Really enjoyed St. Germain! Stopped in for cocktails and light bites and everything was great. The…read morespace has a nice, cozy atmosphere that's perfect for relaxing, conversing, and enjoying a drink.

The service was quick and friendly. Casual dining after walking several miles…read more We stopped here tired after a morning at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. We ordered 5 dishes for breakfast. Our favorites were the lemon ricotta bacon and the sweet bacon. The fresh squeezed lemonade was so delish. The potatoes that accompanied the eggs were flavorful and had an herb mix. Not many places were open this early so that's a plus.

Great brunch spot in old San Juan. Everything is super fresh and tasty…read more We ordered two medium bowls for 2 people. In hindsight the bowls were huge and we should have just ordered one large bowl. You can choose your base, protein, sides and sauces . They have few seatings and a couple of nice dessert places across the street as well.

Great bowls! I got the Fish Ceviche and it was delicious (no rice by default). Family had Spicy…read moreSalmon and Mango Tuna and raved about them. The person making our bowls was great. The person checking us out, not so much. We were a family of 4 and he tried to make people check out before everything was ordered and put together (tip: help out making bowls instead of just standing there and the line will go faster). Ambiance is fine for a grab and go place. Sufficient tables and turnover. We did not have to wait. Good eats!

Pirilo is the best pizza place you'll ever find in Old San Juan! I was so excited to be back, that…read moreI forgot to take a picture of our pepperoni pie!!! We also had the Caprese salad and pulpo à la gallega (so very tasty)!!! Service is on point, great atmosphere to go with family and friends.

If you're walking by, this restaurant would be very easy to miss. The entrance looks like a doorway…read moreleading to a stairwell or service entrance, and I honestly didn't even notice a sign. Luckily, there was a gentleman outside directing people in, otherwise we may have walked right past it. Once you climb the two flights of stairs, you're rewarded with a beautiful dining space. The restaurant has a rustic, old-world charm with gorgeous décor and an Italian-inspired atmosphere. It immediately felt warm and inviting. There were four of us dining, and we started with two appetizers: the Setas Rellenas and the Chorizo al Vino. Both were excellent, but the Chorizo al Vino was my absolute favorite--absolutely delicious! For my entrée, I ordered the chicken lasagna. I expected chunks of chicken, but it was made with shredded chicken, and wow--it was incredible. The flavor was outstanding, and it ended up being one of my favorite meals of our trip. My husband ordered the beef lasagna, which was also made with shredded beef rather than traditional ground beef. He absolutely loved it. Our friends ordered the Milanesa de Berenjena and the Milanesa de Pollo with a side of gnocchi, and both raved about their meals as well. Since nearly every table seemed to be ordering pizza, we knew we had to try one. We ordered a small pizza for the table, and each of us had a slice. Now we understand why they're known for their pizza--it was fantastic! A special shoutout to our server, Rouil Rodz, who was attentive, friendly, and provided excellent service throughout the evening. Don't let the unassuming entrance fool you. This restaurant is a hidden gem with a beautiful atmosphere, outstanding food, and excellent service. If you're visiting Old San Juan, I highly recommend adding it to your list.

We really enjoyed this restaurant! We were a large group, we called and they prepared a table for…read moreus. We sat outside b the water. They have a really nice bar inside. The menu is pretty simple. We had several appetizers and meals. Their drinks were 10/10!! Our server was very helpful and friendly. Highly recommend if you're in San Juan.

Service was good, the food wasn't that great. Shrimp…read moreceviche was bland (don't recommend) Empanadas were to sweet, wasn't a fan. My skirt steak tacos were sweet too but they weren't awful. It was the best thing we ordered

We had eaten here before and had fond memories of the pork belly tacos so on our second trip to San…read moreJuan, we had to try the tacos again! We sat outside in a cozy alleyway, fairly quiet on a Friday night which was appreciated. Service was great throughout- attentive and friendly. We ordered the steak burrito and the pork belly tacos. The steak burrito was good with large pieces of steak and a good amount of cilantro - very flavorful. The pork belly tacos were full of sticky caramelized pork belly and topped with a yummy cabbage slaw. The tortillas also held up very well! Overall, delicious and would recommend!

We had an amazing meal at La Madre! We ordered the chicken tacos, chicken broth soup, chicken and…read moreshrimp fajitas, cheese quesadilla, fresh watermelon juice, and a watermelon margarita. Every single dish was excellent, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming. If you're looking for great Mexican food in Old San Juan, La Madre is definitely worth a visit.

I loved this place! It's a hole in the wall with great food. Staff were friendly and welcoming. All…read morethe food was fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. First time, we had breakfast. We ordered the fried eggs with ham - typical luncheonette food. It came out quickly. Staff was very accommodating to my son who wanted rice and beans for breakfast. Second time we were here we had lunch. I ordered the bistec with onions. Delicious once again. Portion size was great and prices even better. We started chatting it up with some of the servers (one of whom I think may be the owner?) Third time we were here was the morning before coming back home. I ordered the ham and Swiss sandwich. Food came out quickly. Great little sandwich! My son orders his usual rice and beans again. The food and service made Mandolin one of my top places to go to in San Juan.

Very disappointing experience, especially because this place was recommended to us by locals…read more Unfortunately, we never even got the chance to enjoy the restaurant because of how we were treated while being seated. One of the ladies was very nice and welcoming, but the woman wearing glasses and the gentleman handling the seating were extremely rude and dismissive toward my family. As a Black family, the way we were treated honestly made us feel like we were being treated differently because of our skin color. I obviously can't speak to anyone's intentions, but that is genuinely how the interaction made us feel. It was uncomfortable enough that my family decided to leave rather than stay and eat. It's especially disappointing when you're visiting Puerto Rico, excited to try somewhere that locals recommended, and you're made to feel unwelcome before you've even sat down. Based on our experience, I would not recommend this place to other Black or dark-skinned families. No customer should walk into a restaurant and leave wondering whether the color of their skin affected how they were treated.

Great coffee and extremely friendly service. The cortado was strong, delicous, and well made…read more We also loved the art and decor inside. Definitely recommend checking out this spot

This is one of the best coffee shops in Old San Juan. Famous for their artisanal brews…read more Very cozy ambience with comfy seating. Love the local art on the walls for added tropical vibe of the Island. I got a kick out of the skeleton on the couch. We had our usual Latte but they have so many choices and truly authentic Puerto Rican coffee. They also offer breakfast and brunch. Their staff is very friendly to all the tourists and locals. Definitely stop by and enjoy one of their creamy coffee while in San Juan.

My husband wanted to stop here to eat when we first arrived in Old San Juan, but I wanted to try…read morethe local food. I have eaten Turkish food before. However, we were about to leave to catch our flight back home, so we stopped in. Little did I know that they do serve local dishes as well. Since we had already had a lot of local dishes by this time, we ordered the sampler platter I think it was. We shared a platter with salad, rice, lamb chops, chicken kebab, beef kebab, and ground beef kebab. We also got the eggplant appetizer. We let Cecelia know that we were in a hurry to get to the airport on time to catch our flight home, and she made sure we were served quickly. It was really delicious! The rice was buttery, the bread was warm, the meats were all very tasty. It was a perfect lunch before we headed home. It was right across from the parking garage, so that made everything easy for us. We even enjoyed Cecelia's hot sauce even though it was a little too hot for me.

An unexpected stop for lunch during a cruise stop in Old San Juan, PR, the Istanbul Restaurant was…read morea combination of Turkish dishes along with dishes native to Puerto Rico. My brother and I tried dishes from both menus, and found it to be quite good. As we were walking past, a small sign for 'Grandma's Kitchen' caught our eye. My brother had been encouraging me to try Puerto Rico's national dish: Mofongo - mashed fried plantains. Unfortunately, restaurants were just packed with long waits and I wasn't in the mood to wait outside in the sun for a long time. The door next to the sign stated that it was a restaurant called 'Istanbul'. We peaked inside, and was welcomed warmly by a host, who let us know that the restaurant was both Grandma's Kitchen/Istanbul. There was nobody else dining inside, which was weird considering how every other restaurant in the area was packed. The dishes are made to order, so took a bit of time for it to come out one at a time. Mixed Seafood Stuffed Mofongo ($25) - served in a wooden pilon, the tall and narrow neck was stuffed with the mashed plantains, topped with a seafood blend of clams, dense fish pieces, octopus, and squid. The sauce was really well done, not too rich, but buttery enough to accentuate the seafood. I have to believe the seafood was prepared from frozen, but it tasted really good: a definite notch up from the seafood I've been having on the cruise boats. It was the first time having mofongo, and I liked it. This version had fried plantain chips, mixed with the mash of more plantains. I don't think this version had pork skin rinds, and I didn't miss it. It's extremely dense, so ended up eating maybe a third of it while finishing the seafood. It's a solid alternative to rice, though definitely can't eat too much of it. Doner Kebab ($18) - from the Istanbul portion of the menu, this dish was tasty, though the meat was cooked on a flat top grill like a burger patty, instead of on a vertical rotisserie. The lamb/beef patty was loosely formed and well seasoned, with the accompanying tzatziki sauce being a good add-on. Both dishes were cooked very well, the back kitchen has some skills. Service was friendly throughout. Water is not offered, but guessing they will give to you if asked. Payment was provided after the meal, and they do stick on a mandatory 15% gratuity for all party sizes.

Nice place in old San Juan. Interior is cute, with 2 different sections. The back area has a high…read moreceiling and lots of plants. We tried a couple of different dishes and enjoyed each one. The breakfast burger was well seasoned and hit the spot! The coffee and beer were nice additions to our late brunch! Server was friendly and let us know that she was going on break, and who to look out for. Place was packed but things came out quickly. A nice place to stop and have a break from walking if you get the chance!

All in all, an OK experience. Service was very friendly…read more Very helpful. Good suggestions. Just do not go here with a schedule. All the food was excellent. Good flavors. Great imagination. Just, again, don't go there with limited time.

Local coffee roaster tucked into a beautiful old San Juan building -- high ceilings, exposed wood…read morebeams, and an arched menu board that gives the whole space a warm, artisanal feel without trying too hard. Grabbed an iced latte and an iced tea to go: the latte was smooth and well-balanced, not over-roasted like a lot of tourist-zone coffee shops nearby, and the iced tea was refreshing after walking the cobblestone streets. The menu keeps it simple -- espresso drinks, paninis (Cuatro Sombras, Yauco, Viejo San Juan), open toast with avocado & egg or salmon, and a solid breakfast lineup with guava butter toast and dulce de papaya oatmeal that lean into the Puerto Rican flavor profile. Loved seeing local sodas and juices in the fridge case alongside the usual water and La Croix. Staff moved efficiently even with a small crowd at the counter. Good spot to duck into for a quality coffee break in Old San Juan -- feels like a real local roaster rather than a chain, and the space itself is worth a look even if you're just passing through.

Stopped by this cafe after reading it was a stop on a local food tour. Per the food tour reviews,…read morewe had to try the croissant with ham and cheese and guava butter which did not disappoint! The cafe itself is small but we were able to find seating anyways. Service was somewhat confusing... you have to order at the counter and then wait for them to call your name. They called our names a couple times but were not ready each time leading to our confusion. We ordered a latte and the croissant and both were delicious! Would definitely come back for this croissant!