Where To Eat In San Juan, Puerto Rico | Restaurants & Cafes
Puerto Rico’s cuisine is a captivating blend of indigenous Taino, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, creating a mouthwatering tapestry of dishes. You’ll want to try beloved local dishes like mofongo, made with fried green plantains, savory sauce and seafood, or lechón, the famous roasted pig slow-cooked to perfection.
Food here is is known for its slow cooking and marinating techniques so you’ll experience smoky flavors that are truly unmatched. Many dishes are also made using sofrito, a cooking base with bell peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro.
Puerto Rican cuisine is not especially spicy, but the flavor profiles are bold. Adobo seasoning, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and oregano- some of the ultimate kitchen staples- are what gives these dishes the incomparable flavor you taste.
Check out these amazing restaurants I visited while there.
Al Fredo
This small shop was close to my hotel, so I stopped here for breakfast one morning. I had an amazing chicken empanada and housemade lemonade here, but as you can see there are many other things available.
Cuatro Sombras Coffee
I visited this charming coffee shop as a part of the food tour I went on. The sandwich I had was quite unique in that it was made of black forest ham, guava butter, and havarti cheese, a combination I can say I had never had until that point. It was delicious and the coffee was the perfect complement.
Patio De Sam
At Patio De Sam, I had carne fritas and tostones, a dish that made me so full, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish the tour. This particular dish was packed with so much flavor and, though it doesn’t look like a lot, it gave me a run for my money to finish.
Casa Luna
I’ll start by saying that Puerto Rico is known for piña coladas and the one I had here was so amazing that I ordered a second one to go. It was my understanding that the reason piña coladas differ here than anywhere else is that they are blended with ice, which is quite the refresher when it’s incredibly hot out.
As far as food, I had Mofongo, which is a Puerto Rican dish with both creole and African influence (a derivative of fufu). It’s made of mashed plantain, fried or cooked meat like chicken or seafood, and broth. Just like with the carne fritas above, mofongo packs a lot of flavor that I think balanced perfectly with the piña colada.
Cayo Caribe
Cayo Caribe was recommended to me as “the best seafood in town.” With that in mind, I ordered a seafood sampler so I’d have the opportunity to try a little bit of everything. This dish included prawns, squid, scallops, octopus, salmon, and mahi mahi in a delicious garlic butter sauce. Of course, I don’t go anywhere in the Caribbean without getting a side of sweet plantain to round the meal out. I also had an excellent piña colada here.
Anita La Mamma Del Gelato
Anita’s is a popular gelato spot where I had an opportunity to try the tropical fruit flavor and a bit of the limoncello flavor, both unique in their own right and tasty. The cafe is quite endearing with its glass case in front to browse the flavors and cute eatery in the back to sit and enjoy your selection. If you’re craving a little something cool and sweet, then head here for the best gelato in town.
Deaverdura
This mom and pop style place was recommended to me by the front desk manager at my hotel. It’s very casual and offers family style service. In fact, when I arrived, the restaurant was closed for a private party, but they allowed me to eat at the bar anyway. The food was brought to me on a paper plate and I also received a free appetizer in the form of broth in a styrofoam cup. I have to say that despite the obscurity of the food, it was some of the best and most flavorful food I’ve ever tasted.
I was encouraged to try the Puerto Rican sampler that offers an array of options including some classics that most restaurants only offer during Christmas season; unfortunately, this sampler was not available on my visit, but it may be for you. I’d love to know how it tastes!
Serafina Restaurant
I was invited to a private dinner at Serafina where all expenses were paid, so I had the opportunity to have three courses and drinks. Once I had Serafina, it quickly became my favorite dining experience in Puerto Rico. To start I had the fried calamari and a strawberry basil martini. For my entree, I had the linguine frutti de mare, which was outstanding; rarely am I able to finish a pull plate of pasta, but I devoured this in no time- proof of quality. You cannot go to Puerto Rico and not have a piña colada, so that was my second drink of choice along with my entree and dessert. Speaking of, I had the tiramisu which was nearly perfect. Aside from the excellent food, I would recommend Serafina for its closeness to the hotels at Condado Beach and because you can make reservations.
Sobao Bakery & Restaurant
Sobao is super cute cafe with delicious baked goods, but don’t underestimate the drinks and sandwiches as well. There are several locations, but on my second trip to Puerto Rico, I stayed at the AC Hotel at Condado Beach, where Sabao is conveniently located on the corner. It’s the perfect place to grab breakfast, a light lunch, or just a beverage, especially if you use the space to work. I had the donuts, mango refresher, and best of all, the hot pastrami sandwich with cheese and bacon.
