After the Alamo, San Antonio's Riverwalk is the city's most popular tourist attraction. Sitting below street level, one can leisurely wander along the river, taking in plant-covered trellises and watching tourist boats float down the river as guides share local stories. Hotels on the Riverwalk are coveted, for the convenience of having direct access to this popular attraction is of definite value.The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio is just such a hotel, offering brand standard amenities and services while tucked away on a quieter bend of the river, away from much of the press of tourist foot traffic and evening revels. Whether entering from the Riverwalk or Market Street, the hotel's cooling marble fixtures and large picture windows drawing in natural light and river views give a grandiose sense of arrival.The hotel is equal parts big city center hotel and quiet garden sanctuary, with a big, bold design right out of the mid-1990s. In fact, the original Starwood Preferred Guest logo from the 1999 program launch still remains on some of the directional signage, suggesting there's some modernizing to be done. Nevertheless, the marble is well-polished and the hotel's public areas are generally ship shape and well air-conditioned, in a sort of "modern mission" style that feels contemporary with discreet nods to the past.For a larger property, there's sufficient public space that didn't feel crowded, even on a holiday weekend, but it feels like a food and beverage outlet short. There's a grab-and-go for coffee and light breakfasts in the morning, convenient to an outdoor loggia where one can sip coffee and watch the boats go by on the river. For food, there's but a single restaurant and bar (with lovely alfresco seating available) on the Riverwalk level that turns out solid Italian fare, but feels smaller than necessary for such a large property.On my visit over Mother's Day, the restaurant seemed to forget solo travelers in residence in favor of a local appeal Mother's Day Brunch. While at a property with multiple dining outlets this wouldn't have been noticeable, it nevertheless interrupted the daily cadence of normal hotel operations that many travelers depend on (holiday notwithstanding).The hotel's metier certainly seems to be meetings and events, for it has over 26,000 square feet of function space. The largest ballroom can accommodate a banquet of up to 500; significant for a property with just under 500 rooms.Hotel staff was delightful, even in famously friendly Texas. Doormen were quick to open hotel and car doors and offer assistance, front desk staff made effort to accommodate requests, and servers in the restaurant quickly accommodated hotel guests wanting to take advantage of their SPG breakfast amenities during a sold out brunch event.The TakeawayThe Riverwalk can often be a crowded, theme park like atmosphere. This hotel takes advantage of one of the quieter corners for a slower, secluded, more gracious version of this popular visitor attraction, without sacrificing any of the convenience.The MathLow season rates are available from around $130 per nightInstagrammable MomentThe Riverwalk! It's right in the name, and it's why most guests are there.LoyaltyStarwood Preferred Guest, although a new program launches in August.Good To KnowThere's more than just views to recommend a river side room - Market Street is a popular thoroughfare for emergency vehicles, although views are just as spectacular.The hotel offers valet parking but not self-parking; luckily San Antonio is a supremely walkable city.While walking along the Riverwalk is delightful, it's often faster to climb to street level to get around, particularly during crowded periods.