13 Places to Go in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Delicious raw carpaccio, creamy vegan ice cream, local textiles, and piña coladas are just a taste of what this coastal capital has to offer
San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been my second home for the last four years. Whether at the beaches of Ocean Park, drinking in La Placita de Santurce, or taking in the breathtaking view of both the ocean and candy-colored buildings of Old San Juan, there’s never been a moment when I’ve felt bored of being here.
The coastal capital of this Caribbean archipelago has much to recommend it — and a lot can be accomplished on just a short trip, whether the travel focus is beach, sightseeing, or just eating. For those into the latter, a number of restaurants are offering more and more vegan options, whether these are new spins on classics or the realization of a chef’s vision. But beyond just food, there are a host of excellent coffee shops, boutiques, museums, and bars out there to keep everyone entertained.
Verde Mesa
107 Calle Tetuan Esq, Calle San José
Chef Gabriel Hernadez’s precious Old San Juan restaurant has long been a go-to for vegans and vegetarians alike, though the full menu is omnivorous. From rice dishes to inventive raw carpaccios to the growing fermentation program based on local fruits, here is the place to go for a relaxed meal that can make a random Tuesday feel special.
Concalma
207 Calle San Francisco
This Old San Juan shop sells all local designs, including their signature bold tote bags designed using textiles made in the mountains of the island. For a fair-trade souvenir or gift, from clothing to housewares to jewelry, it’s a can’t-miss.
La Factoría
148 Calle San Sebastián
There are upwards of six bars in one at La Factoría, allowing guests to pick their vibe or change it up throughout the night. From the main bar, where one can try their signature Lavendar Mule, to the wine bar Vino, to the salsa parties at Shing-a-Ling and through to the old-school feel of La Cubanita, La Factoría provides a choose-your-own-adventure night — that will undoubtedly go on later than anyone might have predicted.
La Repostería Vegana
Contact via Instagram
Vegan baked goods can be difficult to come by in San Juan, and La Repostería Vegana fills a niche with their cakes, cookies, and even baklava made with local fruits.
Pública
1057 Avenida Juan Ponce de León
This art space in Miramar is new but presents work by both local artists and those whose projects reflect a deep investment in Caribbean identity.
Cocina al Fondo
1057 Avenida Juan Ponce de León
In the back of Pública, there’s chef Natalia Vallejo’s Cocina al Fondo, a warm, minimal restaurant serving locally sourced Puerto Rican cuisine that’s hearty, bold, and vegetable-driven.
Café Regina
58 Calle Taft
Tucked into a residential street not far from the beach, Café Regina serves the best toasts in town, whether avocado or banana or perhaps a seasonal special along with their excellent coffee. For those who prefer to go uncaffeinated, there is an array of juices and shrubs made with local fruits, like jobo, and the local ice-cream-maker Vía Lactea sells pints of rich coconut-based vegan ice cream.
Luca
58 Calle Taft
This boutique shares a building with Café Regina, making for excellent post-coffee browsing. They feature both local designers as well as independent makers from around the world, along with a selection of jewelry, shoes, and notebooks, for when the muse strikes.
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo
Av. Juan Ponce de León, esquina Ave. Roberto H. Todd, Parada 18
Not only are there a rotating exhibits at this Santurce museum, but the space itself, with a large, open patio, provides an airy reprieve from the city.
Basico Jugueria
318 Ave. de Diego Local 2
This juice bar in Santurce serves excellent veggie burgers, burritos, soups, and more along with their house-made blends, making it the perfect post-museum stop — but be aware, they close at 3 p.m.
Café Comunión
1616 Avenida Juan Ponce de León
A coffee shop on Avenida Ponce de Léon that also serves vegan breakfast items and showcases a selection of beans from abroad, for the true coffee aficionados.
Jungle Bird
254 Calle Canals
Chef Paxx Caraballo Moll has recently been named a Food & Wine Best New Chef, and here at a tropical bar near the party scene of La Placita, they serve a small yet diverse menu of bar food — and there are always vegan options, which are guaranteed to be the most inventive and fresh in the city. Pair it with a piña colada, made classically (shaken) but with a twist (tepache instead of plain pineapple juice).
La Penúltima
1359 Avenida Juan Ponce de León
For a Brooklyn feel that is still undeniably reflective of the Santurce neighborhood, La Penúltima — with its inventive house cocktail list that includes a carbonated Negroni and a rum-based Fizz — provides not just a place for brews but an addictive falafel and occasional veggie burger nights.
