Since we’re keeping a normal workweek, our main opportunities\u00a0to explore are during evenings and weekends. Luckily, that’s when Old San Juan is\u00a0at its liveliest. Music pours out of open doorways, beckoning passersby to pop\u00a0in for a typical Puerto Rican meal or a refreshing drink made from one of the\u00a0countless local rums. And luckily, one of our favorite ways to immerse ourselves in a culture is to eat what the locals eat. (Thankfully, not everything is fried!)\u00a0These are the spots–some recommended by locals, some discovered\u00a0by us “honorary” locals–that I’d visit again and again.<\/p>\n

In no particular order…<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Verde Mesa<\/strong><\/a> I have actually dreamed about the “Arroz Verde Mesa” and its accompanying magic green sauce since eating here last weekend–it’s that delicious. This charming restaurant is\u00a0bedecked in whimsically\u00a0eclectic French decor, and although they have a set\u00a0menu, there is a more extensive array\u00a0of\u00a0specials that changes nightly. Upon arrival, a waiter spends ten to fifteen minutes with you going over the details of each mouthwatering dish available that evening. The surprising part? Verde Mesa is primarily vegetarian, but makes allowances for locally sourced seafood. It is the first of its kind in Puerto Rico, and the farm-to-table focus means that each dish is replete with flavors.<\/p>\n

The Poet’s Passage<\/strong><\/a> An English major’s heaven, smack dab in the heart of Old San Juan. Hand-lettered poetry lines every available spot in this unique coffee shop\/boutique\/spoken word stage. The coffee is fantastic, the baristas are friendly, there are plenty of quiet nooks, and there is a parrot named Neruda. Is it really any wonder that I’ve found myself here at least once a day?<\/p>\n

Pirilo Pizza R\u00fastica<\/a><\/strong> Okay, yes, it’s a pizza place–but when our Airbnb<\/a> host raved to us about this spot within a few minutes of our arrival in Old San Juan, I knew we had to add it to our list. There are tons of creative pizza topping combinations\u00a0and a cuatro (cuatro!) leches cake available, but what made the experience\u00a0is the second floor seating. A steep staircase hidden behind narrow swinging doors at the back of the restaurant leads up to an entirely different ambience, one marked by\u00a0dark wood furnishings, old photographs lining the walls, and high-backed seating. Pizza is just the comfort food you’ll crave in the warm and inviting\u00a0atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

St. Germain Bistro & Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0We stopped in for a quick lunch, not expecting much, but entering inside is a little like being transported to another world. We were delighted by the healthy offerings (a welcome alternative to Puerto Rican street food) and the breezy, refined atmosphere. The food was light and fresh, with lots of greens, fruits, and vegetables on the menu. We then\u00a0discovered that St. Germaine is only one of three restaurants\u00a0under the umbrella “Sol y Cruz.” At Mezzanine, on the second floor, you’ll find tapas and cocktails made from local ingredients in a\u00a0cozy space with antique chairs and tables. During their killer happy hour, we\u00a0made friends with the couple sitting next to us and came back for salsa lessons the next\u00a0night–such a fun experience! Ascend one more set of stairs\u00a0and you’ll reach\u00a0Al Fresco, the rooftop wine bar. This intimate spot\u00a0is made picture-perfect by\u00a0string lights twinkling above and a\u00a0sweeping\u00a0view of the picturesque colonial architecture that makes Old San Juan irresistibly charming.<\/p>\n

La Factoria<\/strong><\/a> This bar has been included in a list of fifty of the world’s best bars, and for good reason. At first glance, it looks like a small dive\u00a0in a crumbling\u00a0building overrun with hipsters–that is, until you notice people coming and going through a small unlabeled door behind the bar. Follow them and you’ll find a maze of three additional levels, with the final section\u00a0alight with salsa music and dancing. Mixologists are in charge of inventing cocktails like the lavender mule and the spiced old-fashioned, and the fresh taste coupled with the speakeasy vibe of this place tempts you to stay and try\u00a0more than one of their concoctions.<\/p>\n

These are my favorites for now, but I’m sure this list will grow as we continue to explore! I’ll keep tabs on the best new discoveries and make sure to give the full rundown here.<\/p>\n

(Also, feel free to keep up with my reviews on TripAdvisor<\/a> as we go.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since we’re keeping a normal workweek, our main opportunities\u00a0to explore are during evenings and weekends. Luckily, that’s when Old San Juan is\u00a0at its liveliest. Music…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n