A Guide to Castroville, TX
Castroville is a charming town known as the “The Little Alsace of Texas”. It is rich in French culture and history. This is a great location for a weekend getaway! We visited in January 2022, so this information and our experiences are from then.
I first found out about this charming town from My Curly Adventures, so be sure to check her out!
LODGING
My husband and I stayed at the Hillside Boutique Hotel. We had an amazing experience here! Each room has a farmhouse touch to it along with custom furniture, hand-woven rugs, and a view overlooking the Medina River Valley. We also enjoyed the restaurant on site as well (I will talk about this below under food & dining). Hillside Boutique Hotel also has a very nice pool area with private cabanas, but because we visited in January, we did not participate in that portion of the hotel. Another benefit of this boutique hotel is the spa available on site with different options and packages to choose from. We did not do this our first time, but we’re looking forward to it next time!
FOOD & DINING
Magnolia Filling Station - Definitely carve out some time to visit this charming coffee shop! It is themed after an old gas station. There is also a free little library right outside so that you can read while sipping on your coffee. Absolutely adorable! I ordered an iced chai latte and Drew ordered an Americano with cream. Both were yummy!
*Note: closed on Sundays
Haby’s Bakery - This cute place is styled and modeled after the Steinbach Hus (the famous Castroville landmark). It is an Alsatian bakery full of goodies to try! At the time we visited, there were no tables to sit inside, but with COVID restrictions being lifted across Texas since 2022, this could have changed by now.
*Note: closed on Sundays
Hillside Texas Bistro - This is the restaurant on property of the Hillside Boutique Hotel, where we stayed for the night. For the appetizer, we ordered their Pub Trio, which is fried pickles, onion rings, and jalapeno poppers. It was fantastic! For the main entree I got their Pecan Chicken which comes with baked macaroni & cheese and Heirloom baby carrots. It was incredible!! Drew got the brisket pot roast and he said it was alright - tasty, but not the best ever.
Castroville Cafe - This place is your classic home-cooked meal kind of restaurant, but with a German and Alsatian twist. We came here for lunch on Sunday and arrived right as they opened, so for a while we got the whole room to ourselves. I ordered a schnitzel sandwich with a side salad and a side of pasta salad. I loved it! Drew got an item off of the Sunday Specials menu - Hunter’s Schnitzel; it is topped with brown gravy and comes with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans. We definitely recommend coming here!
*Note: closed on Saturdays
THINGS TO DO
Shopping - We walked across the street from the coffee shop, Magnolia Filling Station, to shop at Rhonda J’s Shoppe. They had things from home decor to womens and childrens clothing. Some other local shops to visit are Castroville Emporium for antique shopping and Southern Creek Boutique for some really cute retail.
The Steinbach Hus - This was the highlight of the trip for me! This little french house is what actually drew us to visit Castroville in the first place. It is a small Alsatian house originally built between 1618 and 1648. It was relocated to Castroville with the grand opening in 2002. You can go inside and tour it 7 days of the week. Make sure to check their website for hours of operation. It is also the town’s visitor center. It has maps and options for you to do during your stay. When we visited, the sweet lady working there was full of knowledge that she shared with us. We really appreciated her welcoming spirit.
Landmark Inn - We did not do this when we visited, but it is a historic hotel and museum. It is open daily and tickets for a guided tour are only $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-18, seniors, and college students. You can learn a lot about the history of Castroville by visiting here.
*Fun Fact (for my history peeps): In the 1840s, the Republic of Texas encouraged European settlement of the country’s vast lands. In response to this opportunity, Henri Castro recruited 6,000 settlers, mostly from Alsace, France to travel to Texas and settle. This is why Castroville has such a deep history and love for Alsace.
If you are looking for a relaxed, laid back weekend with a small town feel, this is the place for you! We had such a great time and we appreciated what all the local spots had to offer. We also really admired the rich French culture. For more details, check out our vlog, linked below!
