Situated on the iconic River Walk in San Antonio, Texas, the historic El Tropicano hotel will reopen this fall as Sítio El Tropicano. Originally opened in 1962 as the first hotel on the River Walk, El Tropicano is undergoing a thoughtful transformation led by Trestle Studio and Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, bringing a modern, design-forward vision to this beloved landmark.
Sítio El Tropicano will offer 315 guest rooms and a range of amenities designed to appeal to both visitors and locals. The property’s new offerings include three distinct dining and cocktail venues, a 5,000-square-foot spa, 16,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a private members club, and San Antonio’s largest hotel pool deck. Throughout the hotel, guests will find works by Southwestern and Latin artists, while botanical elements are woven into the design to enhance the connection to nature and the River Walk setting.
© Courtesy of Sítio El Tropicano
“El Tropicano has long been part of San Antonio’s cultural rhythm, its mid-century character holding an optimism from another era,” said Michael Hsu, principal of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. “With Sítio, we’re building a dialogue with that history: preserving what’s meaningful while introducing richer textures, deeper landscape connections, and a lobby experience that will welcome guests as a true gathering place along the River Walk.”
Reservations are expected to open in spring, ahead of the hotel’s projected fall 2026 debut.