Chef Leo Davila recently received a James Bears semifinalist nod for Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, also found at the St. Anthony.
SAN ANTONIO — The Michelin Guide may have anointed the Pearl the hottest dining spot in San Antonio, but come February there will be a new restaurant to check out just a few blocks away, courtesy of James Beard-nominated Chef Leo Davila.
Davila’s new culinary endeavor Esencia – a 130-seat restaurant “rooted in Chef Leo’s Chinese and Mexican heritage” – is set to serve its first patrons at downtown’s St. Anthony hotel on Feb. 4, according to a press release. It’s his newest eatery since the March 2025 closure of Stixs & Stone and the opening of Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, also at St. Anthony, two months later.
“The approach blends the flavors and traditions of Spanish, Mexican and Asian cultures… with a New American sensibility celebrating innovation, local ingredients and the art of cultural storytelling through cuisine,” the press release states.
Among the dishes that will be on offer:
- Carne asada with Wagyu steak, chimichurri and “heirloom corn tortillas”
- Duck and flower, featuring Texas pecan mole, spiced pecans and jasmine steamed rice
- Port and apple, emboldened with house-cured pork belly and pickled Honeycrisp apple
The drink menu at Esencia also promises to be varied with a “dynamic mix of Asian spirits, tequilas and mezcals, Texas whiskeys, beers, and an extensive selection of wines.” The restaurant’s Steal My Soul cocktail incorporates Herradura Reposado tequila, gochujang syrup and Peychaud’s Bitters.
The wine selection, meanwhile, will include offerings from Texas, the West Coast and Mexico, along with some international producers.
PHOTOS: A look at the dishes, drinks on the Esencia menu
“Bringing Esencia to life has been a dream come true,” Davila said in the press release. “Every detail, every guest and every dining experience matters. For too long, San Antonio has been overlooked in the Texas culinary landscape. That changes now.”
The press release states Esencia is aiming for an atmosphere that is “unmistakably local, yet globally inspired.” To wit, visitors will see a stone fountain sitting in the middle of Esencia, along with iron architectural details serving as a tribute to the city’s Canary Islanders settlers. Sunset-colored cloud designs on the ceiling overhead were designed by local artist Regina Moya, according to the release.
Esencia will also feature private dining room options for parties of different sizes.
The February opening comes at an exciting time for San Antonio-born Davila: His Anacacho Coffee & Cantina was named a 2026 James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
Esencia will be located at 300 E. Travis St. It will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Eager diners can make reservations now through OpenTable.