Book your Puerto Rico travel today with JetBlue.com and take advantage of nonstop flights from Boston to San Juan.
We’ve all seen those photos of Beyoncé jumping off a billion-foot yacht into the waters of St. Barths, and we’ve all felt slightly dejected about the fact that we’re hiding behind MacBook Airs in studio apartments and living vicariously through those paparazzi shots. Fret not—while a boat the size of Mars might not be part of your reality, a vacation’s worth of amazing food and beautiful snapshots certainly can be. Here’s a newsflash: Caribbean vacations are not strictly reserved for the Illuminati.
Puerto Rico—home of gorgeous people, even more gorgeous beaches, and food that’ll put your splurge at the latest hot restaurant to shame—is currently the most underrated and affordable hot spot in the Caribbean. Steeped in fascinating cultural history and unique cuisine, Puerto Rico is undoubtedly one of 2017’s exciting food and drink destinations, with fresh talent emerging at restaurants like Santaella and Jose Enrique (more on that later.) Trust us: this is not your parent’s vacation circa 1982.
Whether you’re looking for specialty cocktails—we know just the place—or trying to find your bliss with surfing lessons, there’s a way to unwind for everyone when the weather is warm 365 days of the year with apermanent ocean breeze. Below, we round up a few of the hot drink and food trends to look out for on your next trip to Puerto Rico.
Locally Sourced Ingredients
While America’s love of locally-sourced food might’ve gotten its start with famed California locavore chef Alice Waters, Puerto Ricans have wholly embraced the local food movement, preserving age-old recipes while adding a fresh new twist. For instance, check out Chef José Santaella’s barn-chic Santaella on Calle Canals Condado, just steps away from San Juan’s main farmer’s market, La Placita. The dining room overlooks a lush garden, and the tapas-style menu changes frequently, inspired by what’s best in season.
Or, if you’re interested in trying your own hand at Puerto Rican cuisine, here’s a pro-tip: If you’re renting a place, stop by Vittorino Trattoria for a snack during a walk through La Placita, and bring home local produce to make your own dinner. Grocery shopping makes everyone hungry, but grocery shopping in a gorgeous open-air farmer’s market calls for a much-needed break at an old school lunch joint.
Asian Influences
When you think Puerto Rican food you likely conjure mostly classic Latin American flavors—and while there’s plenty of great Latin-inspired cuisine on the island, you’d be wrong to see Puerto Rican flavors as monolithic. Some of PR’s newest cuisine is heavily influenced by Thai and other traditionally Asian flavors, enhanced by the freshly caught seafood from San Juan’s ports. Check out Green Thumb Grill in Rincón for traditional Thai food with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, and Budatai in Condado for another Asian-fusion spot you won’t want to miss (it’s particularly good for date night—try the pork dumplings with truffles.)
Market-Driven Seafood
You can’t come to Puerto Rico without sampling its best asset: fresh-off-the-boat seafood. Jose Enrique in San Juan is manned by Jose himself—the first Puerto Rican nominee for James Beard’s “Best Chef South” category. Menus are written on whiteboards and change with the catches of the day, tying back to that locavore theme. Aquaviva is another spot wholly dedicated to the sea’s bounty—the raw bar and sangria will not disappoint.
Old School Spots with a New World Menu
Puerto Rico is laden with colonial history, and that past is reflected in its culinary scene just as much as in any other cultural area on the island. PR’s gorgeous historical architecture and fancy hotels are often colonial remnants now revamped for the public. While you might not be able to swing a stay at some of these places, dining at their restaurants gives you a taste of that #oldschool Puerto Rican flair. 1919 at the Vanderbilt Condado is the flagship restaurant an old San Juan debutante haunt—but the food is anything but stuffy. Jose Cuevas of Michelin star fame sets out inventive plates night after night, riffing on Puerto Rican mainstays like mofongo (plaintains or yucca mixed with magic and turned into stew) with never-thought-of-that-before ingredients. Patio del Nispero at the Hotel el Convento in Old San Juan is another landmark worth visiting with a beautiful courtyard. The hotel is almost 400 years old, but the menu changes with what’s available locally.
Specialty Drinks
When you think of a trip to the islands, a gigantic piña colada with a tiki straw likely comes to mind. At Factoría La Sanse in San Juan, they do it a little bit better—and a lot cooler. In this nondescript building you’ll find a sexy, candlelit speakeasy with Edison bulbs strung across the ceiling and an entire menu of artisanal cocktails. It wouldn’t be out of place in any hip mainland neighborhood. Want something curated just for you? Hit the bartenders with your favorite flavor and they’ll craft you a custom drink on the spot. If you’re still craving that classic beach drink, El Bohio Beach Bar, inside the Villa Cofresi Hotel in Rincón, is known for a killer drink called “The Pirate Special”—it’s made with more types of alcohol than you can count, and served in a coconut. Vacation doesn't get better than that—ahoy, indeed.
Book your Puerto Rico travel today with JetBlue.com and take advantage of nonstop flights from Boston to San Juan.