The team behind several of Texas’ acclaimed restaurants is heading to San Antonio‘s River Walk.
According to CultureMap San Antonio, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has been selected to lead the food and beverage programme at Sítio El Tropicano, the restored version of the historic El Tropicano hotel located along the River Walk.
The Austin-based hospitality group, led by partners Kevin Fink, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Alicynn Fink, and Rand Egbert, will oversee three new dining concepts at the property. Plans include a lobby café and provisions shop, a signature all-day restaurant, and a poolside venue serving cocktails and light bites. The group will also manage food and beverage operations for the hotel’s 16,000 square feet of event space.
Known for restaurants including Ladino, Henbit, and Pullman Market, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has earned widespread recognition for its ingredient-driven concepts, including Michelin stars and James Beard Award nominations.
“San Antonio is such a special city, and seeing this historic property come back to life is incredibly exciting,” Egbert said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing all-day dining and a vibrant sense of community back to this space.”
Originally opened in 1962, El Tropicano was the first hotel built along the San Antonio River Walk and became known for hosting celebrities including The Who, Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones, and Julie Andrews. It also frequently welcomed former President Lyndon B. Johnson, earning the nickname the “Texas White House.”
The property was acquired in January 2024 by a consortium that includes Trestle Studio, which is leading a comprehensive restoration inspired by the work of Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. In addition to the new dining venues, the redevelopment will feature meeting spaces, a spa, and what developers describe as San Antonio’s largest hotel pool deck.
The hotel has also begun accepting applications for its members-only Sítio Club, which will offer exclusive amenities including access to private River Walk spaces, priority dining and spa reservations, seasonal programming, and the Flamingo Bar, a cocktail lounge inspired by the hotel’s historic pink flamingo exhibit.
Developers are targeting a late 2026 opening, and reservations for the restored hotel are already being accepted.
What Now San Antonio reached out to Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group for additional details regarding the upcoming restaurant concepts but did not receive a response by the time of publication. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
