Following a $57 million transformation, The Gunter has reopened in the heart of downtown San Antonio, offering an experience that goes far beyond a traditional renovation. First opened in 1909 and now part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio, this historic landmark has been thoughtfully reimagined from top to bottom. From refreshed guestrooms and suites to distinctive restaurants and bars, immersive music programming, curated artwork, and inviting gathering spaces, every detail has been designed to create a memorable experience from the moment guests arrive.

The result is a hotel that proudly carries more than a century of San Antonio history while offering a fresh, distinctive experience for today’s traveler. Rooted in its storied past yet thoughtfully designed for a new generation, The Gunter brings together personality, local character, and memorable experiences that transform a stay into something much more than simply a place to rest.

A Historic Hotel, Seen Through a New Lens

The transformation begins with the building itself, where The Gunter’s timeless Beaux-Arts character meets a fresh, contemporary point of view. Dramatic lighting, bold textures, layered artwork, modern finishes, and unexpected visual details bring new energy to the hotel while celebrating the distinctive personality that has defined it for generations.

Rather than recreating another era or placing the hotel’s history behind glass, the design brings its story into the present. Historic influences serve as the foundation for spaces that feel current, comfortable, and thoughtfully considered, allowing guests to discover subtle connections to The Gunter’s past while experiencing a hotel designed for the way people travel today.

Our newly redesigned rooms and suites continue this balance of history and modern comfort. Updated layouts, contemporary bathrooms, rich colors, mid-century-inspired details, and thoughtful amenities create welcoming spaces that feel fresh and elevated while remaining connected to the unmistakable character of The Gunter.

Our hotel now welcomes guests with 311 thoughtfully designed accommodations, including 30 suites that bring together modern comfort and the hotel’s distinctive historic character. Several specialty suites take that connection even further, drawing inspiration from the musicians and notable figures woven into The Gunter’s past, including the Songwriter Suite, Orchestra Suite, Robert Johnson Suite, and Mack Rogers Suite.

These thoughtful details make each stay feel like part of something bigger. Rather than simply serving as a place to unwind, the guestrooms and suites become part of the story, a story that unfolds through the design, music, art, and experiences found throughout the hotel.

Dining That Gives the Hotel a New Social Energy

The reimagined Gunter experience comes to life just as vividly downstairs, where an exciting collection of new food and beverage concepts invites both hotel guests and San Antonio locals to dine, gather, and linger throughout the day.

At Jots, contemporary American cuisine meets locally inspired flavors in a welcoming setting that celebrates the spirit of San Antonio. The restaurant’s name pays tribute to Jonathan “Jot” Gunter, an important figure in the hotel’s history, creating a thoughtful connection between The Gunter’s storied past and its exciting new chapter.

Nearby, Keystone Club offers a sophisticated yet inviting lobby gathering place where guests can settle in over craft cocktails and light bites. For something a little more intimate, Bar 414 brings a speakeasy-inspired atmosphere and a fascinating piece of the hotel’s musical history. Its name references Room 414, where legendary blues musician Robert Johnson completed his first recording sessions in 1936.

For a more casual stop, Paris Baguette brings freshly baked breads, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and coffee to the hotel. Whether starting the morning with coffee and a pastry, taking an afternoon break, or grabbing something quick before exploring downtown San Antonio, it offers an easy and welcoming addition to the guest experience.

Together, these distinctive concepts bring a new social energy to The Gunter, creating a hotel where there is always another reason to stay a little longer. Guests can move effortlessly from morning coffee to dinner, craft cocktails, live music, or a late-night drink all without having to leave the hotel.

Music Is Part of the Stay

One of the most distinctive parts of the new Gunter experience is the way the hotel brings its legendary connection to music to life. What began as an important chapter in The Gunter’s history has evolved into an experience guests can now listen to, explore, and become part of during their stay.

The story dates back to November 1936, when legendary blues musician Robert Johnson completed his first recording sessions inside Room 414, recording songs including “Sweet Home Chicago” and “Cross Road Blues.” Over the decades, The Gunter’s musical story continued through live performances, orchestras, radio broadcasts, and other memorable moments that helped shape the hotel’s identity.

Today, that legacy can be experienced throughout the hotel with a collection of more than 1,000 vinyl records, in-room record players, the Vinyl Ambassador program and The Studio. Together, these thoughtful touches invite guests to connect with The Gunter’s musical heritage in a way that feels personal, interactive, and entirely their own.

Guests can browse the vinyl collection, select records that match their favorite genre or set the mood for their stay, and bring them back to their rooms to enjoy. For those looking to discover something new, The Gunter’s Vinyl Ambassadors are available to offer recommendations and help guests find the perfect record.

At The Gunter, music is more than a design theme or a nod to the past, it is part of the experience. Guests are invited to listen, discover, and create their own soundtrack, adding a new chapter to a musical story that has been unfolding within these walls for generations.

A Place Where Music Is Still Being Made

The hotel’s musical story continues with The Studio, our new state-of-the-art recording studio and creative space. Designed for today’s musicians, artists, and creators, The Studio provides a professional environment for making new music while honoring the extraordinary recording history already woven into the walls of The Gunter.

Inspired by Robert Johnson’s historic recording sessions, The Studio was developed in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Michael Ramos and acoustical expert Steven Durr. The result brings modern recording capabilities into the very property where music history was made nearly 90 years ago—creating a space where The Gunter’s legendary musical past can inspire what comes next.

The experience extends beyond recording sessions as well, with Music at The Gunter programming bringing live performances and music-focused experiences into the hotel throughout the year, creating opportunities for guests to encounter new artists and enjoy the property in a more social, creative way.

Meet The Gunter Again

There is an important difference between changing how a hotel looks and reconsidering how staying there should feel, and the new Gunter was created with the second idea firmly in mind.

Our rooms and suites have been redesigned, new restaurants and bars now give the property a stronger social life, music has become something guests can actively experience through vinyl, live programming, and The Studio, and more than a century of history has been woven naturally into spaces that feel contemporary rather than preserved in the past.

The Gunter is now open and fully reimagined, giving returning guests an opportunity to rediscover a San Antonio landmark while inviting first-time visitors to experience a hotel that feels both deeply connected to its history and genuinely new.

For those guests who remember The Gunter from another chapter, this is a chance to see how thoughtfully the hotel has evolved, while for those entering the hotel for the first time, this newly transformed experience is where that story begins.