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    Palmas Restaurant

    3.9 (124 reviews)
    ModeratePuerto Rican
    Closed 2:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Palmas Restaurant Photos

    PALMAS RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Palmas Restaurant

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    Nishka was a great server. Love the vibe of the street. Very reasonable prices and quality drinks. Highly recommend for those looking for a bit more local feel.

    Kenya K.

    Excellent portions friendly staff no issues or complaints Would give it a try if in the area

    Stella D.

    It is a great spot with live music even super late at night. I went there like 11pm and did not leave until 12:30am so you know they definitely open longer than it says on yelp. When I was there, some locals even come here dancing in the bar area. Watching them dancing is kind an experience haha. The food here is good but I would not say it is the best. I think the vibrant atmosphere, friendly service and the nice paintings in there are what make this place stand out. But be aware that the wait here for food is a bit long. I think it is around 30-40 mins.

    Arroz con pollo
    Christina P.

    Maybe it was because it was our first stop after arriving in PR, but Palmas stands out as one of the better meals we had. Just to be clear, this is not a fancy spot by any means, but IMHO those little casual places are always the ones that stand out for me when I'm traveling! Throughout the rest of the trip, we ate a LOT of mofongo, but this one was the best, I think. For me the secret was their sauce, which had more garlic than other places. I also tried the arroz con pollo which had similar flavors to the mofongo but in rice form. The server was really nice about making suggestions on dishes and even which hot sauces to try. They have a little nook with a ton of different kinds of hot sauce but he recommended the one they make in-house! Great service from start to finish. It's an easy to miss spot filled with both tourists and locals, and they set up a live music area in the bar section. A great choice either for a meal or for a casual beer (with maybe some mofongo on the side as a snack!)

    Kevin M.

    When I travel somewhere new, I make it a point to find out where he locals go. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Las Palmas is one of those places. Nestled in a small alley off the beaten bath in Old San Juan, Las Palmas is a restaurant where the true vibes and tastes of Puerto Rico can be found. The food is excellent and served buffet style in addition to the normal menu. I got an assortment of deliciousness consisting of ribs, goat, beans, plantain and yellow rice. It was delicious, although only luke warm. I also tasted the Mofongo which was delicious and very unique from the other Mofongo dishes I had during the trip. The area right outside the restaurant is full of action. Locals surround the restaurants playing dominoes and there was even a local salsa band playing live music. People were dancing in the alley and overall just having a great time. Overall, an awesome restaurant in the local part of town with really good food. If visiting San Juan, this is definitely a restaurant worth coming to.

    Spotted Artist Sylvie Dreyfus-Mangel here!
    Dutch S.

    Like eating in someone's comfortable home. Good service. Each meal prepared fresh from the kitchen, full of flavor. Bar in front, tables inside and outside in the most breezy callejon in Old San Juan. We'll be back again and again. Recommendations: Arroz con Pollo & Chicken (pick from among a dozen sauces). Charming, charming, charming!

    Monica V.

    This place is the best!!! They have a buffet on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 10 pm! Who does that?! The food is delicious and portions are big! I love the music playing in the street, all the little trinkets hanging on the wall and I love their rustic bathroom! I work in architecture and I love finding interesting features in the places I visit. I'm so glad we found this place!

    The buffet
    Tripadvisor S.

    It is a small place with a large crowd outside and music blaring off the beaten path in the north side of town. We had the Asopao de Pollo (chicken and rice stew - $13.99) and Queso Frito (fried cheese with mango sauce -$8.95). The cheese was good, but probably $3 overpriced for the size, even in Old San Juan. The asopao was very good, but at $13.99 for a few chunks of gristly chicken, some red bell pepper, and a half a cup of rice in chicken broth was probably $6 more than it should have been while still allowing a fair profit for the proprietor. I had two cervezas Medallas and at $3 a pop they were twice the price I had paid our entire 3 weeks on the island, but where else do you get a $3 beer in a tourist area? Javier, the owner, stopped by our table and lopped- off half of an avocado the size of a watermelon (Javier and CombatCritic pictured). I tossed it in my stew and added some butt-kicking hot sauce, but made the mistake of touching my eye ... EYE CARAMBA! Don't get me wrong, the food was good and the bill came to $42 including 20% tip, not horrific, but more than we should have paid for a couple cheap beers, an appetizer, and a cheap entree. I hope Javier figures out that knocking a couple bucks off the prices will result in happier customers, glowing reviews, and much more customers and money in his pocket. He and his staff were very nice and we enjoyed our visit even if it was not the best TravelValue in Puerto Rico. CombatCritic Gives Palmas de Boulevard 6 Bombs Out of 10 ... BOMBAS ARE BUENAS!

    Brittany K.

    Needed to stop after the 2 hour trip from Isabela/gathering supplies. This was the first spot we saw. Stopped in for 2 Negra Modelos (kept up the "I speak Spanish act" for nearly 2 minutes...impressive). Great service. Delicious Guava Cheesecake. That's all we got but I'd come back.

    Bella B.

    We came across this restaurant on our first day in OSJ because it was Easter Sunday and it happened to be one of the only places open. It's further back than most of the touristy restaurants that we passed, but this just made it even better. We ordered Piña Coladas and they come in huge glasses which is really perfect to get your night started. The atmosphere is very cute, they've clearly spent a lot of time trying to create a vibe. We sat near a window and there was a birthday party going on in the street, pressed right up against our restaurant, it was amazing to just watch and even get to be a little bit of a part of the festivities. The atmosphere is about as authentic as it gets. Which brings me to the food. Oh, the food. If you're looking for the best possible taste of Puerto Rico you can get, you'll get it here. We were ravenous by the time we found this place, and every bite was like a taste of heaven. Honestly, we're not even completely sure what we ordered other than Chicken Mofongo, but everything that came was perfect. They give you huge portions, so arrive hungry. The service here is slow but then again, it always is outside of the US. It would be best to come here with friends or family to enjoy drinks and a great meal while catching up or just relaxing. Not a place to run in and out of. Prices are a little bit high but nothing more than the other restaurants around the area. Overall, this is definitely a destination for any traveler(s) who is looking for a bit of culture and a lot of great food.

    Arroz con pollo
    Jennifer M.

    The location is what attracted us to this place. It is right near the ocean (at the top of Viejo San Juan) and gets that nice sea breeze. We came here for lunch one day after wandering around. The service was very friendly and attentive, and our food was delicious. We ordered arroz con pollo (boricua), carnitas, mofongo and tostones. Everything was perfectly seasoned, not too salty, and it came out of the kitchen hot. The decor is fun and cheesy, but I like that in a restaurant. The front of the restaurant has a bar and it connects to an alley where, at night, we saw people dancing and socializing. This is a fun spot to be.

    Ellen M.

    This is right on the ocean set in an alley way about 3 blocks away from the main, touristy section of town. It is San Juan epitomized as a lot of day trippers from the cruise lines stumble upon it. It is very festive inside but maybe a tiny bit touristy.....but still very beautiful and fun! It is decked out in all things Puerto Rican! The best part of this restaurant though is during Thursday-Sunday they play salsa music and people dance in the streets! This was one of the most incredible parts of our trip! Dancing on the cobblestone with locals while you can hear the ocean! Incredible! And cheap beer!

    The seafood paella at Palmas
    Daniel C.

    An excellent pace to go for authentic Puerto Rican food in Old San Juan. I had a few appetizers, the seafood paella, and a few bites of my friend's mofongo dish; all were delicious! It was filled with locals when I visited at lunch time, and that is usually a good sign. Our server was polite and attentive, and the restaurant's overall atmosphere was very laid back. The outdoor seating area is a great place to sit and take in your surroundings. It is located in a lively alley where people hang out and play music. I will certainly go back next time I'm in Old San Juan.

    Chicken with rice dish.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Palmas Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Palmas Restaurant

    We went on our last day in OSJ at the suggestion of a fellow hotel guest and were so pleasantly surprised!

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Deaverdura - Sampler

    Deaverdura

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    Food was amazing! Highly recommend the platter to share and try a little bit of everything.read more

    This restaurant has been on my San Juan list and it happened to be near my Airbnb so it was a no…read morebrainer for my friends and I to visit. Since I've always seen the long lines outside this store when I passed by, we decided that we try to go in as soon as it opened. So, we lined up around 11:30am. We barely waited much and we got seated. The server that day was quick/efficient/friendly despite the fact that she was running a one woman show. And the food arrived within a decent time. My friends and I decided to order the PUERTO RICAN PLATTER with a side of a side salad. This platter comes with everything you could want & maybe something that might be a bit adventurous for you to eat like blood sausage. Despite that, it's a nice platter to share and try a bit of everything. It's really nice that if you order for 4 people, they give you exactly the amount of pieces that are divisible by 4 (so everyone can try 1-2 pieces of each thing evenly). It also comes with a decent amount of rice/pork as a supplementation, which was nice. It's a balanced meal. And I think the side salad did well to balance out all the fried foods. Overall, we really enjoyed this place. It's a great place to come with friends/families to share. It's a great place as a visitor to try a bit of everything. The platter is a great introduction of puerto rican fried finger foods. And it all taste great! From the presentation of the food to the service here, it's all good. I would recommend this place to others.

    Photos
    Deaverdura - The ambience

    The ambience

    Deaverdura - Small house salad

    Small house salad

    Deaverdura - Passion fruit juice

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    Passion fruit juice

    Borikén - Passion fruit mojito and rum punch

    Borikén

    4.3(8 reviews)
    0.3 km

    I remember coming to this restaurant aBout 5 years ago oomph my layover in San Juan. The food was…read moreso memorable that I decided to come back in 2020 to see if it was still good. Well good news, the food is still good! I stopped in during the festival of San Sebastian and the restaurant was packed! We luckily got a seat for two and were able to order right away. I order the mofongo de pollo and my friend ordered a different meal with a soup. I am not going to lie, the service was extremely slow and the food took about 30 to 40 mins maybe to come out. I expect this was because of the festival and how busy the restaurant was. When the food came out, it was delicious! The chicken was great and drenched in a salsa criolla sauce. It was definitely worth the wait! After my meal, I ordered a coffee to digest the food. Luckily this didn't take as long as the food. I would definitely recommend this place however if you are in a rush, it might be best to go somewhere else. The food is very tasty!

    This is a difficult review to do because technically we only had an appetizer and drinks. First of…read moreall the rest is located next to the Christopher Columbus Plaza in Old San Juan which makes it an ideal location for tourists coming in and out. The restaurant is very small inside but they do have outside dining which is what we chose to do. The service was good, they were very attentive to our needs. Unfortunately, the appetizer we ordered was just awful. We ordered a mix of very traditional Puerto Rican bites-small alcapurrias, sorrullos, chicharrónes de pollo and some fried cheese. There was absolutely nothing good about the mix. The alcapurrias has no meat whatsoever, the chicharrónes were not crispy and the cheese was just awful. I wanted to give them a 1star review but I felt this would not be fair because we did not try an entree and I hope that would be better. The 3star was because the service was good. In addition to the service later on in the evening they had live music which was essentially old traditional Puerto Rican music which was excellent. So to be fair I thought a 3 star review would be the right thing to do. Hopefully the entrees are much better just stay away from the surtido appetizer because it was not good.

    Photos
    Borikén - Appetizer-

    Appetizer-

    Borikén - Chicken mofongo with rice and salad

    Chicken mofongo with rice and salad

    Borikén

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    Mallorca - mallorca w/ butter

    Mallorca

    4.2(843 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    Review #1,046 Posted on 4.26.26…read more We came here on Thursday the 23rd while in San Juan area for my buddies 50th birthday. This spot we had seen on social media a ton for being famous for their Mallorca sandwich, a special type bread, we got the one with bacon & American cheese. Man, I made the mistake of doing the bacon instead of ham, overthought that deal. I tried my buddies with ham n cheese and I think that was way to go. I loved how this spot had that super old school feel of like a diner. You can sit at one of the table tops, or you can do the countertop too, which has tons of seats, we all were able to sit there. I'd 100% recommend this spot, but get the ham n cheese mallorca sandwich, don't overthink it.

    Walked in here at ~8:15am for breakfast. There was not a lot of people yet; we were seated at the…read morebar. After a few minutes, people started trickling down and soon the place was close to being full. I liked the mallorca with ham, bacon, cheese! It was delicious. They looked small but they were filling. The pastries displayed at the window were inviting. If you're dining in, you have to tell your server that you're getting some pastries that are on display then you ask the person at the counter who also serves as the cashier to get them for you. The guava pastry was good. The vanilla bread with strawberry and pineapple/lemon was okay. They looked better than they tasted in my opinion. Payment for everything would be at the cashier after dining. If you're in San Juan, this is a place to try!

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    Mallorca
    Mallorca - Mallorca w/ ham and cheese

    Mallorca w/ ham and cheese

    Mallorca - Mallorca with ham n cheese

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    Mallorca with ham n cheese

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - Red snapper it's about $30/lb

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan

    4.0(220 reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$

    When you want an easy, reliable seafood lunch near the San Juan port, Cayo Caribe hits the mark…read more Our walking tour guide recommended this spot, and it ended up being one of the better casual lunches of the trip. It's located close to the cruise port area, making it an effortless stop if you're exploring Old San Juan. The vibe is straightforward and comfortable--think casual, sit-down seafood spot where you can relax, grab a drink, and not overthink the menu. It's not flashy or upscale, but that's part of the appeal. Just friendly service, cold drinks, and solid food. Service * Very friendly and welcoming * Easy walk-in experience * Relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere Food & Drinks * Standard beers and cocktails--perfect for a mid-day refresher * Seafood Fried Platter - especially the fried cod; crispy, flavorful, and well-executed * Tacos (Fried Shrimp & Fried Cod) - the standout; fresh, generous portions with crunchy slaw and spot-on sauce The tacos were the surprise hit--bright, crispy, and packed with flavor. Exactly what you want from a Puerto Rican seafood lunch. Verdict Cayo Caribe is a dependable, casual seafood stop near the port. Nothing overly complicated--just good service, fresh seafood, and a relaxed setting. A great lunch choice if you're in the area and craving fried seafood and tacos. Solid four stars.

    HIGHLY RECOMMEND…read more We had the fried whole snapped it was excellent!! Also the beef empanadas were amazing. Great service and friendly. Inside the bar was playing Pickleball on the tv at the bar and we got to watch the finals.

    Photos
    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - PICKLEBALL AT THE BAR!!!

    PICKLEBALL AT THE BAR!!!

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - 1.5lb snapper

    1.5lb snapper

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - Crazy shrimp

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    Crazy shrimp

    Palmas Restaurant - puertorican - Updated May 2026

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