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This bar serves great specialty cocktails and the food was really good too. which is surprising for a bar/club. they have many different rooms with different music selections so there is something for everyone to enjoy. it was pretty packed on A friday night so wear comfy shoes and be ready to dance. my favorite spot was upstairs where i was able to look out the windows and see down the whole strip
Fantastic vibes and craft cocktails! My friends and I stopped by La Factoria after hearing that they filmed the Despacito music video! We came during the day and there's not many seats, but we were luckily able to grab a table. It was hard to get a bartenders attention at first and no one really came over to ask for our orders. I got the Pornstar Martini, which was super strong and refreshing! Highly recommend if you're a Passionfruit fan!
Top notch vibes paired with fantastic drinks The playlist here is perfect if you just want to sit down, enjoy a drink, and have a conversation with friends Once again, the mixologists/bartenders were very kind to a solo traveller, going out of their way to make me feel involved in everything going on. The water glass was always (almost immediately) quietly topped up whenever it was empty and they even offered to make me a customised cocktail that was to my taste / what I wanted at that moment Very well deserving of their accolades!
The most memorable night I have ever experienced. La Factoría is by no means in a class by itself if you want to feel that authentic real boricua heritage feeling well this is the place. Let me say I was amazed and so were my quests at a party we had on the second floor. When you first walk in the rustic old San Juan aesthetics building makes you feel like you are back early 1900's . Vivian our host was amazing along with all the bartenders,Dj,and the house salsa band which I highly recommend you hire. The food was authentic Puerto Rican food down to the roasted pig on the rod. Wow my mouth just waters talking about it. The la factoria old fashion drink was delicious.I recommend this place to any one looking for a great location to have a gathering with your family members and friends like a welcoming party before a wedding like I did. Parking as you know is impossible but thanks goddess for uber which made it easy for transportation.Well I will definitely be back
Ok, this unassuming (but apparently well-known) bar makes one of the BEST rum old fashioneds I've ever had. La Factoria seems like a place you would find in Portland; it's moderately hipster with an eclectic menu. I got there right around sunset and the vibes were mellow, with the golden hour light creating the perfect ambiance. Service was fast at the bar, and my drink was so, so good. Prices are also very reasonable, especially for Viejo San Juan. Bathrooms are maybe a bit dirty, but otherwise, this place is perfect.
Still 5 stars... We came here Saturday night for drinks after dinner. There's a line outside, bouncer checking IDs, and people wanting to go in, but it moved fast. The place was packed but people move around, between the bar, the second room, and outside. Even with the busy bar, we did not wait long for someone to get our drink order. There's sofas, small tables, and window seats, plus enough space to stand. We waited a bit and were lucky to get the window seats. This is great for people watching plus to enjoy the island breeze. Location is great too, right on the street of many other bars making it easy to hop around and be a part of the very lively crowd that's always happy to be there, both locals and tourists. La Factoría is definitely a must when visiting Old San Juan
Visited during the day after lunch around 1pm and enjoyed two amazing cocktails. Knowing this is a hot spot for nighttime, I can definitely see how this place is a fun time. Expert bartenders, can see why they're known for their great drinks. Got a Lavender Mule (perfectttttt with a lavender infusion and ginger flavor but not ginger-spicy) and Cucumber Smash (super refreshing!) which were delightful. The vibe was really awesome even though it was the middle of the day, a great group of locals around too, which only increased my confidence that this was an awesome spot to check out, not just a tourist spot. When they say artisanal cocktails, they absolutely mean it. I enjoyed watching the bartender make our drinks. My husband and I enjoyed sitting at the bar, there are also smaller tables and a really plush red couch area for relaxed seating. The best seat in the house, in our opinion was really the two barstools that look out into the street. We enjoyed sitting there, taking in some of the sun, people watching, and taking some really cute photos with our drinks. Additional cool factor: La Factoria is connected to four other bars, all on the same street, but you can actually navigate in between them through doorways inside each bar. It was really cool to be able to take five steps over and be in another bar and another and another! If you enjoy specialty cocktails that are crafted with passion, make sure you stop by this storied location. Cheers!
If you want to go to a unique place that sales alcohol, music and finger foods, La Factoría is it!!! This place is old construction but unique. Bathrooms upstairs were cleaned. It does get crowded. It has different dancing rooms to dance to the beat of bachata and salsa .It Was hard to dance and got too overcrowded. Also the food was amazing, but it took very long, but once it got there. Ive ordered the stake sandwich.
La Factoría has the reputation that it has for very good reason!!! It IS the epicentre of fun, excellent vibes, superb live music and salsa dancing with people at all different levels. We went after finishing a late dinner on a Saturday night, and the vibes that we were hoping for - we received with open arms! There was no long line to get in, and it was definitely crowded inside. Getting drinks wasn't too crazy of an ordeal -- but most importantly, and I cannot stress this enough, it was SUCH an amazing time!!
5 months ago
1 year ago
Really cool vibe in old town San Juan. Multiple different bar areas. Can get busy, good mix of locals and visitors... read more
Setup a series of places to stop by for a cocktail and tapas while in port on a cruise / this was out first stop They DO NOT have any food available - so ignore the food menu on their website As for cocktails and 6 bars in a horseshoe shape --- Scratch that too The first bar & 2nd room were open and serving There were barriers beyond the 2nd bar area Stop by for a cocktail / lavender mule was delicious but nothing more than that read more
2 years ago
We went on a Saturday night. The ambience was bomb, the drinks were fantastic, and our bartender was the best. I can't rave enough about this place. The price is higher than I expected but still aligned with the PR prices. read more
2 years ago
La Factoria is a must visit in San Juan! It has an incredible atmosphere and amazing cocktails. It is really cool that there are so many different rooms, depending on what your mood is you could go hang in the salsa room or you could go hang in the cocktail lounge! I didn't have any food as we only went to experience the bar and cocktails. But I would highly suggest this place to anyone visiting. My biggest advice would to go after dinnertime as all the rooms aren't always open during the earlier hours! read more
2 years ago
So this place had to be one of the most interesting places we visited while in Puerto Rico. To start let's just say we had such a good time I was glad we were in walking distance of our air bnb. The coolest thing about this place is that the vibes change in every room. It goes from a cocktail bar setting to a dive bar setting to a bar with dance floor and I'm not even joking it goes to a bar that you feel like your in a cave or a basement of some sort. The music changes in each setting as well but I believe menu stays the same except for maybe 1 or 2 drinks. This place was definitely unique and a shock to the visual senses. read more
Did you really go to Puerto Rico if you didn't salsa dance?? if you want to dance, go up the stairs to the very back. There are people at all levels on the dance floor so don't let the few good people intimidate you! Some more experienced people may ask for a dance and guide you through the movements as well. If dancing isn't quite your vibe, there are also seating areas throughout the bar. The drinks are also tasty and unique. They have both wines and cocktails and possibly beer. La Factoria is definitely a must visit for anyone visiting Puerto Rico. read more
This place has multiple rooms that you can hang out in, so it's deceptively bigger than you'd think. Drinks are pretty good (their espresso martini is really good!) but some of their fruity drinks aren't as great. Also the music video for despacito was apparently filmed here! read more
Beautiful drinks in a fun, Puerto Rican venue. The bartenders were very friendly and kind. My husband and I enjoyed a relaxing environment drinking our cocktails on a breezy day! We had the lavender mules and they were very refreshing and delicious. read more
7 months ago
Favourite place I went to in Puerto Rico ! It's a grown and sexy vibe exactly what we didn't find at La placita! The food was delicious, the drinks were tasty and the ambience was very cocktail speakeasy style. The tuna carpaccio was my fave and the hamburguer was huge! This was one of the ONLY places in PR that we didn't have to wait 1+ hour for our food and the service was exceptional. read more
I love La Factoria. It had been on my list for years, so I was so excited to finally try it. I visited for afternoon cocktails, so I didn't get to check out all of the rooms, but definitely would go back at night to do so. The staff was so friendly and we were able to easily get a table around 1:00 pm on a Saturday. I had two drinks, the Champeta and the Lavender Mule. Both were refreshing and strong, perfect for the afternoon heat. All of the cocktails were interesting and it was hard to choose. If I could've had a third, I would have. I considered going back that evening but didn't make it. La Factoria is consistently ranked one of the best cocktail bars in the world, deservedly. I highly recommend when in San Juan. read more
2 years ago
Great cocktail bar in Old San Juan RC. Definitely worth a stop. Friendly staff even when they are busy. read more
3 years ago
Went to grab a drink for a night out. Did not try any food, but the drinks were great. The area had mutiple rooms which each one have their own special ambiance. Getting drinks at the bars was fast, even with the crowds. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I came here with a friend and we absolutely loved this bar! It had a hidden hallway behind the bar where there are more areas to the bar. Each section of the bar had a different vibe. There was one section that was just a normal bar, a section with a DJ playing hip hop/techno, and another section that had a DJ playing Spanish music and everyone dancing. The cocktails were cheap and the vibe was just so fun. Service was very prompt too. I would definitely come back if I'm in San Juan again! read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
Honestly, great vibe. Bartender made us custom drinks (passion fruit something and a grapefruit something). We visited on a Thursday night and the vibe was perfect. Not too crowded but a popular spot in old San Juan. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Drinks are very unique. One had me feeling good already. There's a reason why it's one of the tops bars here but we went on a Saturday night and everyone was on the strip. It was very crowded and we couldn't enjoy ourselves as much but I would want to come back again read more
Saw La Factoria was a 2022 James Beard semifinalist and had to stop in on our trip! Definitely lived up to the hype. The guanabana punch was incredible, and the champeta cocktail was also great. I believe the cocktails were $10 each (!!!) Also, they filmed the video for "Despacito" here. As one would expect, the vibes are immaculate. read more
So, this place is famous. Let's address the elephant in the room. It's going to be busy. It's going to be crowded. It's going to take some planning to come here. First, the logistics. There are three rooms. The entrance is in the corner street. There are no signs that this place is La Factoria. You just got to trust your map program. The first room is narrow with lots of bottles and two big mirrors, lots of fans, and some red cushioned seating in the back corner. This area is meant for just cocktails and drinks. I stayed here and I only wanted their cocktails. If you go back next to the bathrooms, there's an entrance to the second part which is for wine and the cocktail selections are much more basic. It was fairly crowded and small for the second portion. If you continue on, you'll make it to the third and bigger portion where they serve food - but only at night. They also only open up the place at night when the kitchen is opened. Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about drinks. The drinks here are good. They are balanced. If you appreciate the nuances of cocktails and their ingredients, then you'll love this place because more of their selections have a house made tincture/syrup/infusion that you can't buy anywhere. I know that the upkeep for these ingredients takes work so I always appreciate a cocktail bar that goes that distance. The bartenders pay attention to detail. The bartender I had made sure the coupe was chilled, or the glass was clean, or the amount that came out reached the proper point in the glass for presentation. No garnishes we're skipped. The amount of time shaking was proper and not half assed. One of the drinks, the bartender did a reverse shake. There were clear square blocks of ice that were already prepped and in the freezer. Luckily, I came here midday on a Monday and I was able to experience this place relatively easily. If I came here at a super busy time, I would not have had such a good experience here I think. I came here nonchalantly and I walked out with a big smile. read more
It is on San Sebastian street. it is one of the most happening places to be at night when you are in San Juna. this whole street is live, buzzing till midnight and sometimes till 2 AM. so if you wanna get the vibe/ feel of nightlife, come to this street (Calle in Spanish) here. so they check your vaccine card at the entrance and you are on your own. means I am used to "some server will come, show us the table" but here, the scene is different. you find the table or chair or seat at the bar- get settled and order the drink. between its always crowded. these are the places - good for a couple of drinks and hop on to another bar. The prices are reasonable. in fact every place/bar in San Juan- beer - $2-3, Mojito - $5-8, Pina colada - $5-8 Fun Fact: why this is famous and crowded- Despacito song was shot here. Note: To enter, they are asking for CDC Card (for vaccine check). You can also show a digital copy/Photo of it. read more
This is the place to go to in San Juan if you really want to experience the true spirit of Puerto Rico. This place consists of over 7 interconnected bars. The main hall is not very obvious form the outside, but when you enter, the whole place smells of espresso martinis for which this place is very popular for. The other bars are hidden and have secret entrances and it's fun to figure them out. The third bar is where the magic happens, especially on Saturday nights when everyone breaks out in a salsa after 10 pm. The service is slow because this place is usually super crowded. A must visit! read more
4 years ago
2022: Still my favorite bar in PR. The craft cocktails are so delicious- my current fave is the spiced, slightly bitter, El Peligroso. The Mezcal cocktail was also tasty . Back bars open at 6pm so dont try to go at 2:30 and wait them out at the front bar like I did 2018: Great craft cocktails, good music, and chill vibes. The back room is spacious resembling more of a dance floor area while the front has the main bar where you can hang and chat. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
This was the first stop last time I visited San Juan. I had a delicious burger and okay fries. Place is super cool because there's lot of rooms with bars. The cocktails were delicious and the vibe was cool for a week night. read more
1 year ago
This has definitely becoming a hot spot in Old San Juan and brings people of all ages to come and enjoy bars with various Spanish music types with specific drinks served at the various bars. Bartenders are attentive to their clientele even as the place is bustling on a Thursday night. I love this place to take people who have never been out in the old San Juan area. read more
Went on a recommendation from a coworker whose life goal is to move to Puerto Rico and buy this bar ;) Love the vibe and the multiple rooms. Not all of them were open when we went but still cool to check out. In one room people were dancing salsa (?) which was cool. I ordered the lavender mule and really enjoyed and the folks I was with enjoyed theirs too. Oh and they ask for your vaccine card before you enter. LOVE! read more
I went here expecting the world only because I had been following them on Insta for a while now and I make one of their drinks at my home bar. I went on a Sunday night and there was a decent sized crowd there. There are multiple rooms with the back room being the biggest with the most room to dance. I'm kind of a cocktail geek so I dove mouth first into a Peligroso which was very good. I moved on to the Guanabana Punch also a very good drink and my first milk clarified cocktail, ever. I went into the other smaller room adjacent and there I was able to enjoy a cocktail sitting up against the window enjoying the sounds of Hector Lavoe and watching people stroll through the streets. There aren't many bars in the world where you can have quality craft cocktails while Hector Lavoe blasts overhead and I'm proud of what they have done and continue to do. Congrats and Salud! read more
4 years ago
Very cute speakeasy in Old San Juan , but we needed to ask a local where it was because they still have the old business side out front... so fix that guys... not a hard thing. We went on a Friday afternoon and they were only open for drinks because they're kitchen or cook doesn't start till 6pm. they could make a lot more money with good since their dinner menu looked . They had great music and drinks. read more
I read that La Factoria has been listed as one of the 50 best bars in the world for 5 years in a row along with being nominated for a James Beard award. After visiting twice I understand why. This bar is located in the heart of Old San Juan and consists of 3 bars in 3 adjoining rooms. Sounds big doesn't it? Well it actually isn't. Inside it's dark and cool (not the temperature) with a cozy casual vibe that has personality in spades. The first and third bar are the largest (relatively speaking) with the second one specializing in wine that includes a table next to an open window next to the street. In the background is excellent Latin music (salsa, bachata, cumbia, etc) that isn't too loud to disrupt conversation. It's very common to see couples dancing their tails off with salsa moves that weren't learned in a dance studio in the states. In the third bar they have live music with a small band playing Latin music usually starting at 10 pm on certain nights. There is only one entrance and you have to walk through one bar to get to the other. The bartenders are very professional and it's very apparent that this is a well run business where the customer is treated right. Their specialty cocktails are excellent and reasonably priced. My favorite was the Lavender Mule. They also have a food menu but people really come here to drink, dance and socialize. Have dinner somewhere else nearby and then walk over to here. Currently they require proof of vaccination at the door. If you come to visit Puerto Rico and want to really experience the night life here a stop at La Factoria is a must do. read more
Great cocktails! Very yummy concoctions. We arrived and sat at the small bar as soon as you walk in. Please note that if you follow the bar and walk up the 2 steps there are two more bars and a fair amount of space to find a seat. This was a recommendation from a friend who grew up on the island and was e were not disappointed. Well worth the small streets and the navigating in the back of an uber to get there. read more
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Calle San Sebastián 148
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
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http://www.lafactoriavsj.com
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