176 Best Restaurants in Puerto Rico

You can find this Argentinean-inspired slice of heaven in the mountains of Adjuntas, surrounded by sprawling greenery and livestock. Their specialty is barbecue meats, but their wine selection leaves nothing to be desired. If you're a barbecue lover, don't leave without trying their churrasco (skirt steak), an Argentinian specialty with delicious tangy chimichurri sauce. On the weekends, live music and artisan stalls line the outside of the restaurant, making it a unique and fun local experience.

This ice cream shop has some of the most unique flavor you'll ever have in a frozen treat. Popular varieties include rice and beans, codfish, avocado, and garlic, but don't worry; there are classic flavors if you're not feeling quite so adventurous. Make sure to get there early or be ready for a line, as this spot gets busy with locals especially on the weekends.

This restaurant along La Parguera's main street has the biggest variety of beer on tap in the entire area. Food is a great mix of Puerto Rican classics, along with a make-your-own burger menu that appeals to all visitors. The staff is incredibly friendly, and there's no shortage of great vibes and amazing eating.

This popular food truck across from Pool's Beach serves healthy breakfasts and lunches featuring seasonal ingredients and the catch of the day. The fish tacos are popular, though the menu also has veggie burgers and quinoa salads.

Exercise patience at this oceanfront restaurant offering formal dinner service with menu items like kebabs, spare ribs, and paella. Pair your meal with a nice bottle of wine and watch the sunset. In the mornings this is the site of Latitud Perfecta, serving breakfast. 

Although it recently moved from Santurce to Condado, the restaurant of chef Jose Enrique—who's been nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award multiple times—remains popular with locals and visitors for its elevated Puerto Rican cuisine. The setting is casual, and the menu is ever-changing, though it always includes carne guisada (a local beef stew), fritters, and a catch of the day.

Parmesan-crusted tacos are the draw here, with favorites including the fish, pulled pork, or vegetarian-friendly falafel versions. Pair yours with a margarita or mojito, and sit outside on the small terrace. Breakfast service starts at 8 am, and brunch is offered on weekends.

There's a string of seafood shacks in the village of Las Croabas, all serving delicious fried fish. This open-air eatery, with tables covered with straw umbrellas and anchored by a bustling square bar, takes things up a notch or two. It's almost across from the Balneario Seven Seas, making it a great place to refuel after a day at the beach. The only drawback is that it's pricey.

This local bakery is always buzzing with locals and tourists. Display cases are full of luscious pastries, including the quesito (cream cheese–filled puff pastry), and sandwiches include the medianoche, made famous when President Obama ordered one while campaigning. For dinner, dive into a fish dish or paella, or do like the locals and make a meal out of savory Spanish tapas.

This ice-cream shop is a town staple, run by the same family for generations in San Germán. Their unique ice cream textures come in cones, cups, and milkshakes; flavor varieties include classics like chocolate and vanilla, and tropical flavors like coconut and pineapple. These cold treats are great for on-the-go snacking as you walk along the town's double plaza.

L'Olivo is a Mediterranean restaurant serving a blend of Spanish, Italian, and Greek cuisine. This is an upscale dining experience with tapas and craft cocktails. The pot-pie appetizer with Portabello mushrooms and brie, roasted beet carpaccio, and marinated short ribs are crowd-pleasers. On-site parking is available. 

Located inside Distrito T-Mobile, La Burguesía is an elevated take on the classic burgers and fries concept. They have an innovative menu with massive servings and outside-the-box flavor combinations. The "El Capataz," for instance, is a burger topped with truffle goat cheese, crispy bacon, and caramelized plantains. They also offer indulgent milk shakes like a double chocolate option wittily titled "Wonka Kong."

This fun spot is popular with the local college students, but their dishes are sure to please any palate. They serve a variety of breakfast dishes, as well as sandwiches and lunch plates. If you're a coffee lover, make sure you try their hot and frozen coffee options. 

You'll find some of the freshest seafood in town at this casual roadside restaurant. Order an assortment of grilled fish skewers, choosing from tuna, mahimahi, grouper, wahoo, rainbow runner, and more. The lobster is excellent, and the empanadas are great, too. Happy hour lasts all day—no wonder it's always packed.

Casita de Rones is the headquarters for all things rum with a restaurant, two bars, and the flagship store for Rums of Puerto Rico inside. Its bright pink exterior is hard to miss, and ocean views serve as a serene backdrop to your meal. There is a full menu with items like Italian longaniza sliders with spiced rum jam and grilled skirt steak with a rum chimichurri sauce. Try a variety of rum based drinks here, like a rum flight or a 1950 Hand Shake Colada, paying homage to the original version of the piña colada.

The highway leading to Coamo is lined by dozens of fast-food restaurants. Luckily, there are a few worthwhile family-owned eateries, one of the best of which is this open-air cantina. You'll find classic meals like mofongo with chicken or beef, as well as some other typical Puerto Rican dishes like fried pork or red snapper stuffed with seafood. The menu features a variety of fish as well as lobster, shrimp, and octopus. Make sure you try their mojitos in a variety of tropical flavors.

La Central by Mario Pagán is a modern tropical steak house with a Puerto Rican twist and emphasis on rum production. Ingredients like sugarcane are highlighted here not just in flavors but in the decor, with the staircase to the second floor made to mimic sugarcane crops moving in the wind and the bar resembling the inside of a rum barrel. Prime cuts like the rib eye and 30-ounce chateaubriand are crowd pleasers. There is a cigar room where you can retire after dinner to sip on a glass of aged rum.

Join patrons from across the island for spectacular sunsets at this restaurant right on the beach. Whether you choose one of the small plates or an entrée, fresh seafood is always your best bet. Start with the roasted beet salad or the fried cauliflower, then move on to the steamed mussels in a sambucca cream sauce or the grilled fish of the day with coconut green curry sauce. The large wooden deck, illuminated by strings of lights, is a wonderful spot to sit back, relax, and enjoy the views with cocktail in hand. The doors open at 5 pm, but the days of operation vary by season, so verify hours prior to visiting.

Families with kids, beachgoers in flip-flops, and businesspeople all flock to this casual, marine-theme restaurant, renowned for its seafood dishes. Grouper tacos, lightly fried and topped with a spicy slaw, are a best seller—don't leave without trying at least one. When in season, opt for the conch salad with tostones or the conch empanadilla, a local version of a turnover. For more substantial fare, order Caribbean spiny lobster, whole fried snapper, or arroz con mariscos, La Cueva's version of a paella. Ask for the homemade hot sauces; they pair wonderfully with the flavorful seafood dishes. 

Panoramic views and classic Puerto Rican recipes take centerstage at this open air restaurant that is popular for events and photoshoots. The stuffed mofongos come in every variety, from skirt steak to octopus. It is family friendly with a children's play area. On occasion, they have live music. 

This takeout only pizza shop offers 100% sourdough pizzas utilizing fresh, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients like soursop, honey, local cheese, and Caribbean cherries. The menu changes daily. Check out their website for the latest specials. 

La Madre is a hip Mexican restaurant, with a stylish, young clientele to match. Yes, it covers the standards, including some very tasty tacos, enchiladas, and chilaquiles, but you'll also find innovative, modern, international interpretations of Mexican cuisine. With well-priced margaritas, you can afford to sample more unusual flavors like cucumber, soursop, Caribbean cherry, and tamarind. The sleek dining room feels artsy and dreamlike, with classic cartoons and old movies projected silently onto a wall. Brunch is served on weekends, and seating is available outdoors. A neighboring speakeasy specializes in tequila and mezcal cocktails.

There are dozens of kioskos, or food stands, along Route 3 on the way to Luquillo Beach, most offering humble local fare, much of it fried. This full-service restaurant raises the bar for its culinary counterparts. Open every day, usually satisfying at least one rowdy tourist bus, the open-air spot delivers sizzling seafood in generous portions. There are even a couple of steaks on the menu that are guaranteed to satisfy the most ravenous carnivores. Like its neighbors, La Parrilla faces the street, but there's a comfortable patio in the rear where you can kick back with an ice-cold beer or sangria and escape the traffic noise.

Enjoy the seafood catch of the day while sitting oceanside on the sand at this fine dining establishment inside Palmas Del Mar. They have an outside bar and live music on occasion. The lobster Thermidor and mahimahi are delightful. 

It's an exciting time for pizza in San Juan and one of the newest and most delicious additions to the scene is La Santurcina. Brought to you by the owners of the upscale restaurant Vianda, this full-service pizza joint is a pizza-churning, bustling machine that's always packed. Start with the fried olives and wings followed by any of the creative pies. Don't miss the zucchini with ricotta. They don't take reservations so get there early.

One of only a few sushi restaurants on the west coast, the former Pool Bar Sushi attracts visitors from as far away as San Juan. The menu rivals that of any high-end Japanese restaurant, with mango tuna rolls, eel maki, shumai, and wakame seaweed salads. A house favorite is the Starving Surfer Roll: crunchy shrimp and avocado topped with spicy tuna. Don't miss their wide selection of Japanese sake and whiskey to pair with your meal. Their new location is in town, just a block from the main plaza.

This seafood restaurant serves fresh-caught fish and is recommended during lobster season for a larger-than-life stuffed Caribbean spiny lobster. They have outdoor seating available with scenic swinging seats, as well as a bar on-site making popular concoctions from sangria to mojitos.

This rooftop café boasts 360-degree views, shaded by patio umbrellas and located by the ocean. The owner, Gladys Cuadrado, personally greets guests as they enter, starting them off with perhaps a seasonal assortment of fruit and simple syrup. The coco-banana pancakes, which can be made gluten-free, and Benedict Boricua with arepa are both scrumptious. 

Offering the best lamb gyros on the island, this is a casual breakfast and lunch spot serving Mediterranean dishes with a Puerto Rican flair. From falafel to baklava, there are large portions to ensure you don't leave hungry. They also have a variety of coffee options and natural juices made from Puerto Rican fruits like tamarindo, passion fruit, and acerola. 

This breakfast spot is only open until 11:30 am. They have combo platters, sandwiches, frappés, waffles, pancakes, and more. Despite being an in-demand spot, the service and wait are reasonable.