Here are my favorite places to grab a drink on the island. My preferences are generally good wine (often natural), a very cold gin martini (dry, no garnish), or on occasion an excellent cocktail (I had a deep cocktail phase in the mid 2010s and am still cocktailed-out for the most part). I also like a cold beer.
Hermanos Lucca
(Cool natural wine bar in Santurce with hard to find wines and a fun atmosphere especially later at night. They also have an awesome small plates menu now too!)
El Vino Crudo
(VSJ chill natural wine bar with a new dinner menu for bites or a full dinner. Try the mushroom paté, the Crudo, and the cannelini beans - make sure to wash it down with a glass of MUZ!)
La Parroquia
(PDT vibe loungey bar and music venue)
La Grieta
(Mezcal bar with great VSJ vibes)
Los Tres Cuernos
(Pitorro joint in VSJ with 20+ flavors and always a lot of fun)
La Disquera
(Santurce’s take on a Japanese inspired disco lounge. Great DJs, lighting, sound, and layout. You can chill on the couches with a bottle of wine or dance under the disco ball with a glass of mezcal or sake)
Montecristo
(Cigar lounge in OSJ with a serious cocktail bar and great old school vibes)
Caleta
(Cozy wine bar overlooking a beautiful square in VSJ with a large natural wine selection, great plates, and the right vibe)
El Mex
(Cool new venue in PDT, Mexican bar and casual bites inside, with a backyard to hang in often with live music / DJ)
El Batey
(El Batey is the ultimate VSJ dive bar. It’s been around forever, the drinks are strong and cheap, it’s covered in dollar bills and customers signatures, the people who work there are awesome, and everyone there is having a good time.)
Penultima
(Cocktail bar near the Placita with standout bar food and strong cocktail / wine program, as well as a chill backyard. Try the carbonated Negroni on tap!)
