A Local Shopper’s Guide to the Malls of San Antonio

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best shopping malls san antonio

Ready to shop ’til you drop? The Alamo City might not have a huge array of shopping malls, but there’s definitely something for everybody. Get your Auntie Anne’s pretzel fix and pick up a pair of chanclas at Shoe Carnival—whatever floats your boat.

Whether you’re a transplant or just visiting for the weekend, check out this quick guide to the malls of San Antonio.

Map of San Antonio’s Malls

Alamo Quarry Market

The Quarry, as the locals call it, is an outdoor mall built on the remnants of an old limestone quarry (hence the name). Overall, the Quarry is a relatively safe mall that’s close to crunchy hippie grocery stores, a golf course, and the old-money part of town called Alamo Heights.

This place is absolute hell in the hot summertime months, so most people get around the mall by car instead of walking. Be sure to visit during off-peak hours; the parking around Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and Max’s Wine Dive fill up fast!

The Quarry does put on a farmer’s market on Sundays in the Whole Foods parking lot (fun fact, I used to work at the market). It also has a pretty good movie theater.

  • Address: 255 E Basse Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209
  • Website: Quarry Market

North Star

I adore North Star mall because it’s flippin’ indoors. Sure, it gets a little noisy on a crowded Saturday afternoon, but summer temperatures in San Antonio are well over 100 degrees. If you want to do a little shopping without all of your makeup melting off, this is the place to go.

North Star also has issues with parking, and chances are good that you’ll have to park in a lot far away from your destination. Make sure you snap a pic of your parking number or you’ll get lost… I’m speaking from personal experience here.

North Star is a pretty typical mall. You have your staple stores like Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc. It does have some sit-down restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory and Luciano’s, so many people like to do date night at the mall, too.

  • Address: 7400 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216
  • Website: North Star Mall

The Shops at La Cantera

La Cantera is, hands down, the nicest mall in San Antonio. Unfortunately, it’s another outdoor mall, so you’re going to sweat to death if you visit in August. But the gorgeous decor and design of this mall are certainly something to behold. If you visit at the right time, you’ll see luscious vines covering the walkways at La Cantera—it’s definitely the most Instagrammable mall in San Antonio!

You need a budget if you want to shop here, though. La Cantera has mainstream stores like Barnes & Noble, but it also has designer stores that will cost you a pretty penny. I made the mistake of taking my nieces into the Vera Bradley store and spent a small fortune there. But it does have high-scale eateries, like Whiskey Cake and Perry’s Steakhouse, that certainly make La Cantera a perfect romantic date spot.

Parking can be an issue at La Cantera, so try parking at the Macy’s or another department store and plan to walk to your destination.

Ingram Park Mall

Ingram Park Mall was probably nice 20 years ago. It’s okay now, but every time I visit, I see someone either being arrested or literally brawling in the middle of the mall. Crazy.

Anyway, it’s a convenient mall for folks like me who live on the northeast side of town and, as long as you keep your wits about you, it makes for a decent shopping trip. I like to reward myself with a Double Doozy from Great American Cookies every time I go. Since it’s in a less touristy part of town, it’s mostly locals shopping here, so it’s way easier to find parking.

Ingram Park Mall also hosts events, like Mutts & Margaritas, Santa visits, and the Easter Bunny. There isn’t always a lot going on at this mall, but it’s a good stop if you want to shop at affordable stores like Claire’s, rue21, and JC Penny.

  • Address: 6301 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238
  • Website: Ingram Park Mall

The Rim

I’ll be honest: I shopped at The Rim multiple times before realizing that it was not, in fact, part of La Cantera. The Rim is close to La Cantera, but it’s its own mall. This is a sprawling outdoor mall that’s similar to the Quarry in that you’re better off driving to each store individually. But it has a Best Buy, Ross, Bass Pro Shop, and other popular stores that make it a must-see for shoppers.

The crown jewel of The Rim, though, is the Palladium IMAX movie theater. It’s easily the nicest movie theater in San Antonio, featuring fancy eats like gelato and even La-Z-Boy-style chairs.

  • Address: 17703 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78257
  • Website: The Rim SA

Shops at Rivercenter

The Rivercenter Mall is located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, which makes it the most tourist-ridden mall in all of San Antonio. That’s not a bad thing, but if you want to shop with people who wear fanny packs and sandals with socks, this place makes for excellent people-watching.

Growing up, the Rivercenter Mall was a really nice place to shop. It’s gone downhill over the last ten years, so it’s not as clean or well-stocked as it used to be. Even so, if you want to take a stroll along the San Antonio River and then grab a bite to eat in the food court, the Rivercenter is still a fun shopping destination. It even has an Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center, so it’s truly an all-in-one trip with shopping, entertainment, and food.

P.S. Plan to pay for parking! It usually costs about $20 for an entire day. If you’re staying at a nearby hotel, you can usually park there for free and then walk to the Rivercenter.

Wonderland of the Americas

Wonderland of the Americas is a really cool indoor mall in San Antonio. Unfortunately, it does have quite a few empty storefronts, so there isn’t a lot of shopping to be had here. Interestingly, a lot of doctors and dentists have set up shop here, so it’s half-mall and half-offices.

However, the best thing about Wonderland of the Americas is its small booths. It rents out tiny spaces where vendors can ply their trade. You can find a lot of really cool knickknacks this way, and since the vendors are always changing, you’ll find something cool every time.