Very cute restaurant but not the easiest to find. See photo of outside to assist. The bar was very cute and good drinks. The inside area is so quaint- such a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The staff was so friendly and food was pretty good too. I would definitely go back when in PR. read more

See all

Here's another one from San Juan.. So this was the best steak Mofongo we had on the island. It was served as an appetizer with four small ones. It was seasoned so good and the steak was super tender. Of course once while I was here had to try the chicken wings, no sauce just perfectly crispy. The bar had everything you could want great lunch. read more

La Lanterna - Fried chicken wings - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

See all

Everything was great from start to finish! The servers were amazing with excellent service. This is more on the fine dining side and the food was very delicious! I started off with a burrata salad and for my main course I had the white truffle pasta. It was amazing! read more

La Lanterna - White truffle pasta - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

See all

We stopped in because of the beautiful patio! They have a plant filled patio with a waterfall wall and it's gorgeous! The service was good. We mostly just got drinks but my friends had some pasta and soup they enjoyed. I think the drink was fine and the bread was good but unfortunately I couldn't have anything on the menu with my dietary restrictions and allergies here. It was lovely for the vibes though. read more

La Lanterna - Cocktail - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

See all

We visited this restaurant before our scheduled yacht cruise and it was SO GOOD!! We sat on the patio and the atmosphere is so dreamy!!! The craft cocktails were so so good!! And the made from scratch fresh pasta was life changing! So much so that we came back the night following our cruise. Service was also 10/10! Felt like we had 5 waiters. Just everything was so well done! Best date night ever! read more

See all

A gem in Old San Juan. When you walk in, the dim lights in the hallway sets the tone for the dinning experience. The interior patio has a charming Spanish colonial vibe with greenery all around the place. Super romantic. You can hear the sublime Italian music in the background. First they take you to a unique and private bar to wait for a little bit until table is ready. The mixologists were very knowledgeable and experienced. My husband asked for an old fashion and candidly they respond, do you want the original or do you want to try our different versions. The same happens to me with the Expresso Martini, they made me a skinny version which was delicious. We were talkative and comfortable at the bar when they came to pick us up to take us to the table. Not only the place is beautiful, the food is outstanding! Our server guided us through out the whole experience with suggestions and specials outside the menu. He was very attentive and caring. We decided to start with a burrata salad, fresh and creamy. Then we had two amazing pastas, the spaghetti alla arrabbiata with a perfect spicy touch and a succulent black truffle tagliolini, both al dente. As entree we had the grilled branzino fillet and the seared sliced tuna with asparagus. Both plates, top-notch. For dessert the soufflé was our favorite but we also tried the crème brûlée and the vanilla ice cream. This restaurant is an absolute treat! Highly recommended. read more

See all

Food was decent. Dessert was amazing. The service was absolutely horrible. We were here for 2 and a half hours and getting ignored by staff constantly. read more

The ambience here is just amazing! Sit in the courtyard and enjoy a magical dinner! For the food....get the pasta, definitely get the pasta! We got a small pasta for an appetizer to try and it was by far the best thing we ate! I also ordered a filet mignon and it wasn't great. read more

La Lanterna - The courtyard. - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

See all

One of my favorite restaurants in Puerto Rico! I love getting a surprise cocktail from the bartender. All I have to do is tell him the kind of alcohol & the flavor I want. I also would highly recommend the truffle pasta & the Branzino is always cooked to perfection read more

See all

Absolutely, the most extraordinary fine dining experience in all of Puerto Rico. From the romantic courtyard setting, to the meticulously prepared genuine Italian dishes, to the wonderfully refreshing cocktails and impressive wine list and the best service of any top restaurants in PR. A must. read more

The most beautiful restaurant in San Juan! With amazing waiters who are there to help with any questions you may have, very attentive. I loved how even the chef came out and explained the dishes, also the bartender! Over all amazing! Oh the food definitely delicious. read more

See all

As you walk inside La Lanterna, you find yourself in an interior courtyard very typical of all the Spanish architecture predominant in Old San Juan. But La Lanterna is not only about its amazingly charming ambiance. The service is incredible. The attentiveness to detail from every employee on staff ensures a fine dining experience for the patrons. The food was on point; the ingredients, including pastas, were fresh and of high quality. The cocktail menu and wine list were full of great choices. And even the dessert aspect of the meal was great and a fantastic ending to it. No wonder it's a local favorite in this area. It's on the expensive side but I recommend it if you are looking for a nice dinner in Old Dan Juan. read more

La Lanterna - Starting round... Arugula Soup, Lentil Soup and Beef Carpaccio - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

This is one of the best meals we had in Puerto Rico. The facilities had an old world charm and an elegant feel. The staff was very friendly and made you feel welcomed. We will be back to this restaurant on our next trip to Puerto Rico. read more

Superb italian food, servers always present a great selection of off the menu items Service is very attentive and accommodating. Typical relax, Old San Juan atmosphere. read more

Walked in after finding out that the restaurant i intended to go to was closed for the evening. I want to preface this review with the fact that being in the hospitality industry myself. I typically don't turn to reviews to express my unhappiness, but this experience is one that I would like to use as a warning to other 'tourists' or those visiting from the states. When I walked in, (and I was literally the only guest at the restaurant at this time) I overheard my server tell his assistant that I was a 'borracha' or a 'drunk' as I was being seated and immediately pushed the cocktail and wine list on me. I was pretty offended by this being that I am in recovery but decided to stay anyway since I was starving and the ambiance was so inviting. The server that I mentioned earlier waited on me and was very intense about reciting the specials and was very pushy to the point that it was uncomfortable. After the first course was delivered, he didn't pay attention to me the rest of the night and just stood in front of the other two top that was in the restaurant. When it came it the food the soup of the day was outstanding and I had the bottarga fusilli special which was 12 noodles in a carbonara like sauce with pressed fish flakes that was very underwhelming with a price tag of $40. read more

wait for a table was not too long at all, crowd was much older than three girls in their 20s on vacation & wanting to go to bad bunny's signature date spot. however, the drinks were yummy & food delicious. the TikTok signature pasta (black truffle) is not on the physical menu due to the fact it is Uber pricey. however it was so delicious. I had a classic penne vodka which was more cost effective and I still enjoyed my plate very much. definitely a more intimate spot, with the moody lighting and romantic decor. read more

See all

Such a hidden gem in San Juan. When you think of San Juan you don't think Italian food, but after spending over a week on the island we needed a little change. The food was spectacular as well as the drinks and mocktails. Service was incredible and extremely attentive. The atmosphere was beautiful and such a vibe. Will definitely be stopping back in when we visit in the summer. read more

Rude staff. Not really a luxury experience even just inquiring about a table. Quite off putting. The ambience is about the only up side.

You don't think you should eat Italian food in Puerto Rico, but La Lanterna makes you realize that you should. The ambiance is a quaint courtyard with coqui frogs in the trees. The staff is incredibly attentive and helpful. The food is amazing, and the price leaves you thinking you got away easy. Definitely get a reservation if you're in Old San Juan. read more

Exquisite Italian cuisine and great ambiance are perfect for a romantic dinner. Service is good and casual. Pasta is always "al dente" in this restaurant. The wine selection is great too. A little pricey but worth it. read more

Used to be a fantastic restaurant. Food is still good but the service is extremly poor. If you ask for a table inside, do not count on getting it. If you ask for red wine, there is a good chance they will serve you white. If you ask for your food to be cooked a certain way , rare, medium or well done, it's not going to happen. Be prepared to deal with inept and very argumentative staff. Best to stay away from this place. read more

Awful waiter. Awful service! Waiter had an attitude as soon as we sat down. Didn't let us know courses were served til they took away plates. We were starving and he watched us wait 30 mins for each course. We asked for a food menu and he gave us a dirty look !! We asked for bread and got a dirty look !! Everything ruined our night. We are bartenders so we are in service and never complain but just had to say something to the manager! He came over during our meal and argued with us !!!!! Good drinks. That's it. Would not go back !!!!! read more

Literally one of my favorite places I've visited in the USA and Puerto Rico!!!!! Amazing atmosphere, terrific music, delicious food and super friendly staff!!!! Located in Old San Juan this place this place has a lot of tourists! My favorite thing was a fountain in the middle of the patio with Italian music playing! Service was at the highest level and all people who helped me were on point!!!!! Because there wasn't one server, all team made me feel really special! We've ordered a bottle of wine and it was really good! Also our food which is pasta with salmon and ravioli of the day were really good In general, I would definitely come back here!!!!! Thank you all the team of this restaurant for such a big effort!!!!!!! read more

See all

For me, the best Italian restaurant in the Caribbean. Truffle pasta is the best one ever. Also, the day's soup is terrific ( I ate the pumpkin and the lettuce on different days). Great restaurant and atmosphere for a fancy dinner. One of my favorite places in Old San Juan to go for dinner. read more

See all

El lugar es hermoso! Perfecto para una cena romántica, celebrar una ocasión especial! La comida insuperable! Uno de mis restaurantes favoritos! read more

I live here and didn't know about this place until recently. What a hidden gem! My new favorite Italian restaurant. Our meal couldn't have been more romantic. We ate in the stunningly beautiful courtyard protected by the occasional drops of rain by an ample awning. Our table was surrounded by lush greenery that included competition-worthy orchids. There was soothing jazz piped through speakers at a nice low volume as we were serenaded by a couple coquís in the trees. The staff was very attentive. The mixologist came to introduce himself and we were presented an impressive wine list and cocktail menu. We don't really drink so can't comment on the options. The specials of the day all sounded lovely and we opted to split the guinea ravioli as our first plate, but not before starting out with the burrata in arugula which was divine. The ravioli didn't disappoint served in a sublime sauce with a little tomato and lots of rosemary, but were outshone by our main, the succulent lamb chops. It's a fancy establishment, but I couldn't help myself and had to suck the meat of the bones. My mother would be proud. The dessert options were on par with the rest of the decadence, but I didn't partake so won't comment other than to say that they all sounded impressive. With only 15 reviews at the time of writing in such a well-traveled area, I can only guess that people don't realize a restaurant is behind the front shops. I hope more people go and keep this place in business. I couldn't recommend this place more. Go! ps: Read the about section on their web page for a touching tale! read more

La Lanterna - The lamb chops split in half to share. So good! And just look at that ambience... - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

We came to this place for a birthday dinner. Beautiful place and atmosphere however, the food did not match the expectations that the place provided. The pasta bolognese was not good. The lamb chops, the truffle pasta, and the bronzino was excellent. The biggest complication we had was the service. Our initial waiter let us know we were able to split the check four ways since we are a big party. At the end of our dinner we had a new waiter and told us we were not allowed to split four ways, it got to a whole ordeal because asking help for the manager just made the situation more complicated. The manager was wearing a blue dress and has red hair, asking her for help escalated the situation, she was acting rude and disrespectful when we asked for help to split the check in four ways. read more

Ambience amazing Service amazing Food it's okay, nothing special, I definitely wouldn't come back. read more

Over-priced, awful service, screaming chef, so-so food Visited tonight for the first time celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrived the waiters attitude was contrary (i.e. I said "good evening" and the waiter replied "good day because it's still light out"). We brought our own bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne as I had reviewed their wine list and they did not have it (and it is a tradition). When the waiter started pouring it in regular white wine glasses, I asked for champagne flutes. They denied us, stating that "the energy of the champagne and the smell of the wine was better served in the glass they were using." Never mind this is not correct, it was a very simple request from a paying customer and they charge $35.00 for the "pouring service." Our antipasti dishes were flavorless. The burrata was so-so, the arugula pesr salad was served with only 3 thin, see-through slices of pear and 3 thick, almost vulgar slices of tomato which were completely out of place. Our entrees were just passable but the "contorno" or sides were inedible. They were raw mini sweet peppers (advertised as roasted), 3 haricot vert and 3 raw, halves of mini potatoes (advertised as boiled.) The potatoes were so raw that when my daughter went to cut into hers, it slipped off the plate and unto the table. We asked the waitress for a cooked portion. Over 20 minutes later, after a waiter had cleared my husband's plate and my fish was almost all consumed and the remaining piece was cold, the waitress finally brought one plate with a single serving of potatoes and the chef owner, Franco Seccarelli, stood behind her. I informed her that I no longer wanted them as my fish was now cold and the chef, screamed at me "this is how we prepare our potatoes" and stormed off. Needless to say, we asked for the check, paid (an arm and a leg), and left. We will NEVER return to this over-priced, sad excuse for a "fine dining" establishment. read more

Excellent dinner. Would highly recommend. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is due to the pricing. We ordered 2 cocktails 1 appetizer 2 mains and 1 dessert, the total was over $200.00. However if you are looking for good food, attentive staff, and a beautiful setting, go here! You will enjoy yourself. read more

La Lanterna - La Lanterna - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

This was our favorite meal in San Juan. The food was superb and the service was amazing. We found this hidden gem while walking down the streets of old San Juan. We will be back! read more

We are excited to visit La Lanterna sometime when it is *not* running a Valentines Day special menu. The space is one of the most beautiful in Puerto Rico. The courtyard where we sat is straight out of a fairytale - truly the best setting for a meal that either of us could remember. And there were some high points in the meal: the cocktails are the best we had on our trip. The bartender made a masterful mojito and an excellent ginger mock tail. On the food side, the lettuce soup sounds like a mistake but is actually quite tasty. And the NY strip was well prepared (if a bit basic). But the special Valentines menu overall was not... special. I don't know what they were thinking with strawberry risotto. It's as bad as it sounds: tart, underripe strawberries sitting on a bed of basic risotto. These things do *not* belong together. And similarly, the celery and eggplant Parmesan dish was only saved by a couple of delicious sprigs of asparagus. All in all, the meal was too expensive ($135pp) to have such bad misses on 2 of the 4 courses. But that space!! We will give it another shot on account of the space alone. read more

I didn't get to eat here. We are a family of 8. In order to eat here we would have to reserve the private room. In the private room each person had to spend a minimum of $100 each. Including the minors. This seems very ridiculous. We were ready to spend but how could a small child spend $100. That is a ridiculous request. read more

Absolute five star experience. Amazing patio with fantastic ambiance, top notch service, and perfect food. Best restaurant we have found in San Juan. I can't say for sure but my guess is the bad reviews are from people who came inappropriately dressed or who aren't accustomed to a fine dining atmosphere. If you show up wearing crocs and a hoodie this place is not for you. read more

Best restaurant in all of Puerto Rico In my opinion. definitely make a reservation in advance because they book up quickly. The truffle pasta is to die for along with the lamb chops and all the cocktails are amazing I've now been here 3 times and it will forever be one of the restaurants i go to when I'm on vacation the atmosphere is absolutely gorgeous as well! Love love love read more

Food was a simple and good as in Italy. I would highly recommend this restaurant. The service was outstanding and very professional. The facilities include in doors areas, as well as a super cozy open courtyard, and the bar is fully stacked with top brands. I want to thanks Angel for the awesome old fashions. He has lots of good Bourbon brands I have never seen before and they were great. Our favorite bar in San Juan was the Vanderbilt in Condado, until now. Now our favorite bar is at La Lanterna! I like to see when people try their best and take pride on their trade. Definitely the case at this place. read more

Food was amazing and service was excellent. Some of the best pasta I've ever had at an Italian restaurant.

The service was good, the food was ok. My boyfriend ordered truffle pasta (was delicious) and I got a salmon pasta( 3/5). Salmon in pasta was with no spices, just plain. And the sauce for the salmon pasta was with asparagus. I don't know how do I feel about that. read more

La Lanterna - Truffle pasta and salmon pasta - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

See all

Not sure the bad reviews, came from out of town. They prepped the table before us on a walk in and we sat and watched the Mixologist craft the best Old Fashion I've ever had. Food was pricey, but the pasta was perfectly Al dente and fresh. A unique ambiance you wish you could bottle. Thanks for adding to my memories read more

Food was great. Drinks were great. Service was awful. At the end, we asked for the check. Didn't look at the bill and three of us put our cards in. Only to find out they charged us $810 to split plates when we only ordered three apps three mid plates and three entrees and three bottles of wine for six people : our food bill was like 300 or 400 and our wine bill was about 500 or 600 and they added 810 to split plates without even telling us... such a fraud. Don't go despite the good food. They were not even apologetic. They basically told us to take a hike. Disputing with our credit cards now but what a wast of time and a bunch of pretentious asses.... read more