San Antonio’s dining scene has always run on relationships — the taqueria where the owner knows your order, the trattoria where the host seats you like family, the bar that lets you sneak a sip of the newest bottle on the shelf. This year’s nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap San Antonio Tastemaker Awards remind us that the best meals in this city rarely happen in splashy destination restaurants.
It’s no easy task for our judges to consider the contenders, but we’ll be naming the winner at our annual Tastemaker Awards awards ceremony and signature tasting event, coming to the Briscoe Museum on May 14. A limited number of discounted First Dibs tickets are still available for both general admission ($50) and VIP ($85, which includes perks like early admission and a dedicated bar). Prices will increase after March 31, so don’t delay.
After buying your ticket, meet our nominees through our special editorial series. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite spot of your own…