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What a hidden gem!!! We passed right by it the first time and didn't even notice this was here. Super cute and they have an inside and outside bar too. The drinks were crafted beautifully and the bartenders were super friendly and gave us great local suggestions as well. Highly recommend stopping by for a few drinks here.
THE Famous La Factoria club of where Despacito, Heart Break, and other songs were filmed here. When in Puerto Rico, this is a must. AMBIANCE: Parking: Welcome to Old San Juan, it get get pretty busy - best to carpool or do public transportation. Seating: Indoor seating or private cabana set ups for groups. Room for a total of 100 people. Feels: Welcome to Old San Juan, a mix of touristy and culture. The spot itself is popular for locals and tourists. As for the space itself, what's unique about this spot is this place isn't just one bar. It's actually a series of connected rooms (about 6-7 different spaces), each with its own vibe - speak easy, dance, casual, house, live music and more! I'm surprised each room can contain it's sounds while maintaining its own energy. It feels like a speakeasy maze meets nightlife experience. Dim lighting, vintage touches, and just enough chaos in a good way. DRINKS/EXPERIENCE It was such a fun night, not sure what I ordered but there is an abundance of flavors as every room has different selections. But popular drinks if you're looking for guidance - lavendar mule, espresso martini, a classic mojito. They got the classic to your well-crafted cocktails. Some spots provide food while others is sip and chill or sip and dance. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Fast-paced but solid. Staff keeps up with the crowd and still manages to be engaging. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars! Good choices, reasonable prices, and a vibe like no other. As a gemini that can be quite indecisive, I enjoyed this spot - especially with its multiple options. This is more than a bar - it's an experience. A spot where the night can go longer than expected. TIPS: * Walk through ALL the rooms--you'll miss half the experience if you don't
Fantastic vibes and craft cocktails! My friends and I stopped by La Factoria after hearing that they filmed the Despacito music video! We came during the day and there's not many seats, but we were luckily able to grab a table. It was hard to get a bartenders attention at first and no one really came over to ask for our orders. I got the Pornstar Martini, which was super strong and refreshing! Highly recommend if you're a Passionfruit fan!
This bar serves great specialty cocktails and the food was really good too. which is surprising for a bar/club. they have many different rooms with different music selections so there is something for everyone to enjoy. it was pretty packed on A friday night so wear comfy shoes and be ready to dance. my favorite spot was upstairs where i was able to look out the windows and see down the whole strip
Top notch vibes paired with fantastic drinks The playlist here is perfect if you just want to sit down, enjoy a drink, and have a conversation with friends Once again, the mixologists/bartenders were very kind to a solo traveller, going out of their way to make me feel involved in everything going on. The water glass was always (almost immediately) quietly topped up whenever it was empty and they even offered to make me a customised cocktail that was to my taste / what I wanted at that moment Very well deserving of their accolades!
Still 5 stars... We came here Saturday night for drinks after dinner. There's a line outside, bouncer checking IDs, and people wanting to go in, but it moved fast. The place was packed but people move around, between the bar, the second room, and outside. Even with the busy bar, we did not wait long for someone to get our drink order. There's sofas, small tables, and window seats, plus enough space to stand. We waited a bit and were lucky to get the window seats. This is great for people watching plus to enjoy the island breeze. Location is great too, right on the street of many other bars making it easy to hop around and be a part of the very lively crowd that's always happy to be there, both locals and tourists. La Factoría is definitely a must when visiting Old San Juan
The most memorable night I have ever experienced. La Factoría is by no means in a class by itself if you want to feel that authentic real boricua heritage feeling well this is the place. Let me say I was amazed and so were my quests at a party we had on the second floor. When you first walk in the rustic old San Juan aesthetics building makes you feel like you are back early 1900's . Vivian our host was amazing along with all the bartenders,Dj,and the house salsa band which I highly recommend you hire. The food was authentic Puerto Rican food down to the roasted pig on the rod. Wow my mouth just waters talking about it. The la factoria old fashion drink was delicious.I recommend this place to any one looking for a great location to have a gathering with your family members and friends like a welcoming party before a wedding like I did. Parking as you know is impossible but thanks goddess for uber which made it easy for transportation.Well I will definitely be back
Ok, this unassuming (but apparently well-known) bar makes one of the BEST rum old fashioneds I've ever had. La Factoria seems like a place you would find in Portland; it's moderately hipster with an eclectic menu. I got there right around sunset and the vibes were mellow, with the golden hour light creating the perfect ambiance. Service was fast at the bar, and my drink was so, so good. Prices are also very reasonable, especially for Viejo San Juan. Bathrooms are maybe a bit dirty, but otherwise, this place is perfect.
Visited during the day after lunch around 1pm and enjoyed two amazing cocktails. Knowing this is a hot spot for nighttime, I can definitely see how this place is a fun time. Expert bartenders, can see why they're known for their great drinks. Got a Lavender Mule (perfectttttt with a lavender infusion and ginger flavor but not ginger-spicy) and Cucumber Smash (super refreshing!) which were delightful. The vibe was really awesome even though it was the middle of the day, a great group of locals around too, which only increased my confidence that this was an awesome spot to check out, not just a tourist spot. When they say artisanal cocktails, they absolutely mean it. I enjoyed watching the bartender make our drinks. My husband and I enjoyed sitting at the bar, there are also smaller tables and a really plush red couch area for relaxed seating. The best seat in the house, in our opinion was really the two barstools that look out into the street. We enjoyed sitting there, taking in some of the sun, people watching, and taking some really cute photos with our drinks. Additional cool factor: La Factoria is connected to four other bars, all on the same street, but you can actually navigate in between them through doorways inside each bar. It was really cool to be able to take five steps over and be in another bar and another and another! If you enjoy specialty cocktails that are crafted with passion, make sure you stop by this storied location. Cheers!
1 year ago
One of the best bars i've been to in Puerto Rico. The drinks are to die for and the vibe is great. You can dance some salsa with the locals (or watch) and just vibe out. Have been here multiple times during my short trip. I can't wait to come back. Try the pornstar martini you won't regret it! read more
I came here last Sunday with my girlfriends on my bachelorette trip. I've been wanting to go to this place since I decided on Puerto Rico for my bachelorette and I must say that this place did NOT disappoint. Being a bit of a cocktail aficionado, I've gone to several of these "top 50 bars in the world" but none has impressed me the way that La Factoria completely wowed me last weekend. Between our group of six girls, we ordered 6 out of the 10 drinks on the menu and literally every single one of them was freaking delicious and each their own perfect balance of sweet and tart (and occasionally smoky/spicy). I've gone to lot of great bars (some equally famous) all around the world and many of them do a few drinks really well but there's always a stinker here and there. But at La Factoria, honestly every single drink we had here was stellar. Among the six I tasted (you can taste everyone's drinks when you're the bachelorette!), my favorite was actually the Pornstar Martini - don't let the name fool you, it was actually a very classy drink - full of warmth (from the vanilla) while also being very refreshing and tropical. Two of the other girls also proclaimed the Pornstar Martini as their favorite drink. I also really liked the lavender mule and Mercado Roma and will also gladly re-order any of the other drinks I tasted (Hijos de Borinquen, Champeta, and Buffalo Soldier). My one regret is that we didn't have the chance to try the Guanabana Rum Punch because they ran out of ingredients :( Another pro tip- we read a lot of reviews where people said they had to wait for a while before they can get in. We went on a Sunday around 3PM and was instantly seated despite being a group of 6. So if you want to avoid the wait, don't go during night time. We noticed it started getting really busy around 5. read more
2 years ago
Loved that they have different rooms every room has a different type of vibe, good mojitos not really good at old fashioned tho read more
3 years ago
My favorite bar in the Caribbean! The Lavender Mule was sooooo perfect. Go to the side room that's lit by candles! What a vibe!! read more
7 years ago
Talk about the BEST mojitos in San Juan! Yes, La Factoria is amazing and well known for their signature cocktails. Came in here after being recommended not only by all the awesome yelpers but the locals too, so I knew it had to be amazing! Small spot, not the best for large groups but we still made it in with all 8 of us. Despite the earthquake, these guys were open and ready to lighten the mood with their AMAZING cocktails. There are two type of bar tenders: bar tenders and BARTENDERS! The bartenders here are truly passionate about what they do. Every single drink they make is driven by art and perfection. When they prepare everyrhjng it's a mini show. We ordered the Mercado Roma and the Peligroso and these drinks were amazing and at a great price. Yes, tourists come here a lot but it's far from being a tourist trap. All our drinks were amazing. One of our friends even ordered a bar tender special which was out of this world: cocktail tailored just for him according to his liquor preference. So delicious! We all decided we couldn't leave here without ordering mojitos so all of us did a round of them and the process, presentation and final product was just amazing. Our bar tender basically did a live tutorial on how to make the best mojito, showing us step by step and how to properly beat the mint without overdoing it. The perfect balance and ratio. You can skip the Bacardi Factory and come straight here. read more
Drinks were innovative. Staff and patrons were friendly. Only hopping bar in town it seems and everyone and their mother knows this spot. Well priced like all of OSJ pretty much and super cute with 3 different rooms for varying needs (wine/salsa/everything else). We had a great time albeit on a super full belly. Came for the lavender drink- but also sampled the bartenders own old fashioned made w rum (excellent), peligroso and ginger cocktails. Super easy on the lips. read more
3 years ago
My first time in PR and La Factoria simply became my favorite bar! The drinks are AMAZING. Service is outstanding and the ambiance overall is just simply awesome. The vibe this bar has embodies what Puerto Rico is all about. I just can't wait to go back!!! This is a PR gem! read more
What can be said about the factoría that hasn't been said? What can be expressed about it that hasn't been expressed? La factoría is exactly that it's name entails. It's a factory of dreams, good nights, resacas the next day, dance, laughter among old and new friends alike, all and all, it's a factory of good nights in which alcohol flows freely and inhibitions fall down by the waist side. If you ask any mesera(o) in Old San Juan what's the best place to party at night in the island chances are they'll say La Factoría. If you ask them where they'll party the night away after their shifts are over - chances are they'll say La Factoría. As a rule of thumb, any place good enough for the locals should be good enough. When it comes to location, it is conveniently located close to everything. It's close to el Morro, close to the plaza de las Armas, close to el Malecon, close to everything in Old San Juan. It's design is incredibly original. They've decided to leave the old brick exposed where it's exposed, to display the age of the building as a badge of honor. They've decided to use every little corner as a way to honor those Spanish roots so prevalent in Old San Juan. But the best part are the different rooms, and they different musical styles presented in each. You have your the first room and the typical Puerto Rican musical fare, then the hip hop room, the techno room, and beyond that and closer to the street you also have an additional Salsa room for hardcore salceros. In conclusion is the best party in San Juan. Just walk in, sit by the bar, buy a girl a drink, and let the conversation flow. In no time, the rhythms will take you and you'll love the night away on the dance floor. Welcome to La Factoría - Enjoy!! read more
3 years ago
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Amazing cocktails. Definitely a special way sample the local cocktail scene Go in the door behind the bar ;) read more
3 years ago
Great place for dancing if you think reggaeton has been keeping you hostage on this island- drinks are amazing too! read more
6 years ago
Reminded me of the speakeasies back home. Lots of different bars with different vibes They have live music and no reggaeton. The drink at one of the bars was called "Get lucky" and was the most delicious passion fruit drink I've ever had. I would go back every time I go to Puerto Rico just for this one drink. This place was pretty busy on a Monday so I'd definitely recommend giving it a chance when in old San Juan read more
3 years ago
Amazing drinks! The music was great. The vibe was so nice. It was a combination that of the ruins with a hipster and hole in the wall. read more
4 years ago
This is an amazing drinks place. So many different rooms having different themes and ambience. The salsa room was a lot of fun, watching people dancing. Loved the lavender mule and mezcal cocktail! read more
5 years ago
There's a reason this is considered one of the best bars in the world. Fantastic craft cocktails that aren't even expensive ($8-9), music, and friendly bartenders. I haven't has this much fun in a bar since college, and I'm 61. read more
1 year ago
Fantastic bar. They do have some food, small menu. They have very interesting infused drinks. I ordered the lavender mule, it is amazing.Check out the cocktail menu this is a must see if you come to Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. read more
Good drinks and good vibes. We stopped in for a drink and glad we did. It was a bit early so no trouble finding a seat at the bar. The bartenders were friendly and helpful, we got the lavender mule and champeta, both were delicious and the champeta was strong! read more
3 years ago
Food is amazing! Drinks are spectacular! Amazing ambiance with good music! Different rooms with different vibes and service throughout! Love la factoría! read more
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4 years ago
A Speakeasy within a speakeasy within a speakeasy and around the corner in Cuba Nina the same thing but times 4. I think there is 7 bars most of which are hidden. I rate this a Top spot. 1 guy I met on a rum tour recommended it and I thought it was a club but when I realized how many secret speakeasy's were inside I was THRILLED! Myself and an awesome young woman I met stepped inside and decided to eat in Vino the 2nd bar inside. She had the Mahi Mahi and I had the sliders. She had a drink with ginger and I had the Sangria. Then we ran into 2 other ppl and headed to Cuba nina a few steps away because the 3rd bar inside didn't open until 11 and it was around 9pm at the time. There we checked out the 4th and 5th bar which was super cute dark red, candles, looked like a vampires lair. but standing room only so we stayed in the front and had Beso de something and some other Drinks with Hibiscus & Tequila. After the other bars opened- so we went to check it out. I had like 4 drinks and it is tight and compact in some spaces. The bathroom was a regular dirty bar bathroom and the ambiance for each one was similar but there was a secret door leading you in each time. It's so popular we ran into several ppl from other tours we were in and ordered more bar food which was not bad at all. The sliders def were juicy. Each bar had different drinks and the whole building was overflowing with ppl all night until we left. A must see if you visit Old San Juan absolute must. read more
Lavender Mule [Ketel One vodka . Ginger Tea . Lavender . Citrus] I'm a weak sauce, but this drink was even weaker. Tasted similar to a lemonade (citrus-y) and didn't make me red or tipsy (my kind of drink lol) Hijos de Borinquen [Don Q Añejo rum . Smith & Cross . Lime . Cinnamon . Apricot Liquor] looks girly but doesn't taste girly like the lavender mule. Could taste the rum and cinnamon. My guy friend and i both preferred the lavender mule Quick, friendly service, however drinks took a long time. Small bar so there can be a wait, even at 1pm on a Thursday. Easy to miss- It's on the corner and the sign says café hijos de borinquen, not La Factoria. this is where despacito was filmed apparently. read more
2 years ago
My friend and I came to La Factoría around 4 pm and the first thing we noted was that it was difficult to find the entrance due to the lack of sign. However we eventually found the entrance to the main bar and discovered that the location consists of different rooms with different bars. At the time we were there, only a couple of the beginning rooms were open but I assume that the later ones open up later on. The second room had a different menu from the first and was more wine-based. It was cool to watch the bartender expertly make the drinks in front of us and my friend got an espresso martini and I got the San Juan Grubb. I admit that I didn't enjoy the drink THAT much and the appearance was underwhelming, but the separation in the two colors of the drink was pretty cool! We were also looking to order from the food menu but it was very unclear as to what time the kitchen was opening. We were told that it would be open in 5 min (5 pm), but 30 min later, it was still not open. I would be willing to come back to try the other bars and also later in the night when the food menu is definitely available! read more
We arrived here on Friday night, and boy was it hard to find. No sign that says La Factoria. Inside this place is very run down with the concrete deteriorating big time. I guess it adds to the "coolness" factor, but one of the toilets not flushing is not that cool to me. It's pretty chaotic in here. Lots of people bumping into each other. We ordered two of the half dozen specialty drinks (about $9 each) that were listed on the chalk board in the corner, The Lavender Mule and Spiced Whiskey. It was interesting to watch them mix them up in front of you. The Mule was pretty tasty, the Whiskey, spiced too much for my liking. Be aware that behind the bar is a door leading to other dark bars. If low light is your thing, then you will like that atmosphere big time. read more
(Visited 2/7/2020) Finishing up our vacation in the Caribbean we were out celebrating our last night in San Juan and we were told by multiple people (locals and hotel staff) that we needed to come here. So the place opened up at 4:00pm and we were not the only ones waiting to get in. So this place has a couple of secrets... Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right in the middle of the busy party district is this low-key gem. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the inside is where this restaurant does all it's talking. So the restaurant is based around being a cocktail bar that makes such cool and unique drinks with the aura of Old San Juan surrounding you. It's aesthetically pleasing and works SO WELL. Seating is limited... in the first room. So what happens is, as the bar stays open later additional rooms open up that lead to more rooms. There are a total of 4 and you always start in the first one which leads into the next room, then into the next and so on. There was a schedule of some sort of when each room opens, but I really believe it's up to the people running the place. It was one of the most unique things I've ever heard of a restaurant doing. Sadly, the bar wasn't busy enough for the last 2 rooms to open early enough (before we left). (This place stays open until 4:00am every single night.) Service: Murphy was our bartender and he... was... awesome. He just had the personality that belonged in that bar. It fit him and he fit it. Lol, I don't even know how else to explain that. Most of the service is done at the bar when you go up and get your own food/drink, but there was a server floating around somewhere. Food/Drink: My fiancée had the Lavender Mule (Ketel One, ginger tea, lavender and citrus) while I had the Hijos Borinquen (Don Q Añejo, Smith & Cross, lime, cinnamon and apricot liquior). The drinks were so flavorful, different and decently strong, although they could've used more alcohol. We had several more drinks, but I think we ordered much simpler concoctions that we knew we'd enjoy and feel the effects of. Lol. Value: It's a hoppin' bar so they know they're worth. Our drinks stayed between $8.00 and $9.00, which is pretty solid to be honest. It's way better than New York City priced drinks, that's for sure. Lol. If you stay a while in here though... you can certainly run the bill up very high. In conclusion, I'd love to revisit this place and come prepared to stay all night. Lol. I wanna see all the rooms and try the entire drink menu. I really loved it here. read more
3 years ago
Fun spot for a drink and dancing. Very nice vibe. Good drinks and lots of great music ! And lots of ice unlike some bars apparently in old San Juan ( scryver) had a great time. Would recommend! Next time I'm gonna eat there too !!!!! read more
More info about La Factoría
Calle San Sebastián 148
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
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http://www.lafactoriavsj.com
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