Bars and Cafes in Old San Juan (San Juan)

Parrot Club

This hotspot is located in the trendy district of South Fortaleza Street. This Nuevo Latino cuisine powerhouse offers some excellent Caribbean fare with a gourmet flair. One of the specialties is the deep-fried chicharrones over a bed of a fresh Caesar salad. The restaurant also offers a full bar service. The menu will change periodically. While it is a little bit on the pricey side, the uniqueness of the Parrot Club allows it to attract families and professionals as well as tourists.

Carli Café Concierto

Located on the street level of the Banco Popular Building in the middle of Old San Juan, the owner and pianist Carli Muñoz turned this sidewalk café into an Old San Juan institution.Continental creations include duck rissolé, cod dumplings, breast and leg of duck, and filet of salmon with mustard-cream sauce. The seared loin of lamb is known to be one of the best offerings from this excellent restaurant. Desserts include favorites like Creme Bruleé, Tart Tatin, and the decadent Kahlúa-3-leches. The restaurant has a contemporary New York-style bistro appeal.

Hard Rock Café

The famous Hard Rock chain opened in San Juan some years ago and has been a resounding success. Still popular with tourists, families love the place for lunch or early dinners. Serving a "classic" American cuisine against a backdrop of loud rock music, this member of the American chain packs in the crowds for drinks, burgers and T-shirts. Check out the chain's trademark rock n' roll memorabilia! Well-stuffed sandwiches and juicy burgers are served throughout the day, although many prefer to head here for dinner, filling up on fajitas and barbecued chicken.

Barrachina

This is a traditional sidewalk bar-café that is located in the middle of Old San Juan on Calle Cristo. Its claim to fame is that the world-famous Piña Colada was invented there. Your knowledge of this makes for great bar banter with the locals. But in addition to the PC, other excellent drinks are available. Nice place to stop in for a 'attitude adjustment', with a traditional Puerto Rican beverage and perhaps some afternoon snacks.

Panorama Terrace Bar & Latin Grill

This Puerto Rican-style grill offers patrons one of the best views of the San Juan Bay available. This bar and grill is set atop the charming, European-style Hotel Milano. You'll find the clientele a mix of hotel guests, local business people and other visitors. The menu is predominantly Puerto Rican with several grilled beef specialties. A good pick for a business lunch.

Café Tabac

This is a café-bar with an unusual twist, it features various art exhibits on its walls. A recent example is the "Cigars" exhibit by artist Jorge Zeno, an artist whose work details the tobacco industry in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. This is a very famous tourist sight in Old San Juan and is well worth a visit. Despite the name, Café Tabac has more of a bar/live music scene than you might expect. Relax and enjoy a spirited drink or the coffee (branded as Café Tabac, of course) and revel in the ambiance of this sophisticated venue.

Lupi's

Lupi's Mexican Grill & Sports Cantina is clearly marketed to attract the tourist trade. The place is hopping with activity and music. When you're not listening to live entertainment here, no doubt you will want to tune into one of their many TV monitors to catch a game—college football, NBA, MLB, NHL, boxing and more. Food is Tex-Mex. A menu "must" is "PUERTORICAN FAJITAS" and the Sauza signature MARGARITAS. Other less Mexican items available are soups, salads, sandwiches and steaks. Free local delivery is available. Daily Happy Hours are 4p-7p,with live music daily. On weekdays kids under ten eat FREE until 5.30p! Lupi's Isla Verde is a sister restaurant.

Cafe Berlin

This cafe has a pleasant casual feel in its outdoor seating overlooking the Plaza Colón. For vegetarians, there are creative salads and for those with a sweet tooth, the desserts include a wide selection of pastries. Juices and Puerto Rican coffees make this stop a great respite from a day of touring. For those who want to surf the net, the cafe provides a high speed wi-fi.

Nono's

Located on Calle de San Sebastián, Nono's is known by locals and visitors alike as the best bar in the old city, for its excellent atmosphere and its "hip" crowd. While American specialties like burgers and salads are served, Nono's is best known for the partying spirit of its visitors. Full bar service is also available with frequent Happy Hours. The bar is housed in a colonial-style building overlooking San José Square. There are two floors, the first contains the bar and a seating area and the second features pool tables and other entertainment. The clientele comes from all walks of life.

Maria's

If you are looking for Mexican food and Sangria, this bar is the ideal place to drop by. Located in the Old Town, it is quite popular with the locals for its Pina Coladas and the Puerto Rican beer, Medalla. The decor is subtle and the atmosphere is friendly.

Butterfly People Cafe

This restaurant is on the second floor of a restored mansion next to the world's largest gallery devoted to butterflies. Thousands of framed butterflies adorn the walls. The dining room of 15 tables overlooks a courtyard. The cuisine is tropical and light European fare made with fresh ingredients. You might begin with gazpacho or vichyssoise, follow with quiche or one of the daily specials, and finish with chocolate mousse or the tantalizing raspberry chiffon pie. A full bar offers tropical specialties such as piña coladas and fantasias, a frappé of seven fresh fruits.

Nuyorican Cafe

One of the hottest spots in old San Juan, the Nuyorican Café is a great place to hang out. It is home to the new and up coming artists. The music scene here is worth a mention. You will find that this café sells records of the artists who perform live on a daily basis! They also host their own jazz festival of late. The atmosphere of this cafe is specifically Bohemian - wood-paneled chamber and great Latino music. All kinds of people visit the place for a taste of Puerto Rican culture, in all its glory and authenticity. Try out the grub here which is very delicious and easy on your pocket too. For a great, fun night out with your buddies, this is the place to go!