Guidebook for San Juan
Shopping
By far, BEST gift shop in Old San Juan. True Puerto Rican made arts and crafts, rum, souvenirs, artwork. Not like most of the other shops in OSJ, with stuff made in China or Peru! T: 787-725-5596.
15 locals recommend
Puerto Rican Art & Crafts
204 C. de la FortalezaBy far, BEST gift shop in Old San Juan. True Puerto Rican made arts and crafts, rum, souvenirs, artwork. Not like most of the other shops in OSJ, with stuff made in China or Peru! T: 787-725-5596.
Same as back home -- great prices, good variety. Need we say more! On the main Plaza de Armas. T: 787-722-3020
31 locals recommend
Marshalls
Carretera 3Same as back home -- great prices, good variety. Need we say more! On the main Plaza de Armas. T: 787-722-3020
There's Walgreens and CVS, but this friendly drugstore is where locals go. Its been around since the 1850's and carries about everything. Great for gifts. On main Plaza de Armas. T: (787) 721-3538.
41 locals recommend
Puerto Rico Drug
157 C. de La CruzThere's Walgreens and CVS, but this friendly drugstore is where locals go. Its been around since the 1850's and carries about everything. Great for gifts. On main Plaza de Armas. T: (787) 721-3538.
First indoor mall in PR; now largest in Caribbean, 2nd largest in Latin America. BIG! Many brand-name stores and eateries. For Macys, Chillis, JCPenney, their highest grossing stores. (787) 767-5202.
124 locals recommend
Victoria's Secret & PINK
525 Av. Franklin Delano RooseveltFirst indoor mall in PR; now largest in Caribbean, 2nd largest in Latin America. BIG! Many brand-name stores and eateries. For Macys, Chillis, JCPenney, their highest grossing stores. (787) 767-5202.
Sightseeing
Our favorite cause! Stop by to volunteer, make donation, adopt a cat to take back home, or just for some cute cat photos! Our cat "Romeo" is a SAG alumni. T: 787-579-0055, W: www.saveagato.org.
Save A Gato
Our favorite cause! Stop by to volunteer, make donation, adopt a cat to take back home, or just for some cute cat photos! Our cat "Romeo" is a SAG alumni. T: 787-579-0055, W: www.saveagato.org.
Long, dramatic, Bay-side walk, beneath the walls of El Morro Fort. Good for a morning walk or jog. Watch the ships go by. Look for the cats sunning on the rocks! Managed by US National Park Service.
8 locals recommend
Paseo del Morro
Paseo del MorroLong, dramatic, Bay-side walk, beneath the walls of El Morro Fort. Good for a morning walk or jog. Watch the ships go by. Look for the cats sunning on the rocks! Managed by US National Park Service.
Food Scene
Best neighborhood place for breakfast or lunch. Typical Spanish and Puerto Rican food. Delicious pastries and strong coffee. Real close to the apartment.
T: (787) 724-4607
50 locals recommend
Cafetería Mallorca
300 C. de San FranciscoBest neighborhood place for breakfast or lunch. Typical Spanish and Puerto Rican food. Delicious pastries and strong coffee. Real close to the apartment.
T: (787) 724-4607
Established in 1848, one of oldest restaurants in Western Hemisphere. This "Lady from Mallorca" serves Spanish and Puerto Rican food. Recently renovated; authentic design details. T: (787) 722-3261.
24 locals recommend
La Mallorquina
207 C. de San JustoEstablished in 1848, one of oldest restaurants in Western Hemisphere. This "Lady from Mallorca" serves Spanish and Puerto Rican food. Recently renovated; authentic design details. T: (787) 722-3261.
"La Playera" waterfront bar/restaurant in "Isla Verde" -- small, casual, medium-priced, with great location and view. Spend the day at this beautiful beach and chilling. Yoga too! T: (787) 791-1115
15 locals recommend
Hotel La Playita
6 C. Amapola"La Playera" waterfront bar/restaurant in "Isla Verde" -- small, casual, medium-priced, with great location and view. Spend the day at this beautiful beach and chilling. Yoga too! T: (787) 791-1115
Popular breakfast and lunch spot for 60+ years with local office workers and residents alike. "Comido Criollo". Hand-ground coffee and fresh-squeezed juices. Good portions and prices. T: 787-723-9743.
58 locals recommend
Cafe Manolin
251 C. de San JustoPopular breakfast and lunch spot for 60+ years with local office workers and residents alike. "Comido Criollo". Hand-ground coffee and fresh-squeezed juices. Good portions and prices. T: 787-723-9743.
West Indian soul food! Homemade, daily specials, inexpensive. Very small hole-in-the-wall. Yvette is the nice owner and chef. Usually open, lunch and dinner. T: 787-307-3894.
19 locals recommend
Fatty's
West Indian soul food! Homemade, daily specials, inexpensive. Very small hole-in-the-wall. Yvette is the nice owner and chef. Usually open, lunch and dinner. T: 787-307-3894.
Fun and chic bistro scene. Great for brunch and lunch. International crowd. T: 787-725-5830.
70 locals recommend
St. Germain
156 Sol StreetFun and chic bistro scene. Great for brunch and lunch. International crowd. T: 787-725-5830.
In Guavate, -- a little mountain town on Rte#184 near Cayey -- is the "Ruta del Lechón." Sundays are fun, crowded, with live music, dancing, pork on a spit. Popular weekend outing. T: (787) 747-7296.
El Nuevo Rancho
27 Cll 9In Guavate, -- a little mountain town on Rte#184 near Cayey -- is the "Ruta del Lechón." Sundays are fun, crowded, with live music, dancing, pork on a spit. Popular weekend outing. T: (787) 747-7296.
Another OSJ institution -- casual, family run, home-style "Comida Criolla" style-cooking. Great decor! A "Jibaro" is the typical, old-style country peasant -- not too many found in PR anymore!
125 locals recommend
El Jibarito
280 C. del SolAnother OSJ institution -- casual, family run, home-style "Comida Criolla" style-cooking. Great decor! A "Jibaro" is the typical, old-style country peasant -- not too many found in PR anymore!
Arts & Culture
The literary hub of Old San Juan with poetry readings and art gallery. Great for memorable gifts to take home. Quality cafe too, with a/c and wifi! On main Plaza de Armas. T: 787-721-0564
22 locals recommend
The Poet's Passage
203 C. de La CruzThe literary hub of Old San Juan with poetry readings and art gallery. Great for memorable gifts to take home. Quality cafe too, with a/c and wifi! On main Plaza de Armas. T: 787-721-0564
The nearest and best movie house to OSJ. Alot of foreign and artsy films, good cafe, sophisticated setting, popular with locals. Fun restaurants close by. (787) 721-4288
69 locals recommend
Caribbean Cinemas Fine Arts Miramar
Avenida de la ConstituciónThe nearest and best movie house to OSJ. Alot of foreign and artsy films, good cafe, sophisticated setting, popular with locals. Fun restaurants close by. (787) 721-4288
Built in 1910, this is a covered fresh vegetable market. Weekend nights, the plaza changes to an open-air party scene -- crowded with revelers, live Salsa music, sidewalk bars and cafes.
141 locals recommend
La Plaza del Mercado Santurce
205 Calle Jose M. RaffucciBuilt in 1910, this is a covered fresh vegetable market. Weekend nights, the plaza changes to an open-air party scene -- crowded with revelers, live Salsa music, sidewalk bars and cafes.
The "Lincoln Center"/ "Kennedy Center" of Puerto Rico, with music halls, ballet, theater. The home of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and the annual Casals Festival. T: (787) 724-4747.
14 locals recommend
Centro de Bellas Artes
The "Lincoln Center"/ "Kennedy Center" of Puerto Rico, with music halls, ballet, theater. The home of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and the annual Casals Festival. T: (787) 724-4747.
The only true bookstore in OSJ. Good selection of bestsellers plus books on Puerto Rico -- guidebooks, history, architecture, food/cookbooks, etc. Most in Spanish, but some in English. T: 787-724-8200
Tulip Art
150 C. de la FortalezaThe only true bookstore in OSJ. Good selection of bestsellers plus books on Puerto Rico -- guidebooks, history, architecture, food/cookbooks, etc. Most in Spanish, but some in English. T: 787-724-8200
The best Salsa club in metro San Juan and literally around the corner from the apartment. Live salsa bands, small dance floor, packed with locals on weekends.
50 locals recommend
Nuyorican Cafe
312 Calle de San FranciscoThe best Salsa club in metro San Juan and literally around the corner from the apartment. Live salsa bands, small dance floor, packed with locals on weekends.
Convenient, safe, off the lobby of the Sheraton hotel. Directly across the street from cruise ship pier 4 and two blocks from the apartment.
Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel
100 C. BrumbaughConvenient, safe, off the lobby of the Sheraton hotel. Directly across the street from cruise ship pier 4 and two blocks from the apartment.
San Juan's contemporary art museum houses some 700 post-1940s works from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America.
162 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico
San Juan's contemporary art museum houses some 700 post-1940s works from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America.
PR's largest collection of paintings by Puerto Rican and other Latin American artists, back to Colonial times. Recently completed a 4-year, $53 million renovation. Nice 5-acre garden.
473 locals recommend
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
299 Avenida José de DiegoPR's largest collection of paintings by Puerto Rican and other Latin American artists, back to Colonial times. Recently completed a 4-year, $53 million renovation. Nice 5-acre garden.
Everything Else
Best nearby public beach. Clean, safe, protected tranquil waters. Families, picnics, parking lot. From the apartment, a scenic mile-long oceanfront walk or easy bus-ride.
118 locals recommend
Escambrón Beach Club
Calle San AgustínBest nearby public beach. Clean, safe, protected tranquil waters. Families, picnics, parking lot. From the apartment, a scenic mile-long oceanfront walk or easy bus-ride.