La Cubanita

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.

Popped into this place to check out the music. The hotel staff recommended it. The ambience was…read morespot on there were two different rooms, actually three. Each of them have different music. One room, the main area had salsa, dancing, and music and eventually at 9:30 PM a live salsa band came on. That was a whole lot of fun however it was very crowded. The second room had a nice house music going on. There was a bar and a DJ and it was not as busy as the main area was. And the third room was the bar that leads to the outside called La Cubanita, which was playing mellow lounge music with a tropical beat. The food at La Factoria was definitely overrated and just OK. I did not think it was worth the price and I probably would not eat there again. None of us really liked what we ordered, but we ate it because well... We were hungry. They do offer a wide range of beverages from your standard beer, wine, and top shelf brands, however, they are known for their own concoctions. All of the drinks we ordered were delicious. Overall, we had fun, and it was not too pricey for the beverages. I don't think that I would ever go again, especially not later in the week as it is so busy, and we went on a Monday and we were dancing cheek to cheek!!! Enjoy!

Wooo!!!

Our most loved signature cocktail: Lavender Mule

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Smoked old fashioned and pornstar martini

The Mezzanine

4.6(631 reviews)

0.1 km

The food was delicious. The staff was 100% amazing. They just made the entire experience perfect…read more My cousin and I sat at the bar and talked to the bartender and the server. It looked like they were having fun at work and they made our experience very enjoyable and entertaining. I learned that the bartender sings opera so definitely ask him about that lol! An absolute must visit next time in Puerto Rico! Decorations, lights, music - perfection.

Awesome spot; so glad we wondered in. Low key, great views, fantastic service and the food (tapas)…read moreand dranks were awesome! Must do spot for a low key and relaxing snack and drink while in the heart of San Juan.

The bar with Cuban vibes

Pinchos de camarón y piña

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El Maestro

La Grieta

4.7(11 reviews)

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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El Batey

4.6(194 reviews)

0.1 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.

Super cool vibe. Had a drink and sat for a bit but had to take pics! There's no AC but we still…read morecooled off and enjoyed it.

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Lowkey

4.9(8 reviews)

Low Key is an awesome bar right off the main strip in Old San Juan. Its not far from the water or…read morewhere the cruise ships dock! It is absolutely worth dropping in for a drink, bite to eat, or to dance and hang with friends. The bar itself is bigger than I expected after seeing it online and is decorated with fluorescent lights that provided a lot of photo opts. The music was dope and there were a ton of drink options. I probably tried every local beer that they had! The food was incredible which I don't typically expect from a small bar! The fish tacos were so good that I came back twice while I was in town for them! Low Key is under new management and the owner is so friendly and accommodating. Definitely check this bar out it's a fun mix of locals and people passing through!

This is a super cute place with great music. We didn't try any food and the only drink. My husband…read moregot was a drink pouch, but I would definitely go back here.

Main sitting area

Fish Tacos

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Los 3 Cuernos

4.5(44 reviews)

•$

The owner of Gracias Skate Shop recommended this spot for drinks and good vibes. I love the variety…read moreof chichaitos in different flavors and the artwork in the bar. Definitely stop by for a quick break or if you plan on exploring San Juan.

Very friendly staff and clientele (about half locals and half tourists) in a place that feels like…read morea college bar. Buy a couple rounds for the next table: it's that kind of place, and you'll have a ball. I won't translate chichaitos, but they're little sweet flavored shots of rum and anise that are a big draw: ¡Con cuidado!

The sign

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Inside decor

La Madre

4.2(701 reviews)

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.

Restaurant

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Bar Catedral Rooftop

4.7(12 reviews)

0.1 km

Nice rooftop bar with view overlooking the Cathedral (hence the name). We came here for drinks and…read morea light snack of croquetas. I enjoyed a glass of their Chateau de la Pierre Gamay and mi amor opted for their Santurce Prison IPA. We both enjoyed our drinks and the wine was a pretty generous pour. We scored a nice two top overlooking the cathedral, right next to the railing. Service started out great but then disappeared when it was time to check out and pay, so we had to ask another server take our payment. Not a huge deal for us as we were not in a rush to leave, but maybe be mindful of this if you have another commitment after dining here. This bar is accessed via the Decanter hotel entrance. Definitely would return here. When we first arrived the atmosphere was a little suboptimal due to a large group of about 8, but once that group left, it quieted down and was mostly couples of all ages and small groups of 3-4.

Bar Catedral is a beautiful rooftop bar with an amazong view of the Cathedral of St. John the…read moreBaptist, the first church on U.S. soil. I got the Plaza de Armas ($13) and it was refreshing. They use brown sugar and mavi, a tree bark-based beverage to give it more of an earthy under tone to the cocktail. I would highly recommend checking Bar Catedral out for a drink and amazing views. Service was great too!

Views

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Birra & Empanadas

4.8(181 reviews)

0.2 km

•$

came here a month ago and had a great time! service is quick and the lady serving us was so sweet…read moreto explain all the empanada options + popular drinks. empanada was delicious and comforting. we did the chicken and one vegetarian and both were super stuffed with filling and felt like a warm hug when you are them. we ordered drinks as well (can't remember the name) but they were creatively made with one having smoke coming out from the top. it's a small place, but most folks quickly eat, drink and leave. the surrounding area is also wonderful to hang out and grab a bite/drink in a few different places while exploring. 10/10 recommend!

Very cute spot and the empanadas were delicious. My favorite was the churrasco and cheese, then the…read morechorizo and the pollo. They multiple hot sauces to choose from but the spicy aoli with the steak and chicken is a must try. Service was fast and the guys were super welcoming.

Margaritas

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Scryer Rum

4.8(122 reviews)

0.4 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!

High-quality rum, well-crafted cocktails, and a casual easy vibe for a place to relax and sit down…read moreonce your feet are tired from walking about the city. We tried La colada, Claude and sherry, and dark and stormy cocktails, all of which were fantastic.