pearl
a new
deep in the heart of
Texas
San Antonio welcomes a luxury boutique hotel at a 19th-century brewery .
by Brittany FarB , associate editor photos by scott Martin and Jason risner
Once considered the industrial hub of San Antonio , the Pearl District is now more commonly known for its bars , restaurants , shopping and one of the hottest hotel openings in Texas . Hotel Emma opened in November at the 19th-century Pearl Brewery located at the northern end of the San Antonio River Walk , aiming to provide a history-rich and unique experience in South Texas .
“ We wanted to maintain and celebrate the history of Pearl , not cover it up , through the juxtaposition of grittiness and authenticity with elegance ,” says Mark Yanke , Hotel Emma ’ s president and general manager . “ Hotel Emma serves as the magnificent focal point of the surrounding Pearl neighborhood and a connection to its craft past .”
Named after Emma Koehler , wife of the brewery ’ s founder , Otto Koehler , who took over the business after her husband ' s death in 1914 , the hotel was designed by New York-based Roman & Williams and
Dallas-based Three Living Architecture . The firms strived to make the boutique hotel ’ s 143 guestrooms and suites resemble the well-appointed home of “ interesting friends .” Guestrooms in the original Brewhouse feature the existing brick and plaster walls and preserve historical elements and fixtures native to each room ; more modern accommodations are in the new River Cellars wing . Suites on the hotel ’ s seventh floor feature two stories and private terraces . All rooms and suites
44 HOTELS March 2016 www . hotelsmag . com