From the moment we checked in, the staff was warm, welcoming, and absolutely superb. This charming small hotel may not have an elevator, but it makes up for it with its perfect location in the heart of Old San Juan and the way the team makes you feel like family. The 24-hour bar is definitely a bonus and adds to the overall relaxing vibe. A wonderful place to stay! read more

Quaint boutique hotel! Open bar? Yes please! No elevator so be prepared for stairs. (I secretly did not mind the mini workout). The room was small but offered everything we needed. Beautiful A/C. The entrance to the hotel is locked. You buzz to be let in and are given a code upon check in to enter. It made it feel super safe and secure. The staff was lovely and offered us their house drink as we checked in. The lobby is gorgeous and inviting, perfect to enjoy the open bar. There is a rooftop lounge area you can bring your drinks up and enjoy. Adults only, so no kids. Right in the heart of Old San Juan, I would absolutely stay here again. read more

The only good thing about this place is the rooftop. Our room was a small cell with no windows, a broken shower, broker soap dispenser, broken toilet seat, and a really loud bathroom fan. There is an open bar but they have no real selection. Also, it's great to have drink on the roof but you have to walk up 5 flights of stairs. Finally, you can't flush toilet paper down the toilets and the worst offense of all - no coffee or coffee make anywhere in the hotel. read more

Ok here's an honest review of this place. First the good... OPEN BAR! Also the staff is amazing! The common areas are great and trendy. The rooftop is a little funky but ok. The area is great! You could walk to the port but there are cobblestones that might make it difficult if you have big or a lot of luggage. There are great restaurants and bars nearby. Great shops too. Cons: we had no hot water and this is a common complaint but they do nothing to fix this problem. They make excuses that the building is old. Yeah I've been in older buildings with hot water. Also low water pressure! They charge a stain fee if you get makeup on the cheap sheets. The room isn't as comfortable as the common areas. It's noisy and the finishes in the room are not nice. I guess it depends on what room you get. The floors were dirty so much so I didn't wanna walk barefoot in the room. If you're bougie don't risk staying here. There are no elevators but for a tip the staff will help with luggage. Overall it depends on what's important to you. Some of the things wrong are easy fixes. They could make this hotel so much better with minor work. SMH I stayed one night. If I had a longer stay I would have moved to another hotel. read more

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Und the most quaint, beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in! We were offered cocktails at check in, and the staff were just incredible, we spent much time at the lobby bar getting to know the handsome bartender. Everything was clean and quiet, and the rooftop was definitely our favorite part! Our rooms were comfortable and clean, ours overlooked a small seating areas which was very unique, and our friend stayed across the opening from us so we could chat from our own rooms! Will certainly be returning! read more

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Fun place with super nice English speaking ( thank you!]. Employees. Open bar for guests which is nice, but not an atmosphere where it is abused. The lack of an elevator is understood in this area but still pretty difficult with heavy luggage. I'm sure they would have helped had we asked but that's not the way we roll. read more

Absolutely the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, or as I started calling it, "the truck stop bathroom with a bed in it." We wanted so much to love this place. I'm not sure what rooms the higher ratings had (we had a double with a Juliet balcony), but ours was nasty. The bathroom NEVER had hot water, so only cold showers, and it smelled horrible. I realize the building is old (we've traveled all over the world), but many things could be done to fix this place up. The sink faucet moved backed and forth. We couldn't wait to leave. The last morning, I didn't even shower; just wanted to get out. On the positive side, the bed was comfortable and the staff very pleasant. The location is ideal. read more

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Don't look any further! From the moment you enter the lobby you are approached by warm friendly smiling staff welcoming you to their guest focused hotel. This is better than the Waldorf or Ritz Carlton regarding customer service. The complimentary open bar and Eddie as their bartender can't make you feel more welcome. We know you'll fall in love with Puerto Rico making this your hotel! read more

Im loving this hotel & it's still only my first day! 200 year old building. 3 floors of rooms. No elevators. My room was on the 3rd floor, but the stairs are easy & not huge. Staff was VERY welcoming & I got an early check in unexpectedly. I was there for 4 nights. Coded entry for the building. Key card for the room. The bar in the lobby is open & they make sure to offer a drink before u treck up the stairs or step out. Regretably, when I returned to my room for a nap, around 530p, music was heard in my room kind of loudly. Took awhile for me to fall asleep, so maybe play white noise or some other music on a device. Thankfully, by the time i returned at 1130p, there was nothing but the ac going. Around midnight someone threw something very loud (firecracker), so street sounds are very prevalent in this building. My room is next to the housekeeping closet so there was a lot of bangs & things moving at 8a while I was still (trying to stay) sleeping. I would definitely come back. Play music on my phone when napping and request a room not by the cleaning closet. Met an owner at the bar on the 19th. Luiz is da man! From check in to check out. What's app is used for communication w/ the front desk. There is no room phone so you'll need to dl it if you don't have it. read more

Hotel El Colonial - Back toward plaza colón - Hotels Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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If you're staying in Old San Juan, I can't imagine a better spot. It's clean, comfortable, smells great, and has amazing amenities. Plus, it's no more than a few minutes' walking from anywhere you want to go in Old San Juan. It is adults only, so don't try if you're a family. When you check in, they are super quick, and they have some of the friendliest, most helpful staff we have encountered at any hotel. Even better: a free checkin drink, a tasty rum cocktail mixed with a little cherry juice. And if that wasn't enough, the drinks at the bar are free your entire stay. Literally any time of day you might want a drink, they will pour it for free. The options are limited to cheap rum, wine, and cheap macro beers like Medalla, but hey, it's free, and I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. This is a top notch amenity. They will get you water or coffee as well. Another fun quirk - they have a rooftop with bathtubs. They are open for all to see, but it's like a more intimate hot tub. We brought some drinks up and enjoyed. The view isn't much, but a bath on a roof? You won't find that experience anywhere else in San Juan I have to imagine. There is no parking, but there is a garage around the corner that charged about $30 a day - we didn't need a car thankfully, but they have a QR code on the door with the directions. There is also no elevator, but there are only four floors, and they took our bags up when we checked in and enjoyed our welcome drink. read more

Personalized attention abounds in this boutique hotel. My husband and I truly enjoyed our stay in Old San Juan, with this wonderful place as our home base. From the open bar to such thoughtful extras like cold, scented face towels when coming in after a hot, humid day, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you're up to it (as - old building - there is no elevator), spring for a room with a private terrace. I think we nearly spent as much time out there as we did inside! read more

Hotel El Colonial - Private terrace with outdoor bath/shower - Hotels Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nice place. We had an anterior room so it was quiet. Rooms are very basic. The bar was nice and front desk was accommodating. We didn't use the roof top bc we ended our seat with only one night. We came and went during the day while they kept our luggage. The sofa in the lobby was super comfy but wish the bed was too. It wasn't. Oh. Strong fabuloso odor. Super clean, however. Great location. read more

I've been here 15 mins and I'm sold! Not fancy but a great price and top notch service. And free drinks! A/C works. nice rooftop view. read more

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This hotel was like someone else stated, Quaint yet beautiful. I truly enjoyed being in this hotel In old San Juan. Staff was overly accommodating , drinks were unlimited and free for all guests but alcohol options were limited to vodka and rum. The staff was really friendly and had so many ideas and suggestions on what to do while in Puerto Rico. The rooftop was a highlight for us, grab a drink and head up for a view and a vibe. They offer beach towels and communicate via what's app. We were delayed a day due to issues at the airline and it wasn't an issue at all and the hotel was understanding and held our room for us. Only cons: You can't flush tissue because the plumbing is over 500 years old and we lost cold water during our stay(didn't bother complaining since it was so hot daily when we went out). There is also no elevator here. Housekeeping also took my personal beach towel (not a big deal) but it was annoying. However, the hotel was really great. We were out a-lot during the day and the stay .. it was perfect for us and again the staff was amazing! I would definitely stay here again. Check them out if you want to stay in old San Juan! read more

Second time at this wonderful hotel! Realize it is private so no guest outside of those who are staying are allowed in. The rooftop gives a wonderful view of the fort and the city. A couple of great surprises were being recognized by a couple of the staff who are all absolutely amazing. Louis (I'm sure it is misspelled), I am binging Dark. What a show! Can't wait to come back and see you guys again! read more

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Great little hotel in the heart of Old San Juan. We loved that this hotel is adults only and they have free drinks (beer, tropical mixed drinks, coffee, tea, wine, bottled water) included. We loved the service and how they use WhatsApp and we can text all our requests. It's very modern and quick. The service is great and the staff are all EXTREMELY friendly. We loved that they have 24/hr service, a couple of the hotels in the area do not. They also were very accommodating in letting us have a late check out due to weather canceling one of our activities and we had to rebook for the morning we were leaving, this allowed us to shower before our flight! This is my 3rd time in Puerto Rico and I must say the service here is more personal than El Convento (supposed the best hotel in Old San Juan). They also have just better WiFi than El Convento, it works 100% of the time. The hotel lobby is new and nicely renovated, but the hotel rooms itself are old. Like all the original hotels in old San Juan, the rooms itself are old. The bed was meh and the sheets are a tad scratchy, hence the 4 stars instead of the 5. My husband says this place is 5 stars just for the service but he also managed to cut his leg on the sharp edges of the shower (small bathroom and the shower is just sectioned off by a curtain and raised tile edge). We paid extra for a room with a balcony and the view wasn't anything special- it looked across at the roof of the building next to it. But honestly, I think I'm terms of service you aren't going to find better unless you go to the resorts outside of Old San Juan read more

Not really sure if people read Yelp reviews for hotels but I had to spread the good word about El Colonial. The location is perfect, walking distance to all the sights and more importantly great restaurants and bars. But the service, wow. This was the best customer service of any hotel I've stayed at. The staff was so friendly - you can tell they truly make an effort to welcome guests and make them feel at home. Since we stayed on a weekday during a slower time they kindly upgraded our room for free to one with a balcony. It gets better - they also have an open bar!?!? You can order beer, wine and your standard cocktails any time of the day and it's all on the house (just make sure to leave a tip, obvi). If you're debating between staying at El Colonial or another hotel (or Airbnb) just do yourself and your vacation a favor and book here. read more

This wonderful hotel is in a 250 year old building with so much charm. The room was not fancy but the bed was comfortable. What makes this place special is the people. Over the years I have stayed in many hotels from a Holiday Inn to Waldorf and everything in between. This place has the best customer service ever. When you walk in the door you are family. Amazing for the price. read more

Excellent staff and guest services! Very convenient location to take in all of Old San Juan by walking. Highly recommend the rum and passion fruit at the open bar. Luis and Christian are awesome! read more

Hotel El Colonial - Lobby and Open Bar at the Colonial - Hotels Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

El Colonial is situated in the beautiful heart of Old San Juan. Whenever I encountered an employee, and this happened well before I flew in to San Juan, I was greeted and treated with bright energetic people. I rolled into town a tad early and they assured me I'd be taken care of. They offered fresh juices in lieu of alcohol for me, helped me with my suitcase, guided me to my room, showed me the ropes. Each and every time I went into the lobby, they were empathetic with comfort level, "Would you like a fresh towel?, Try the cherry juice we just got in, what did you see today? Do you need a water bottle?" This, and other hotels are owned by a company called 901San Juan (I think) and they do a stellar job hiring and training their employees. This is a rare find. read more

My wife and I stayed for 4 nights the first week of March. The location is perfect, steps to the best restaurants, bakeries, and a 10 minute walk to El Morro. 20 minute walk to Escombrone beach. There is no elevator in the hotel, no restaurant or casino. You'll live out of your suitcase, and service requests are via WhatsApp. There is a 24/7 open bar including coffee, bottled water, beer, wine, rum and juice. Street noise at night can be an issue , so upper floors are preferred, and the rooftop is a nice touch. Definitely not for everyone, but backpackers and adventurers who need a great place to crash, this is the place. Reasonable rates, and very friendly helpful service. read more

I love love love love this hotel! Hector, Luis, Adriel... everybody was super accommodating and amazing. OPEN BAR 24-7 too with wine, champagne, rum, vodka, and bottled water. The hotel has everything you need plus it's in a historic building. Much rather stay in old San Juan than in a fancy shmancy hotel. Will definitely come here for our 3rd trip and more. Ask them for local recommendations for everything. read more

Our favorite hotel in Old San Juan. We stayed here during Sanse 2023. The hotel is perfectly located in the center of Old San Juan. You are walking distance from a ton of hotels, bars and shops. The 24 hour open bar is a major bonus. The hotel is very clean. The beds are comfortable. The staff is amazing and very helpful! They go out of their way to help. A big thank you to Giancarlo, Adriel, Dayanara and Miguel for making our stay extra special. read more

Wow! What a great place to stay and experience the history and beauty of Puerto Rico. Everyone working there is dedicated to service and making your stay the best it can be. From Luis greeting us at check in and putting us at ease after a hectic flight. To Adriel making drinks and jokes with us like old friends. To Gerardo helping us with a late night pizza quest. They are all friendly and accommodating. No Elevator? No problem! The staff is happy to help. read more

El Colonial was fantastic. We checked in late at night and were met by a lovely staff member to check in. The rooms are spacious, air conditioned, and incredibly clean. The location is perfect for walking around old town. Would recommend! Excited to stay here again on our next visit! read more

Nice hotel overall. Staff is wonderful and accommodating. The adults only and the free open bar were the selling points for us. The staff were always happy to recommend great places to eat and we had some great food. The door is always locked and you need a code to get in. There is no elevator but our luggage was brought up to our rooms when the room was ready for check in. The only cons were we had no hot water in our room so our shower was awful the next morning, bathrooms are small if you are on the larger size, and the not being able to flush toilet paper. It is an old city and this rule applies everywhere so that's not really a huge issue. We would stay here again in the future. Also we never got the door code to get in to check in so we had to wait for another guest to open it so we could get in after them. read more

A nice quaint hotel convenient located in the center of Old San Juan. Rooms are very comfortable and clean. Hotel is adults only.Cost is very reasonable. Drinks at the hotel bar are free for hotel guests. The staff is very friendly and overly accommodating. I was very happy with my stay and would definitely return. It definitely has my recommendation. read more