Guenther House

On the same day we visited the last 2 Missions, we decided to find a nice place to eat.  Jeff actually found Guenther House, which is along the Riverwalk.

Little did I know at the time that this would be my only view of the San Antonio Riverwalk for this visit!  It looks quite peaceful and residential.  This is not the very commercial side of the Riverwalk, but it was a nice setting for this restaurant!

This charming front step is the original front door to the house built by Carl Hilmar Guenther, the founder of Pioneer Flour Mills, in 1859.  It has been restored and now houses a restaurant, museum, gift shop and special events venue.  The entrance to the restaurant is at the back of the house.

It was quite a popular place for lunch on the day we visited (before the virus scare really set in), and we had to wait for a table.  While waiting we decided to explore the house a bit, and found a couple of rooms restored to their former glory that are now part of the museum.  I love the view from one of the balcony windows, looking onto the San Antonio River below.

The gift shop sold a variety of souvenirs, adorable aprons and even flour that is still produced in the flour mill.  The large millstone (center of photo) is the original millstone used in the flour mill – a nice piece of history on display!

While exploring, at the very top of the house, is a lovely roof garden.  Formerly, it was the ballroom of the house.  I thought it would be a charming place for a smaller shower, or even wedding reception, and guests can step out onto the terrace to get a nice view of the river, and some lovely breezes.

There are two places to eat – outside in what is called The Arbor, an open patio with an arched canopy and ceiling fans and inside with the Art Nouveau style of the 1920s.  We said we’d take first available seating and ended up in the inside.  What lovely leaded glass all around the upper portion of the walls, above the larger windows, except for the pot from which the ivy grows!  Also, check out the dragon lights!!!  Oh, and the food was tasty, too!  Jeff opted for lunch – delicious champagne chicken enchiladas, while I opted for a decadent breakfast of Belgian waffles with whipped cream and strawberries!  Yum!! 

Enjoy!!