Glitz! Glamour! Games! Gambling! It’s time for a night out at Puerto Rico’s world-class casinos for newbies or those who have a few sessions under your belt.

On the Island of Enchantment, casinos are much more than just a place to try your luck; they are entertainment destinations in their own right. It’s where world-class dining, legendary hospitality, live shows, and interactive gaming come together to create an unforgettable atmosphere of local fun and flavor.

To further improve the island’s gaming industry, multi-site progressive slots called Jackpot del Encanto were introduced to 13 casinos. These new slots allow customers to opt for a bigger prize of $20,000 or higher with betting a minimum of 40 cents and a maximum of $2.

Puerto Rico’s casinos are all conveniently located in or adjacent to some of the island’s most noteworthy hotels and resorts that are located along the gorgeous Caribbean coastline, and the most concentrated selection is found in San Juan and its surrounding suburbs. Isla Verde, a popular spot for visitors, is a fantastic area to start. This picturesque beachfront paradise is home to several high-rise hotels, many of which include casinos. A beacon of luxury, The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino maintains the iconic brand’s signature level of swanky sophistication. The on-site The Casino includes traditional table games, more than 250 slot machines, and even luxury bingo seven days a week. At night, the chic bar and lounge next to the casino entrance pumps out live music and entertainment, and gamers can dine at cosmopolitan restaurants like Il Molino New York and BLT Steak.

At Casino del Sol at Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort, guests can play the ponies with off-track betting during local horseraces. The casino also includes slot machines and tables, and the Picante Lounge features live Latin music and dancing, as well as cocktails and bites.

 

• 
• 
• 
• 

 

The intimate Oasis Casino at Embassy Suites San Juan Hotel is home to slot machines, seven gaming tables, and special promotions like bingo, multi-level progressive jackpots, and computerized player tracking systems.

In the exclusive oceanfront haven of Condado, the main drag of Ashford Avenue features upscale hotels, elegant eateries, local dive bars and, of course, spectacular casinos. San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino includes more than 360 machines for players of all risk levels, ranging from penny slots to $25 buy-ins. The massive casino floor also houses 26 table games with the highest betting limits in Puerto Rico. Players can try their luck at blackjack, mini baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, Texas hold ‘em, craps, roulette, and more. The casino even offers free gaming lessons daily from 6-7 p.m. as well as a weekly poker tournament on Thursdays.

Down the road, Casino del Mar at La Concha, A Renaissance Resort also invites guests and passersby to try their luck for nonstop 24/7 fun at the tables and the slots. With three types of blackjack, craps, poker, and baccarat, as well as the only local roulette table with a Luminar system and display and plasma screens broadcasting everything from the biggest games to breaking news, there’s always something exciting happening here. If you want to take a break from the casino’s spellbinding energy and get a bite to eat, you can visit Perla seafood restaurant that features a wine cellar with more than 4,000 bottles and over 1,000 labels; Solera, for tapas by poolside; Komakai Sushi Bar, to taste delicious sushi, sashimi and signature rolls; or stop by Serafina for a lively Italian dining experience.

Don’t shuffle out of town without spending time at Casino Metro at Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, home to San Juan’s largest casino. The site boasts more than 400 slot machines from pennies to dollars and from reel to video games; and some of the hottest new games. It also the only casino in San Juan that features the island’s Jackpot del Encanto. Casino Metro also offers 16 table games, including pai gow poker, three-card poker, baccarat, blackjack and the first and only electronic roulette table on the island. In between hands, players can enjoy live entertainment at its Metro Stage Live showcasing some of the top local acts or take an excursion to the Metro Lounge for music, dancing, signature cocktails, and more. Casino Metro is also home to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Puerto Rico, where every month the fights are aired for free via pay-per-view.

 

 

El Tropical Casino at Hyatt Place Bayamon also offer distinctive atmospheres for players to hit, stick, fold, or go all in at the tables and get mesmerized by the spinning wheels and ringing bells of the slot machines. It has over 350 slots with denominations from 1 cent to $25 including the Tropical Casino properties’ exclusive Dragon Spin and Tropical Jackpot, which provides bonus and progressive rewards. The progressive level payout is awarded to the customer at that specific Tropical Casino where the winning slot is situated, while the shared grand prize (where the payout increases as a group starting at $10,000 with a guarantee payout before it reaches $15,000) can be awarded at any of the Tropical Casinos. It also has table games such as Blazing 7’s blackjack, craps and roulette. When you’re not in the mood for any more gambling, guests can visit the Sun Lounge to listen to live music, sing some karaoke or have some cocktails, wine or craft beer.

Roughly 20 miles from San Juan in the northern coastal valley is the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, which resides on the outskirts of El Yunque National Rainforest. This comprehensive resort is home to 10 on-site restaurants and lounges, two championship golf courses, a full-service spa and a killer casino. Between meals, guests can indulge their gaming fantasies at Rio Mar Casino and when the action gets too hot at the tables, they can head into the Players Club sports bar, which features multiple plasma TV screens and a lively, festive ambiance.

Located on Puerto Rico’s picturesque south coast, overlooking historic Ponce’s crystal Caribbean waters and rugged, majestic mountains are the Hilton Ponce, the Ponce Plaza Hotel, and the Holiday Inn Ponce; all of which have high-energy casinos.

 

• 
• 

 

The Casino at Costa Caribe Resort Ponce Hilton is open 24/7 and showcases more than 330 slots, blackjack, poker, roulette and craps tables. The fun continues at its El Bohio Sports and Pool Bar and La Cava Restaurant, a swanky eclectic venue perfect for sharing appetizers along with a glass of your favorite wine or cocktail. The Casino de la Plaza at the Ponce Plaza Hotel has an exciting range of table games including blackjack, craps table, roulette, and bingo. The Casino has over 260 state-of-the-art slot machines and offers weekly entertainment. Though, when your stomach starts rumbling louder than a slot machine that hit a jackpot, it’s time to take a break and indulge your culinary taste at the award winning Lola Eclectic Cuisine and grab a nightcap at VIVA Bar.

And the Tropical Casino at the Holiday Inn Ponce also delights gamblers, gamers, and guests alike. Besides having over 300 slots that includes the exclusive Dragon Spin and Tropical Jackpot, it also exhilarates its guests with table games like Blazing 7’s blackjack, roulette, mini baccarat, Caribbean stud poker available 24/7. It has an exciting monthly events calendar, provides live music and karaoke on weekends as well as special dates and has bingo along with weekly raffles that include cars, cruises, and much more.

If heading west, then the charming town of Mayaguez, the third largest city in Puerto Rico, is a must-see location. It is considered the capital of the west coast, and Mayaguez is known for its ports, theater of arts, and houses the only zoo in
Puerto Rico.

While you’re there, stop and visit the Holiday Inn Mayaguez and test your luck at its Tropical Casino. This fun-filled gaming and entertainment facility, which offers its guests over 360 slots including the exclusive Dragon Spin and Tropical Jackpot, also raffles up to $12,000 worth in prizes which includes giving away cars at least six times a year and to provide some local culture it invites artisans twice a year to sell local goods at its casino entrance. You can’t forget to mention that there is a Fat Tuesday’s right next door, a fun spot to embrace the Mardi Gras philosophy with a frozen daiquiris in hand.

No matter where you choose to let it ride, be sure to visit your casino’s guest services desk to snag a frequent player’s rewards card. Just show the host or hostess your driver’s license and you can start accumulating points to spend on food and beverage, take advantage of discounted hotel rates, and participate in special promotions and giveaways.

Whether you’re high-stakes player or a cautious beginner, there’s no better Caribbean island to test your luck than in Puerto Rico.

 

Take a step back in time, and into the cutting-edge of cocktail cultures, in one of Puerto Rico’s Prohibition-era watering holes.

Long celebrated for its legendary nightlife, San Juan has earned the crown as the undisputed party capital of the Caribbean. From throbbing discos to perfectly disheveled dive bars, the revelry spills out into the streets on any given night along the cobbled lanes of the Old City, the funky byways of Santurce and the gleaming beachside strolls of Condado and Isla Verde.

Mix in an evolving gastronomic scene and cocktail culture that are already unmatched in the region and that can hold their own with any foodie favorite destination, and it’s clear to see why Puerto Rico’s capital city scene continues to shine long after the sun goes down – and often even after it comes up again.

From lively sidewalk cafes and gastropub grub hubs to DJ-fueled dance floors and the roar of sports bars, Puerto Rico after dark serves up a place for all tastes.

While full-tilt fun can be easily found around virtually every corner, those in the know are finding urbane oases in the middle of the mix in speakeasy style bars, an emerging trend that traces its roots back to the Prohibition-era watering holes where the well-heeled kept the party going.

Cool and cosmopolitan, these clandestine hideaways may be tucked inside known establishments, essentially hidden in plain sight provided you can spot the secret entrance or, in some cases, are privy to the proper password that will open a path that is both a step back and in time and a step forward in Puerto Rico’s cocktail culture.

A good place to start the search is in Miramar, an increasingly hip but somewhat overlooked neighborhood that sits on the radar between Old San Juan, Condado, and Santurce.

But first thing’s first as zeroing in a speakeasy may first require a foray in cyberspace where Oveja Negra, a hidden bar located inside Mexican eatery Bartola, posts a daily password on Instagram. Secret code secured, the next task is to flush out the door posing as a bottle-lined shelf.

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

 

OK, now you’re in. Intimacy pervades. Vintage décor, sultry sounds, and crafted cocktails blend into a seductive mix. At once timeless while harking back to a time when such simple pleasures were more than a little illicit.

Down the street is Bar La Unidad, identifiable only by the three interlocking rings that mark its otherwise nondescript darkened doorway that leads from the Spartan exterior into an elegant interior. Soft light soaks into the polished mahogany bar and lush leather chairs and banquettes, providing just enough light to let you see the well-tailored bartenders expertly craft signature cocktails.

The sultry setting appears preserved in amber, a tone that is mirrored in the subdued lighting, and the stellar selection of top-shelf, small-batch bourbons, whiskeys and scotches as well as the ice-cold copper cups used to serve some of the mixologists’ stunningly satisfying blends.

As skilled as the staff is behind the bar, the kitchen crew is also up to the task, dishing out expertly executed bar bites ranging from tuna tartar and grilled octopus to sharply presented charcuterie and cheese plates.

 

 

Puerto Rico’s original speakeasy took shape inside La Factoria, one of the hottest bars along San Sebastian Street, the cobbled heart of the Old City’s pub scene and home to an epic annual street party that stretches over several days each January.

House-made cocktails are the name of the game at La Factoria, earning the hotspot a legion of locals and top billing among travelers in the few years since the business was opened by a pair of award-winning bartenders.

Step in off the street and sit down for a cocktail that likely combines a measure of some world-class spirit with a dash of house-crafted bitters, lavender syrup or ginger beer. Kick back on a couch under strings of lights as you look out the large open windows on the parade of partiers passing. But don’t stop there. Opt for the orange door and you’ll pass into a secret room where candlelight bouncing off mirrors plays beautifully across artworks and wine-based cocktail and cut crystal.

While their signature cocktails and food menus may vary, a common theme among the capital city’s cozy speakeasy bars is elegance and exclusivity. Their clientele is capped at a certain number meaning that the classic ambiance is never marked by jostling to get the bartenders attention or raised voices trying to be heard above the din. It’s a speakeasy – a place to converse, to sooth your soul, and to leave your cares at the hidden door.

El Mercado is a place for people to enjoy the best of what Puerto Rico has to offer

There’s never been a better time to experience the best of Puerto Rican gastronomy and culture than right now, thanks to El Mercado de Paseo Caribe in San Juan. This ultra-chic gourmet food hall in the multifaceted Paseo Caribe opened in October 2016 and draws hundreds of visitors each day.

In the heart of San Juan and just steps from the scenic waters of Condado Lagoon, Paseo Caribe is a luxury mixed-use development of high end boutiques, shops, restaurants, and residences. Paseo Caribe offers a perfect place for visitors to meet, shop, and dine. The lifestyle hub appeals to guests of all ages with activities ranging from interactive scavenger hunts to family-friendly entertainment to weekly Sunset Rhythms live music concerts.

And now, Paseo Caribe also boasts El Mercado, its very own indoor-outdoor swanky culinary market open 365 days a year with even some food stands operating as early as 7:00 a.m. and closing at 1:00 a.m.

“El Mercado is a place for people to enjoy the best of what Puerto Rico has to offer – nature’s bounty, delicious food and drink, contemporary fashion, art, music, and culture – all in one incredible oceanfront setting,” said Sam Kirschner, a partner at CPG Real Estate, which developed Paseo Caribe.

The impressive marketplace houses epicurean food stands from 15 of Puerto Rico’s best chefs, bakers, and purveyors. Spread over 19,000 square feet, El Mercado conveys an inviting trendy artsy atmosphere reflecting the Latin tradition on the island where guests can dine on a variety of delectable dishes ranging from piping hot Asian noodles to Jamaican-spiced jerk chicken. Walk around to check out your choices, and get ready for a chic meal with a view.

Start at La Hacienda, a well-known gourmet purveyor of cheese, meats, and produce. Hacienda tempts carnivores at The Meat Shop with burgers, terrines, and charcuterie. Or, diners can opt to eat at The Cheese Shop for cheese boards, sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and more, all prepared with a Puerto Rican flair.

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

 

Old-world Italian flavors waft from the kitchen at Nonna, a rustic dining experience that combines fresh simple ingredients, delicious recipes, and cutting-edge cooking techniques. Another mouthwatering eatery is Napolitana, which dishes out Italian staples like cheesy lasagna, tasty loaded calzones, pasta varieties, and Neapolitan style brick oven pizza topped with a variety of the freshest ingredients and homemade sauce. Mediterranean Market focuses on cuisine from its eponymous region, ranging from Greek dishes like pan-seared octopus to gnocchi and other Italian specialties.

For meals of Asian persuasion, try The Noodle Merchant or Himalaya Co. The former serves noodle-based dishes that draw upon the flavors of Thailand and Vietnam, while the latter features a menu of bento boxes and steamed buns made with proteins like beef short rib, braised pork and crispy chicken.

Diners can almost taste the passion that’s in every bite at the farm-to-table, Puerto Rican-style restaurant Finca, which features a menu that changes seasonally depending on what’s available from local farmers. Stop by Aroma Latino for cuisine inspired by islands across the Caribbean, with dishes like Jamaican-style jerk chicken and Cuban-style ropa vieja.

For seafood prepared using time-tested, family recipes, try El Pescador. This stand offers a fresh yet light seafood menu that includes fish and Caribbean or Maine lobster tapas that are prepared in front of you in ways that honor its delicate flavors and textures. Also on the menu are steamed oysters, clams and mussels.

Or, if you love traditional Puerto Rican mofongo, you’re sure to enjoy El Pilon de Ana by Restaurant Doña Ana. From the minds behind Cafe de Doña Ana in Bayamon, the eatery uses local ingredients like yucca, sweet plantains, and breadfruit to make this celebrated island dish.

Fresh breads, flaky croissants, delicate pastries, and hearty sandwiches take center stage at Levain Bakery, which expands its Puerto Rican presence with this new outpost. Carb-aholics can satisfy their sweet tooth at another local bakery, Double Cake, which makes from-scratch treats in signature flavors like dulce de leche, almond tiramisu, and maple bacon. Senor Paleta, the artisanal gelato and sorbet popsicle which draws crowds to its stores across the island, even created a special menu just for El Mercado.

Visitors above drinking age are sure to cozy up to the bar at
Coctel, the centerpiece of the market. The bartenders here are true cocktail mixologists, creating killer combinations using fine liquor, fresh juice, and natural ingredients. Coffee connoisseurs can follow their noses to the rich flavors that waft from behind the counter at Alto Grande Coffee Bar, which sources its beans from the highest mountains on the island.

Just as enticing as El Mercado’s food is its striking ambiance featuring four magnificent murals inspired by artists of Puerto Rico. Renowned artist Tom Christopher of New York recruited art students from Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico to help create the masterpieces that celebrate the hardworking men and women of the island. The market also hosts art exhibits curated by local artists, museums, galleries, and collectors as well as local musicians to further provide a festive ambiance. “The continually rotating art exhibits and music of El Mercado will give visitors a reason to return to Paseo Caribe again and again,” said Jacob Manevich, vice president of leasing for CPG.

Be sure to stop by during your stay in Puerto Rico – and don’t forget to bring your epicurean appetite.

The island has plenty of hotspots to guarantee a drink-with-a-view experience

Puerto Rico’s sizzling nightlife is the hottest in the Caribbean, but you will want to make sure you take the time to drink up the atmosphere by laying back in a bar with a spectacular view.

There are rooftop, ocean view, pool, Spanish colonial garden, and grandiose lobby bars from which to choose. These bars are surrounded by the elements of the island’s natural beauty, or a discerning artistic or cultural expression, and because looking good is the national sport on the island, the surrounding crowds are always pleasing to the eye.

At the Mist Rooftop Bar at San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel, you get a glorious view from early in the day to deep into the night. The enviable vista overlooks the white Isla Verde beach as it unfolds eastward between the verdant row of palm trees and royal blue ocean on one side, and the skyline of Isla Verde, glittering with towering hotels and condos, on the other. You can sit at the bar, or at one of the terrace seating areas, and soak up the awesome coastal view, but there is a pleasurable scene anywhere you look around this heavenly place, which is outfitted with fine art, designer pieces, and furniture as comfortable as it is chic.

Mist is a favorite spot because it delivers beyond its awesome appearance an artisan preparation of tropical drinks and gourmet cocktails and a kitchen that serves up wonderful tapas, which are perfect to dine beneath the stars. The unique, rustic pizzas and seafood appetizers will fulfill your expectations. The spot grooves all week long but things heat up a bit on weekend nights with house DJs spinning seductive electronica and house music.

Another Isla Verde spot to cue up sensational views is the Q-Bar at the InterContinental San Juan, which embodies two worlds: the elegant, brass and wood-toned lobby bar and an outdoor terrace surrounded by lush tropical gardens and vibrant pool deck. You can drink it all through the Q-Bar’s panoramic windows, with the lobby bar perfect for mingling, and the outdoor area providing quiet dreamy spots surrounded by flora, gleaming water, and lights. There’s a short tapas menu with delicious selections, but the gourmet sandwiches rule.

 

• 
• 
• 

 

El San Juan Hotel has been catering to discriminating locals and jet-setting globetrotters since opening in 1957, and its gorgeous lobby remains the spot to see and be seen after a $40 million renovation. The renovation closed the hotel in late 2016, but its rebirth has brought it back better than ever.

Most of the work was done to the guestrooms. The hotel’s grand lobby, with a dazzling chandelier and Old World mahogany facade, underwent a bit of updating but still retains its classic elegant feel. Everybody loves the lobby so much, changes have been kept to a minimum, explains El San Juan chief experience officer Wesley Cullen.

The lobby remains El San Juan’s iconic feature, where Spanish big bands perform live on weekend nights, and well-dressed crowds sashay across the big, beautiful room. For decades, the lobby has retained the consistent ambiance of a sophisticated party that might have been thrown by Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, with a sense of roaring 20s splendor. The renovation is aimed at retaining that wonderful sense of elegance.

The well-known Chandelier Bar, beneath its fabulous sparkling namesake, remains the center of attention, but it has been renovated and refreshed. The Gold Bar is the now the spot for craft drinks and crazy cocktails, while the Wine Bar has world-class selections of the world’s finest wines. And the lobby’s El Cafecito serves food from early morning to past midnight in the lobby area.

The renovation, however, has opened up the lobby a bit, so that the view of the adjacent Chico Cabaret, where bands perform nightly, is better from anywhere in the large room. The renovation is also restoring the Tropicoro Theater to its past glory. Designed by the same architect of the Tropicana Hotel in Havana, Cuba, the 400-seat theater has featured performances by world-class stars since the 1950s. Club Brava nightclub also underwent renovations.

While the restoration was aimed at restoring El San Juan’s glamorous past, the revitalization of the property also included a revamping of the entire visitor experience, be you a bar patron or a hotel guest, with new venues and activities. The hotel now hosts a live music series and art show calendar, with talented local and international artists. The resort’s culinary offerings were also overhauled during the renovation.

 

• 
• 
• 

 

The views are also fine over in Condado, San Juan’s other beachfront district, with amazing vistas the length of its oceanside boulevard, which is bordered by the Atlantic coast on one side, and the Condado Lagoon on the other.

At the Caribe Hilton’s Caribar its enchanting scene has drawn visitors since 1949, when Puerto Rico’s first resort opened and guests from around the world first started falling head over heels for Puerto Rico.

The large circular bar, which commands its own room beside the Caribe Hilton’s main lobby, has kept its iconic charm over the years, with the various renovations over time serving only to buff and polish this gem of a spot, a force in the contemporary world that brings with it that classic Hollywood charm.

The enormous room has floor to ceiling windows that open over the lush pool area and gorgeous aqua-white beach, with a view of the dramatic Atlantic Ocean that has captivated generations. It also has a view, with gorgeous crowds pressed against the bar, or spread out throughout the spacious bar table area that runs the length of the ocean view. There’s always great music playing and constant sea breezes.

Caribar is the birthplace of the Piña Colada, said to be concocted in 1954 by popular bartender Ramon ‘Monchito’ Marrero His original secret formula consisted of Don Q Gold rum, Coco Lopez, cream, and pineapple juice. The Caribar’s classic coladas are the islands best, and it also offers several versions that have been created over the years, from 1971’s “painkiller” to the “contemporary, clean, and complex” Clear Colada. This classic nightspot also has a bar menu of other hand-crafted cocktails and classic drinks, like the Moscow Mule, and Trader Vic’s Mai Tai.

The bartenders and wait staff are pros, and they mix drinks with the rhythm, skill and style of Puerto Rico’s best salsa dancers and performers, and they deliver flawless, low-key service. The bar menu has local fritter and charcuterie & artisan cheese board platters, as well as other fare ranging from charred octopus to delectable pub burgers.

The Red Coral Lounge, the main lobby bar at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, is a handsome dark wood and tile room, with spare natural but modernist elements that overlooks both the bustling Ashford Avenue and the lush pool and beachfront areas. The San Juan Marriott has an enviable location in the heart of the Condado, and its open, airy structure blends in with its surroundings on a particularly attractive slice of beach. But if you stayed here any time at all, you’ll know the property’s best feature is not its location, but its staff and the genuinely caring service they bring you.

 

 

The Red Coral Lounge is no exception, and your bartenders also know how to make a drink. Its renowned Dragon Berry Mojito is worth a try, as is the superb Red Coral Ice Tea. The bar’s sushi and tapas menu is an unexpected pleasure, with such delights as the spicy and sweet firecracker shrimp eggroll and the chef roll special, which combines salmon, scallops, and spicy crab with avocado, scallions, and sweet plantain.

By day, the colorful pool and beach beckons through the windows — a shimmering paradise of sun and surf. While at night, the dazzling light of Ashford Avenue, lined with boutiques, bars, and restaurants pours through the lounge’s large front doors and windows.

The Red Coral always draws a crowd, with its adjacent casino one of the best in the city and live music nearly every night, from piano ballads to salsa bands to full Latin jazz orchestras. The image most likely to linger in your memory after bidding goodbye will be of beautiful people, laughing with joy as they shimmy to the sound of tropical rhythm.

 

 

Get decked out to fit in at the dreamy Eternal Lobby Lounge at the Condado Plaza Hilton. New York’s hip lounge scene meets South Beach style at this ultra-contemporary nightlife complex with its colorful, post-modern finish right at home in the tropics. The long, translucent bar lies across its ocean view, and there is a terrace seating area to drink in all the drama of the Atlantic.

The sprawling nightspot consists of a dance floor and three bars: Moon Bar, Ice Bar, and Fire Bar. On most nights, live DJs spin contemporary hits and the best dance music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. There is also a stage for live music performances and other special events.

It also has some of the most inventive drinks in town, and the bartenders and servers are on top of their game. You can order food here from the excellent Eight Noodle Bar upstairs, among the best Chinese in the city.

 

• 
• 

 

Between Condado and downtown Santurce is Asere Cuban Kitchen Bar. The bright establishment has a beautiful bar that runs the length of its front room, which creates a subtle, worldly yet whimsical blend from its wood, brass, and tile facades. Located at the Plaza del Mercado, Santurce’s traditional marketplace district, its bar called La Carniceria is situated on the second level of a two-story building designed to make guests live the experience of visiting the legendary Cuba of the 50’s and the clandestine world of the subterranean. The spacious bar overlooks La Placita so guests can enjoy a delicious selection of cocktails while delighting their senses with great music and the infectious energy of one of San Juan’s most visited party scenes on Thursday and Friday nights, when it becomes one big street celebration.

Asere Cuban kitchen is the spot in San Juan for a mojito, and there is a variety from which to choose, as well as a range of craft cocktails. Not only is this a spot with a view, and the perfect hangout, it’s also serves some of the best new food in town.

The rooftop Infinity Pool Bar & Grille at the Sheraton Puerto Rico hotel offers a panoramic view from its perch in the heart of the convention district that captures vibrant ocean and bay views, as well as the city’s varied cityscape, from the gleaming condo towers of Condado to Spanish colonial splendor. There are bunches of towering palm trees and a view of the yachts at two adjacent marinas. From the rooftop, you can also see small planes taking off, many bound for Vieques and Culebra, from a commuter airport in the immediate area.

The infinity pool stretching across the roof also contributes to the expansive view, and with plush terrace sofas and cabanas, as well as a great bar and grill, there is nowhere else you will want to be on a splendid San Juan afternoon. It makes for a perfect light lunch or early dinner, or you could make a day of it and romp by the pool, while imbibing. There is an impressive menu of tropical cocktails and frozen drinks, and a simple menu that delivers with great taste. You can’t go wrong with the chino Latino wrap, fresh fish tacos, mahi mahi skewers, or guava chicken wings.

 

Alaire at Vivo Beach Club lies beyond the airport, on the coastal road to Piñones. The gleaming resort and entertainment complex beckons visitors like an Oz of sensory pleasure from its perch along the gorgeous unspoiled beachfront. This rooftop bar-restaurant blends into its natural surroundings along a wild stretch of coast just east of San Juan, framed by rolling sand dunes, a wall of towering palm trees, and scattered patches of Caribbean pine forest.

The hand-crafted tapas and cocktails, and Caribbean grill entrees served here match the quality of the surroundings to provide patrons with exotic satisfaction.

There are also live DJs and bands performing at the beach club, which boasts plush chairs, gazebos, and gorgeous pool areas. There is always something going on day and night, a place that lives up to its name “vivo.” So make sure to check for special events while you are on the island. Cruise ship visitors can enjoy day-long excursions to the club for the best views and beach experience in San Juan.

To the east of San Juan, the Atrium Bar at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa in Rio Grande offers clients views of the surrounding El Yunque rainforest, a world of wet, green tropical foliage. From its perch on the second floor, the bar gives a heightened view to this outdoor realm. The room has a Spanish hacienda-style feel, with large mosaic tiles, wrought iron and a dark wood roof and bar. The wicker and other traditional furniture is as comfortable as it is gorgeous, while the large palms wed the interior to the lush, wild world of beauty just outside, visible nearly everywhere you look.

This Old World Caribbean room is one of the finest spots in the region to enjoy a drink, and the bartenders know how to make a cocktail, something straight up or whatever else you may require. Savor the libation during your stay, which you’ll remember as a visit back in time.

Las Olas Lounge at El Conquistador, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is halfway down the cliffside on which the sprawling property is situated, and there are killer vistas from this fabulous room with a view. There are ever changing menus, and extensive martini, margarita, and tequila cocktail versions.

The bar overlooks one of Puerto Rico’s most majestic scenery, with Vieques and Culebra in the distance and the Eastern Caribbean unfolding beyond, an expansive of deep blue sea, the closest thing to aquatic heaven on earth. You can also take in the resort’s marina, a small fishing village, much of the resort sprawling across this bluff at the northeastern headland of Puerto Rico, and the virgin coastline beyond. This is where the Atlantic parts with the Caribbean, the eastern and northern coasts meet in an expanse of protective natural coastline, an area with healthy reefs and sea turtle nests, miles of unspoiled beach and pristine waters.

 

• 
• 

 

The northwest also has awesome sights, nowhere more so than at Villa de Cofresi, a family run hotel on one of Rincon’s finest beaches, with a formal restaurant and an outdoor bar and cafe with one of the finest panoramas in the Caribbean. El Bohio bar is on a wooden deck behind the hotel and is famous for its amazing beachfront location making it the place to spend happy hour watching the sunset.

Have their house drink, the pirata, a special concoction of rum, fresh coconut water, milk and spices served in a green coconut shell that has been freshly hacked open with a machete, and start chatting with the animated bartenders, and kiss the afternoon goodbye. We’re told the coconut meat also lends to the Pirate’s special drink’s unique taste which has had guests returning the hotel for more than 40 years.

It just takes one look to know there is no other other place you would want at the moment. The family run spot has super friendly, charming staff, and the food and drinks are great, while the price is right. Whether you want to seek air-conditioned refuge inside, or stick with the fun on the El Bohio’s outdoor deck, you can order entrees from anywhere. The place is loads of fun! One of the best places in the world to be during Sunday happy hour – period!

Tamboo Tavern and Seaside Grill Restaurant at Beside the Pointe Guesthouse on Sandy Beach in Rincon is also situated on a stunningly beautiful stretch of beach. The bar and restaurant are largely located in a wooden terrace fronting the beach and ocean behind the guest house, and extends along its length on a wooden outdoor terrace. Its Mojitos are so special that Bacardi Rum awarded this bar twice the Best Mojito award. Magazines like Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Travel, CNN GO, and Esquire have praised this bar. The folks at Tamboo say their signature Mojito is different than most others because of its delicate balance of syrup, rum, lime, mint, and club soda. The real difference may be that Tamboo bartenders don’t crush the mint thus avoiding clogged straws and providing a more pleasant experience for the customer. Another infamous concoction at Tamboo Tavern is the Jibarito Martini, which is a tropical blend of rum, apple puckers, sour mix, a dash of Sprite and a Caribbean cherry.

Tamboo Tavern is a popular spot for the surfing set, because the food is awesome and authentic, and the drinks are to die for. This is truly one of the best oceanfront landscapes in Puerto Rico.

If you’re searching for the latest hotspot to unwind and soak up the sun, gaze at the stars, perch by the pool, watch the fashionistas, or take in breathtaking views of the Atlantic, there are plenty of bars in Puerto Rico to guarantee a drink-with-a-view experience.