Best of the City 2016

The best people, places, shops, eats and more in San Antonio

(page 6 of 6)

Local Beauty Line: Chalet Cosmetics 

Cynthia Holland-Rodriguez and Andrea Rodriguez, the mother-daughter duo behind Chalet Cosmetics, get it: Your skin deserves some love. The pair who also own Chalet boutiques created a line made with natural ingredients and vitamins that help decrease the effects of aging. Mother and daughter know that taking proper care of our face has to be a part of the daily routine, but their products have a spa-like quality that makes daily use still feel like we’re pampering ourselves. 5926 Broadway, 210-829-7700; 5535 W. Loop 1604 N. Ste. 109, 210-681-9391, chaletcosmetics.com

Neighborhood Hardware Store: Sunset Ridge Home & Hardware

Amy and David Doyle opened this Alamo Heights gem more than 20 years ago with the goal of providing top-notch customer service that is often missing at big box stores. They’ve achieved that and more with a selection that includes home hardware essentials plus unique home décor and gifts. 6438 N. New Braunfels Ave., 210-930-1717, sunsetridgehardware.com

Treasure Hunt: Vogt Auction

With everything from 18th-century furniture to Civil War–era collectibles and stained-glass windows, this family-run auction house is the ultimate treasure chest. Its Tuesday auctions are the most fun you can have shopping. 7233 Blanco Road, 210-822-6155, vogtauction.com

Grocery Store: Central Market

It was a big year for groceries in 2015. H-E-B debuted its two-story food emporium on Nogalitos and downtown eagerly welcomed both its own H-E-B and Flores Market. But when it came to selecting the best, we had to go with the only store we’re regularly willing to drive out of our way to visit. Central Market is just that. Beyond the groceries, which range from fresh and organic to goodies baked in store, the H-E-B-owned market also hosts foodie festivals and features its own Cooking School. When you don’t have time to practice what you learned in class, the market offers dinner-for-two meals plus café selections that make it easy to eat well without touching a pan. 4821 Broadway, 210-368-8600, centralmarket.com

Shopping Strip: Uptown Broadway Shops

It’s as much fun to window shop at this Alamo Heights hot spot as it is to actually buy something. The boutiques—most of them locally owned—offer a variety of specialized goods, from gourmet cupcakes (Bird Bakery) and nursery furniture (Sugar Plum Dreams) to trendy jewelry (The Impeccable Pig), shoes and handbags (Elaine Turner) and home goods (Baker Tatum, above). Walkability adds to the charm, making it easy to pop in or wander leisurely. 5912-5934 Broadway

Conversation-Starter Home Decor: Citrine Home

When you’re looking for just the right piece to complete a room, Citrine Home has you covered. Their geometric pillows, golden bookends, rare vintage pieces and eclectic décor do more than deck out your favorite rooms—they make a stylish statement. 4119 McCullough Ave., 210-824-1928, citrinehome.com

Pop-Up Shop: Eye Candy Boutique 

  Trendy, vibrant garments are plentiful at Eye Candy Boutique, a former pop-up that turned brick and mortar last November. Curated by owner Elsa Fernandez, the downtown fashion sanctuary outfits plus-sized shoppers with flattering, affordable duds. 531 Navarro St., 210-363-3572, heyeyecandy.com

Place to Sweat and Shop: JoyRide Cycling Studio

Owner Becky Cerroni carefully curates the collection of fitness fashion items available here. The small selection—this is a cycling studio after all—includes tough-to-find brands like Strut-This, Onzie and Just Live and is refreshed frequently. JoyRide has also hosted pop-ups featuring cool retailers like SA’s Richter Goods. 1915 Broadway, 210-228-0797; 10003 N.W. Military Hwy., Ste. 1124, 210-332-5240, joyridetexas.com

Products Made in SA

​Bexar Goods

Since launching in 2011, Bexar Goods has mastered the art of handcrafted products. Founded by two brothers and their cousin, who all grew up in San Antonio, the company specializes in leather satchels, wallets and accessories designed to endure treks through the woods or mountains. They’re in the process of expanding their outdoor lifestyle products and plan to launch a mobile boutique in the form of a vintage Airstream trailer this year. bexargoods.com

Pioneer Sweet Cream Mix

For the Saturday mornings when we don’t have time to wait for a table at Guenther House, there’s the Pioneer Sweet Cream mix. Guenther and Sons says the “touch of sweet cream in the mix makes these the best pancakes to ever grace the skillet” and we can’t help but agree. Stock up the next time you’re at the King William restaurant, or order online. And don’t forget the syrup. 205 E. Guenther St., 210-227-1061, guentherhouse.com

Dos Carolinas Guayabera Robes 

Caroline Matthews’ handmade guayabera shirts have made her Pearl-based Dos Carolinas line a success for more than two decades. So it was only natural for the folks at Hotel Emma to turn to Matthews when looking for a touch of locally-made luxury for their rooms. Guests at the renovated hotel will find two lightweight seersucker robes in their rooms, and anybody can purchase a robe for their own home at the hotel’s Curio shop. Hotel Emma, 136 E. Grayson St., 210-448-8300, thehotelemma.com 

Readers' Winners

Kids Clothing: Belles & Beaux

Women’s Clothing: Camilla Crown

Men’s Clothing: Satel’s

Bookstore: The Twig

Fine Jeweler: Shetler Wade

Fitness: Fleet Feet Sports

Garden/Landscaping: (tie) Milberger’s, Shades of Green 

Gifts: 5 Broads Off Broadway

Home: 5 Broads Off Broadway

Shoes: Fleet Feet Sports