Mufungo Relleno with Crab Meat

San Juan is big on tapas and authentic down home Puerto Rican food known as comida criolla .  This vibrant spicy cuisine is a blend of flavors from Africa, Spain, and the Taino Indians who were native to South America and the Caribbean.

As with Creole cooking in Louisiana which has a foundation of celery, green bell peppers, and onions (known as the Holy Trinity), comida criolla has a base called sofrito which is made from tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, and cilantro.

Another irreplaceable element in Puerto Rican cuisine is a spice concoction known as adobo.  It’s used as a seasoning for meat, fish, and poultry, and generally contains spices of turmeric, oregano, onion and garlic powders, plus salt and pepper.

When it’s time to eat, consider trying the national dish of Puerto Rico, arroz con gandules (rice, pigeon peas, and ham) or try an alcapurrias (hamburger filled fried fritter with banana).

Located in Condado, Ropa Vieja is a popular restaurant choice for both Caribbean and Cuban cuisine; recommended highly are the mofongo with ropa vieja (pulled pork with plantain) and the arroz con pollo (chicken and rice).  Mojito’s Restaurant in Old San Juan is well known for their delicious freshly made mojitos plus their black bean soup, shrimp mofongo, and fried plantains.

If you’d like to try some free salsa dancing lessons along with great Latin cuisine, then The Latin Roots in Old San Juan is the place for you.  Their selection of authentic Puerto Rican cuisine includes roast pork, rice with pigeon peas, sausage and rice, boiled green bananas, and black Puerto Rican sausage (blood sausage).

Native Puerto Rican Chef Wilo Benet serves up international and conventional Latin cuisine as his restaurant, Pikayo, located in Condado.  Open for the dinner seating only, favorites at Pikayo include the truffle cheese empanadillas with mojito truffle butter, campari tomato salad, and the crispy red snapper.  If you’ve still got room for dessert, try the scrumptious chocolate soufflé but remember to pre-order when you order dinner as it takes a few minutes to prepare.

And speaking of dessert, La Bombanera in Old San Juan is a popular choice for pastries like their mallorcas (open faced croissants with butter and powdered sugar) or flan.  Accompanied by a rich dark Puerto Rican coffee, you’ll be sure to make a return visit before leaving the island.

Flickr.com Photo Credit: Mufungo Relleno – with Crab Meat Filling by Thejas

Living La Vida Loca in San Juan

Old San Juan is rich in history, full of colorful architecture, cobblestone streets, and is home to some of the best nightclubs in all of Puerto Rico.  During the wee hours of the weekend (1:00 am to 3:00 am) is when the city really comes alive especially along the streets of Calle Fortaleza and San Sebastian where you’ll find an array of clubs, bars, and music venues.

Although drinking in the streets of Puerto Rico is illegal, it seems to be the norm as club goers venture from one venue to another.  During the days and evenings when the cruise ships are docked at the piers, the clubs of Old San Juan will be filled with cruise ship tourists partying before their ship sets sail.

Famous for their freshly made and delicious Cuban mojitos (white rum, lime, sugar, spearmint, water), drinking in the amazing setting of Old San Juan doesn’t come cheap.  A mojito or a martini will set you back at least $8 a drink; but if you’re diligent, you’ll be able to find bottled beer for as little as $2 in the smaller bars vying for cruise ship business.

Some of the hippest clubs along Calle Fortaleza to check out include Dragon Fly, Parrot Club, Basiliko, Sonne, Blend, Fratelli, Pink Shirt, and Milk – the only true dance club in Old San Juan.  San Sebastian is home to Rumba, El Cafe Seda, Nuyorican Cafe, and Nono’s.

If you venture down a couple of streets to Calle Tetuan, you’ll find three clubs worth visiting: The Brick House, The Colmbado Bar, and Barrachina – the original home of the pina colada which is served up today with 151 proof rum (75.5% alcohol volume).  Or check out Club Flow on Ponce de Leon Street.

If you’re over in the Isla Verde area, this is where you’ll find some of largest name hotels and their accompanying lounges scattered along the beach.  Two popular venues that draw crowds every weekend are Monigan’s Irish Bar and the Oyster Bar.  Other bars and clubs to check out in Isla Verde are the Blue Dolphin, La Playita, and Monoco Beach which is perfect for an afternoon refreshment stop.

The Americanized Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to grab a drink and check out the Latin influenced memorabilia including items from Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Gloria Estefan.  If you’d like to enjoy a Mexican atmosphere, visit Senor Frogs on Calle Marina where the drinks are served in larger party style cups and the cruise ship passengers flow through as freely as the drinks.

Flickr.com Photo Credit: Flow, Puerto Rico by Generationbass.com

The Adventures of El Morro, Old San Juan

One of the most stunning architectural attractions in Old San Juan is the historic fortress of Castillo San Felipe del Morro located at the mouth of San Juan Bay.  More commonly known as El Morro, this World Heritage Site offers visitors a glimpse into time along with some amazing ocean views.

Dating back to the 1550’s, El Morro is only one of three National Historic Sites within the San Juan National Park Service; the others include neighboring Fortin San Juan de la Cruz (or El Canuelo) located across the bay and Castillo San Cristobal which is about 20 minutes walking time away.

Visitors to El Morro follow a seemingly endless esplanade that’s flanked on either side by flat green grass slopes where locals spend time picnicking and flying kites in the Caribbean breeze.  Visitors will also catch a glimpse of the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis cemetery which is set below on the edge of the ocean and dates back to 1863.

Once at the entrance, guests must pay a National Park Service admission fee of $3 per adult (children 15 and under are free).  After obtaining the complimentary fortress map, you can choose to wander at your leisure and explore all that El Morro has to offer – six levels with walls ranging from 18 to 25 feet thick, cannons and artillery, a chapel, lighthouse, dungeon, barracks, video presentation, and those stunning views of the ocean below from the sentry towers.  At one time, over 450 cannons were mounted in El Morro which housed almost 6,000 soldiers during a British attack in 1797.

During the week, be sure to join one of the daily orientation talks which give a twenty minute overview of El Morro; these visitor orientation presentations take place seven days a week, every hour on the hour at both El Morro and Castillo San Cristobal.  Or join one of the Ranger Programs for an interpretive talk about the history of El Morro National Park which are held throughout the day.

If you’re visiting on the weekend, you can take advantage of guided tours of the tunnels or the lighthouse as offered by the park rangers.  These tours are limited in size so it’s best to plan ahead if you want to attend.

El Morro is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. daily except during the holidays of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Flickr.com Photo Credit: El Morro by BluColt

Old San Juan

The Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino offers a unique location in the midst of picturesque and historical Old San Juan.  It’s the perfect location for meandering around and exploring the narrow winding cobblestone streets where you’ll find an array of quaint shops, art galleries, restaurants, nightlife, and national historic sites.

Offering a modern contrast to its old word location, the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino offers 240 smoke free guest rooms with amenities that include the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed & linens, deluxe toiletries, coffee maker, hair dryer, in-room safe, and high speed internet access.

Besides having so many restaurant choices available in Old San Juan, the Sheraton offers up a few on-site selections of their own.  The Chicago Burger Company features indoor and outdoor seating with great views of San Juan Bay; they serve up a delicious selection of burgers (you can even build your own) plus they offer full bar service – a perfect place to while away the afternoon and enjoy people watching.

Located on the second floor, Palio is the other on-site restaurant at the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino which offers authentic Italian cuisine; be sure to try the homemade lasagne or the filet mignon.  Palio is also known for its colorful array of specialty drinks including their signature Tuscan Lemoncello Mojito.  The hotel also offers room service for breakfast and dinner.

The 7,000 square foot casino offers players a chance to try their luck at the 300+ slot machines or gaming tables including blackjack, roulette, and poker.

The top floor of the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino is home to their fully equipped Health Club while the rooftop is home to the hotel’s swimming pool which offers expansive views of the cruise pier and San Juan Bay.  Tennis courts are available at nearby Central Park while golf can be arranged at the world-class 18-hole championship Ocean Course located at the Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa.

Nearby points of interest within walking distance include the Plaza de Armas, El Morro, Castillo de San Cristobal, Catedral de San Juan, the picturesque views (and pigeons) found at Parque de las Palomas, the San Juan Museum of Art and History, and the artisans found along the waterfront at Paseo de la Princesa near the cruise piers.

As part of the Starwood Hotel chain, the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino is regularly featured in discounted promotional programs and rates.

Flickr.com Photo Credit: Old San Juan PR by Cogito Ergo Imago