Guenther House, San Antonio
Nestled on East Guenther Street in San Antonio's historic King William neighborhood, the Guenther House is a multifaceted destination combining a restaurant, museum, and store. This charming limestone home, originally built in 1859 by Carl Hilmar Guenther, founder of Pioneer Flour Mills, showcases a blend of historical significance and culinary delights. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 11, 1990.
Carl Hilmar Guenther (1826–1902), a German-trained millwright, immigrated to the U.S. in 1848 and established a gristmill in San Antonio in 1859, which grew into Pioneer Flour Mills. He built his home near the mill, becoming one of the first residents of the King William Historic District. Renovated in 1915, the Guenther House added a river-facing entrance and transformed its top-floor Roof Garden into an event space. Its patio and arbor now provide a charming outdoor dining experience.
The Guenther House museum preserves the Guenther family legacy, showcasing personal artifacts, milling tools, and relics from the history of baking and dining in San Antonio. Travel souvenirs collected by the family add a global touch to the exhibit. Visitors can explore the museum's former library space and gain insight into the region's cultural and culinary evolution.
The restaurant at the Guenther House serves up American classics with a southern twist. Guests can enjoy breakfast staples like buttermilk biscuits with country sausage gravy and Pioneer Mills pancakes or explore a rotating menu of quiches, soups, salads, and sandwiches for lunch. The historic dining areas, including the original kitchen, tea room, and ballroom-style seating, offer a glimpse into early 20th-century hospitality. Outdoor seating beneath the arbor provides a serene option for alfresco dining.
Whether indulging in a hearty breakfast, exploring milling history, or simply soaking in the ambiance of the King William District, the Guenther House offers a delightful blend of history, culture, and cuisine. Open daily, it continues to be a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.
Carl Hilmar Guenther (1826–1902), a German-trained millwright, immigrated to the U.S. in 1848 and established a gristmill in San Antonio in 1859, which grew into Pioneer Flour Mills. He built his home near the mill, becoming one of the first residents of the King William Historic District. Renovated in 1915, the Guenther House added a river-facing entrance and transformed its top-floor Roof Garden into an event space. Its patio and arbor now provide a charming outdoor dining experience.
The Guenther House museum preserves the Guenther family legacy, showcasing personal artifacts, milling tools, and relics from the history of baking and dining in San Antonio. Travel souvenirs collected by the family add a global touch to the exhibit. Visitors can explore the museum's former library space and gain insight into the region's cultural and culinary evolution.
The restaurant at the Guenther House serves up American classics with a southern twist. Guests can enjoy breakfast staples like buttermilk biscuits with country sausage gravy and Pioneer Mills pancakes or explore a rotating menu of quiches, soups, salads, and sandwiches for lunch. The historic dining areas, including the original kitchen, tea room, and ballroom-style seating, offer a glimpse into early 20th-century hospitality. Outdoor seating beneath the arbor provides a serene option for alfresco dining.
Whether indulging in a hearty breakfast, exploring milling history, or simply soaking in the ambiance of the King William District, the Guenther House offers a delightful blend of history, culture, and cuisine. Open daily, it continues to be a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.
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Guenther House on Map
Sight Name: Guenther House
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Antonio, Texas
Create Your Own Walk in San Antonio
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Antonio is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
King William Historical District Tour
San Antonio’s first “suburb” and the very first historical district in Texas, revitalized during the 1960s, the King William District encompasses 25 blocks south of downtown and east of the San Antonio River.
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
River Walk Tour
The San Antonio River Walk (also known as Paseo del Río or simply The River Walk) is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of the city. A successful special-case pedestrian street, this walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting major tourist draws and attractions that add to its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
San Antonio Introduction Walking Tour
San Antonio, one of Texas' major cities, boasts rich colonial heritage. The city was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13. At the time of European encounter, the area near the San Antonio River Valley was inhabited by Payaya Indians who called it Yanaguana, the "refreshing waters".
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles