Even in the summer, the oak-shaded patio is a comfortable place for margaritas and fajitas at the Mexican restaurant La Fonda on Main on North Main Avenue in Monte Vista.
Mike Sutter/Staff
There’s nothing more peaceful than a slow Sunday. It sets the tone for the beginning of the workweek. And in San Antonio, a historic neighborhood was ranked among the best places to spend a “perfectly slow Sunday.”
Calgary.com, a real estate platform, listed Monte Vista in its May 12 ranking, “The Best Small Towns and Neighborhoods for a Slow Sunday in 2026.” The researchers surveyed 3,022 respondents to reveal which towns and neighborhoods are best suited to that ideal version of a Sunday.
Article continues below this ad
“The kinds of places where people linger over coffee, browse independent bookstores, wander farmers markets, sit outside at brunch, or simply stroll streets that still feel personal and lived-in,” the study stated. “
Monte Vista neighborhood
Located roughly 1.5 miles north of downtown San Antonio, Monte Vista is one of the largest historic districts in the country, according to its website. It includes 14 subdivisions and is home to about 3,000 people in 100 city blocks.
The neighborhood blossomed during San Antonio’s “Gilded Age,” the period between 1890 and 1930, when the city began to establish itself as something beyond just an outpost for cattle drives, its website stated. Due to its historic value, it was designated a local historic district in 1975 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Article continues below this ad
In the study, Monte Vista was listed as the 39th best place in the country and the No. 1 spot in Texas for a slow Sunday.
“Monte Vista offers a calmer and more residential version of San Antonio life,” the study stated. “The neighborhood’s historic homes, shaded streets, cafés, gardens, and nearby local businesses create a Sunday atmosphere built around walking and slowing down. It feels elegant without becoming showy, with enough age and texture to keep the area grounded. Sundays here often revolve around porch sitting, breakfast patios, and wandering beneath huge old trees.”
Best places in the country for a slow Sunday
Other Texas spots included in the ranking were Downtown McKinney, McKinney (No. 47) and Bishop Arts District, Dallas (No. 48). The ranking listed Old Village, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, as the best place for a slow Sunday, as well as Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs, Colorado at No. 2 and West Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina, at No. 3.
Article continues below this ad
To determine the best places for a slow Sunday, respondents were asked what defines the ideal slow Sunday; the top answer was reading or relaxing at home, chosen by 21%. That was followed by sitting outside with coffee at 17% and walking through a quiet neighborhood at 14%.
When it came to what makes a town feel “slow Sunday friendly,” the most important factor was quiet streets and low traffic, selected by 24% of respondents. That ranked ahead of both walkability and friendly community atmosphere, which were tied at 15% each.
“Sunday mornings have become a kind of quiet luxury,” said a spokesperson from Calgary.com. “People are not just looking for pretty streets or good coffee; they are looking for places where life still feels human-scaled. What stands out about these towns and neighborhoods is that they offer a rhythm many people feel they have lost elsewhere — walkable streets, familiar local businesses, outdoor spaces, and enough character to make an ordinary morning feel meaningful. In many ways, the ideal Sunday has become a shorthand for the kind of community people want to live in all week.”