When Garrett Sage moved to San Antonio a decade ago, he assumed he and his wife would eventually relocate to Austin. But the longer Sage stayed in San Antonio, the more he relished the south-central Texas city boasting The Alamo, The River Walk and a criminally underrated culinary scene.  

“San Antonio’s in its prime, and we love it,” he says.

Now, Sage, the owner of four iRun locations in San Antonio, is excited to show off his adopted hometown to his run specialty industry peers as the 2025 edition of The Running Event descends on San Antonio December 2-4. 
“We have great food, great running paths and the weather will be nice when TRE rolls through town in December,” says Sage, whose newest shop is located about four miles north of the Henry B. González Convention Center.
Leveraging his insider knowledge of San Antonio, Sage shares some local recommendations for his fellow TRE attendees. 

The Obvious Spot for a Run: The River Walk. While this popular path can get narrow and “touristy” near the convention center, Sage says it quickly opens up when traveling north or south, which makes it great for logging miles with friends old and new.

A Less Obvious Spot for a Run: Just south of the convention center and across César E. Chávez Blvd., check out the King William Historic District and streets, which are home to historic mansions. 

For breakfast: Sage notes the ongoing rivalry between San Antonio and Austin for which Texas city dishes up the best breakfast tacos. Visit Con Huevos Tacos on Houston Street, Sage says, for some of San Antonio’s finest.

For lunch: Carnitas Don Raúl on Jones Ave. is about a mile and a half from the convention center but definitely worth visiting for its authentic Mexican cuisine. 

For a mid-day jolt: Sage recommends coffee fiends check out CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bistro, which has an outpost in Hemisfair next to the convention center.

For dinner: Sage suggests Bar Loretta in the King William Historic District for a seasonal menu of elevated Texas fare. 

For adult beverages: Künstler Brewing is a San Antonio favorite, and its Tap Haus location in Hemisfair serves up some of the brewery’s top drinks in a laid-back beer garden setting. 

For evening entertainment: Built around the restored Pearl Brewery, The Pearl is a lively commercial district with chef-led restaurants, indie shops and Jazz, TX—a dynamic live music venue.

For something uniquely San Antonio: While Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia on Produce Row is quite touristy, Sage calls this Tex-Mex spot with festive decor and Mexican candies a civic institution.

And if at all possible: Mixtli was San Antonio’s first restaurant to receive a Michelin Star and is a must-go for dinner—if you can score a table. “The best restaurant experience I’ve ever had,” Sage says. Of note, Mixtli’s bar serves up cocktails, agave spirits and a progressive wine list—no reservation required.