The Vibe: Urban Eclectic.

The Area: Located in the 1894 brewhouse of the former Pearl Brewery, the flagship of the Pearl district, a mixed-use culture and culinary destination made up of green spaces, events, a farmers market, retail outlets and a series of chef-led eateries at the end of the River Walk Museum Reach. It is about two miles (three kilometres) from The Alamo.

The DNA: Hotel Emma is a hip design hotel with interiors that have a theatrical vision of deep-rooted Americana, with the old brewery’s early industrial features reimagined, repurposed, and reinvigorated. Brick, steel and soft textiles, cool cement and tile, high ceilings and low lighting, big machinery and the old brewery’s good bones all peel away at tradition, exposing layers of history and eclecticism. Warm furnishings offset the industrial elements, lending a surprisingly cosy feel. Each public area is a new discovery, from the bar and clubroom where repurposed bottling equipment creates chandeliers and elephant-sized fermentation tanks hold intimate banquette seating, to the stunning two-storey library with 3,700 volumes and an intricate wrought-iron staircase.

Suite-Me-Up: Rooms fuse the industrial grit of the bygone brewery, the aesthetic of southern Texas hospitality, and the elegance of a luxury boutique hotel. Room facilities include a 48″ flat-screen TV and icebox minibar. Bathrooms have custom-made tiles, porcelain vanities, brass plumbing fictures, robes and slippers. Some rooms feature a private terrace with views of the San Antonio River or of the city.

Seen: Wallpaper*, WeHeart

Accolades: Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2016

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 146 rooms (32-61m2) & suites (63-134m2) • hotel opened: November 2015 • architecture: Three Living Architecture • interior design: Roman and Williams • bathroom amenities: Malin + Goetz • parking possible on-site (charged) • no pets allowed • 24-hour front desk • wheelchair accessible