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    Deshistoria

    4.9 (26 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    DESHISTORIA ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Deshistoria

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    Usamah N.

    Small restaurant with a laid back vibe to it, they only sell alcohol and empanadas. That's how you know you're going to get some great empanadas when that's the only thing that's on the menu. They had chicken, beef, spinach, and chorizo. 100% absolutely deserve the high ratings!! My girlfriend has tried hundreds and hundreds of empanadas and she said this is the best she's ever had in her life!! I was honestly shocked by her saying that. To me that's a biggg compliment as I've only had a few in my lifetime and they tasted phenomenal!! We tried Spinach, Chicken, and Beef with cheese and all were VERY tasty!

    Mike Z.

    You don't need anything more than beer and empanadas! Small place with a laid back feel.

    Thiago D.

    Great cocktail bar in the heart of Old San Juan that offers daily freshly made empanadas in 4 flavors. Stop by for an afternoon snack to get your fix of beef, chicken, chorizo, or plantain filled empanadas. We went with a sampler of all 4 and were given 3 sauces, and my favorite was the mango Pina. Bartender was able to make an amazing mojito for us, and why not go for something rum based since we were in puerto Rico. Happy hour specials are available and there's plenty of charm and seating in this spot If you're looking for something Boriqua.

    Bourbon lemonade ‍
    Jada S.

    Amazing people, great empanadas!! Good drinks. Fair prices! Would recommend! The people working are very attentive and know English as well.

    Good atmosphere. Delicious empanadas. Happy hour all day. Usually very busy but on Tuesday night was easy to find a table.

    Maddie V.

    Total dive bar. Small cozy seating. Delicious empanadas which were warm and flaky. They were bringing fresh empanadas out the entire time we were there. The chorizo empanada was the highlight for me but we also ordered the carne and a spinach one as well. Another highlight was the hot sauces they had. The mango hot sauce was amazing! If they sold it bottled I'd have purchased a bottle. The pina colada was really good as well and reasonably priced at 6 dollars. Beer was cold and local!

    Mushroom and cheese empanadas
    Parita A.

    This was our last stop before heading out of the island and man do we wish we found it sooner. We came in for some quick veggie empanadas and their mushroom and cheese were nothing short of fantastic!

    Chorizo empanada. Very yummy!
    Duda B.

    Very cool place! It reminds me of home (Brazil). Very casual and fun! The empanadas are very good and they come fresh baked. Beers are served how they are supposed to be: cold. Nice decor and very friendly staff. Joshua helped us pick the best local beers and we had a good chat.

    Tommy P.

    Don't miss it. Clearly a family business with mostly happy (saw one bird flown toward the staff by a grump who was refused service) regulars: you'll naturally bring your good manners and a little patience. We visited twice, staying a few hours the first time (our high-altitude hemoglobin and a steady influx of empanadas keeping us from wobbling too much from all the hooch) and an hour the second. Drink menus posted chaotically around don't seem to reflect what's actually available and opening hours are flexible, but drinks are good (I had a mess of them), seating is comfy, the crowd friendly and restrooms clean and service is efficient if not always friendly (they're BUSY, tho: more New York manners than New Mexico are to be expected): you'll enjoy yourself fully if you go with the flow. Chorizo empanada was my fave, setas (that's mushrooms) was my wife's. All were good and the number of locals coming in to grab takeaway bags of them (maybe chugging a beer before splitting) underscores how you'd be wrong to pass on them. Get in here, tip well and marvel that a place like Deshistoria exists and you get to spend time with them.

    Old fashioned

    I had to leave a review for this place because it's such a little gem. This bar/restaurant is quite small, and you may find a short line during busy hours. But things move pretty fast. You absolutely HAVE to have at least two of their empanadas. And, the staff was really friendly. Overall, I think the place has a fun, laidback atmosphere that most people will enjoy.

    Strong sangria.
    Rob R.

    OMG a place that's open! Good food and strong drinks. We passed 8 restaurants that were closed even though Yelp said they were open. The server sat us down immediately and took our order even though the place was packed. Drinks came in 2 minutes and the chicken, beef and chorizo empanadas were great!

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    6 months ago

    Staff is excellent!! Order the lobotomia, you won't be disappointed. Food is amazing and so quick

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    3 years ago

    Small nook, ok, to have a beer. Service slow. Ambiance ok. The empanadas are not really that good.,

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    Review Highlights - Deshistoria

    If you are looking for a warm, groovy San Juan spot for good drinks and the BEST empanadas this is the place !

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    La Factoría - Spiced Old Fashioned

    La Factoría

    4.5(782 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    Top bar in the Caribbean and #26 in North America, so had to visit and did not disappoint. 4.5…read morestars Highlights: - Excellent drinks: from their champeta which was run ginger pineapple to pornstar martini to a classic daquiri and even a pina colada, the bartenders know what they are doing. - 6 different rooms to visit each with a different vibe and some different cocktails - Main entrance: front room with big windows was cool to pass through - Vino: wine based cocktails in a smaller spot - Shing A 'Ling: salsa room with dance floor and bands or DJs was the liveliest. Loved watching everyone no matter how old get into the groove. - El Final: red room with DJ booth for more dancing fun - El Desvío: Super small 10-seat candlelit area slightly hidden - La Cubanita: where we parked ourselves to chill Lowlights: - Weekend nights gets very crowded with a line out front in the heart of the nightlife area in old town.

    First, the staff is insanely good at service and crafting the drinks. I was amazed sitting at the…read morebar as they made these drinks. Not to mind the price is perfect. I never had a bad drink here out of the two nights and many drinks had. The layout is amazing with multiple rooms, bars, and DJs. Anything from techno, pop mixes, to latin. Yes i did salsa with the love of my life. No that has no influence on my review haha. Definitely recommend for a night out!! During the weekday we didn't have a line but it was still full inside. On a Friday we had a short line at 10:30 and it was packed.

    Photos
    La Factoría - Wooo!!!

    Wooo!!!

    La Factoría - Our most loved signature cocktail: Lavender Mule

    Our most loved signature cocktail: Lavender Mule

    La Factoría - Smoked old fashioned and pornstar martini

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    Smoked old fashioned and pornstar martini

    La Grieta - Interior.

    La Grieta

    4.7(11 reviews)
    0.4 km

    Grear ambiance, vibes, drinks, and service. Love it!…read moreRecommended for locals and tourists.

    I first discovered La Grieta approximately two years ago during a brief stop in Old San Juan. The…read moreatmosphere and warmth of our initial experience was so great that I made it a deliberate mission to find it again when visiting recently. We were thrilled when we finally walked through the door again after wracking our brains to remember our favorite spot in Old Town. Upon entering, we were greeted by a young woman who, mentioned it was her very first day as an assistant to the bartender. Despite being brand new, she was warm, engaged, and genuinely welcoming, excited for us that we had made it back after several years, and impressed with our efforts. Shortly thereafter the bartender on duty approached us mid-conversation, visibly irritated. When I mentioned that we hadn't yet decided on drinks but were being well taken care of in the meantime, she interrupted sharply to bark at us that she was the bartender and the ONLY one who could help us. The tone was unwelcoming enough that after a moment, my companion and I determined that we would prefer to move on and left without ordering. The atmosphere is truly special, and it deserves to be matched by the experience guests receive at the bar. Our experience was simply not the vibe that night, and I truly was disappointed FOR the new hire who was doing what she should in engaging us until we could be served. I sincerely hope to return on a future visit to San Juan and to rediscover the experience that first brought me back to La Grieta.

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    La Grieta
    La Grieta
    La Grieta

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    El Batey

    El Batey

    4.6(194 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $

    If you're looking for the perfect dive bar experience in Old San Juan, this place absolutely nails…read moreit. From the moment you walk in, you feel the vibe. It's small, loud, a little gritty, and completely inviting--exactly what a true dive bar should be. The walls are covered in graffiti and stickers from years of visitors leaving their mark, and honestly, that's part of the magic. You can't help but look around and smile at all the personality packed into such a cozy space. One of my favorite details? Look over to the right corner of the bar and you'll spot what looks like a vintage cash register straight out of the 1800s. Then right in the middle of the bar you've got the modern point-of-sale devices. The contrast is hilarious and perfect--old-school charm meeting modern bar life. There's a pool table, plenty of seating for such an intimate spot, and yes, a restroom inside (always appreciated in Old San Juan!). But what really makes this place stand out is the service--the staff is fantastic, welcoming, and they pour seriously strong drinks that are also refreshingly affordable. This is the kind of place where you come for one drink in the afternoon and suddenly the whole evening disappears in great conversation and good vibes. If you're wandering the streets of Old San Juan and want authentic dive bar energy, great drinks, and a place full of character, this is absolutely a must-stop. Highly recommend.

    Dive bar across from our hotel was a fun stop later at night…read more Highlights: - Atmosphere: small place with dollar bills hanging down from lights (not even just the ceiling) - Crowd: a party with everyone having a good time and - Carajillo was good - Fun music Lowlights: - Hard to get a hold of the bartenders to pay the bill

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    El Batey
    El Batey
    El Batey

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    La Madre - Steak tacos

    La Madre

    4.2(702 reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$

    We had an amazing meal at La Madre! We ordered the chicken tacos, chicken broth soup, chicken and…read moreshrimp fajitas, cheese quesadilla, fresh watermelon juice, and a watermelon margarita. Every single dish was excellent, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming. If you're looking for great Mexican food in Old San Juan, La Madre is definitely worth a visit.

    La Madre in Viejo San Juan really hit the spot when we were all craving something other than hotel…read morefood--and specifically, good Mexican food. It absolutely delivered. The vibe was great, the food was fresh and well made, and the service was friendly overall. A fun bonus: we actually got to see the famous rock band Maná dining there, which was such a cool surprise! We ordered quite a bit--the chips and queso, chips and guac, hot sauce, tamale, rice and beans, kids cheese quesadilla, and veggie fajitas. The kids' quesadilla was a huge hit with our 5-year-old (who is a picky eater and devoured it). The veggie fajitas were decent and tasty, though for the price I would have liked a bit more on the plate in terms of sides. There was a small hiccup where cilantro was accidentally added to one of my dishes, and it did take quite a while for the corrected dish to come out, but they were very kind about it. That said, everything else was enjoyable and the overall experience was still very good. Overall, a great spot for solid Mexican food in Old San Juan with a fun atmosphere and fresh flavors.

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    La Madre - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    La Madre
    La Madre

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    Scryer Rum - Interior.

    Scryer Rum

    4.8(123 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$

    A super fun must try while you're visiting Old San Juan. We happened across this location while…read morelooking for a great place to hang out that had a rooftop view. This establishment has multiple floors and is a little bit deceiving from the outside. While you can hang out in the bar on the first floor and have a great time playing one of the provided games, you can also head up to the second or third floors for varying scenery. On the second floor it's a very lounge vibe with some great cushion to seating and eclectic art. On the third floor is picnic style tables on the rooftop, and limited view. Our bartender was excellent, and you'll need to go back downstairs if you're not on the first floor, to order more drinks. It's a drinks only spot so come thirsty! Overall: A+ Great vibes, great service, fun drinks!

    Distillery with few levels and good drinks…read more Highlights: - Good drinks - Dark stormy with bitters was a great option - Different levels: downstairs main floor with a bar, couch area on mid level as you go upstairs, and rooftop - Chill vibe even on a weekend night which was nice in comparison to the main bar area of the city Midlights: - Rooftop was a nice open air option with its own bar and a good size to hang out, but didn't have a view of anything Lowlights: - Didn't get to do a tour as it's only once a day 5:45pm Thurs-Sat

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    Scryer Rum - Bar area

    Bar area

    Scryer Rum - Visiting from California and we decided to get a bottle of this deliciousness

    Visiting from California and we decided to get a bottle of this deliciousness

    Scryer Rum

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    Deshistoria - bars - Updated August 2026

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