My Travel Listicle Recommendations
Viejo San Juan
- La Factoría – a bar in Viejo San Juan with 6 rooms/speakeasies; it also has live salsa on the weekends.
- Deshistoria: Birra & Empanadas – a local tavern in Viejo San Juan for great Puerto Rican beer and empanadas.
- EÑE – located in the heart of San Juan; great food and local beers.
- Deveradura – located in the heart of Viejo San Juan. This restaurant serves all the Puerto Rican classics.
Condado
- Orozco’s – a Puerto Rican food restaurant, cash only.
- Sobao by Los Cidrines – a Puerto Rican-style deli and bakery. Great coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, and pastries. Outdoor patio with free WiFi! I recommend the pastrami sandwich!
- Bebo’s Café – open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with typical Puerto Rican breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Isla Verde
- La Lechonera de Diego – a great, affordable option, especially for large groups. No reservation is required, and the food is ready fast. Lechoneras and BBQ spots are great places to get a whole roasted chicken, ribs, or lechón (roast pork) and sides by the pound.
- Yamiko Sushi – Asian Puerto Rican fusion food. Get some fried rice, sushi, or teriyaki with a tropical twist. My recommendation is the Caribbean Dragon roll with maduros, eel, and mango. Reservations required for large groups only.
Other Areas Around San Juan
- La Placita – in Santurce, a plaza with a ton of bars and restaurants. Busy on Thursday and Friday, with great live music and karaoke.
- El Platanal – amazing mofongo and mojitos in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
- Los Pinos – a local 24/7 restaurant with a huge menu. There are many locations throughout the San Juan area.
- El Meson – an incredibly popular Puerto Rican fast food restaurant. They serve breakfast all day and make great coffee. Additionally, they are known for their surrollos, which you can request instead of french fries with your sandwich combos.
Want to know what you’re ordering? My Puerto Rico Cuisine guide breaks down the classic dishes and drinks, or head back to Puerto Rico Sightseeing for more of Old San Juan.
