Where to Drink in San Juan, Puerto Rico that isn’t La Factoria
Ah the famous La Factoria. It’s the first bar everyone will tell you to go to when you ask, “Where should I go in San Juan?!”
And it makes sense! After being on the “50 Best Bars in the World” list in 2014, it was made even MORE famous when it was the filming location of Daddy Yankee’s Despacito, the multicultural hit that made white people all around mainland America say, “hey, I know a few words in Spanish, too!”
starting our night at la factoria
after our first cocktail at la factoria
Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE La Factoria. I’ve probably gone there at least once on every single Puerto Rico trip I’ve taken since I first went back in 2015. The menu of rotating cocktails are always delicious, a bartender I met there once when I lived in PR for a month took me and my friends to La Perla after his shift, and even though my slenderman body almost always hits my head on the shorter doorframe that leads to the backroom where everyone dances with strangers to live salsa music, I’m never upset about it because I always end up having fun anyway.
But the popularity of La Factoria has some drawbacks — i.e., lines to get in, long waits for drinks when it’s packed, and oftentimes the street outside of the bar is so packed on the weekends that you can’t even move. This was fine by me when I was in my 20’s, but at the ripe old age of 35, I need to be far away from strangers unless they’re offering me jello shots on the street (this also happened outside of La Factoria).
So if you’re looking for some other great bars in the beautiful city of San Juan from a professional vacation bar veteran, check out my list below!
I broke them out by neighborhood, but friendly reminder you can find all of these bars and more recommendations on my Puerto Rico Google Map guide HERE!
Bars in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Machete
pic via the machete website bc all of mine were too dark lol
jk i had one with a flash on and this was it lol we’re fun at bars!!
Machete was recommended to me by a few of my friends in the NYC bar industry so I knew it was going to be good, but I did not expect to see amazing live music, have great cocktails, and meet some cool people while I was there. This is my new favorite spot that I tell everyone to go to. Also there are a lot of hot people here. I hate to say this impacts my favorite bars list, but it does.
Jungle Bird
Another NYC bartender’s fave and probably second on everyone’s “must visit” bar after La Factoria . A tiki-themed bar with cute and very strong cocktails. There’s usually a wait to get in, but it’s fun to start the night here with a cocktail or two and some food, which is SO GOOD. It’s in the midst of the chaotic La Placita, so I would come here early in the evening for a better chance at seating early and right before things get too wild in La Placita.
La Penúltima
poor quality screenshot via their instagram
Either after Jungle Bird or while you’re waiting for a table at Jungle Bird, walk around the corner to one of my other favorite bars, La Penúltima. Usually a mix of metal/hardcore music playing, which is always my vibe. The cocktails are great but they also have a selection of beers & food and a pretty big outdoor area. Honestly, I think I like this spot more than Jungle Bird but definitely hit up both if you can!
El Nie Bar
i stole this pic from lonely planet. this bar does not seem to have any good photos of it online which i also think says a lot (of good things)
Another fun dive bar! Very chill with tons of room, indoor and outdoor space. I heard they have live music and I’m sad I haven’t seen it yet. I made a lot of friends at this bar and took a shot that I threw up in the bathroom which honestly is a good omen to me. They also deliver smashburgers and empanadas for drunk munchies. I tagged along with my friend and her tinder date to this bar (he lives in PR), and even though their love didn’t last, my appreciation for this bar has because I’ve been back a few times since.
Superduper
all praise
i’m so sorry these are the only pics i could find online
honestly it’s shameful i couldn’t find anything better but here we are
Very fun open air vibe bodega. Buy beers and drink them outside with new friends and some doggos you just met. Great place any time of the day or night.
Bars in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
El Batey
carly helen and elyse love el batey!
vic and i love el batey!
morgan and sasha love el batey!
Clearly, this is one of my favorite and go-to dive bars in Old San Juan. Super friendly bartenders and the crowd is a mix of locals and tourists. There’s also pool in the back. This place definitely sticks out among the rest of the drinking establishments in Old San Juan, but that’s what makes it special. I love stopping here during the day if I’m sight-seeing.
La Grieta
stole this from their instagram hehehe
they bring the chairs outside too!! revolutionary.
A mezcal cocktail bar on a cobblestoned street in Old San Juan. I’m not the biggest mezcal fan, but the atmosphere itself is super cozy and fun. Even though this gives speakeasy, apparently there’s even a more secretive speakeasy within this bar — we never got the chance to go because we were a group of drunk women who wanted to migrate after our cocktail so that’s exactly what we did :)
Bars in Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
El Refugio
i took this photo from their instagram, that’s how you know the bar is great
If you find yourself over by the university, head over to El Refugio, a very fun local bar to get a bottle of chichaíto at and share it outside with the people you just met.
El Boricua
was having so much fun when i was there i made a tinder profile ??
then took all these pics with sasha
no idea if i had any matches
Another fun bar by the university. Tons of outdoor space with live music – this place was PACKED when I went. I tried to find photos of it and their instagram is full of videos of people just dancing. I do have photos of me creating a Tinder profile WHILE I WAS AT THE BAR anyway these are screenshots of my profile.
BONUS
Pomarrosa Bar & Restaurant
Can’t even remember how I ended up here but I had a BLAST. Very local bar with karoake all night. It was right off the highway and even when there was a COVID curfew when I went, they closed the front gate but kept the party going inside.
Remember, no matter where you end up drinking in Puerto Rico, tip your bartender well!
