Whenever I go to San Juan, I make a point to have a drink at the Vanderbilt. Usually I chat with the bartender at the main bar to the left of the sunken lobby area while having a glass of wine or a martini. To sit there is to take in the civility of the Vanderbilt hotel. Being in the wood-paneled room with its leather touches and dimly lit wine bottle display while admiring the surreal painting in the background is an invitation to have a moment of reverie. The grand ambiance and personalized attention from the bartender is not unlike what Jack Nicholson experiences at the hotel bar in "The Shining."
This last time, however, I went to the Vanderbilt in the late afternoon. I found the view at Marabar so spectacular I couldn't resist going to that bar instead. I was the first one to sit at this elevated cocktail lounge, and joked with one of the servers that I was there to keep them company on their shift. That's when the true sophistication of the Vanderbilt brand kicked in. Imar and Karina had such a sunny disposition, always smiling and sharing their wealth of knowledge and recommendations without being overly sales-ey. Imar explained that the bar had two different wine lists by the glass: one curated for the Marabar bar and another one from the main 1919 restaurant. I decided to treat myself and got the Sancerre. As I was heading to dinner with friends afterward, I didn't get any food, but they had an extensive menu of heavy appetizers which would have made a great meal themselves. I would go back for the bikini sandwich and the caviar service over tostones. Way to represent the local culture in the bougiest of ways!
The cherry on top, was when Imar asked me, "what are your plans for this evening?" Not being accustomed to receiving this level of attention in the Caribbean, I said jokingly, "what do you propose?" She smiled sheepishly and rephrased her question, asking, "you mentioned having plans later, and I was wondering where you will be dining tonight?" When I mentioned Godai, both Imar and Karina squealed with delight, saying, "that's one of the best Japanese restaurants in Puerto Rico. If you come back, please let us know how it went."
In that moment, I understood that Marabar is not just a cocktail lounge, it's where you are treated like an old friend, with respect and outstanding professionalism. This level of service is emblematic of a true, 5-star hotel. Imar and Karina, if you read this the dinner was phenomenal (Yelp review to come). read more