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    El Champi

    4.1 (86 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    El Champi Photos

    EL CHAMPI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - El Champi

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    Rob B.

    On a recent trip to PR I was in Old Town late one evening with my girlfriend enjoying all of the beautiful architecture while walking around holding hands and being the lovebirds that we are when we both became hungry. We happened to notice this place down the hill and walked down to check it out. We walked in and were greeted by a lady behind the bar and asked if we could sit outside. So we sat down at a table and were soon greeted by Bradimus who ended up being an excellent server and who also recommended we try the Champiñones al Ajillo(garlic mushrooms). Great choice my friend. We ordered: - Medalla (5/5) - House Made Sangria (5/5) - Lonchas de Queso Manchego (5/5) - Champiñones al Ajillo (5/5) I love the whole atmosphere of this place. The food was great, the service was great, the vibes were great, and the drinks were great. We will definitely be back the next time we are in San Juan. Enjoy :)

    Entrance
    Russell J.

    Great afternoon tapas and aperol spritz - friendly staff, part of the plaza so great to people watch too - come on by!

    Cream of mushroom
    Bryan F.

    A cute restaurant close to the shore in the heart of Old San Juan. Loved their paella options. The rice was cooked to perfection and infused with the aroma of the ingredients! It is definitely a must try item on the menu! I also enjoyed the jazzy Latin American music they played- it really enhanced the overall dining experience. Servers were all attentive and kind- nothing to complain about!

    croquetas
    Christiane M.

    my best meal in san juan!! service was super friendly and speedy and vibes were great. we sat outside and it was very cute and food came out fast. everything we ordered was delicious, i especially loved the patatas bravas

    Olives, mussels, red wine chorizo

    We had a lovely Sunday late lunch. They serve 2 menus out of 2 kitchens. They're just getting started so try them out. The muscles were delicious and the manchego/meat plate hit the spot. I also ordered chicken and scallion skewers from the other menu. It's technically the wine bar with a different name as they get settled, the hours will update.

    Seafood paella, patatas bravas, and prosciutto with toast
    Nicole L.

    We found this restaurant on yelp while looking for authentic Spanish tapas and were so pleased! The scenery is adorable outside by the hotel, with fun music, some adorable neighborhood cats, and a good vibe. We ordered patatas bravas, seafood paella, prosciutto toast, and cheese croquettes and had more food than we could finish (the portions were incredibly large!) Everything was so tasty and we will definitely be back to try more items on the menu next time we visit.

    Pan Tan Tomate
    Jeremy R.

    Imagine walking around Old San Juan, browsing shops, checking out the famous tourist spots, and you stumble upon the most beautiful, comforting restaurant named El Champi. The food is just as delicious as you might imagine. We got oysters and the pan tan tomate to share. Both were simply impeccable. To drink, I got a sangria which was equally delicious. I still think about how wonderful the experience was. We will definitely be back the next time we're in Old San Juan. When we first walked in, we were immediately greeted and made to feel at home. I forgot her name, but she was very sweet and offered amazing suggestions for food. The ambiance of El Champi is very cozy. It's the perfect place to relax and rest out of the sun / heat.

    Inside
    Carolyn C.

    We were letdown. The Yelp and Google photos bamboozled us! Food was dull and thrown onto our plates. I crunched down on more shells than actual food. I was annoyed and honestly wanted to leave. The outside seating area is on a slant and people are constantly inches away from walking into you. Their enclosed outdoor area had starving cats and the inside seating area is where we sat and I got covered in bug bites. Service took forever and as you can see via the images, there were less than 8 clients in the entire restaurant.

    Huevos rotos
    Grace L.

    El Champi was a delicious find after exploring Old San Juan all morning. They offered outdoor seating overlooking a super cute street, but it had just remained rained so we sat inside. Our server was knowledgeable about gluten free options on the menu. Our group of 5 shared the following tapas: tortilla, huevos rotos, chorizo, and jamon croquetas. We also split the Valencian paella. Everything was FANTASTIC! I had high expectations after studying abroad in Spain, but El Champi lived up to them with fresh, tasty, and filling dishes. Great spot!

    Tapas: Patatas Bravas, Chorizo, Seafood platter, Pan de Potato, and Croquettes
    Tammy T.

    Cute tapas restaurant located in Old San Juan. We ordered five plates of tapas for the table to share, including Patatas Bravas, Chorizo, Seafood platter, Pan de Potato, and Mixed croquettes. Everything was so good! We wished that there was more bread so that we could dip it into the sauce. We decided to sit indoors, which was the perfect time and space to cool down on a hot afternoon. The waiter was friendly.

    Patio area
    Marisol H.

    Cute little gem The food was delicious & the customer service was amazing! Definitely recommend.

    They have a few tables out front.
    Guillermo G.

    Had lunch here with some friends over the weekend. When we arrived they were already seated at a table in front of the restaurant. There are 4 tables out front, 2 with umbrellas and 2 without. It to worry because the trees provide shade. They also had a mist sprinkler which was nice. The downside to the seating out front is the street is on a hill. We had to place some napkins under the plates to keep them from sliding off the table. The restaurant is located just off Calle Del Cristo, on Caleta de San Juan. It sis a residential area, so it's generally quiet and peaceful. From our table we had a view of the Hotel Convento and the San Juan Cathedral. It was Saturday afternoon and there was wedding taking place. We saw the bride make her way from the hotel to the Cathedral. As for the food, we enjoyed everything we ordered. We had the shishito peppers, pan con tomate, patatas bravas, huevos rotos, croquetas mixtas (6 croquetas - 2 manchego, 2 serrano, 2 chorizo ibérico), serrano and manchego plate, and salpicón de mariscos. My favorites were the shishito peppers (also known as pimientos de padrón), patatas bravas, huevos rotos, and the croquetas. We also ordered pitchers of both the white and red sangrias. Both were refreshing and good. Can't go wrong with either although I preferred the red. Service was good overall. Sometimes it took them a while to check up on us but they were quick to bring us whatever we asked for. I'd return. Also, I'd like to the inside since I did go in.

    Ensaladilla Rusa
    Anthony B.

    Buen ambiente y buena comida. Caminando por Viejo San Juan me topé con El Champi. Muy buena opción para tapas.

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    4 years ago

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    T.J. F.

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    3 years ago

    La mejor sangria en el Viejo San Juan. Excelente ambiente y muy buen servicio, lo recomiendo.

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    T.J. F.

    Thank you for your 5 star review, Elba!

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    4 years ago

    Outdoor seating, along the steps of the Convento, is beautiful. The manchego croquettes are great! Sangria too!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Page 3 of 3

    Review Highlights - El Champi

    We ordered five plates of tapas for the table to share, including Patatas Bravas, Chorizo, Seafood platter, Pan de Potato, and Mixed croquettes.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Casita Miramar - Arroz con Mariscos (seafood paella) and Churrasco (steak); Follow me @RimyEats on Instagram

    Casita Miramar

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    3.7 km
    $$$

    Had a wonderful time at Casita Miramar. Aalyah, our server did an amazing job of being able to…read morecommunicate and inform us about the dishes and accommodate anything we needed. Aalyah, thank you so much for making our last meal in San Juan so special!! The portions are huge! I split an app with 3 people and honestly the main dishes can be split among two people as well. It was very tasty especially the chicken, and the ribs! The place also looked amazing and we were given a semi-private room for such a large group. Thanks for having us!!

    For my last night in Puerto Rico, I wanted to go all out, and I ended up somewhere pretty special…read more Casita Miramar sits in a gorgeous old villa in the Miramar neighborhood, all hanging plants, twinkle lights, and vintage furniture, and the décor and ambiance alone had me sold before the food even showed up. I sat at the bar, and the staff absolutely made the night. Insanely nice and receptive, they talked with me the entire time, made recommendations, walked me through the dishes and the culture behind them, and kept the strong drinks coming, which I will never complain about. That kind of hospitality is rare and I can't say enough about it. Now for my one nitpick, and this is a me problem more than a them problem: I don't totally love Puerto Rican food. This is authentic comida criolla, which pulls from Caribbean, Latin American, and Spanish influences all at once, and my picky palate keeps asking what exactly it's trying to be. But the vibes, the people, and the setting made the whole experience more than worth it. Come for the criollo cooking, stay for one of the warmest rooms in San Juan.

    Photos
    Casita Miramar - Indoor Dining Room

    Indoor Dining Room

    Casita Miramar - Amazing chocolate Fudge Cake delivered to restaurant (Cakes by Glorimar in PR). Staff sang and added candle

    Amazing chocolate Fudge Cake delivered to restaurant (Cakes by Glorimar in PR). Staff sang and added candle

    Casita Miramar - Pastelón - Delicious thick Caribbean soft meat and plantain taste and texture

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    Pastelón - Delicious thick Caribbean soft meat and plantain taste and texture

    Sanse 152 - Table view

    Sanse 152

    4.0(82 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    It is right in the middle of San Sebastian street which also happens to be the heart of nightlife…read morein Viejo (Old) San Juan. this whole street is live, buzzing till midnight and sometimes till 2 AM. so if you wanna get the vibe/ feel of nightlife, come to this street (Calle in Spanish) here. We entered, every server was busy, we saw one empty high table, settled ourselves and ordered fish tacos, Chicken Empanadillas, and a couple of drinks (Mojito & beer). Fish tacos were really good, the best we had in the old San Juan area. we were there for 50 odd minutes and went to another bar. the ambiance was good but can't say the same about service but as I said above- this is the scene in every other bar in that street. so this is normal there. also, happy hour is from 3 to 8 (like other bars) one thing to keep in mind- whatever the restaurant/bar/pub you visit in this area - your food order gonna take time, as these all are mostly there for drinks, of course, food items are there in the menu, but it's gonna more then usual time, so if you are hungry, try other restaurants. Bar-restaurant in San Sebastian street- these are good for a couple of drinks & bar hopping. Note: To enter, they are asking for CDC Card (for vaccine check). You can also show a digital copy/Photo of it.

    LOVE THIS PLACE! Our server whose name I cannot for the life…read moreof me remember was wonderful, and the doorman was adorable. Amazing FISH TACOS! Flavorful AF and even tastier with the hot sauce, so definitely get the hot sauce. They have happy hour from 3 to 8 - got tasty Mojitos and Pina Coladas. Also tried their little shots of frozen slushies for a $1 each - really liked the tamarind one. Also, I highly recommend and would double down on the Paellitas. If you've had Paella in Spain, these Paellitas are the mini-version-don't-wanna-share as they are smaller in portion. However, it was well seasoned and the 3 pieces of shrimp on top were fat and plump (just how I like my shrimp!). Sit by the front and you can also people watch to your heart's content. That's what we did and we ended up making friends with randos that stopped by.

    Photos
    Sanse 152 - Wall of fun

    Wall of fun

    Sanse 152 - Refreshing piña colada

    Refreshing piña colada

    Sanse 152

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    El Jibarito - Flan de coco and flan de chocolate

    El Jibarito

    3.9(2.1k reviews)
    0.5 km
    $$

    El Jibarito is absolutely worth the visit if you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food. We had…read morethe lechón con salsa de plátano, and it was absolutely delicious--full of flavor and cooked perfectly! We were a large group, so there was about a 30-minute wait for a table, but that's part of the fonda-style experience. Tables turn over as people finish their meals, and while you're waiting, you can relax with an ice-cold Medalla, which makes the time go by quickly. A special thank you to the staff for the excellent service and warm hospitality. The food, the atmosphere, and the friendly staff made this one of our favorite dining experiences in Old San Juan. We will definitely be back!

    We came to El Jibarito for dinner after it was recommended by Yelp as it had a 4-star rating. We…read moredid have a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. The restaurant is absolutely adorable inside and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Once we were seated, the service was quick and attentive. There were four of us in our party, and we started with the pizza turnovers. They were delicious, although I do wish they had a little more filling. I ordered the tamale. While it wasn't quite to my personal taste, I could tell it was well made and I'm sure others who enjoy that style of tamale would love it. My husband had the baked chicken and really liked it. My friend ordered the salmon and said it was moist and very flavorful, and her husband had the garlic chicken, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, everyone in our group was happy with their meals. Between the cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and tasty food, I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you're visiting Old San Juan.

    Photos
    El Jibarito
    El Jibarito - Fried snapper

    Fried snapper

    El Jibarito

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    Deaverdura - Sampler

    Deaverdura

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    This restaurant has been on my San Juan list and it happened to be near my Airbnb so it was a no…read morebrainer for my friends and I to visit. Since I've always seen the long lines outside this store when I passed by, we decided that we try to go in as soon as it opened. So, we lined up around 11:30am. We barely waited much and we got seated. The server that day was quick/efficient/friendly despite the fact that she was running a one woman show. And the food arrived within a decent time. My friends and I decided to order the PUERTO RICAN PLATTER with a side of a side salad. This platter comes with everything you could want & maybe something that might be a bit adventurous for you to eat like blood sausage. Despite that, it's a nice platter to share and try a bit of everything. It's really nice that if you order for 4 people, they give you exactly the amount of pieces that are divisible by 4 (so everyone can try 1-2 pieces of each thing evenly). It also comes with a decent amount of rice/pork as a supplementation, which was nice. It's a balanced meal. And I think the side salad did well to balance out all the fried foods. Overall, we really enjoyed this place. It's a great place to come with friends/families to share. It's a great place as a visitor to try a bit of everything. The platter is a great introduction of puerto rican fried finger foods. And it all taste great! From the presentation of the food to the service here, it's all good. I would recommend this place to others.

    We were in old San Juan and wanted some authentic Puerto Rican food. I found this spot on Yelp and…read morewas surprised to know this was a TikTok favorite. The restaurant is medium sized, so for the sake of space they make you wait outside for a table. Our group of 7 was seated pretty easily but it also wasn't too packed when we arrived. Their menu is written on a chalkboard and from my knowledge, they don't provide any physical copies. My table got a variety of things but me in particular, I ordered the Puerto Rican sampler. We split it between 3 people and they said it could feed 4 but hmmm, I'd be skeptical of that. I think no more than 2 comfortably honestly as a meal. The sampler was delicious though and had all the main things I wanted. The corn fritters were a hit and the steak was well cooked and seasoned. While the food was good, the wait was a little long and the service was mid (not bad but not the best we've had). Solid 4 stars

    Photos
    Deaverdura - The ambience

    The ambience

    Deaverdura - Small house salad

    Small house salad

    Deaverdura - Passion fruit juice

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    Passion fruit juice

    El Champi - tapasmallplates - Updated July 2026

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