4 Best Shopping in San Antonio, Texas

This is about as close you can get to Old Mexico without crossing the border. Market Square (El Mercado) has been a favorite of locals and visitors for generations for eating, drinking, shopping, and celebrating. The three-block space houses restaurants, shops, galleries, and working artisans crafting their wares in everything from silver to leather to woodwork. The Market Square outdoor plaza often has music and dance performances, especially during the holidays. Check the website calendar for upcoming programming. It's a fun, colorful outing, especially if you're dining at Mi Tierra Bakery and Café or La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar and are up for a lively afternoon or evening. 

This longtime beloved independent bookstore has been part of San Antonio's literary world since 1972, residing in several neighborhoods before landing at the Pearl. The large and well-stocked store has thousands of books in all subjects as well as cards and gift items. It hosts regular author-signing events for local and national writers as well as a weekly children's story time. Ask the very helpful and knowledgeable staff about the latest and best independent and mainstream bestsellers.

Look for the distinctive smokestacks at this open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment center (the area was once a cement factory). Today, Alamo Quarry Market includes a Regal movie theater complex and many standard mall stores, such as Old Navy, Whole Foods, and Banana Republic. This entire area actually offers a huge array of shopping. Quarry Village is across from Quarry Market, and the Shops at Lincoln Heights are close by at the intersection of Broadway and East Base Road.

Previously known as Sunset Ridge Home and Hardware, the name Sunset & Co. may be new, but it's the same wonderful place to browse to your heart's content. The store seems endless, brimming as it is with gifts and accessories for him and her, jewelry, bath and body products, men's hats, travel bags, clothing and accessories for babies and kids, and more. There's plenty for the home and kitchen, too, as well as hardware and outdoor items, like Weber grills, grilling accessories, coolers, and tool sets. They also offer services for glass-cutting, key-cutting, Miele vacuum repair, screen repair, paint color matching, and custom monogramming.