DINE AROUND OPTIONS The best San Juan restaurants can rival anything in London, Paris or New York. In fact, many of the island's top chefs cut their teeth in Manhattan before branching out to what some call New York's sixth borough. The best places to eat in San Juan are found in two places: Old San Juan and Condado. You'll find plenty of American fast-food options everywhere, but the best Puerto Rican food is "comida criolla," traditional dishes that are a blend of Spanish, Caribbean and West Indian flavors and ingredients. Keep an eye out for mofongo, a delectable mish-mash of plantains and seafood or beef, thick soups that are almost more like a meatloaf than a broth, and grilled seafood—lots and lots of grilled seafood. Old San Juan Neighborhood Old San Juan is located in the northeast of San Juan on a two- and half-mile limestone islet. Old San Juan is one of Puerto Rico’s treasures. You cannot resist to visit this Old Colonial City full of shops, historic places, museums, open air cafés, restaurants, gracious homes, and tree-shaded plazas. Marmalade Chef Owner Peter Schintler, has traveled to over forty countries on five continents, and worked under six different Master Chefs, from France to Asia, at restaurants such as Raymond Blanc’s Le Manior Aux Quat Saisons, La Contea in Piedmonte, and the legendary Le Cirque in Manhattan. Chef Peter first achieved notoriety in Singapore, where he was nominated as Asia’s rising star. At Marmalade Chef Peter has created a vivid and sexy ambiance “at the vanguard of elegant and contemporary gastronomy in San Juan”. Location: 317 Calle Fortaleza, Old San Juan Dress Code: Casual elegant Cuisine: French, Eclectic, Vegetarian, Vegan Webpage: http://www.marmaladepr.com/ Price Range: $$$$ Capacity: 140 ppl La Lanterna Steeped in Italian tradition, nostalgia, and beauty; this bastion of fine dining is the crowning accomplishment of chef Franco’s culinary career. Within its exquisite Old San Juan Spanish colonial architecture, guests may choose to be seated in the indoor dining room or amid the refreshing tropical foliage of the open-air patio. Location: 202 Calle Del Cristo Dress code: Casual Elegant Cuisine: Italian Webpage: https://www.lalanterna.rest/ Price Range: $$$$ Capacity: 50 ppl Verde Mesa Tucked down a historic old-town street, this little gem of a restaurant is lauded for its creative menu, with great options for vegetarians and vegans. Verde Mesa's fresh and flavorful dishes are made with ingredients from local organic farms. Antiques and mood lighting create a romantic ambience. Location: 107 Calle Tetuan Dress code: Casual Cuisine: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Farm to Table Webpage: https://www.facebook.com/verdemesa/ Price Range: $$$ Capacity: 30 ppl Café El Punto Serving traditional Puerto Rican dishes like rice and beans, mofongo, tostones, and stuffed avocado since 1992. They have a wide variety of freshly prepared juices. Location: 105 Calle Fortaleza Dress code: Casual Cuisine: Puerto Rican and Chilean Webpage: http://cafeelpunto.com/ Price Range: $$ Capacity: 60 ppl Café Puerto Rico Experience a traditional Puerto Rican meal, great coffee, excellent service in this unique, authentic building! Location: Plaza Colon, Old San Juan Dress code: Casual Cuisine: Puerto Rican Cuisine Webpage: http://www.cafepuertorico.com/intro.html Price Range: $$ Capacity: 60 ppl Princesa Gastrobar Visit the first Gastrobar of Old San Juan specialized in rums of Puerto Rico. Princesa Gastrobar offers a taste of 19th Century Puerto Rican cuisine with Caribbean and International Fusions. Located on a popular pedestrian street, and surrounded by trees and vegetation, you will feel the history, magic of the story of this unique venue. Location: Paseo de la Princesa Dress code: Casual Cuisine: International and Caribbean Webpage: https://www.princesapr.com/ Price Range: $$ Capacity: 125 ppl El Jibarito A fun atmosphere to enjoy a traditional Puerto Rican meal. Location: Old San Juan Dress code: Casual Cuisine: Puerto Rican Cuisine Webpage: https://www.facebook.com/eljibarito77/ Price Range: $$ Barrachina Restaurant Birthplace of the now world famous “Pina Colada”, Barrachina offers an extensive menu in a lively restaurant setting. Serving a variety of Puerto Rican and international dishes. Location: Old San Juan Dress code: Casual Cuisine: Puerto Rican and International Webpage: http://www.barrachina.com/index.html Price Range: $$ Capacity: 130 ppl El Mercado de Paseo Caribe Fifteen culinary experiences from award-winning local chefs and purveyors. Choose between seafood, Italian, Asian, Puerto Rican, American, Mediterranean, Mexican, and more. Location: Paseo Caribe Dress code: Casual Cuisine: International Webpage: http://www.paseocaribepr.com/el-mercado/ Price Range: $$-$$$ Condado Neighborhood Condado is located in the north of San Juan and is well known for its shorelines and tourisms. Most of San Juan’s hotels are located in Condado. This beach front modern district is popular among the locals when looking to enjoy a late evening walk or even a workout run. If you are interested in an elegant romantic dinner and breezy stroll through several parks, Condado is the choice for you. 1919 Restaurant Michelin Star-rated Executive Chef Juan José Cuevas believes in pairing social consciousness with exquisite taste. We place the highest value on hand-selecting products that are local, artisanal and homemade in order to craft food that is flavor-forward. Always fresh and with a contemporary flair, the food at Condado’s 1919 Restaurant is served with meticulous care and pride from our island kitchen to your table. 1919 Restaurant blends the experience of world-class dining with the flavor of locally-sourced ingredients. Savor artisanal delicacies served freshly -- and with a contemporary flair -- from our kitchen to your table. Location: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel Dress Code: Elegant Cuisine: International Fusion Cuisine Webpage: http://www.1919restaurant.com/ Price Range: $$$$ Capacity: 123 ppl Serafina We invite you all to come sample our unique, inventive take on traditional Italian recipes at Serafina. Modern Italian cuisine served in a hip setting, in the heart of San Juan’s Condado area. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Location: Condado - La Concha Hotel Dress Code: Evening casual Cuisine: Creative Italian Webpage: http://serafinasj.com/ Price Range: $$$ Capacity: 100 ppl Amare Amare restaurant gives a new meaning to Mediterranean & seafood dining in San Juan. The hottest restaurant to hit the Condado district, aMare’s repertoire includes the local flavors as Italy and other Latin-European countries fuse with Puerto Rico in culinary romance. Watch the sunset over the Atlantic horizon while enjoying a fresh “Branzino Al Sale”, “Paella Di Antonio”, and many other creative dishes. Location: Condado Dress Code: Casual Elegant Cuisine: Mediterranean & Seafood Webpage: https://www.serafinabeachhotel.com/dining/amare/ Price Range: $$$ Capacity: 180 ppl RAYA Restaurant The chef describes the decor of Raya, located at O:LV Hotel in Condado, as "lounge chic type". Certainly, the restaurant is decorated with great taste. The color palette that prevails is green, golden and gray, all balanced and without shrillness. The space is cozy. White marble tables with matt gold foot are arranged in a U-shape around the dining room with armchairs and small sofas in green suede. The cutlery is golden like the dishes. Walls and curtains in dark gray impart an aura of more privacy to the space. At the end of the room the bar with black stools is arranged. Several mirrors with a black and gold pattern placed by various parts of the room give a sense of spaciousness to the restaurant. The center of the room is crowned by a large ceiling lamp composed of a network of tree branches from which hang long crystal tears. At the same time, they intertwine with foliage and anthuriums to provide the only touch of bright color of the place. Location: 1110 Av. Magdalena Dress Code: Casual Elegant Cuisine: Asian/Puerto Rican Fusion Webpage: http://olvhotel.com/restaurants/ Price Range: $$$$ Capacity: 34 ppl Sage: Steak Loft The ultra-chic Sage is located in the first level of O:live Boutique Hotel. It is one of San Juan’s finest. Chef Mario Pagán brings to Sage creative flair and energy presenting a classic steakhouse fare and playful Italian inspired dishes. Location: 55 Calle Aguadilla Dress Code: Casual Elegant Cuisine: Steakhouse, International Webpage: https://oliveboutiquehotel.com/sage- steak-loft Price Range: $$$- $$$$ Mario Pagan Fine dining characterized for its ambiance and fusion of native ingredients by Chef Mario Pagan. Chef Mario Pagan is the only Puerto Rican selected as part of an exclusive group of chefs from all states to be part of the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership program. Location: 110 Magdalena Ave. Dress Code: Casual Elegant Cuisine: Caribbean Fusion Webpage: http://mariopaganrest.com/ Price Range: $$$- $$$$ Oceano Oceano is one of the few beach front restaurants located in Condado. Renowned for serving locally sourced seafood and mouthwatering tropical beverages. Oceano combines unexpected flavors with a Caribbean flair, offering a memorable dining experience that compares your plate to a tropical breeze. Location: #2 Calle Vendig Dress Code: Casual Elegant Cuisine: International, Caribbean, & Seafood Webpage: http://oceanopr.com/ Price Range: $$$ Capacity: 150 + ppl Cocina Abierta “An open kitchen, eclectic and without limitations, we create and interpret culinary ideas inspired from different cultures,