The Travel Listicle

Tag: San Juan

Puerto Rico Sightseeing
My Travel Listicle Recommendations

Viejo San Juan (VSJ)

The oldest city in the U.S., dating back to 1521.
- El Morro National Monument – a national park, museum, and fortress. Also a great place to fly a kite!
- Castillo San Cristóbal – a smaller fortress and national park
- La Fortaleza – the Governor’s Mansion; guided tours are available.
- Paseo de la Princesa – a tree-lined promenade along the ocean, built in 1853. Great place to go for a run.
- Old San Juan Trolley – a free trolley that runs every day and makes 12 stops in different historical areas of VSJ. The schedule and stops can change, so check out the trolley schedule and map in the link above.
Greater San Juan
- Plaza las Américas – the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean.
- Casa BACARDÍ – Bacardi Rum Distillery with factory tours and mixology classes.
If You Rent a Car
- La Ruta Taína – a driving route that leads to various Taíno historical sites across the island. The Taínos are the indigenous people who occupied Puerto Rico before Columbus. Today, a lot of Puerto Rican culture, including the term “Boricua,” stems from this ancestry.
  - Read more about the Taíno here.
Worked up an appetite touring the forts? See my Puerto Rico Restaurants & Bars guide for where to eat next, or check my Puerto Rico Travel Tips for getting around the island.
June 25, 2022
Puerto Rico Restaurants & Bars
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.
June 25, 2022