Where to Drink in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s tumultuous timeline, from Spanish colonization to its evolution as a U.S. territory, has nonetheless shaped the Caribbean island of just over 3 million into the proudly unique identity it bears today. “We have an incredibly rich cultural identity that naturally influences our approach to flavors, storytelling, and hospitality,” says Roberto Berdecía, co-founder of acclaimed cocktail bar La Factoría. “You can walk into a bar and taste a cocktail that not only showcases world-class technique but also tells a story about our land, our ingredients, and our people.” Nowhere is this more evident today than in the capital of San Juan, where community-centric coffee shops and internationally renowned cocktail bars comingle with local chinchorros.

“Over the past decade and a half, the drinks scene in Puerto Rico has transformed from a small, passionate local community into a globally recognized movement,” says Berdecía. “It’s not just about great drinks—it’s about the warmth, rhythm, and generosity that define who we are as a culture. Visitors feel that energy the moment they arrive.

Café Comunión

Founded in 2017 in San Juan’s Santurce barrio by coffee pros and husband-and-wife team Abner Roldán and Karla Quiñones, Café Comunión brings the spirit of Puerto Rico to the specialty coffee scene. “It’s the best coffee in town. Every sip feels like a ritual of flavor and warmth,” says Berdecía. “I wish I could start every day with their coffee—it’s truly that good.” Offering community space and education in addition to great coffee, Comunión (now with a second location in Rio Piedras) carries multiple roasters, highlighting coffees both local and global. If you’re in the mood for something a little sweet, try their house favorite latte made with oat milk (or milk of your choice) and spiced honey, or for a refreshing option the Tropi Brew (cold brew with lemon, mint, and bubbly water).

Identidad

Focusing on Latin and Caribbean ingredients and flavors, the aptly named Identidad aims to celebrate Puerto Rican pride with every cocktail. Opened in July 2024 by co-founders Edrick Colón and Stephen Alonso, the San Juan bar just won the James Beard Award for Best New Bar in 2025. “It embodies creativity and craftsmanship,” says Berdecía. “Their cocktails are outstanding, but the service makes every visit feel personal and memorable.” Signature drinks feature options like the Tamarindo y Setas (tequila, mushrooms, tamarind, and sesame cookie) and La Trinidad (rum, Cardamaro, coffee syrup, and cocoa), alongside food like Piña Colada fish bao buns or shrimp and watermelon ceviche.

Cru Wine Shop

Inspired by the wineshops they found in other international cities like Miami and New York, sommeliers Ariana Camayd and Xavier Ramos wanted to bring a creatively curated wine selection to San Juan with the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of a café. “It’s a wine destination both cozy and elegant, whether you’re looking to take a bottle home or enjoy a glass on-site paired with their delicious small plates,” says Berdecía. Opened in 2022, the shop in the Santurce barrio offers options from crushable Beaujolais Raisin Libre to Martín Códax Albariño. Sign up for their wine club to receive a curated two-bottle order each month.

Santaella

In what was previously his catering workshop in Santurce’s La Placita marketplace, Chef José Santaella opened his signature restaurant in 2011 and it remains a staple of modern Puerto Rican cuisine today. “It’s a beautiful restaurant where the food, cocktails, and ambiance come together seamlessly,” says Berdecía. To complement dishes from the expansive menu like malanga root fritters or red snapper with fried green plantains, opt for the Barrilito Daiquiri with aged Puerto Rican rum or a refreshing Sandía Mojito. “Treat yourself to a culinary experience that reflects the best of modern Puerto Rico,” advises Berdecía.

La Factoría

When La Factoría opened in 2013 in what used to be the Café Hijos de Borinquen, where artists and revolutionaries of the mid-20th century would gather, San Juan’s cocktail scene was still in its nascent stages. “What began as a handful of dedicated bartenders and hospitality professionals striving to elevate cocktail culture has evolved into a thriving, collaborative ecosystem—one that values education, creativity, and authenticity,” says Berdecía, who founded the bar with Leslie Cofresí and Pablo Rodríguez. Explore the establishment’s multiple rooms and menus, from La Facto in the front with a Mercado Roma cocktail (mezcal, ancho pineapple shrub, pink grapefruit, lime, clove-infused honey) to the wine-centric Vino space and Shinga’ Ling which regularly has live music and encourages dancing. Berdecía says that more than a decade later, they are proud to remain “a cornerstone of Puerto Rico’s cocktail culture and nightlife.”

La Terraza de Bonanza

One of San Juan’s most beloved and popular chinchorros (casual watering holes with food stalls, cheap drinks, and live music), La Terraza de Bonanza draws its biggest crowd on Monday nights when it is the place to be for live bomba and plena music and dancing. “Mondays here are a true celebration of Puerto Rican music and culture,” says Berdecía. “It’s a must-visit if you want to experience live performances filled with rhythm and authenticity.” Step up to the counter of the open air space for a briskly poured beer and a basket of crispy crab tacos and tostones, but then get ready to hit the dance floor.

Fairmont El San Juan Hotel

Constructed in 1958, the El San Juan Hotel is an icon of San Juan’s nightlife scene, serving as a destination for not just visitors, but generations of local Puerto Ricans. From dinner and drinks to regular live music and dancing, options abound at the grand hotel property, now operated by Fairmont. Upon entering the lobby, the Chandelier Bar stuns with it’s circular bar centered around a 7,000-piece crystal chandelier (the third largest in the world). Rum connoisseurs will want to pull up a chair at the Rum Bar, which honors the island’s signature spirit through tastings and elevated cocktails. And for dinner stroll over to Caña for modern Puerto Rican cuisine and cocktails like the Paradise Sour with 12-year-old scotch, passion fruit and rosemary syrup, and fresh lime.

Old Harbor Brewery

The first craft brewery in Puerto Rico, Old Harbor Brewery opened in 1996 in Old San Juan. Today, a huge new production brewery and restaurant in the Carolina neighborhood keeps the kegs and cans rolling across the island. Combining modern styles and international influence with local flavor, the brewery lineup includes favorites like the Coqui Helles (named for the island’s tiny frogs), the crisp Santo Viejo Pilsner, and the juicy, aromatic Melón ale. Don’t sleep on the ambitious food menu that ventures well beyond standard pub fare, with plates like Japanese-style beef croquettes with a soy-mirin glaze and candied lemon.

Café Cuatro Sombras

Though tiny by global standards, Puerto Rico produces about 3 million pounds of coffee beans annually. The Hacienda Santa Clara was founded in 1846, and its shade-grown coffee was one of the first to bring the island global recognition. Sixty years after the Hacienda shuttered, Pablo Muñoz, a descendant of the founder, and his wife, Mariana Suarez, began putting new plants in the ground. In 2011, they opened a micro-roaster and café in Old San Juan for their single-origin coffees, Cuatro Sombras. Pick up a bag of coffee or sip on a macchiato in the same building where the beans are roasted and ground.

Bodega Esquina Gastronómica

Located about 16 miles south of San Juan in Caguas (and well worth the drive), Bodega Esquina Gastronómica is a newer restaurant from acclaimed chef Luis Diaz (Cosechas, Espacio Kautiva). In the chic but warmly inviting space, international flavors merge with local island culture in dishes like rabbit chicharrons and pekin duck rice. The playful cocktail menu from mixologist Joafner Marrero is just as exciting as the food, with drinks like the Shortie Sour (coconut oil–washed scotch, dry curaçao, caramelized pineapple juice, raspberry syrup, and lime) along with well-executed classics.