Here’s a closer look at Houston/San Antonio’s newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Houston and San Antonio venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Marriott Marquis Houston
Photo: Courtesy of Marriott Marquis Houston
Marriott Marquis Houston completed a major renovation in March, updating 150,000 square feet of meetings and event space as well as its 1,000 guest rooms. The hotel is in demand as a hub directly connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center and is known for its rooftop infinity pool, complete with a Texas-shaped lazy river. The new look in the guest rooms channels warm earth tones and subtle western patterns with Houston-inspired artwork. The hotel’s signature Texas Ballroom (pictured)—the largest of its kind in Houston, clocking in almost the size of a football field—is decked out with crystal chandeliers and a modernized look. The divisible Texas Ballroom can host up to 4,300 guests for receptions. The Marriott Marquis Houston boasts more than 52 meeting spaces, including the Houston Ballroom, which accommodates up to 2,200 guests for receptions.
Mexico Ceaty
Photo: Katie James
Chef Jason Dady opened his unique spin on a food hall in April inside Rivercenter’s former food court, creating a 25,000-square-foot “culinary city” centered around Mexican cuisine. Mexico Ceaty boasts direct access to San Antonio’s famous River Walk, with murals by local artist Colton Valentine and floral installations by David Garcia of Statue of Design, bringing vibrant color to the 462-seat venue. The Plaza is at the center of Mexico Ceaty, flanked with counters where diners can see tortillas crafted out of heirloom masa, shop in a mercado, or order a street taco.
Multiple sit-down restaurants within Mexico Ceaty are available for events, including the full-service restaurant Tres Arcos (pictured) that serves chiles rellenos and a classic San Antonio puffy taco. For full buyouts, Tre Arcos accommodates 180 guests. The private dining room at Tre Arcos accommodates 75, the main dining room accommodates 55, and the bar accommodates 200 standing guests.
Dos Cantinas is a 300-seat bar that includes sunken garden seating at the plaza level and elevated loft views overlooking the San Antonio River Walk, extending into Rio Vista, a river-facing seating area just beyond the bar. Dos Cantinas’ East Loft accommodates 40 guests, the East Garden accommodates 50 guests, the West Loft accommodates 40 guests, and the West Garden accommodates 60 guests. For full buyouts, Dos Cantinas accommodates 200 seated guests or 500 standing guests. Then there’s agave-tasting room El Último, where you can open a refrigerator door into a speakeasy experience with artisanal mezcals and aged tequilas. El Ultimo accommodates 25 guests for full buyouts. Mexico Ceaty’s standing capacity is 1,500, and the seated capacity is 1,000.
The Faust Hotel
Photo: Jason Risner
What once was known as The Traveler’s Hotel when it opened nearly a century ago in 1929 is now reborn as The Faust Hotel. Lark Hospitality, in partnership with the Duettra family and key investors, opened the newly renovated 45-room hotel in New Braunfels in May. This historic hotel retains many of its original Spanish Colonial Revival features, including stairway tiles and an exterior fountain, while bringing in new decor with bold patterns and pops of red. Dining options include Texas-meets-European brasserie Wilhelm & Werner, the Magnolia patio serving craft cocktails and light bites, and cocktail bar Walter’s Speakeasy. The Ballroom accommodates 120 seated guests or 200 standing guests for receptions, while Walter’s Speakeasy hosts 20 seated guests or 30 guests, and the Magnolia Patio accommodates 60 seated guests or 120 standing guests for receptions.
Star Rover
Photo: Courtesy of Rocket Farm Restaurants
Billed as a casual, kitschy “neighborhood steak joint,” Star Rover opened in late February in Houston’s The Heights neighborhood. The dining room is outfitted with old-school, red-and-white checked tablecloths contrasted against painted green brick walls decorated with framed vintage paintings. Look up at the bar and spot Christmas lights and cowboy hats as decoration. Chef Ford Fry’s menu is built around steak dinners, with sides like buttery milk rolls, potato skins, and crispy Gulf oysters, with pie and soft serve for dessert. Star Rover hosts events in its private dining room, which can accommodate 30 guests for a seated event. For full buyouts, the restaurant can accommodate 150 guests for a seated event or 250 guests for a cocktail-style event.
Long Weekend
Photo: Courtesy of Long Weekend
A sprawling new cafe and restaurant, complete with a children’s playground and a stage for live music, opened in Houston in March. Dubbed Long Weekend, the restaurant from husband-and-wife team Paige and Andrew Alvis serves Texas ranch-inspired fare cooked via a custom wood-fired oven, including chicken-fried wagyu steak. Long Weekend offers multiple options for group events, including a covered private dining room with room for 12 to 18 guests that’s decked out with string lights. The main patio includes a large screen television and can accommodate groups of 25 to 36 guests. The playground patio can seat up to 36. The restaurant’s capacity for full buyouts is 550.
Republic Wine Castle
Photo: Michael Fahey Foto
Republic Boot Co., a Texas brand known for its luxurious cowboy boots, expanded into the hospitality business with its new luxury retreat in the Texas Hill Country. Republic Boot Company acquired the 290 Wine Castle estate, which includes a medieval-style castle situated on more than 10 acres set among the scenic vineyards and limestone hills of the Texas Wine Trail. Following renovations, Republic Wine Castle opened in May. The castle is available for both intimate wine tastings and private dinners as well as large celebrations and corporate events. The cellar boasts a capacity of 75, while an outdoor deck is large enough for 100 people. The castle’s Dance Hall is perfect for larger events, with a capacity of 100. The venue can also be booked for guided wine tastings specializing in award-winning Texas wines or Republic Boot Co. retail experiences.
The Presidio Hotel
Photo: Michael Fahey Foto
Republic Boot Co. also recently opened a boutique hotel located on the grounds of its new Republic Wine Castle in Johnson City. The Presidio debuted in June, with a design that echoes Spanish colonial architecture, including white stucco walls. The hotel boasts 12 standard rooms and two suites. One of the hotel’s striking features is a resort-style pool courtyard that includes an outdoor pool bar, cabanas, and hot tub overlooking Hill Country views. The pool area and outdoor pergolas can be used for small ceremonies, corporate events, and celebrations. The capacity for events outside varies, from events with 75 guests around the pool area to more than 100 guests gathered in the outdoor pergola area.
Canopy on the Comal
Photo: Anne Marie Photography
San Antonio event center Canopy on the Comal opened in January along the Comal River in New Braunfels. Situated in a circa-1920s structure, this historic former hospital now hosts weddings as well as corporate and social events. The heart of the space is the 1,700-square-foot Great Room, which is lit with natural light and includes a vaulted wooden ceiling, rustic exposed beams, and a dramatic chandelier. The Great Room can host up to 140 for seated events or 200 standing guests for receptions. The 2,100-square-foot Canopy Room is connected to a bar and prep kitchen and can accommodate up to 150 seated guests or 200 standing guests for cocktail parties. The River Room can seat 75 or host 150 standing guests for receptions, while the Atrium can accommodate 100 standing guests for receptions. Outside, the Riverfront Terrace offers views of the water and accommodates 50 seated guests or 100 standing guests for receptions.
Art Club
Photo: Courtesy of Art Club
Downtown Houston’s mixed-use development Post Houston is home to Art Club, an experiential art museum and DJ venue. In July, the two-story, 28,500-square-foot venue celebrated a relaunch by debuting 12 new art installations. The high-tech art displayed here incorporates everything from kinetic laser installations to generative, algorithmic interventions. The museum is available for events. Art Club typically books two to three of its 13 exhibits as venue spaces. Of these, two are primarily used, given their connectivity to the bar and the restrooms. Each can seat 80 guests for a total of 160 between both spaces. For cocktail receptions, those two exhibits can comfortably accommodate 150 standing guests per room.
Junction Creative Collective
Photo: Courtesy of Junction Creative Collective
A new space for artists debuted this spring in San Antonio in the former home of Clamp Light Studios & Gallery. Now known as the Junction Creative Collective, this studio and exhibition space includes striking, rainbow-hued stained glass windows. The gallery is available to rent for a variety of events, from art classes and creative workshops to small receptions and private gatherings. The gallery space accommodates approximately 75 people standing.