything about it! Trendy close to bars and resturants and great staff! Small rooms but great fun. more

Hubby & I went to San Antonio for our anniversary as a weekend getaway. I found Valencia & thought it looked lovely! Being our 3 year anniversary & since we had never been able to take a trip anywhere I decided to shell out the $200/night. \r \r Maybe I'm stingy... but if I'm spending that amt of $$ on a hotel room then I expect it to be really nice. It was decent & that was about it. It was dark everywhere. Not sure if that was supposed to make it romantic? But IMO it just made it seem dirty. The lamp shades in the room were ripped, the thermostat seemed broken (it was hot when we got into our room for the first time and we had to keep the thermostat set at like 65 in order to not be warm), the window shutter was coming off the wall, there was a weird light that kept randomly blinking throughout the night which was just odd, the TV has no cable or movies to buy (which I never buy those ridiculously overpriced movies but it was our anniversary trip!). They mostly had local channels & the few times we turned on the TV there was NOTHING good on. Just news & talk shows. We were told the elevator required a guest key to get to any of the guest floors... sometimes it did, sometimes it didn't. \r \r Also, one of the perks of this hotel was the waterfall fire patio area. The 1st night it was never turned on. We had wanted to eat our dessert out on the patio. The 2nd night we had to call & ask them to turn it on, which took another 30 mins. I will say it was very pleasant once lit. But I guess they don't have someone turn it on regularly? Not sure... but if that's one of your hotel's selling points or boasts then wouldn't you make sure it's actually being used? \r \r I will say the bed/pillows were very comfy... even though the bed was creaky. At one point in the middle of the night I refused to get out of bed for fear of waking up my husband with the creaky bed. \r \r One night we were awoken at 1 AM by the emergency system telling us that we needed to evacaute. There was a fire truck waiting outside & we were on the 12th floor. So going down all those stairs with everyone else in the hotel like a herd of cattle was fantastically fun (yes, that's sarcasm). We were outside for approx 3 mins before being told we could go back inside. That was also fun (yes, still being sarcastic). After this I had a hard time going back to sleep. I was up for about 2 hours before I finally started drifting back off only to be woken by what sounded like scratching on the wooden entry floor. Freaked me out. It sounded like a scurrying rat. I turned the light on, didn't see anything, but alas, now I could not go back to sleep AGAIN! Come to find out in the morning, the hotel staff had been trying to slip a piece of paper in our door (not under the door where you could clearly see enough space to do so) but into the door frame telling us that our check-out time had been moved back 3 hours due to the inconvenience of the night before. Nice gesture... but yeah, was it necessary to jam that notice into the door at 3 AM? The paper was all accordion style & ridiculous.\r \r Also, just FYI, there is no onsite parking. The valet is $29.00/night. If you do use the valet, make sure you call about 10 mins before you need to leave so they can go get your car as it does take a little while to get it pulled up to the front of the bldg. We did the valet the 1st night since we weren't sure of our surroundings. But the 2nd night we parked in a garage 1 block down (Houston Street Garage) for about half the price of the valet. It would just depend on your coming and going though. Obviously with the garage you would have to pay per entry whereas with the valet it's a one time fee for all day, you can come and go as often as you like.\r \r I would not recommend anyone to this hotel. It has potential but I just wasn't that impressed. more

Whenever I need to make sure that a client or an out of town guest will have a great culinary experience in San Antonio, I take them to Citrus. The convenient location on Houston Street with complimentary valet parking, V-bar a few steps away to start the evening with a good drink and wonderful balconies overlooking the riverwalk just make it even better. But a wonderful location is doomed if it does not have great food and superb service. Well Citrus has that handily covered. The pace of service is luxuriously unhurried but completely attentive, very conducive either for a romantic date or a business dinner. (The Paella lunch however is quick and incredibly good).Chef Jeff Balfour has created a distinguished menu with delicious items like pan seared rabbit sausage, Broken Arrow elk, cilantro lime grouper and crab cakes so good, Rachel Ray stopped by to have Jeff cook them on her show... The wine list is perfect. By having excellent wines from a wide range of areas, vintages and prices, it avoids being unnecessarily large. All the wines I've had have been excellent. Be sure to conclude your meal with their bread pudding, it is so good, you'll feel guilty for having it. Pros: Nationally famous crabcakes with Texas friendly service! Cons: Hard to pick from so many excellent choices of food. more

The food was good but not exceptional. Not what I would expect for the price. I did enjoy the crab cakes and the lobster lollipop. They were out of several appetizer items, all of the fish entres and the chocolate desert. The service was good and the ambiance fine. Not very crowded on a Saturday night so at least we had a quite, private table. The wine list was adequate but again, not as comprehensive as I might expect from a restaraunt charging these kind of prices. more

My fiance and I tried Citrus after getting a gift certificate since we'd never been inside the hotel Valencia. The hotel/restaurant's atmosphere is very trendy and chic, which is not really our scene. While not necessarily romantic, it was a great, quite place to share good conversation on a date. Our waiter that night was very busy but managed to be quite attentive. \r \r The best part of the night however was definitely the food. They have pri-fixe options where you choose either three courses (appetizer, entree, dessert) or four courses (two appetizers, entree, dessert). We opted for the three course option and were extremely satisfied. My fiance got crabcakes for an appetizer that were touted as ""the best in town"" and they lived up to the hype and more! My yellow fin tuna sashimi appetizer was phenomneal as well. We got the bacon wrapped beef tenderloin and pork tenderloins for the entrees, both of which were amazing. It was hard to concentrate on conversation because every bite was so good! Finally for dessert, we got the cinammon bread pudding and chocolate cake with coffee ice cream. The bread pudding is definitely the best option and was gone in minutes.\r \r Overall, we had a great time and will definitely be going back. The food was pricey but really was one of the better meals we've had in San Antonio. Pros: Great food, beautiful patio overlooking the river, quite atmosphere more

This is by far one of the best hotels in San Antonio. It's for adults, it's dark, it's hip, it's romantic and it's modern. If you are looking for a place to stay with the family or modern architecture and dim lighting scares you, this is not the right hotel for you. The bar turns into a club on the weekends and candles are used to light the lobby. To those on here who colpained about the lighting, I just have to ask if you looked at the holel's website before booking a room because the hotel looks just like it does in the pictures....dark. Everyone I have taken to this hotel has fallen in love with it. The rooms are spacious and have a very modern feel to them. I have NEVER been let down by this hotel and its staff and I have stayed at the hotel 5 times. I would definitely recommend this hotel to a friend. Pros: Everything! Cons: Parking charge, no pool more

My husband and I stayed here for two nights in a ""Riverview King Room."" That's a joke! Our ""Riverview"" was of Houston St and about 10 feet of the River which you had to stretch your neck to see. Basically the view was nonexistent. The room was very comfortable, roomy and nicely appointed. Of course it was in walking distance of the all the restaurants and shops on the Riverwalk. I'd stay here again. more

We were hoping for a relaxing getaway from our routine and ended up with a rather large problem to solve: mysterious charges for over $100 AFTER pre-paying for the hotel online. The upscale decor left us in the dark, literally; the tub was small; the pillows and bedding are all feathers (why do hotels assume everyone will love down?); the street noise was not conducive to a relaxing sleep. We did not use anything at the hotel--phone, expensive valet parking, over-priced mini-bar items, or restaurant. We did go to the breakfast buffet (not included) and when asked, told them that several items were cold and tasteless. The mgr. said she would comp both breakfasts. But now we have these charges....and have to make all the calls...and would not wish this on anyone else for sure. Pros: Location Cons: Valet parking, high prices for mini-bar items, quality of breakfast vs. price, mystery charges more

I celebrate my wedding at Hotel Valencia and my husband and i cannot be more happy. Everything was organized and on time. Thanks to Carolina Lujan for all the hard work. and i can tell that those guys did a team effort to make us so happy that they... they honeymoon suite its.....UNFORGETABLE...What a view of the riverwalk.... \r \r The food was so good that i would love to have two stocmachs!! anyways i was alreaday in my wedding gown.. ja ja so i was able to eat !!! i loved the creme brule.... the cheesecake... the seabass,,,, yummi!\r \r Thanks people for making my wedding day relaxed, special and UNFORGETABLE !!!! Pros: great people pleasing you. service, food, the Verona Room Cons: price a little high more

Great staff, beautiful building, comfortable room, good food & service in the restaurant and bar. Toiletries were very high quality, conceirge service very accommodating (even on Thanksgiving day) and we loved the chic, stylish ambiance of the hotel. Right on the riverwalk. Only challenge was that our room was over a street with many trucks - especially in the am! Pros: quality of service, location, overall ambiance Cons: bed was a little hard, street noise can be heard more

This has been beyond a doubt the best place I have stayed in a long time. I travel a lot with my husband on business and always bring my little one with us. When we arrived there were plenty of people at the entrance of the hotel to greet us and show us the way to the front desk. When we got to our room there was a plate of cookies and milk for our 5 year old son. What a nice treat!!! We were close to everything and everyone went above and beyond to make our stay the best. WE WILL BE BACK!! Pros: The customer service Cons: NOTHING more

Hotel Valencia is by far the best hotel on the riverwalk. Just a short distance away from all of the noise. What a perfect getaway! Dimly lit it lends to the ambience of the hotel. This is truly a step above for San Antonio, truly unexpected. The service is impeccable. Just ask and they go above and beyond for anyone. Excellent food in the restaurant, Citrus. I hear they have great rates for the summer! more

I went to Citrus for my birthday and then Valentine's Day and neither vist left me very happy. I felt as though the staff was kind of stuffy and like I had walked into Neiman's wearing a tank top and no shoes. We even had a reservation weeks in advance!! The fish I had was average and my wife returned her entree. The hotel itself is wonderful...but the restaurant doesn't live up to the sterling standard the hotel has set. Pros: Can't think of any Cons: Food was just okay, service was there, and ambience was stuffy more

SAVE YOURSELF!! I was highly disappointed as soon as I stepped foot in the hotel. We were warmly welcomed with a $27 valet parking charge without warning as well as a rude desk clerk. If you are looking for a romantic get away, this is most definitely not the place for you. The bed was extrememely squeaky and the paper thin walls allow you to hear everything that is going on outside, in the halls and in the rooms next door, which probably means everyone else can hear inside the room as well. After requesting a room with a view, I was placed in a room with a gorgeous view of a building next door. The decor of the room was plain, to say the least, as there was an arrangement of sticks as one of the focal points of the room. We then requested late check out, which is only 1 in the first place, only to get woken up by an employee of the hotel banging on our door an hour or so early ensuring we were awake for ""late"" check out. The bathroom was tiny and could barely hold 2 people. If you enjoy blowing money on overly priced.....everything, then this is definitely the place for you! Pros: location Cons: noise, parking, service more

Definately the place for making business connections. The bar is small, but the atmosphere and drinks are just what the busy executive needs at the end of a long day. Before you know it, you'll have spent a couple of hours enjoying drinks and conversation. A definate favorite. more

Not much service, great looking place, loud DJ music, nothing live, lots of people. Made this place several times. Had to go to the bar to get my drinks. The music was so loud you could not talk. They could use an investment in some live entertainment designed for people to be able to communicate. more

With the beaded curtains and hip atmosphere, there isn't a better bar in SA. The service was excellent and the knowledge of the bar staff was unbelievable. The crowd and music were perfect, not to mention the art displayed throughout the bar. We had a fabulous time and will definitely return!! Pros: Ambience, Service, Crowd more

Hotel Valencia is the most romantic place for couples ,very dim lighting,mink bed spread,food outstanding!!!. service in the rest. espicially server Ramiro, and chef Terry, manager Raul. true they don't have a swimming pool but that can also be in the pros list. because families are attracted to pools ,that means kids and alot of noise, not very romantic now is it. so Hotel Valencia is the most romantic Hotel Pros: no kids , excellent service, excellent food Cons: no swimpool, no close parking more

I ended my visit with a tumble down the barely-lit stairs of this hotel--as I lay on the floor, I was observed with some curiousity by 5-6 bellhops but no offers for assistance. The hotel did allow us to check out an hour late without charging us for it so that I could rest a little more. My friend and I thought that perhaps the darkness in the lobby, hallways, restaurants, and rooms was so that one might not be recognized. No chocolates on the pillow, housekeepers were friendly. Check-out slow, but perhaps due to the light level at the desk. Enjoyed the linens and the beds had excellent mattresses. Pros: linens, location, beds Cons: darkness, no pool more