Note: This trip was taken prior to me becoming fully plant-based.
Puerto Rico is such a vibrant place for food lovers. From iconic local dishes to hidden gems we stumbled upon, this trip was full of flavor-packed experiences. We enjoyed everything from fresh fish tacos by the ocean to comforting, traditional mofongo. If you’re craving a mix of savory stews, tropical drinks, or sweet treats, Puerto Rico’s vibrant food scene has something for everyone!be missed!
Old San Juan:
Cafe Manolin: This place is a gem, like a classic Puerto Rican diner. With three different counters and a handful of tables, it’s always bustling. There’s no reservations or hostess—just a casual, affordable spot where you grab a seat as soon as someone gets up. It’s a no-fuss, welcoming experience.
Though I didn’t take any photos, my partner had the shrimp mofongo, which came with amarillos (sweet plantains), rice, and habichuelas (a delicious bean stew). I opted for a side of mofongo with rice, habichuelas, and a salad—simple, but packed with flavor. The spicy criolla sauce was the perfect touch for anyone who loves a little heat (like us!). I highly recommend stopping by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
La Casita de Rones: Keep an eye out for the cute little pink house by the water—it’s hard to miss! We saw it and knew we had to stop in. Walk through the house to the back patio, which sits right on the water. They’ve set up a bar under a tree, and the patio is the perfect spot to relax with drinks (and they serve food, too, though we didn’t eat there). Their drink menu looked fantastic. We shared a refreshing sangria while watching the boats go by!
La Factoría: Ranked #18 out of the 50 best bars in North America and the best bar in the Caribbean, we had to check out La Factoría for a drink. At first glance, it looks like a small, charming bar with cozy couch seating, a couple of tables, and bar seating. But the real surprise comes when you walk through the door next to the bar—there’s another bar and a much larger back room with a dance floor that comes alive at night with live music! It’s definitely a spot worth exploring.
For our drinks, my partner tried the Mercado Roma (Mezcal, ancho piña shrub, grapefruit, lime, clove honey, and angostura), while I had a mocktail based on the Champeta (Añejo, pine and ginger fermentation, and dried pineapple), but without the tequila. Both were absolutely delicious! We grabbed a two-top across from the bar, people-watched, and slowly enjoyed our drinks. If you’re looking for a great cocktail experience, this place is a must.
El Jibarito: This spot has the feel of a classic Puerto Rican restaurant. We were on the hunt for pastelón—a Puerto Rican lasagna made with layers of soft plantains, meat, and cheese—and saw it on the menu at El Jibarito, so we decided to give it a try. The place was packed, but since it was just the two of us, we were seated within 10 minutes. Unfortunately, they had run out of pastelón for the night, so we didn’t end up staying. That said, the atmosphere was lively, casual, and the Puerto Rican dishes coming out of the kitchen looked amazing. I’d definitely recommend stopping by and giving it a try!
Café Cuatro Sombras: This delightful coffee shop was a great stop for breakfast. It’s counter service with several small tables to sit at, perfect for a quick, casual bite. We ordered a latte, an Americano, avocado toast with eggs, and scrambled eggs with toast. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the mood for something light and satisfying, rather than a huge breakfast.
Other recommendations for Old San Juan:
Kaffe Haus: I popped in for a quick coffee, and the place looked great! Portions were big, and it’s a sit-down spot for breakfast. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, this would be a great option.
Finca Cialitos: We originally planned to stop here for coffee and a light breakfast, but unfortunately, it was closed despite the hours saying otherwise. Still, it’s worth a stop for coffee if you’re in the area!
Bien Papayas: Though we didn’t make it here, it was on my list for fresh, delicious smoothies. Definitely a spot to check out!
Fajardo:
We stayed at the El Conquistador Resort, and it was absolutely incredible. My partner had a conference there, so I tagged along 😀. The resort is truly stunning, perched on a hill with breathtaking ocean views (check out my photo below!). You can choose to stay on the hill or down by the marina, easily accessible via a gondola.
While the resort doesn’t have beaches on-site, it boasts pools, a water park, and the pièce de résistance—Palomino Island, which is owned by the resort. This private island, just a 15-minute boat ride away, offers white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters. As long as you’re staying at the resort, you can head over to Palomino Island every day for some serious relaxation
And as for the food? I was pleasantly surprised! Having stayed at other resorts where the food didn’t quite measure up, I was really impressed with the dining options here. Every meal we had was delicious, which just added to the overall experience.
Let’s dive in!
Bally Hoo: We absolutely loved Bally Hoo, especially for their fish tacos! Honestly, they’re some of the best I’ve ever had—definitely in my top three. We ate here twice during our stay, sticking with the tacos both times. On one visit, we added crispy tostones (fried plantains), and on the other, a salad with pickled watermelon. You might see some inspiration from this spot in my future recipes 🙃.
The fish tacos were beer-battered and topped with green and purple cabbage, tomato, mango, cilantro, chipotle crema, and a squeeze of lemon. Absolutely delicious!
The tostones.
It had mixed greens, pickled watermelon, red onion, radish, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta, and a light honey mustard dressing. The pickled watermelon was totally mind-blowing—I’m not usually a big fan of watermelon, but pickled, I couldn’t get enough!
Ventanas: Located on the same level as the pool, Ventanas offers stunning views of the ocean through its large windows. With one of the main restaurants closed for renovations, Ventanas became my go-to spot for breakfast and dinner when dining on my own. I ended up eating there twice for both meals.
For breakfast, I had a beautiful and delicious avocado toast with eggs. It was topped with arugula, pickled onions, radishes, cherry tomatoes, cheese, and microgreens—perfectly fresh and flavorful.
I also took some banana bread to go which was a great snack to keep around in the room.
Another day for breakfast I got the coconut crusted french toast. This was totally decadent and a little sweet for me but still delicious.
For breakfast, they offer both a buffet and an à la carte menu that you can find online.
What really drew me to Ventanas for dinner was the Grandma’s Bowl. Beans are one of my favorite foods, and whenever they’re on the menu, I’m powerless to resist. This dish seemed comforting, simple, and turned out to be incredibly delicious!
The Grandma’s Bowl comes with rice, habichuelas, avocado, and crispy crumbled tostones on top. It’s typically served with sweet plantains (amarillos or maduros), but I opted out. It may be a simple dish, but it was oh-so tasty.
Bono: Bono is the resort’s fine dining Italian restaurant. We opted for a 9pm dinner after my partner’s conference opening party, mainly because we were craving pasta and saw two vegetarian options online that sounded perfect. However, once we sat down, we realized the menu was different—more meat-heavy and on the heavier side overall, which wasn’t what we were looking for that night. Luckily, we found the pastas we wanted listed as sides, so we ordered the Cacio e Pepe and Aglio e Olio, and it was the perfect amount!
We started with a panzanella, though it was more of a green salad with croutons at the bottom—not quite the panzanella we expected, but still tasty.
The resort has a number of other restaurants and bars to explore. El Cafecito is a great spot to grab a breakfast pastry or sandwich on the go. We also stopped by Oats for a smoothie, which was fresh and delicious. One evening, we headed to Vinos & Tapas, the wine bar, for a glass of vino and a small cheese board.
We truly loved this place and hope to be back sooner rather than later!
San Juan:
The day before we flew out, we headed back to San Juan and stayed in the Santurce area, right on the beach. The entire strip of hotels along the shore offered lively, beautiful views (it was very hot, but gorgeous!). Though we didn’t have much time to explore, we loved the energetic beach party vibe. There are plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance, making it the perfect spot for a lively evening out.
One highlight was La Plaza del Mercado de Santurce, a local hotspot about a 15-minute walk from our hotel. The plaza was buzzing with live music, people dancing in the streets, and groups hanging out, with streets lined with restaurants and bars.
For our last meal in Puerto Rico, we found La Alcapurria Quemá, a small restaurant with just a few seats inside and out. We were on the hunt for one last mofongo, and this place didn’t disappoint.
We got a classic mofongo with rice and habichuelas, along with a simple yet delicious avocado salad. The salad seemed to be a mix of avocado chunks with some mashed avocado and tomatoes—simple, but so yummy!
Recommendation for San Juan:
Casita Miramar: While still on the hunt to try pastelón, I came across Casita Miramar. This spot seems to serve fresh, inventive Puerto Rican food that looks incredible. The ambiance also appears to be really charming. I’ll definitely be trying it on my next visit, and it’s worth checking out if you’re in San Juan.
If you made it this far—thanks for reading! We had a blast in PR and know there’s so much more to explore and eat. Can’t wait for our next visit—hasta luego, Puerto Rico!