It's possible for a hotel's name and identity to be so iconic it's often synonymous with the city in which it resides-one need only name the hotel, and the city immediately comes to mind.

Paris has the Ritz, London has The Savoy and San Antonio has The St. Anthony.

In addition to the synonymy that comes from a great hotel representing a great city, there's also the reaction one gets when telling local residents where you've chosen to spend your evenings. Hotels like these get breathy reverence-"Oh, the St Anthony! I love the St. Anthony!"

Many San Antonio residents can name a memorable event-a wedding, a banquet, or some other celebration that has left them with indelible memories of this stately hotel, which celebrates its 118^th year in 2017.

A century (plus nearly another score) is a long time to grow legends, and the homegrown ones at this hotel are Texas-sized:

Early advertisements touting the hotel's 1909 opening trumpeted a common marketing claim for the turn of the century-that the building was "completely fireproof". Later, the hotel was known for being the first in the world to have air conditioning throughout, which was no doubt appreciated by the crowds of celebrities and crowned heads that inked the register during the coming decades.

Having gone through a number of owners and names, the St. Anthony was completely gutted and refurbished by a new ownership team in 2014 and reopened the following year as part of The Luxury Collection.

The hotel's crest was refreshed and modernized while one of the rotating tapestry colors introduced by designer Dorothy Draper in the middle of the century-Draper Green-was reintroduced as the hotel's signature color, appearing in bright accents throughout the hotel's public areas and guest rooms.

Speaking of guest rooms, they're outfitted in a style befitting the hotel's cosmopolitan, oftentimes global clientele. Yet, they're still not a complete departure from the 1909 vision of offering an unassuming brand of luxury at which a rancher fresh off a long cattle drive would find a comforting welcome.

Modern conveniences (and larger, en suite baths, which were not common until decades after the hotel's original opening) abound, although some historic touches remain, as required by the hotel's designation on the National Register of Historic Places. For example, there are significantly more doors than hotel rooms, because original doors were required to be retained during the remodel, even as the number of rooms was reduced to accommodate larger bathrooms suited to more modern tastes.

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Outside of guest rooms, there's no shortage of public spaces to while away the hours.

Rebelle, the hotel's signature restaurant, offers a contemporary dining experience with playfully designed menus and a cocktail program based on the seven deadly sins. Food is cooked in a New Texas style and focuses on local produce. Across the hall, Haunt is an exercise in vinyl modernity with a cocktail menu based on the ghosts that are said to haunt the St. Anthony and neighboring hotels.

The Lavender Lady-their delicious take on a French 75-is named for a ghost whose signature lavender perfume can still be smelled in the Library, just one floor above. For more traditional tipple tastes, guests can head to the Draper-designed St. Anthony Club to relax in a richly furnished atmosphere with robust air conditioning and a host of cocktail classics.

For those seeking outdoor lounging, there's plenty to enjoy within the hotel: There's a rooftop terrace, outdoor dining during breakfast at The Library, an enclosed loggia off "Peacock Alley" (which was designed as a place for guests to bedazzle), and a rooftop pool with in-water chaises, a fire pit and shaded cabanas with daily bar service.

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The Takeaway: From smiling doormen to rose petals and chocolates at turn down, this gorgeous property and its professional staff prove that little has been lost in a century's worth of hospitality. The hotel certainly deserves its chosen social media moniker #TexasJewelReborn.

The Damage: I've seen season rates as low as $227.

Instagrammable Moment: Peacock Alley is an iconic shot best taken in the mid-morning.

Loyalty: The St. Anthony participates in the Starwood Preferred Guest program.

Good To Know: Pool cabanas are first-come, first served (and the bar is reasonably priced) but they can also be exclusively reserved for a fee.

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