Bonnie has a knack for putting together an itinerary. She considers what is enjoyable for each individual visitor, and factors in limitations. That's why my last visit was a pleasure, besides the obvious happiness of seeing my sister, my brother-in-law, and my fur nephew.
Though we never limit the itinerary to strictly tea-related places (because one must do more than drink tea and eat cake, apparently), Bonnie makes sure to find a few new places every time I visit. You might call that a challenge - finding tea spots in San Antonio? More than one or two? but I think it's a labor of love for Bon. The secret is not just looking for "tea". Business-wise, in nearly every destination in the United States, and probably elsewhere, coffee is the moneymaker. Find the coffee, and you'll probably find the tea. And that's just what we did.
Comfortable, populated but not overwhelming, and did I mention Banoffee??? This is an uber-sweet combination of banana and toffee; hence the portmanteau. I've not seen much of banoffee outside of the UK - not that I've travelled widely enough to assume it's impossible to find in the US, but I'm all too eager to find it here anyway. I paired it with Austin Breakfast Tea, which definitely does not need to be sweetened.
Bonnie had one of their many cupcakes on offer. There's cakes and sandwiches, all in a soothing mint-green and white decor, and I'd love to go back when we haven't lunched already.
This place makes it into lists of best bakeries in the U.S., so I probably don't have to write about it, but I cannot help it. Going on their macarons alone they are top of the line. I also had a Banana Maple Curry Cake, which sounds gross, but they pull it off! (Apparently I went for banana on this trip.) Topped off with Mighty Leaf Green Tropical Tea, and it's a Texas-sized French bakery experience. If you go to San Antonio, definitely have barbecue, don't forget the tacos (oh, the breakfast tacos!), and certainly hit the Pearl District for some Bakery Lorraine (yes, they have quiche).
Halcyon
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| Excited about the S'mores! |
Another spot close to The Riverwalk, and in a spot that outside and inside makes you think you should be annoyed at the hipsterness of it all, but you manage to have a good time anyway, Feels like home, except I haven't been to a place at home that has indoor s'mores! I paired mine with Jasmine Green Tea. Very odd. I have a special dislike for Hershey's because of their Cadbury trouncing, but I had so much fun making s'mores with BonBon, I had no cause to complain. By the way, they're family friendly, at least during the day, and seat plentiful, which is so important. They share their bathrooms with the adjoining restaurant, in case you're interested.
If you thought you were gonna get a coffee review here, then look no further - you won't.
