9 Best Restaurants in Puerto Rico

With its long and varied history, Puerto Rico now serves as a cultural melting pot. The island’s cuisine and music reflect its diverse cultural influences. If you are planning to visit this country, choosing where to eat must be daunting because of the numerous places that offer delicious cuisine. Don’t worry because we’ve got your back! We listed some of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico to help you out.

Casita Miramar

Casita Miramar is a charming Spanish villa that welcomes you with open arms with its dangling vines, twinkling lights, and antique furnishings. This place is one of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico to have traditional Comida Criolla.

This Puerto Rican culinary tradition draws from the island’s Spanish, African, and Taino roots and is one of the greatest in Puerto Rico. Mofongo, beef stew, and plantains topped with shredded meat are all safe bets. You can choose from their various cocktails and wines to complement your meal.

1919

1919 is a restaurant at the Condado Vanderbilt. It is widely known to be one of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico. This restaurant gets fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood from nearby farms and markets for maximum freshness. 

A meal at 1919 is a memorable, high-quality dining experience that lasts long after you’ve left the island. Even though there are other diners in the restaurant, the atmosphere makes you feel like you are the only customer because of their excellent service. 

The many delectable offerings on the menu are swordfish, duck-truffle ravioli, veal chops, and more. If you’d like, your server can recommend a wine to go with your meal, or you can have a traditional cocktail instead. 

El Rancho de Apa

Most Puerto Ricans will say that lechón and arroz con gandules is the island’s signature dish. Visiting a lechonera is a must on every vacation to Puerto Rico. Lechoneras are eating establishments that focus on serving whole pigs grilled over a fire pit. If you’re near San Juan and looking for a good lechonera, you should check out El Rancho de Apa. The dishes are served with rice, pigeon peas, and stewed root vegetables.

Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar

No one can argue that Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar is one of the visitors’ favorites and the best restaurants in Puerto Rico. This place will suit you if you plan to celebrate with family or friends.

The restaurant’s small, cozy setting enhances your meal’s quality. Visitors often opt to try the five-course tasting menu, but you can’t go wrong with the white bean soup, lobster risotto, or halibut. 

Everything is so artistically presented that diners feel compelled to snap a photo before delving in. Be sure to book a reservation in advance because Marmalade is a highly sought place by tourists and locals alike.

Casa Vieja

Casa Vieja is home to one of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico. It is a modest blue house in the rural village of Ciales. Pasteles, pigeon peas, rice, and roasted pork, were some of the typical Puerto Rican foods prepared here. On the weekends, Casa Vieja fills up quickly with folks looking to enjoy a passion fruit mojito and live music while taking in the stunning mountain scenery.

352 Food and Drink

One of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico that offers breakfast and lunch is 352 Food and Drink. The locals love this place, so you know it must be good if tourists keep coming back.

The restaurant’s primary draw is its setting. 352 Food and Drink is part of the 352 Guesthouse, a renovated 19th-century building. You can easily find this place because you can see the strikingly blue building from afar.

Classic breakfast and lunch fares are available. Huevos rancheros, fish and tostones, and chicken arepas are some of the tastiest items on the menu. If you’re going there for breakfast, get one of their delicious mimosas; they go with just about anything on the menu.

Orujo

Orujo’s cuisine is one of the most innovative in Puerto Rico. It frequently changes to reflect the seasonal availability of ingredients. Carlos Portela, who serves as chef, proprietor, and sommelier, is known for his innovative recipes that showcase the bounty of Puerto Rico’s farmers and growers. 

You can dine in a cozy atmosphere while watching the chef and his staff prepare your meal at his little restaurant in Miramar. Try some locally grown plantains with Caribbean-style braised short rib or a Mahi Mahi with grilled root veggies.

Antiguo 26

Antiguo 26 is an incredible eatery and bar housed in a converted soda factory. The building’s elegant façade goes back to the turn of the twentieth century, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another time once you visit this place.

Guests typically come for excellent cocktails, but the tapas are also fantastic. Traditional drinks like rum and coke or gin and tonic are always a safe bet. You can sample the tapas they offer, such as ceviche, sliders, and churrasco mofongo.

Deaverdura

When it comes to Puerto Rican dining establishments, Deaverdura is among the most well-known and highly regarded. This eatery is known for its innovative fusion of traditional Puerto Rican, African, and Spanish flavors. 

This is not a fine dining restaurant, so you can wear casual clothes. The only requirements are that you show up hungry and ready to eat. So feel free to come as you are. The aroma of the delicious cuisine draws customers from blocks away. No wonder this place is one of the best restaurants in Puerto Rico. You can just chill and focus on the sumptuous meal in front of you.

Tostones, mofongo, pasteles, and other meat-centered dishes are just a few items on the menu that will have you drooling. They only use fish from local fishermen in their seafood dishes, so you know you’re getting the best quality meal possible. You may rest assured that no one will go hungry here since the menu also offers a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan food.

Final Thoughts

After reading this, you can confidently plan your trip to Puerto Rico, knowing that you have a solid understanding of where to eat. Whether planning a vacation with friends or family or going on a business trip, Puerto Rican food is a must-try for everyone!

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