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    Vela Coffee

    4.8 (47 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Vela Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    VELA COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Vela Coffee

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    The syrup menu for the day
    Robert K.

    Your average modern coffee shop. Brightly lit with millennial aesthetic. White with accents of brown and gold. Comfortable but limited seating. I can imagine during peak hours there's not many places to sit if you're with more than one other. But the bulk of my review always hinges on the coffee. And this was good. Iced americano with a splash of cream. These tend to be either way to milky or way to bitter. This was neither. Excellent. I'll Have to try it black to get a sense of the quality of the coffee roast itself.

    Katherine R.

    It was okay. The matcha tasted bitter. But the vibe is nice in there plenty of seating options and walkable. I would like to go back to try the coffee. The service was great as well and staff was very attentive!

    Megan D.

    8/10 Hojicha Matcha Latte with Brown Sugar - It wasn't quite sweet enough for me, so I asked for extra brown sugar to add. Just a heads up, I usually prefer my drinks on the sweeter side. Overall, it wasn't bad, not the best I've had, but definitely not the worst either. 3/10 Cost - $7.31 in total. This drink felt way overpriced for how small it was.

    Angelica A.

    Cute and cozy little cafe in downtown. I've been here twice and have tried their matcha and chai. Both were tasty and made with care. The staff is always kind.

    americano, cappuccino
    Teri K.

    found this great coffee shop while visiting San Antonio. They brew proud Mary Coffey. Tried the cappuccino, Americano and almond milk latte. All were very delicious. Small selection of Mediterranean suites as well. Friendly baristas

    Pistachio latte
    Jennifer H.

    I had a wonderful pistachio latte with homemade syrup! Great service and place to sit and enjoy your coffee.

    Maya B.

    Decided to go here to do some work on the computer and enjoy a nice coffee. I parked on Broadway and paid the metered parking. There were a couple other guests there, but it wasn't too busy overall. I was greeted immediately and ordered a shaken espresso. Initially, I wasn't going to get any syrup added, but the barista informed me that it probably wouldn't foam the same, so I added brown sugar (half sweet). The beverage was quite delicious. I really enjoyed the vibe there. They played nice relaxing music without being too distracting. Loved being able to support a local business.

    Lauren G.

    Been seeing this place online. Was finally In The area to try it.It seems to have some Turkish influence on top of all the great things from a trendy coffee shop.The coffee itself had great flavor. If you stay to drink coffee they will put it in a glass or ceramic for you.

    Quad shot latte- pretty good price for 4 shots!
    Alyse H.

    I think the quality of the espresso used at Vela is very high. I have gotten an iced americano and a quad shot latte from this location, and both drinks were delicious. They weren't overly iced and the coffee was delicious. This is always my first stop for coffee in downtown San Antonio.

    Mocha oat milk latte extra shot
    Roland G.

    On the third day of this coffee shop being open I stopped by! Today I went back and had another great experience. There's no failing when coming here! First off, they use weathered hands beans if I'm correct, super good coffee and unlike most places, they don't burn their espresso or use any weak beans! Super flavorful notes Usually I ask for an extra shot in my latte anywhere else to get more of a caffeine spike, but here I can skip that extra shot as these shots come out super smooth and potent. The owner is nice and the employees are super attentive when he is not around. Very great customer service!! Ambience is chill setting while plenty there of seats for busy hours. Pro tip: sign up for their rewards! The guy in front of me regretted it after not receiving the 10% off you get for signing up! I will be back many more times!

    Barista preparing a pour over
    Joseph H.

    Amazing coffee shop a short walk away from most downtown hotels in San Antonio. It's not on the riverwalk, but worth the trip if you're really into coffee. I stepped inside Vela Coffee thinking it was just an ordinary coffee shop with a unique name, but I was surprised to learn that they offered pour overs, a rarity in today's world of coffee. I had the choice of Ethiopian washed, Kenyan Natural, and a Colombian washed beans for my pour overs; I opted for the Colombian as the barista mentioned it was the most popular. I then saw him carefully prepare my pour over using a dedicated setup. I can tell he's passionate about his craft. I also ordered an iced latte with lavender syrup. I originally asked if they had any sugar-free syrups, but they said that all the ones they've tried didn't make the coffee taste the same, so they don't offer them. They also asked if I wanted to get the latte with a half shot to reduce the amount of sugar in the drink since I had asked about the sugar-free options, which I agreed. Then upon trying it out and realizing that the flavor wasn't the same, the barista added another half shot of syrup (one full shot total) to sweeten the drink. I found both baristas to be knowledgeable and detailed with the highest customer service. I'll be sure to return if I'm ever in the area again!

    Redha U.

    Another Day, Another Coffee NEW VIBRANT SPECIALTY COFFEE IN SAN ANTONIO Wow! Guys, if you're in the downtown area, you have to take a visit to Vela Coffee! This beautiful coffee shop pays attention to detail, both in atmosphere and food & drink! They serve locally sourced brews ( from Weathered Hands Coffee) and pastries ( Crumbs ), and make some bites in-house as well (like their delicious lotus biscoff cheesecake!). They also have a seasonal menu, which had a delish lemon vanilla matcha (10/10) Staff is so friendly and helped me choose my order! The serene downtown spot opened its doors in October and is a great place for when you're in the area and wanting to get work done. If you're in the area all day, use one of the paid parking lots, or try to grab some street parking a few blocks away if it's only for an hour or two! Open Every Day 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

    Blueberry matcha
    Tasia G.

    Another day, another matcha. lol this time I stopped in while passing downtown. The lovely barista suggested what was her favorite matcha flavor and I went with it. LOVED IT!! The salted caramel with the oat milk made it super tasty and creamy. So much so I turned around and ordered a blue berry matcha that was just as good. I would come back and chop it up with the workers, they seem friendly. You could definitely come in and study,read, or work.

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    1 year ago

    Great people, amazing space and proper coffee! Easy walk from Riverwalk hotels and fun shops to visit along the way

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Very impressed all around, 10/10 would recommend! Great Coffee, Great Matcha, Great Staff, Great ambiance, Great location

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    1 year ago

    Amazing service, the latte I had was amazing! very clean place and overall a nice experience

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    2 years ago

    Amazing staff. Made great recommendations . Coffee was amazing. Will definitely be back when in town.

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    Ask the Community - Vela Coffee

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    La Panadería Bakery Café

    La Panadería Bakery Café

    4.5
    (2.9k reviews)
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    INCREDIBLE bakery, burger, coffee, and service! On a Saturday morning, there was a line out the…read moredoor and down the street! We were given menus to look at while we waited so by the time we got to the counter, we were ready to order. The baked goods aren't on the menu, so when we walked by the counter filled with croissants, kouign amann, bear claws, apple pie, cheese cakes, it was hard to choose what we wanted!! We ordered: the Alamo Burger: a 8 oz wagyu beef smash burger , served with a fried egg, caramelized onions, cheese on a crispy croissant bun. It was incredible and worth the 15-20 minute wait! Almond croissant - a monster sized, flaky croissant with a generous almond filling. Guy Fieri highlighted this croissant on his DD&D show. It's probably a million calories not worth it! Tequila strawberry tres leches croissant - a small, cream filled croissant with strawberries. This was our least favorite. My husband didn't like the filling, I didn't like the sogginess of the croissant. Coffee - really good brewed coffee with free refills. We plan to go back a few more times while we're in town!!

    Above average food, chaotic entry and short on seating…read more Food was alright. But by the time we got seated and picked up bistro style, I was losing my appetite a bit. Cakes, pastries, pancakes are great. I liked my Reuben sandwich.

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    We have a full coffee bar- what will you pair with your pan dulce?
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    Breaskfast, brunch, and lunch available!

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    La Boulangerie

    La Boulangerie

    4.5
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    Ohh La Boulangerie, what can I say but delicious. A cute spot on Broadway in downtown San Antonio…read more Sylvie the owner is originally from Western France and moved close to Paris then came to San Antonio. Their baking ingredients are sourced from France and the recipes are from her and her husband. And they're a local restaurant which I love supporting! We had the Petit Dejuener Deluxe breakfast which includes one pastry (either a croissant, chocolate croissant or bread pudding), a baguette (with either butter, homemade jam or honey), organic fresh eggs made to order or quiche slice, fresh squeezed orange juice and a yogurt with granola and fresh fruit and a black coffee or tea. It's a great option for those unable to decide on what to eat for breakfast. They have sandwiches, individual baked goods, à la carte items and hot and cold drink options as well. Coffee is strong n tasty Quiche is not dry at all Baguette and croissant are fresh baked Homemade jam Fresh squeezed OJ! Makes me happy! And for those in Austin...they opened a second location in Austin West lake area.

    Ok, second time in, and it continues to bring me back to Europe. The staffs hospitality, friendly…read morewelcome... I know a big name bakery opened up around the corner on Houston. For us it's good but screens tourists. La Baoulangerie is small, cozy, and a European feel. Then the food, come on now! You taste the homemade love. Yes, I will take a baked fresh, with French flour Baguette to go please! Downtown residence, if you haven't gone your missing out (from a guy who lives in Europe 3-4 months out of the year) Tourist... You will thank me later.

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    Schilo's

    Schilo's

    4.0
    (1.7k reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    Great fast service & food!! A MUST GO place when by SA Alamo/Riverwalk. It's like taking a step…read moreback in time! Oldest restaurant in SA- established as a Saloon in 1917 and turned delicatessen in prohibition. Staff were extremely friendly, encouraged me to walk around, and showed pride when telling me the history of the building & restaurant. Showed me the old bank vault. 5 star service!! Multiple seating options. Large separate room for dining or parties. Cool old bar & cash register. I got there when they first opened. No wait. Then what appeared to be regulars started slowly rolling in. I enjoyed their famous cane sugar root beer in an ice cold mug ($4.50 and comes with one refill) Potato Pancakes - comes with delicious large bowl of applesauce Side of brautworst - felt like the german thing to do. Not my typical breakfast. Should have asked for a tad of their mustard. Open 8a-230p

    We came early, so we didn't have to wait, although we had made reservations just in case. Our…read moreserver caught me off guard at first because some of his responses came across as a little rude. After a bit, I realized he was joking, but it just wasn't my style. It happened a couple more times during the meal, and I still found it a little off-putting. As for the food, breakfast was just okay. It wasn't bad, but nothing really stood out or made me want to order it again. The atmosphere, though, was the highlight for me. I loved the interior, it has a relaxed vibe and makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. Overall, it was a decent experience. I'd definitely be willing to give this place another shot for dinner the next time we're in San Antonio, since I've heard that's when they really shine.

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    Deli case
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    Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, Valencia Hotel Collection

    Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, Valencia Hotel Collection

    3.8
    (600 reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    This hotel is perfect. First, location is near the river and downtown. You can walk anywhere;…read morethere's coffee shops, restaurants and shops. Now if you don't want to walk the hotel has the best restaurants: Dorregos and Acenar. You can not go wrong with the restaurants. The breakfast plates were amazing and the Mexican food was delicious. The employees were friendly and helpful. They knew their jobs and they knew their town so if you need information or advice on where to eat or what to do they will give you great advice. We were very happy and pleased with everything here.

    Sensory nightmare. My husband called months in advance and twice more leading up to checkin to…read morerequest fragrance free and feather free room. They insisted they could accommodate us. In the lobby for checkin today, I had an instant headache because the fragrance was so strong. At that point they informed us that there is some additional fee per day on top of the already pricey room, a fee that they never disclosed before today. We continued upstairs, and I could hardly breathe in the elevator it was so scented. When we got to the room it was also heavily fragranced. I tried to call the front desk, and the phone in the room didn't work reliably. Our call dropped several times. They offered box fans for us to air out the room. However, when we opened the windows, a blast of cigarette smoke wafted into the room because it is directly above their designated smoking area. We asked the front desk for help, and they said not to worry, hardly anyone smokes in that area. Meanwhile we watched several people out there smoking almost constantly. They offered no other accommodation or help. Not worth it. Very uncomfortable and upset because this will ruin our vacation. Edit: 1 to 3 stars. The manager eventually heard our concerns, responding to a secondary issue with cigar smoke in our room after leaving windows open - their recommendation- to air out the room. They found us a different accommodation and made it more than fair and comfortable. Why not 4 stars? Because it took the entire first day to be resolved.

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    Four Brothers

    Four Brothers

    4.2
    (232 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    Another great meal! Our server Brahim provided the perfect service: attentive, thoughtful, kind…read more Really enhanced our meal. For a starter we shared the cornbread with another couple and it was plenty for 4 people. If you are from out of town and looking for some Texas-shaped vittles or just want something substantial to stretch your meal I recommend it! Very tasty and filling. For my main I had the scallops with creamed corn risotto. It was a dainty portion but the flavors were nice. My husband had the short rib tagliatelle which he loved. It was very rich and filling. We had the buttermilk pie again for dessert and this time it tasted sweeter than I remembered. It was good but we couldn't finish it. Idk if it was my tastebuds or if it was different. Anyways still a great meal overall and we will be back!

    We arrived in San Antonio after an 11+ hour road trip from New Orleans. By 7 pm hubs wanted dinner…read moreas soon as we checked into our hotel. Checked Yelp for dinner suggestions so Doc drove us to the paid lot next to where all the Cinderella lit up carriages drawn by horses were lined up. It seemed the boats going up and down the River portion of the Walk were busier. While we were walking I had my eyes open for a table with a view. We stopped at Four Brothers. The receptionist went over suggestions on the menu on her outdoor podium. Cornbread in the shape of Texas, shareable items like Dino ribs for $82, plus Pork Shank and ice tea completed our order. Everyone was very friendly. We had an exceptional view and we had more than enough food that we had to ask for take out boxes. My favorite was the Mac & cheese though I'm usually not a fan. This dish used cork screw shaped pasta and it was moist and not stuck together. I had to share a photo of it with Sweetie who is in Tokyo right now. Doc liked the pimento for the cornbread. As it was almost 9 pm we decided to pass on the boat ride but just walk on the other side with shops and more eateries. We're back on the road again tomorrow to Arizona.

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    Vela Coffee - coffee - Updated July 2026

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