San Antonio, Texas made history in 2024 with its first-ever Michelin recognition, earning two prestigious Keys. Now, the city’s luxe hotel scene is ramping up in 2025, with a promising new contender for yet another Key designation. Kimpton Santo, a new luxury hotel located on South Alamo Street next to San Antonio’s famed La Villita Historic Village, not only solidifies the area as an upscale destination, but its Bauhaus-inspired design offers a nod to the city’s history. Owned and operated by White Lodging, KTGY led the design, ensuring the materials and textures that define the city’s cultural roots were incorporated into the space to create a unique, modern hospitality destination.
Singular to the Kimpton Santo, a new modernist 10-story tower makes up one part of the hotel, while the rest is made up of repurposed and preserved architecture that was once a German-English School (c. 1858). The historic suites, restaurant and bars are each adapted from the grounds of the 150-year-old school — as well as a historic courtyard. Gina Deary, Principal at KTGY, says “When you work on a property that brings different cultures together, you learn a lot, and you feel more connected to it. It also forced us to look at San Antonio in different ways — through both its historical significance and its current growth. We had to look in both directions — the past and the future — to create something that was an authentic celebration of the city.”
Upon entering the hotel, the moody lobby bar casts an inviting glow, showcasing a beautiful mix of traditional materials in modern forms. An existing exterior wall from the old schoolhouse serves as an interior wall in one section. Natural woods, terracotta, woven art, molded wood, handmade goods and Tejano-inspired pottery, and a living tree add beautiful material touchstones throughout the space. A woven, four-sided installation above the lobby bar by German-American craftswoman, Doerte Weber, creates a poignant moment. The hotel’s fantastic art program includes works by a variety of Texas artists — including Louis Vega Treviño, Ansen Seale, and Genna Williams — perfectly layered throughout the lounges, lobby, bars, grand ballroom, courtyard, and guest rooms, to create an authentic experience.
In Kimpton Santo’s much-loved Dean’s Steak & Seafood restaurant, Deary wanted to “expose as much of the space” as possible so they could tell its story without adding unnecessary details. She and her team removed the millwork, exposed the old brick and rafters, and brought in preserved olive trees to treat the space as an extension of the historic courtyard. “Original material like that is priceless, you have to include it and let it tell its story — it’s a gift that keeps on giving,” explains Deary.
Tucked away in that courtyard lies The Study at Dean’s, an intimate cocktail bar amidst the trees decked out in a cozy earthy palette chosen for its relaxing properties.
Meanwhile, the rooftop bar, Tenfold, is located in the new tower. “It initially lacked the charm and character found in the historic German school on the ground level,” explains Deary. To combat this fact, the designer incorporated limestone onto the walls to mimic the distinctive texture showcased on the historical side of the property, adding exposed concrete ceilings, and infusing the space with a selection of textiles in warm tones, soft textures, and bold battens to evoke a certain convivial energy.
Last, but certainly not least, the 19 historic guest suites received a gorgeous application of thoughtful design. “We leaned into what a contemporary San Antonio residence would feel like, almost with a Nordic eye,” says Deary of the suites located in the old school house. “We didn’t want to lose the cultural aspects of the original design elements, and since the space is much older, we balanced that with authentic components that were more modern,” she continues. Her approach resulted in tailored, impeccably designed retreats that exude comfort and feature a warm, neutral palette complemented by textural accents such as woven and grass rugs. In the new tower, 347 stylish guest rooms showcase an elegant layering of artisanal textiles and finishes that form an inviting, warm ambiance within a sleek, modern architectural frame. Meanwhile, the suites in the former schoolhouse offer views of a lush courtyard framed by century-old live oak trees.
It’s a beautifully designed hotel — and one that perfectly highlights San Antonio’s hispanic, German, and modernist roots.
Photography by Mike Schwartz.
