San Antonio Current readers voted for their favorite hat store in the 2026 Best of San Antonio awards, and three shops made the list. Two have been shaping hats here for decades. One opened in 2024.
Here is who made it, and more usefully, what each one is actually for.
Who made the 2026 list
Paris Hatters took the win. They opened downtown in 1917 and are still run by the same family, which makes them older than most of the buildings around them. If you want a finished hat from a place that has been doing this for over a century, that is the address.
Herb’s Hat Shop on Rigsby Avenue was the other runner up. Family owned, East Side, and by their own count more than 40 years in business.
Wild Pony Hat Bar was the third. We are the newest of the three by a long way, and we do something different enough that it is worth explaining.
What is a hat bar, and how is it different from a hat shop?
A hat shop sells you a hat. A hat bar hands you one and lets you finish it.
At Wild Pony you pick your hat, then choose the band, the feathers, the trim and the pin. A stylist brands it, your initials or a design burned into the felt or the leather. You leave wearing something nobody else has, and you had a hand in how it turned out.
The hats come pre-shaped and ready to wear. If you want to go further, open crown hats and hat shaping are available as an add on, so you can take it closer to the shape in your head.
That is the honest difference. Paris Hatters and Herb’s are where you go to buy a hat. Wild Pony is where you go to make an afternoon of it and walk out with one. Different reasons to leave the house.
Where can you make your own cowboy hat in San Antonio?
Wild Pony Hat Bar has three locations.
La Cantera, inside the Signia by Hilton at 16641 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78256. Open Monday through Friday 4:00 to 8:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed Sunday.
Basila Frocks on the West Side at 502 N Zarzamora Street, Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78207. The building is a restored 1929 garment factory, worth seeing on its own. Open Wednesday through Friday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Grand Hyatt River Walk, inside the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk at 600 East Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205. Hours are released weekly, so check the locations page before you go.
Wild Pony holds a 5.0 rating on Google across 174 reviews.
We travel too. For a corporate event, a bachelorette weekend or a party, we bring the full hat bar to your venue anywhere in San Antonio. Details on our corporate events page.
What it costs and how long it takes
Hats at Wild Pony start at $149 + customization. Where you land depends on the hat you pick and how far you take the band, the feathers, the trim and the branding.
Most guests are done in 30 minutes to an hour. Give yourself longer if you want shaping or a lot of detail work.
Walk-ins are welcome at all three locations. Booking ahead is worth it on weekends or if you are bringing a group, and especially at La Cantera, where the weekday window is 4:00 to 8:00 PM.
Book your spot at La Cantera
Common questions
What is a hat bar? A hat bar is a station where you choose a hat and finish it yourself with a stylist. At Wild Pony Hat Bar in San Antonio that means picking your hat, then adding the band, feathers, trim and pin, and having your initials or a design branded into the felt or leather. The hats come pre-shaped, and shaping is available as an add on.
How much does a custom cowboy hat cost in San Antonio? Hats at Wild Pony Hat Bar in San Antonio start at $149 + customization. Where you land depends on the hat you pick and how far you take the band, feathers, trim and branding.
How long does it take to make a custom hat? Most guests finish in 30 minutes to an hour at Wild Pony Hat Bar. Shaping or heavy trim work takes longer.
Do you need an appointment at a hat bar in San Antonio? Walk-ins are welcome at all three Wild Pony Hat Bar locations in San Antonio. Booking ahead is recommended for weekends and groups.
Which hat stores in San Antonio won Best of San Antonio 2026? San Antonio Current readers named three: Paris Hatters won, with Herb’s Hat Shop and Wild Pony Hat Bar as runners up.
Where can you make your own cowboy hat in San Antonio? Wild Pony Hat Bar has three San Antonio locations: La Cantera inside the Signia by Hilton, Basila Frocks on the West Side at 502 N Zarzamora Street, and the Grand Hyatt on the River Walk at 600 East Market Street.
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