Following May’s rebrand of the St. Anthony Hotel’s former Haunt Lounge as Anacacho Coffee and Cantina, the downtown property has finally revealed what will replace Rebelle, the lauded seafood restaurant it shuttered in January.
Esencia, a new dining spot paying homage to chef Leo Davila’s San Antonio roots and Asian heritage, is set to open this winter, hotel officials revealed Thursday.
The St. Anthony, managed by Virginia-based Crescent Hotels & Resorts, hasn’t yet revealed a grand opening date for Esencia. However, when it debuts, the 130-seat restaurant will become the first concept to operate in the two-level space since Rebelle’s closure.
Davila will oversee both Esencia and Anacacho Coffee & Cantina.
Esencia will offer dishes such as Asian-spiced duck breast, carne asada frites with Wagyu ribeye, an elevated take on beef and broccoli along with other plates inspired by its Asian-Texan hybrid theme, according to details shared by the hotel.
The cocktail program will feature playful riffs on classics, including a smoked Old Fashioned made with an exclusive Garrison Brothers bourbon from Anacacho’s barrel program. Other drinks, such as a cherry blossom sour with sake, gin and cherry blossom honey, will be tied to Esencia’s East-meets-West culinary identity.
Davila — the James Beard-nominated chef-owner of now-shuttered Asian fusion spot Stixs & Stone — said his team is proud to be part of a new wave of chefs showcasing the depth, heritage and creativity that make San Antonio extraordinary.
The chef also said he wants Esencia to cement the city’s place on what Texas Monthly Taco Editor Jose Ralat dubbed the “new Tejano” culinary map in the mag’s 2024 Best Tacos in Texas list. Davila landed in the roundup’s top 10 for Stixs & Stone’s Barbacoa and Big Red tacos.
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