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    El Batey

    4.6 (192 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars

    El Batey Photos

    EL BATEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - El Batey

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    Bar area
    Smith Family O.

    Great music, quick service, loud bar, very crowded. This bar used to be a jail house. Not sure about the food, drinks were quick. I would recommend stopping here if only to take pictures.

    Jennifer D.

    Found this on Pinterest and thrilled that we stopped!! Hard to tell it's a super cool dive bar from the outside but atmosphere awesome inside! No food, but full bar and great beer choices. Would recommend if walking through Old San Juan for a cold one!

    Kelly D.

    Small dive bar located in San Juan that we stopped in for a had a drink while exploring the town. Graffiti and stickers on all the walls, advertising bands,.products, etc, and of course, the initials and dates of everyone that had come in. Staff was friendly and attentive. A unique place.to check out if in the area!

    Cocktails
    Solomon H.

    Cheap stiff drinks, great old watering hole. Actually it's the oldest operating bar in San Juan. This is not fancy but has a ton of ambiance and charm. Luis will take care of you and leave a dollar with a note.

    Interior.
    Tery L.

    Eclectic dive bar in San Juan with lots of history. Great music and no nonsense service. A must visit when in Puerto Rico.

    Bar area and Fernando
    Angelina B.

    This was our second stop in San Juan. The bartender Fernando was super impressive. He gave us great food and drink suggestions all over the island and made me drinks from scratch. He improves his skills by working with other bartenders in the area. This should be a first stop in old San Juan!

    Adolfo B.

    This is a must stop in you are in OSJ. Yes it is a divey bar but the service is great, the dinks are fairly priced, and the ambiance is intriguing with plenty of stuff to see and read. You may even think about bringing something reflective of your hometown to contribute to the decor. Note that they do allow smoking at the bar and even sell cigarettes. I am not a smoker but sat at the bar anyway and it did not bother me given that the doors and windows are wide open. If you sit at the tables you will be away from the smoke.

    Rebekah M.

    My favorite bar to visit when I'm in old San Juan. The vibe is perfect. The bartenders are cool no matter the time you roll in. Just ideal for having a good night out.

    Awesome Find...
    Joan M.

    El Batey is a dive bar/pub directly across the road from El Convento. It's very small here, a great welcome oozing with charm and ambience. A fond memory I'll keep. We actually came in here several times because we loved it so much no nonsense no frills. They offer cocktails, shots, beers, and local culture and not to mention it's very affordable. It has a mix of local people, tourist and industry workers in the area. The building is hundreds of years old with thick stone walls inside. A great spot to escape the heat and have a refreshing drink. The doors windows are open to the street which is great for people watching. Of course, who could forget the resident cat which lives on top of the counter.

    Dive bar rum and soda
    Allison M.

    Was recommended this place by some acquaintances and it was a delight. A dingy delight. This no fuss dive bar is grungy and dark and fun. Came here early and it wasn't too busy. The menu is set but there's something for all. I had a $6 rum and soda while my friend had a $5 shot and beer combo. The bartender was kind and gave a great recommendation for dinner. The atmosphere was light and chill. I'd definitely stop by here again!

    Monica L.

    Solid dive bar with good drinks and music! Bartender made my drink as instructed to be extra sweet and Iit was incredibly refreshing.

    Just a normal 2 PM pre-pandemic
    Alfie S.

    Is this the oldest bar in Old San Juan? Maybe. It's at least 55 years old at this point. Is El Batey the cleanest bar I've been in? Not a chance. Do I sometimes dream of this bar, years later, while stuck inside during a global pandemic? Absolutely. It's been 2 full years since I came to El Batey with my partner on a vacation which was supposed to kick start a year of vacationing abroad. Obviously that never happened, so maybe that's why I hold our visit to San Juan, immediately after a series of earthquakes knocked out power to the island, in such high regard. Even without rose-tinted glasses, you can view El Batey for what it is: a reprieve from the consistent 80 degree, humid weather where you can get a cold drink in a smokey area. Do I smoke anymore? No. Do I really appreciate a smokey bar? Absolutely. El Batey makes you feel as if time stood still. There's little to make you realize that it's 2022, or whatever year it is you're reading this. The stale smoke clings to the walls along side graffiti from long gone tourists, foreign currency, and soft yellow lights. A ceiling fan or two crank along with the hum of the conversation where you would almost expect to hear Hunter S. Thompson himself drunkenly chatting with passersby. The only hint, to me, that it was a recent time was an anti-trump picture... which only made me love the place more. To those who got mad at it, perhaps they forgot how he left Puerto Rico to suffer after natural disasters? Regardless, it made the charm of El Batey even more endearing to me. Coming here and people watching while drinking for dirt cheap in an authentic dive bar on an Old San Juan hill is one of my favorite memories and will replay for years to come until it's safe to visit once more.

    Arpitha B.

    Its a cool vibe with the wall decor! Looks rustic! The drinks were good too! Its in la placita so close to all other bars too.

    Front of bar

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    2 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Dive bar vibes. Pool table. Nice staff. Decent bathroom. Cool art. Had a very cute time here with my boyfriend.

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    1 year ago

    Love it. Great dive bar. Good prices. Cool and welcoming staff. Big fan of the boss cat!

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    2 years ago

    Greatest bar in old San Juan! Ricky is a fantastic bartender and the music is hard hitting, diverse and makes u want to stay!!!

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Loved the vibe and service of the oldest bar in San Juan. The music was great as well.

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    Page 1 of 5

    El Batey Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - El Batey

    Overall, our favorite bar while in Old San Juan/Condado for a week (and doing our fair share of drinking).

    Mentioned in 37 reviews

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    La Factoría - Spiced Old Fashioned

    La Factoría

    4.5(775 reviews)
    0.1 km
    $$

    THE Famous La Factoria club of where Despacito, Heart Break, and other songs were filmed here. When…read morein Puerto Rico, this is a must. AMBIANCE: Parking: Welcome to Old San Juan, it get get pretty busy - best to carpool or do public transportation. Seating: Indoor seating or private cabana set ups for groups. Room for a total of 100 people. Feels: Welcome to Old San Juan, a mix of touristy and culture. The spot itself is popular for locals and tourists. As for the space itself, what's unique about this spot is this place isn't just one bar. It's actually a series of connected rooms (about 6-7 different spaces), each with its own vibe - speak easy, dance, casual, house, live music and more! I'm surprised each room can contain it's sounds while maintaining its own energy. It feels like a speakeasy maze meets nightlife experience. Dim lighting, vintage touches, and just enough chaos in a good way. DRINKS/EXPERIENCE It was such a fun night, not sure what I ordered but there is an abundance of flavors as every room has different selections. But popular drinks if you're looking for guidance - lavendar mule, espresso martini, a classic mojito. They got the classic to your well-crafted cocktails. Some spots provide food while others is sip and chill or sip and dance. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Fast-paced but solid. Staff keeps up with the crowd and still manages to be engaging. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars! Good choices, reasonable prices, and a vibe like no other. As a gemini that can be quite indecisive, I enjoyed this spot - especially with its multiple options. This is more than a bar - it's an experience. A spot where the night can go longer than expected. TIPS: * Walk through ALL the rooms--you'll miss half the experience if you don't

    Amazing. Seemed a little intimidating at first with fancy vibes but it was great. Bar tender was…read morekind and helpful. Honestly the Paloma was o e of the best I had all trip. Pricy but the atmosphere was worth it. Seemed to be cool people upstairs but we sat at the bar. Bouncer frisked only young men, which was hilarious as it seemed to surprise the white dudes, lol. Music was a highlight. 90s hipster stuff, we asked about it and it is a custom playlist. Velvet Underground and the like

    Photos
    La Factoría - Wooo!!!

    Wooo!!!

    La Factoría - Our most loved signature cocktail: Lavender Mule

    Our most loved signature cocktail: Lavender Mule

    La Factoría - Perfect, historic bar!

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    Perfect, historic bar!

    El Batey - divebars - Updated May 2026

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