The King William District and the larger Southtown neighborhood have become two of San Antonio’s trendiest places to grab a coffee, have a bite to eat or take a scenic stroll. Here, a mix of historic homes and buildings merge with ambitious food and drink concepts, and in its heyday, no better place did that than Madhatters Tea House and Cafe.
It’s been six years since Madhatters disappeared from its Beauregard Street home the cafe acted as a hipster haven for nearly two full decades, but locals still remember when the whimsical shop was THE third place in Southtown. Now, the lauded Bar Loretta operates in its place, serving a more elevated menu and a slightly different clientele, and yet, memories of Madhatters live on.
San Antonio chef Rene Guerrero is known as the founder of Madhatters, while Joey and Gina Cuellar acted as the longtime owners of the tea house. Of course, there were plenty of teas and coffee-based drinks to enjoy in the warm and inviting space, which itself has its own century-long history. Other offerings included sandwiches, salads, soups and an assortment of brunch favorites.
Most remember Madhatters as a hangout spot where they could grab a glass of wine and a slice of quiche for a reasonable price. Internet access meant some people would visit to catch up on studying or surf the web, and others opted to check out one of the books on display at the tea house. Intimate seating opens like couches and cushiony chairs often set the scene for casual gatherings and the occasional celebration.
When most news sources wrote about Madhatters closing, they focused primarily on what was coming next, so news of its exit took time to sink in. Owner Gina Cuellar penned a goodbye post on the cafe’s Facebook page on October 12, 2020, citing her own retirement as the reason for the closure.
“It’s been a wonderful 20 years and we are so thankful for all of the support. To our customers, staff, family, friends, and neighbors – THANK YOU!” Cuellar wrote at the time. “We won’t say goodbye because with every end, there is a only a new beginning.”
A new beginning was indeed in the cards for the Southtown haunt, which quickly underwent a transformation to become Bar Loretta, a modern Texas-forward concept. Owner Roger Herr and executive chef Paul Petersen launched Bar Loretta in spring 2021 as a restaurant, a cocktail bar and a curated neighborhood market.
In the years since it opened, the Texas bistro has earned critical and local acclaim for its unique cocktail program and its elevated cuisine that includes everything from duck confit risotto to peppered beef tenderloin.
Find it: 320 Beauregard St., San Antonio, TX 78210