San Antonio’s dining scene just got a whole lot more exciting. On February 4, 2026, James Beard-nominated Chef Leo Davila officially opens the doors to Esencia, a 130-seat culinary destination nestled inside the legendary St. Anthony Hotel. This isn’t just another hotel restaurant: it’s a deeply personal love letter to San Antonio’s multicultural soul, wrapped in Wagyu beef and drizzled with Asian chimichurri.
For hospitality professionals and food lovers alike, Esencia represents exactly the kind of menu innovation that’s driving the food and beverage industry forward: heritage-rooted, globally inspired, and unapologetically bold.
A Full-Circle Moment for Chef Leo Davila
Chef Leo Davila isn’t a newcomer to San Antonio’s culinary landscape. Born and raised in the city, he’s built an impressive resume that includes a recent 2026 James Beard Award semi-finalist nomination, Food Network appearances, and accolades from Texas Monthly and the San Antonio Express-News. But Esencia hits different for this hometown chef.
“This is a full-circle moment,” Davila shared. Growing up, he visited the St. Anthony Hotel with his grandparents: memories that shaped his culinary journey. Now, he’s at the helm of one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in the city’s history.
What makes Chef Leo’s approach stand out in the crowded food service industry? It’s biographical cooking at its finest. Drawing from his Mexican and Chinese heritage, he’s created a menu that tells his family’s story through every dish. In an era where authenticity drives consumer loyalty, this kind of cultural storytelling resonates deeply with diners seeking more than just a meal.
The Menu: Where Texas Meets Asia Meets Mexico
Esencia’s culinary philosophy is as layered as its mole sauces. The menu blends Spanish, Mexican, and Asian traditions with a New American sensibility, showcasing prime Texas beef, wild game, Gulf seafood, and fresh heirloom vegetables. For food and beverage directors scouting inspiration, this is a masterclass in fusion done right.
Signature Dishes That Demand Attention
Beef & Broccoli gets a luxurious upgrade here: forget your takeout memories. This interpretation features tartare-style Asian-spiced Wagyu beef, broccoli mole, miso aioli, pickled red onion, and delicate rice paper. It’s familiar yet completely unexpected.
Carne Asada arrives with Wagyu flank steak, potato pavé, avocado salad, Asian chimichurri, and multi-colored heirloom corn tortillas. It’s the kind of dish that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about grilled meat.
Duck & Flower might be the most Instagram-worthy item on the menu. Asian-spiced sous vide duck breast meets hibiscus and Texas pecan mole, served alongside wok-fried veggies, spiced pecans, and jasmine steamed rice. It’s visually stunning and packed with flavor complexity.
Pork & Apple showcases Chef Leo’s signature sweet-savory balance with house-cured pork belly, apple and pasilla mole, pickled Honeycrisp apple, and wok-fried vegetables wrapped in leafy lettuce.
Smoked Seafood Crudo brings Gulf Coast freshness to the table with a jasmine tea-smoked seafood medley, seasonal fruit, ponzu, candied jalapeño, and salsa macha on rice paper.
For hospitality managers looking at food and beverage trends, Esencia’s menu exemplifies how local sourcing combined with global techniques creates memorable dining experiences that justify premium pricing.
Cocktails That Tell Their Own Stories
The beverage program at Esencia is anything but an afterthought. Featuring a dynamic mix of Asian spirits, tequilas, mezcals, and Texas whiskeys, the cocktail menu deserves its own spotlight.
Must-Try Drinks
Steal My Soul combines Herradura Reposado with house gochujang syrup, fresh lemon juice, and Peychaud’s Bitters. That gochujang syrup? Genius. It adds a subtle heat and umami depth that makes this cocktail incredibly memorable.
The Chairman is built for bourbon lovers: Garrison Brothers x Anacacho Coffee & Cantina Single Barrel Bourbon, house roasted corn cob syrup, mole bitters, and theatrical smoke. It’s the kind of drink that makes you slow down and appreciate the craft.
Lychee Me-Tini offers a lighter option with Empress Gin, J.F. Haden’s Lychee Liqueur, lychee syrup, fresh lime juice, and house rose water simple. It’s floral, refreshing, and perfect for those easing into the evening.
The wine program spotlights four key regions: Texas, the West Coast, Mexico, and select international producers. This thoughtful curation pairs beautifully with Chef Leo’s complex flavor profiles.
Design That Transports You
Walking into Esencia feels like stepping into a Spanish courtyard: which is exactly the point. The restaurant’s interior design pays homage to the Canary Islanders who settled in San Antonio more than 300 years ago.
The centerpiece? A stunning cantera stone fountain in the heart of the dining room. Wrought-iron detailing, olive trees, and warm lighting create an atmosphere that feels simultaneously historic and contemporary.
Local artist Regina Moya was commissioned to paint sunset clouds on the ceiling, giving the space an atmospheric quality that shifts throughout the evening. The color palette features warm terracotta, sage green, various teals, and creamy off-whites: muted yet inviting.
The 130-seat restaurant includes three distinct private dining areas:
- The Main Room featuring Spanish decor and a 14-foot mahogany table
- The Shanghai Room with Asian-inspired design elements
- The Mezzanine offering balcony patio access
For those in the hospitality industry tracking design trends, Esencia demonstrates how thoughtful interiors can reinforce a restaurant’s culinary narrative.
The St. Anthony Hotel: A Perfect Partnership
Established in 1909, the St. Anthony Hotel: known affectionately as the “Queen of San Antonio”: has long been a gathering place for royalty, celebrities, and global tastemakers. As a AAA Four Diamond property and member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, the hotel seamlessly blends timeless elegance with modern sophistication.
Chef Leo already operates Anacacho Coffee & Cantina at the property, which opened in spring 2024 and quickly became a local favorite. Esencia represents the next chapter in this successful partnership, bringing fine dining to complement the hotel’s established casual offerings.
For more on how historic hotels are reinventing their food and beverage programs, check out our coverage of exclusive hotel dining experiences.
Plan Your Visit
Location:
Esencia at The St. Anthony Hotel
300 E Travis St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
Hours of Operation:
- Tuesday – Thursday: 5 p.m. – Last Seating at 10 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday: 5 p.m. – Last Seating at 11 p.m.
- Closed Sundays and Mondays
Reservations are now available via OpenTable. Given the buzz surrounding this opening, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
For additional updates, follow Esencia on Instagram or visit www.thestanthonyhotel.com.
Why This Opening Matters
Esencia isn’t just another restaurant opening: it’s a statement about where the food and beverage industry is heading. Consumers increasingly crave authenticity, cultural storytelling, and locally-rooted experiences. Chef Leo Davila delivers all three while pushing creative boundaries.
For restaurant owners, food and beverage managers, and hospitality professionals, Esencia offers valuable lessons: honor your heritage, source locally, think globally, and never underestimate the power of a dish that tells a story.
San Antonio just raised the bar. Will you be there to taste it?
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
