best places to eat in puerto rico
best places to eat in puerto rico
Puerto Rico has a great culinary tradition and this is also reflected in the large variety of restaurants. From contemporary culinary experiences to international cuisine, from family restaurants to romantic dinners, Puerto Rico is a food lover’s paradise. Puerto Rico is an island filled with fascinating stories and legends. The beauty of the land and its people naturally drew the attention of several prominent figures during their time on earth. Many infamous ones made pilgrimages to the island in search of fame, and ended up falling in love with it as a result. These celebrities then left impressions through their various establishments and works that still stain the sceneries they once occupied to this very day.
Puerto Rico is a small island with a big heart, and it’s home to some of the best food in the world. Here are the top five places to eat in Puerto Rico:
- El Jibarito Restaurant—A popular Puerto Rican restaurant, El Jibarito offers authentic island cuisine at affordable prices. They serve everything from mofongo (fried plantains) to arroz con pollo (chicken with rice), so you’re sure to find something you love!
- La Casa de Los Pescados—If fresh seafood is what you’re after, look no further than La Casa de Los Pescados. This restaurant offers an array of seafood dishes that are sure to delight your palate and leave you wanting more!
- El León de Bronze—Looking for a place where you can find both traditional Puerto Rican food and American favorites? Then look no further than El León de Bronze! This restaurant has been serving up delicious meals since 1938, making it one of the oldest restaurants in San Juan.
- Dona Fela’s Café—Dona Fela’s Café is known for its delicious breakfast menu and friendly service, making it one of the most popular spots on this list! If you
The best places to eat in Puerto Rico are in San Juan, the capital city.
The first place is Cafe del Oriente, which is located at Calle Tetuán No. 712. This restaurant has a variety of delicious dishes, and it’s also affordable. It’s a great place for families who want to try out new foods together!
The second place is Casa Cortes Restaurant, located at Calle Fortaleza No. 101 in Old San Juan. This restaurant has some unique dishes that you won’t find anywhere else!
The third place is El Jibarito Restaurant, located at Calle Fortaleza No. 101 in Old San Juan. This restaurant has amazing seafood and also offers live music on occasion!
The fourth place is La Bombonera Bakery & Café, located at Calle Santo Domingo No. 838 in Old San Juan. This bakery makes some of the best pastries in Puerto Rico!
top restaurants in puerto rico
Casa de Montecristo
Whether a cigar lover or not, Montecristo delivers on cocktails and ambiance. It is ostensibly a cigar bar, but the drinks are not second-rate, with some of the best bartenders in San Juan often behind the bar. Here, guests find one of the highest-caliber selections of spirits in town, but there’s no kitchen, making it the perfect pre- or post-dinner spot for a drink.
La Factoría
An Old San Juan stalwart since its opening in 2013, La Factoria has expanded in the years since into an institution, often appearing on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars. It is still a go-to for its Lavender Mule, where lavender gives floral balance to a Moscow mule; the La Champeta, with Don Q Añejo rum, pineapple, and fermented ginger; and the Garibaldi Criollo, where Campari is infused with acerola, a Caribbean cherry. If wine is desired, Vino, right behind the main bar, provides a selection.
Mercado Agrícola de Viejo San Juan
Every Saturday morning by El Morro, a fort from the Spanish colonial times and a national park, a dozen or so vendors line up at this farmers’ market to sell not just locally grown produce, piques flavored with local fruits, giant tropical flowers, and vanilla beans, but plant-based milks, desserts, and vegan sushi. This is not to be missed for a glimpse at what agroecological farmers are growing, as well as ready-made foods for a walking breakfast while seeing the sights.
La Taberna Lúpulo
Lúpulo, a beer bar, is always blasting the best playlist and serving a wide array of beers on draft as well as in bottles and cans. The local beers are where to focus your drinking efforts, such as those from Boxlab in Aguadilla on the island’s west coast, or Zurc Brauhouse in Coamo, which all pair well with the bar food selection, including some truly wonderful French fries.
unique eats in puerto rico
Pio Pio
Old San Juan’s Plaza de Armas bustles during the day as locals, visitors, and office workers descend on the area’s coffee kiosks. At night, though, it tends to quiet down. Here, far from the dives of Cristo and San Sebastían streets, wine bar Pío Pío serves a big menu of sparkling wine, paired with small plates like oysters Rockefeller; beef tartare; and a salad of chrysanthemum greens, silken tofu dressing, hazelnuts, and chayote. There’s even a Negroni piragua, a decidedly adult take on the local street cart treat of shaved ice and flavored syrup.
Deaverdura
In Old San Juan, Deaverdura is a staple of comida criolla, the Puerto Rican cuisine that blends local Taíno ingredients with Spanish and African influences. Pasteles, carne frita, tostones, and more create glorious smells wafting from the kitchen into the street, which explains why this corner stop is always drawing a crowd of locals and visitors alike. While the menu is meat-focused, there is seafood and they’re always able to do vegan and vegetarian dishes as well.
Spiga
Tiny but mighty, Spiga is a beloved Old San Juan gem that bakes its own sourdough loaves daily for sandwiches and toast, as well as chocolate chip walnut cookies no one leaves without. Breakfasts of scrambled eggs with tomato, spinach, and feta are simple, but made special by the bread; for lunch, there are daily house-made pastas, occasional lasagna, and satisfying salads.
Spiga
Tiny but mighty, Spiga is a beloved Old San Juan gem that bakes its own sourdough loaves daily for sandwiches and toast, as well as chocolate chip walnut cookies no one leaves without. Breakfasts of scrambled eggs with tomato, spinach, and feta are simple, but made special by the bread; for lunch, there are daily house-made pastas, occasional lasagna, and satisfying salads.