15 Best Restaurants in Old San Juan, San Juan

The Cortés family has been making bean-to-bar chocolate for more than 90 years, and, in 2013, they opened Puerto Rico's first "chocobar" to share their passion. The walls in this vivid, modern space are decorated with ads from the 1950s, original chocolate-bar molds, a timeline of chocolate, and two flat screens showing the chocolate-making process. From pastries and breakfast sandwiches to panini and tapas, the chef integrates chocolate into every bite without overpowering. Bonbons, chocolate bars, and even chocolate soaps are available for sale. People from all over the metro area flock here for weekend brunch; arrive early to avoid a long wait. An upstairs gallery offers a glimpse of the family's personal collection of contemporary Caribbean art.

A handful of tables spill onto a sidewalk deck adorned with tiny lights at this romantic, bohemian restaurant overlooking Plaza Colón. There's something on the international menu for everyone, including a good selection of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dishes. It's also popular for breakfast, which is served until 3 pm.

Tucked away in the corner of the old Spanish military barracks, Café Don Ruiz serves some of the finest coffee in town. It's sourced from a family-run hacienda in Yauco that's known for its handpicked coffee, grown more than 3,000 feet above sea level. The medium-dark roast is a favorite: well balanced with essences of chocolate, caramel, and citrus. The shop also sells fruit frappés, sandwiches, and crepes.

The specialty at this old-fashioned, 1950s-style diner is the mallorca, a sweet pastry that's buttered, grilled, and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. Wash one down with a cup of café con leche. For something more substantial, try the breakfast mallorca with ham and cheese. The menu also includes pancakes, egg dishes, sandwiches, and comida criolla. Waitstaffers are friendly and efficient, and most have worked there for years. It gets packed on weekends with locals, who consider it an institution. You pay at the counter on your way out.

Caficultura prides itself on its full coffee bar, its mimosas made with fresh juice, and its all-day breakfast and brunch menu (try the coconut-milk French toast with pineapple jam and coconut shavings). Numerous vegetarian options are available, especially at lunch, when you'll also find many delicious gourmet sandwiches and heartier dishes. The building is beautifully restored: distressed concrete walls meet an old, Spanish-style, wood-beamed ceiling—hanging from it is a magnificent antique chandelier. Customers skew young and intellectual, with students, professors, and museum-going tourists in the mix. The wait might be long, but the youthful staff is always friendly.

This casual, no-frills restaurant in the residential section of Old San Juan serves some of the best comida criolla in town. The short menu is packed with flavor, featuring favorites like roasted pork with rice and beans (which pairs perfectly with the homemade hot sauces), empanadas, tostones, and homemade sausage. The sample platter, big enough for two, will leave you stuffed and with a great understanding of the cuisine locals are so proud of.

The menus are handwritten, and the tables wobble, but locals in the know have favored this no-frills, family-run restaurant—tucked away on a quiet cobblestone street—for years. The bistec encebollado, goat fricassee, and shredded beef stew stand out on the comida criolla menu. A tiny back porch is filled with plants, and the dining room is filled with fanciful depictions of life on the street outside. Troubadours serenade patrons, which include plenty of cruise-ship passengers when ships are in port.

The airy courtyard and the comida criolla are among the draws at this local, come-as-you-are restaurant—the perfect spot to end a workweek or a long day of sightseeing. The menu consists mostly of American and Puerto Rican fare. Save room for the homemade flan, which melts in your mouth.

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.

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.

Day and night, locals flock to Pirilo to indulge in San Juan's finest pizza. Owner Eduardo Rubio makes everything from scratch, most notably the crust, which uses a 300-year-old starter as its base. Ask to sit on the second floor, which has substantial seating, high ceilings, and a bar focused on craft beers. The menu ranges from classics like the margherita to a pie inspired by the local tripleta sandwich. Given the nightly crowds, it's clear that others are in on the secret: there may be a wait, but everyone will be having such a good time that you won't mind, especially with more than 50 brews on the list.

This lively restaurant is known for its waitresses in all-white campesina (peasant) dresses. It is a nostalgic portrayal of country life in Puerto Rico. Guests who may have seen it featured on various TV shows are willing to wait more than an hour for a table. Serving local comida criolla, signature dishes are the giant deep-fried kan kan pork chop, and mofongo with churrasco (marinated skirt steak). The garlic shrimp mofongo, served country-style in a pilón (pestle), is quite tasty. Drinks, including fruity frappés, come in tin mugs.

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 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.