176 Best Restaurants in Puerto Rico

Perched on a mountaintop, this restaurant—a convenient option for Wyndham Grand Río Mar guests who don't want to dine on-site but are willing to pay resort prices—has a pair of open-air dining rooms with views to Vieques on a clear day. The atmosphere is festive; there's often a game playing on one of the big screens or a local band jamming on the weekend. Seafood is the specialty here—try the fried plantain appetizer, filled with shrimp, conch, octopus, or lobster, then move on to the whole red snapper or the pineapple rice with shrimp served on the pineapple itself.

Open daily 5 am to midnight, this popular bakery is a good spot to try one of the city's trademark delicacies: the brazo gitano, a gigantic jelly roll filled with anything from guava to sweet cheese. There are also tasty pastries like flan, tres leches cake, mallorcas, and cheesecake, as well as freshly baked bread and a selection of sandwiches.

Located in the Wyndham Grand Río Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort, Roots Coastal Kitchen serves Caribbean comfort food. It was developed by executive chef Ramón Carrillo in collaboration with top chef finalists Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth. The grilled swordfish with coconut sticky rice and kataifi wrapped shrimp is a signature dish. They have a selection of ice creams available for dessert, in the restaurant or at a busy to-go window.

At breakfast, this Instagram-friendly restaurant serves dishes like avocado toast on grilled sourdough with a poached egg or bagels with smoked salmon and lemon-dill cream cheese. Lunch options include pasta carbonara, shaved Brussels sprouts Caesar salad, or a turkey club with basil mayo. Reservations can be made via Resy, and some outdoor tables are available.

Sabor Boriitaly is known for their satisfying mofongo variations, like their namesake mofongo with chicken, steak, shrimp, and mozzarella cheese. This is also a place for casual fare like burgers and fries. The service is quick and attentive. The dining area is informal under a covered outdoor area. This is a convenient stop on your way to or from the ferry.

Named after the classic film starring Audrey Hepburn, this lively, tropical-chic bistro serves creative Caribbean dishes such as poached lobster in clarified butter or mussels in coconut broth. Sunday brunch is a draw, too, with options like eggs Benedict with mangú. Fashionable locals also come to sip cocktails and enjoy the live music that's often being played.

This waterfront restaurant sits atop the Luquillo Sunrise Beach Inn and is helmed by award-winning chef Erika Suarez. Serving international cuisine with a local twist, the whole baked Branzino, 16-ounce rib eye, and oysters on the shell are standout menu items. Finish off this memorable meal with the bread pudding for dessert. A romantic setting fitting for a special occasion. 

This charming restaurant specializes in vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian dishes. The summer rolls are made with veggies from local farms, and the fish in the poké bowl features the catch of the day. The signature juices, designed to boost your immunity, are the perfect postsurfing treat.

This oceanfront lounge-style beach bar is a great place to stop for drinks and Puerto Rican tapas-style quick bites. Completely outdoors, stay a while and enjoy the view of Condado Beach while ordering from the extensive cocktail menu and excellent snacks. 

Tucked away on the second floor of the historic El Convento Hotel, Santísmo is a dreamy and romantic dining destination. A stone oven is used to cook many of the dishes, including the catch of the day.  All dining is alfresco on two terraces overlooking the hotel's striking arches. It's a great spot for a date night.

The only Greek restaurant in Ponce, this open-air establishment has successfully captured the cuisine and atmosphere of its namesake island. Statues of goddesses line the pathway leading to a bi-level dining area, decorated with 1960s-era movie posters from Greece, and nearly every dish is bathed in olive oil and vinegar, including the salads and sandwiches. You'll also find plenty of Caribbean food and Spanish tapas like conch fritters and stuffed lobster hamburgers, but it's the grilled lobster that's the hands-down favorite. On Friday and Saturday, the bar is open late for drinks and dancing. Request a table on the lower deck, where water gently laps near your table, and bring bug repellent.

This pirate-theme restaurant has a laid-back vibe and a friendly staff who are always ready with a smile or a joke. Don't be surprised to see local fishermen making their way to the kitchen with their still-flapping catch. Entrées include juicy steaks, grilled mahimahi, homemade pastas, and stuffed mofongo. Although portions are large, lighter options are available, including fish tacos, a selection of wraps, and seared ahi tuna served on a pyramid of mixed greens. Don't miss happy hour (daily 3–6:30).

Chef Ramon Cruz is serving traditional Puerto Rican food with a modern twist. This lively restaurant, located in Condado Ocean Club, has a clean, modern feel that's perfect for date nights, girls' night out, or any special occasion calling for a lively place to socialize over wine and an extensive menu. The inside has bright decor along with an outdoor patio with a gorgeous view of Condado beach. 

The service at this charming, French-inspired café-restaurant on a quiet cobblestone corner is friendly, and the interior is inviting, with rustic, white wooden tables and benches. The sandwiches, entrée salads, quiches, pita pizzas, and other menu items are made with fresh ingredients. Indeed, the lighter fare here might be a welcome respite from the city's delicious but often heavy comida criolla. Start with an agua fresca, a mildly sweet fruit water that revives you quickly, even on the hottest of days. Save room for the just-baked cakes beckoning from glass stands on the counter. Weekend brunch is popular, so come early, or stop by later in the evening for crepes and wine. Check out the second-floor cocktail bar or the rooftop wine bar, Al Fresco.

The stuffed avocado bowls served at this small eatery, run by brothers Joel and Javier Pierluisi, make it a great spot for a quick, healthy bite. Build your own, or choose from signature options like chipotle chicken with cilantro cream, spicy salmon with masago and seaweed salad, or pulled pork with mamposteao rice. Vegan and vegetarian options are available.

Chef Rafael Ubior's time in Lima working under Peru's esteemed Gastón Acurio led him to open his restaurant fusing Peruvian and Japanese cuisines. Start with the tiradito (raw fish) Nikkei or any of the ceviches; then order anything that's on special that day, as well as a pisco sour. Indoor and outdoor dining is available, and reservations are recommended.

The best thing about this bar and grill is its beachfront location. The open-air venue serves a mean mojito, and the deck is a great place to watch novice surfers wipe out on the beach. The kitchen prepares a wide range of unique items, from fresh-fish sandwiches to baby back ribs brushed with guava sauce. On weekends, you can enjoy live music.

If you want Spanish-style seafood dishes, head to this restaurant, one of a dozen that surround the Plaza del Mercado. The chillo entero frito (fried whole red snapper) and camarones al ajillo (shrimp with garlic) are tasty, but the standout is the arroz con calamari: this dramatic, inky-black rice dish will elicit "oohs" and "aahs" from nearby diners when it arrives at your table. If you come in the evening, it might be cool enough to dine at one of the handful of tables on the square; if not, settle for one of the green polka-dot tables in the dining room.

An Italian restaurant with a Puerto Rican flair, Tavola features homemade cuisine and is a favorite for pasta lovers. The gnocchi and mushroom tortellini are popular on the menu, but the main attraction is the hidden speakeasy inside, Vendetta. You enter through what looks like a convenience store refrigerator into a dark room with craft cocktails and an exclusive lounge ambience.

Chef Raúl Correa's newest venture pays tribute to Israeli and Mediterranean cuisines. Dishes are meant to be shared at this casual neighborhood restaurant that's walking distance from the beach. Labneh, hummus, lamb kebab, homemade pita bread can all be found on this fresh, vegetable-forward menu. 

The three "B's" in this bright-yellow restaurant's name stand for bueno, bonito, y barato, a common saying that means "good, pretty, and affordable." Tasty and inexpensive—no wonder it's such a hit with everyone from beachgoers to artists to young professionals. Order at the window, and sit at one of the picnic-style tables on the wooden deck. The grouper ceviche is a favorite dish, as is the beef slider on a sweet Hawaiian bun with tamarind and coffee barbecue sauce. A bar and coffee shop are also on-site. Come back at night for cocktails; it's a fun place to mingle with locals.

This family-run restaurant, a Rockaway Beach (New York City) outpost on Playa Jobos, serves Euro-Asian cuisine with a tropical twist. You can sip a creative cocktail on the wooden deck and chow down on unique dishes like Korean carrot and green papaya salad, pumpkin manti, or Hawaiian poke bowl with local yellowfin tuna. It's a nice change of pace from the usual fritter-focused fare. It's also a great spot to watch the surfers.

Popular for decades with everyone from local politicians and families to sunburned tourists who just dragged themselves off the beach, the bustling Via Appia is a no-frills restaurant known for serving simple Italian dishes. During lunch, however, they ladle out some delicious comida criolla, with specials changing daily. The outdoor seating area looks out on Condado's busy Avenida Ashford, which makes for good people-watching. The wine bar next door has a bit more ambience.

Here you'll find everything from mofongo to catch of the day, pastas, and steaks. The varied menu makes it a good place to dine with family. Check out their lunch menu for filling, budget-friendly meals.