Lorena & Luis
Things to do
Azalea
A cute chic place with an asian fusion! Try the Green Life cocktail!
El Jibarito
Great local cuisine!
Restaurante Raíces
From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted by an ambiance that celebrates the island’s heritage, servers dressed in traditional attire, walls adorned with rustic art and warm wood accents, and the lively energy of this charming colonial district. Try their chuleta Kan Kan and Pork Mofongo!
Marmalade
Fine dinning delicious creative food! Reservations highly recommended! We also recommend this place for maybe a party of 2-4. The style of serving is by courses so you will have multiple sources of food. It is more on the pricier side but definitely worth it! The service is incredible!!
La Casita Blanca
If you want all the Puerto Rican feels, go here! It’s a little outside Old San Juan but definitely worth it! Bring cash and be prepared to wait as they do not take reservations
Piñones Street food
The drive to Piñones is BEAUTIFUL! You will drive along the coast to a “non touristy” part of the Island. I can’t describe this any better than to say Piñones is a strip along the ocean where you will find tons of streets food, and fresh coconut water! Please try an Alcapurria here! If you go on the weekend just know it will be packed but the vibes will be immaculate! 35min drive from San Juan and 20min from the airport!
Vaca Brava
Puerto Rican Steakhouse with a laid back island feel perfect for larger parties. If you love meat you will love this spot! The portions are big!
Laut by Jorge Lopes Stella
Fine dinning! Okay, this is outside of Old San Juan about 20-30min depending on traffic but we had one of the best meals here recently!! This place was inspired by Bali, it is gorgeous and the food is not only creative but delicious too! Try el Poseidon Crudo and for dessert try Morír en La Orilla, it’s a cute dessert with a ganache Crab! 🦀 All the drinks were 10/10 we came out of here buzzed and ready for la placita!!
Caficultura
Let’s talk breakfast! This is a great brunch spot, the coffee is really good and they serve Mimosas! I Recommend arriving early because it gets very busy
Mallorca Café
A classic! It’s a Puerto Rican style Bakery best known for their Mallorcas, sweet fluffy bread dusted with powdered sugar filled with ham, egg and cheese! This place is great for a quick breakfast.
La Carreta
This brunch place is a vibe the bartenders and servers are so much fun! Lots of breakfast cocktails!!
La Madre
Mexican cuisine with a Puerto Rican flare. This place opens later in the day but still a great brunch/lunch place. It’s small and a little hidden but we have been here 3-4 times and every experience has been great!
Cafe Cuatro Sombras
Cuatro Sombras roasts their beans in their own farm in Yauco, Puerto Rico.
The Coffee
Try the Strawberry Matcha and the Gelato Frappe Coffee!
787 Coffee
This is a local coffee shop and there are a few locations but this one is close to Old San Juan area. We love this place! Try the Coquito latte and if they have any left, try their quesitos!
Café Botánico
Un café entre plantas y flores
Barrachina
Barrachina proudly claims to have created the first Piña Colada in 1963! You can walk up and tell the hostess that you just want to go to the bar and get a Piña Colada to go (you can walk through the streets of Old San Juan with your piña colada) I don’t really recommend the restaurant itself, the food isn’t the best. But the Piña colada is 10/10! It is a must stop every time we visit the island.
La Factoría
For my 18+ friends & family PLEASE don’t miss out on this place if you’re looking to dance and have some fun! This is one of our favorite spots to come to for a good drink and lots of dancing! At night it becomes a bar with many different rooms and each room has different types of music! Salsa is on Sundays and Mondays but they play all kinds of music during the weekend! Ask for a drink and explore this bar! Also there are lots of other bars and clubs in the same area so just explore the whole street!
Cafe con Ron
This bar is so cute and straight out of your Puerto Rico dreams! I recommend going during the day for a more chill vibe. In the morning there is Iced Coffee and later in the day there are cocktails! Try the Cafe con Ron (which is their specialty) and if you like Espresso Martinis I recommend the one they make here!
La Placita de Santurce
Okay everyone should know about La Placita and if you don’t where have you been? For all our party friends and family this is reggaeton heaven. So if reggaeton isn’t your vibe you probably wont enjoy this, they also play other music but reggaeton is mostly what you will hear! The best way I can describe this place is a long street of literal clubs and street dancing!! Arrive after 9pm and I promise you will have THE best time!
Castillo San Felipe del Morro (also known as El Morro)
A must visit historical site! Iconic views! Wear comfortable walking shoes! Also if you like to run or just take a long walk, we recommend you start at the bottom at Paseo del Morro (Paseo del Morro, San Juan, PR 00901) start there and just start walking up. It’s a long walk (or you can run if you’re trying to get a workout) but the views are just amazing and you will end up at El Morro! Bring water cause it is HOT!
Isla Verde Beach
A favorite for swimming, jet skiing and cocktails by the shore.
Playa el Escambron
Perfect for snorkeling!
El Yunque National Forrest
A beautiful tropical rainforest! Go on a hike and explore the stunning waterfalls! You can book a tour or rent a car to get to El Yunque, if you choose to do the second, make sure you make a reservation in advanced to visit the rainforest on your own.
Ron del Barrilito Tour
Experience one of the three tours offered at Ron Del Barrilito in Bayamon Puerto Rico! Tours take place in small intimate groups, allowing you to connect and learn. All tours lead you through historic warehouses and allow you to view one of the last windmills still standing in Puerto Rico. *20min from San Juan
Casa BACARDÍ
We highly recommend a tour at Casa Bacardi especially the mixology class where you learn to make a classic mojito and a piña colada! *20min from San Juan
Day trip to the Islands of Culebra or Vieques
If you dream of crystal clear waters and gorgeous white sands, please don't miss out on these islands! You can only get to them by plane or by ferry! I recommend renting a car or getting an UBER to get you to the port of Cieba! Please do your research because it is a one and a half hour drive from Old San Juan to the port of Cieba where the ferries sail out of. If you decide to go to Culebra, we recommend getting a taxi once you arrive on the island and going to Flamenco Beach! For Vieques, we recommend Playa Negra and Playa La Chiva. Vieques is a little more rustic than Culebra so keep that in mind and there are wild horses!
East Island Excursions
We cannot recommend this company enough! If you're looking for a guided tour that doesn't even feel like a tour and is so relaxing, fun, and breathtaking, please choose East Island Excursions! They include lunch and unlimited drinks! We have done the Culebra Snorkeling and beach tour as well as the one to Icacos and they were both 10/10!!
Isabela Puerto Rico
The place that made Luis and me fall in love with Puerto Rico! For my adventurers and those who are taking a longer trip, don't miss out on the West Coast! Our favorite beach in Isabela is Playa Jobos! Once you’re there, don't miss out on Aguadilla, Cabo Rojo and Rincon!