49 Best Restaurants in Puerto Rico

Chef Natalia Vallejo won the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef: South award in 2023. Her restaurant in the heart of Santurce is a magical experience. The restored home is simple yet tastefully decorated and leads to a large outdoor patio in a lush and vibrant setting. The small kitchen churns out innovative Puerto Rican dishes with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Dinner is served from Thursday to Saturday.

This elegant yet unpretentious spot (the owners, Scott and Kate Cole, don't mind if you show up in anything from a dripping wet bikini with a cover-up to a ball gown) brings fine dining and a touch of class to the Esperanza waterfront. Local herbs and fruits, such as quenepas and breadfruit, appear in artfully prepared dishes that the Coles call "fun, funky island food." Scott is the chef, known for seafood specials highlighting the daily catch, as well as dishes you're unlikely to find elsewhere in Puerto Rico, such as braised goat masala. Kate is the consummate hostess. The wine list is large (note: there's a $25 corkage fee) and the cocktail menu is small but inspired. Six stable doors open to ocean views. Lucky walk-ins can grab a seat at the more casual high-bar tables, but for the full experience, make a reservation.

Dorado's most charming restaurant—and perhaps the most appealing one on the North Coast—Grappa is spectacular, both in design and on the plate. Specializing in Italian fare, the kitchen staff makes pasta by hand, and it's served with fruits of the sea or delicious, tender beef. The setting is romantic and intimate, serving their meals in a small dining room. Reservations are essential and the service exceeds all expectations.

This laid-back spot has elevated Puerto Rican street food to an art form, thanks to two New Yorkers (one Puerto Rican) with restaurant pedigrees who decided to leave the big city and open a new spot dedicated to barbecue in an old gas station outside the Conquistador Resort. Highlighting products obtained from local fishermen and farmers, and smoking their own meats in an outdoor kitchen, Idalia García and Kevin Roth's awesome joint is one of Puerto Rico's don't-miss culinary treats. Settle into one of the mismatched patio tables—be it teak, cedar, or concrete—order up a cocktail, and get ready to feast.

A career working with top chefs and a successful catering business prefaced chef José Santaella's namesake restaurant in La Placita marketplace. The menu is dominated by tapas, and favorites include the ahi tuna skewers, goat-cheese quesadilla, and morcilla (blood sausage) fritters. The neighborhood is anything but chic, but the restaurant is packed every night with well-dressed socialites, trendsetters, and the "who's who" of Puerto Rican society. The decor is rustic yet elegant, with exposed walls, Edison light fixtures, an interior garden, and a sparkling, tropical bar. Chef Santaella fuses local and international ingredients to perfectly execute Puerto Rican nouvelle cuisine. The cocktail bar is one of the best on the island, so don't leave without trying one of the concoctions by Santaella's mixologists. We can't get enough of the Perfect Lady! Their new rooftop, Azotea, opens on Sunday.

Driven by local ingredients and seasonality, chef Francis Guzman’s dishes are culinary delights (think: California cuisine with Puerto Rican and Caribbean influences). The service is fantastic, and the wine list and cocktail menu are strong—anything with mezcal is a particularly good choice. Start with the roots salad with roasted beets and horseradish or the almojábanas (a type of cheese bread) with candied papaya. If there's a crudo on offer, order it without hesitation. Reservations are strongly recommended.

The decor is minimalist yet inviting, a nod to Japan's tradition of elegant simplicity, and the culinary experience is spectacular. Start with the pork gyozas (dumplings) or tomorokoshi (grilled corn), before moving on to the sushi rolls. Specials may include uni (sea urchin) or toro (fatty tuna) flown in from Japan.

This family-friendly restaurant has a modern twist and Caribbean food that's sure to please everyone in your party. As the name suggests, they have quite a variety of local and foreign beers, and lots of fried and hearty foods that pair beautifully with their brews. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, and you can't leave without trying a hoppy IPA, or a plate of their perfectly seasoned and fried pork bites. 

Located right on Route 308, this rustic Puerto Rican restaurant has an inviting, relaxed vibe. The name translates to "Good Vibes" and that's exactly what you'll find here. Friendly staffers serve local specialties like stuffed avocado, churrasco, and mofongo.

As you might guess from the name, the music is as much of a draw as the food at Carli's. The genial owner and host, Carli Muñoz, toured for a number of years with the Beach Boys (note the gold album on the wall) and plays nightly with his jazz trio, often accompanied by singers and musicians who happen to drop in. Inside the skyline-dominating Banco Popular building, this intimate supper-club bistro has elegant tables scattered around the room and a bar made of black Italian granite. Have a seat indoors or on the outdoor out on the patio, and dine on such fusion specialties as pumpkin and shrimp risotto, filet mignon with wild mushroom sauce, or blackened ahi tuna with Cajun spices.

Celeste is Puerta de Tierra's first upscale restaurant. Chef and proprietor, Sebastian Sarda, alongside his wildly talented team, serve some of Puerto Rico's most creative dishes with quality ingredients. Order everything on the menu at this wine and seafood bar, you won't be disappointed. 

A breakfast and brunch restaurant, Christianson is known for having bottomless mimosas ($25 per person for one hour) as well as decadent French toast flavors like cinnamon roll, million-dollar bacon, and guava strawberry cheesecake.

Chef Juan Camacho's newest venture brings him to the college town of Mayagüez. Here, he elevates the dining scene in town.

This new restaurant in the heart of Ponce prides itself, as the name suggests, on having a wide and diverse food variety. The owner not only serves high-quality, unique meals, but she also makes stunning chocolate bonbons in a huge variety of flavors. During Christmas, keep an eye out for their limited-time chocolate advent calendar. It's the perfect sweet keepsake from one of the best restaurants Ponce has to offer. 

Beautiful beachfront dining, farm-to-table ingredients, and fantastic service are worth the drive from San Juan. The setting is rustic yet elegant, and the view is unbeatable. Sweet and savory brunch selections range from coconut brioche French toast with caramelized bananas and nuts, to pizza frittatas. Lunch brings delicious, classic, Neapolitan pizzas baked in a handmade brick oven. The catch-of-the-day ceviche—caught in Isabela—is perfectly marinated, and lobster is usually on the dinner menu. Make-your-own pasta bowls and pizzas are available for both lunch and dinner. 

This mesón gastronómico, hidden among a string of oceanfront restaurants south of the center in the Playa de Salinas area, is one of the most popular on Puerto Rico's southern coast. Sit in either the open-air patio or air-conditioned dining room and bar and sample specialties like mofongo relleno de mariscos (seafood-stuffed plantains) or the many preparations of mahimahi, red snapper, arrayao (mahogany snapper), octopus, lobster, or conch. The seafood paella is a house specialty.

Watch seagulls dive for their food while you dine on a covered deck extending out into the bay. The long list of seafood is prepared in a variety of ways, and their surf-and-turf dishes are a little pricey but a delicious house specialty. Make sure to try their mojitos in a variety of flavors. This restaurant, on stilts above the water, is about the most charming setting in Joyuda.

This popular seafood restaurant is a must-visit in this coastal town. Their plantain dishes are great, and their catch of the day is bound to be some of the freshest seafood you have in your entire trip. Don't forget to ask for the drink and wine lists.

This popular restaurant is named for its floor-to-ceiling brick walls covered in original paintings available for purchase. It's known primarily for steaks—and offers an excellent filet mignon—but given its coastal location, there's also a wide selection of fresh seafood. The zarzuela, a seafood stew, is one favorite dish. Lobster is also a specialty, and you can order it a la criolla (in a spicy stew), a la parrilla (from the grill), or ajillo (with a garlic sauce). A meal in such a pleasant dining room, served by skillful red-jacketed waiters and accompanied by a bottle of wine from the ample cellar, leaves you with fond memories.

As the name of the restaurant hints, the menu's protagonist is a Puerto Rican favorite; plantains. This is your chance to try island staples such as arañitas, mofongo, and more. Less common applications of the plantain are also found here, including a plantain-flavored flan. The unassuming restaurant sits high up on a hill, surrounded by—what else?—a field of plantain trees.

In operation since 1961, this restaurant is still considered one of the best in town. Don't be surprised to see flapping fish delivered straight off the boats and into the kitchen, where chefs prepare dishes like grouper fillet stuffed with seafood. The red snapper is delicious, and like all the fish on the menu it can be prepared fried, buttered, breaded, or with a vinaigrette. There's also a children's menu and a large selection of wines. Be prepared for the collection of fish mounted on the walls.

Farm to table is the focus at Flora. Upscale, well-thought-out dishes are presented in a casual setting. You'll find anything from cured local fish, duck confit, and locally foraged chanterelles on the rotating menu. Make sure to study their menu for large and small plates, as well as unique desserts.

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 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.