The 11 Best Places to Drink and Do in San Juan
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The best places to drink and do in San Juan, according to the experts: James Beard Awards, The 50, and Premios Nacionales de Gastronomía have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. Identidad comes out on top.
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La Factoría and The Spa at Condado Vanderbilt hold the next two places. James Beard Awards and Spirited Awards show up on more of this list than any other guide.
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Rank 1. Identidad
Caribbean Cocktail Bar
Brass sconces, emerald armchairs, and a terrazzo counter that looks like a terrazzo counter should look if terrazzo counters had ambition. Identidad is a cocktail bar built around Puerto Rican ingredients sourced from island producers, and the menu rotates often enough that regulars have no excuse to order the same thing twice. It took a 2025 James Beard Award for Best New Bar, which tells you more than the decor already does.
The awards
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2025 · Winner · Best New Bar
- The 50 The 50: #73 · North America's 50 Best Bars
- The 50 The 50: Campari One To Watch Award 2026 · North America's 50 Best Bars
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Winner · Best New Bar
- The 50 #73 · North America's 50 Best Bars
- The 50 Campari One To Watch Award 2026 · North America's 50 Best Bars
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Rank 2. La Factoría
Puerto Rican Cocktail Bar
A chequerboard floor, fairy lights, and enough rooms within rooms that finding your way back to the bar counts as an adventure, La Factoría is a cocktail bar spread across Old San Juan like it grew there naturally. Locals and tourists negotiate the same stools, and the drinks lean into Caribbean produce without turning into a tourism brochure. It landed at #26 on North America's 50 Best Bars, which tracks.
The awards
- The 50 The 50: #26 · North America's 50 Best Bars
- Premios Nacionales de Gastronomía Premios Nacionales de Gastronomía: Finalista · Mixología con Identidad · Roberto Berdecía
- James Beard Awards James Beard Awards: 2022 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar Program
- The 50 #26 · North America's 50 Best Bars
- Premios Nacionales de Gastronomía Finalista · Mixología con Identidad · Roberto Berdecía
- James Beard Awards 2022 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar Program
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The awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Travel Guide: Forbes Four Star
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The awards
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The awards
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Rank 6. 173°
Modern Caribbean
The awards
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best International Hotel Bar – Latin America & Caribbean
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best International Hotel Bar – Latin America & Caribbean
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The awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Travel Guide: Forbes Four Star
- AAA AAA: Four Diamonds
- Eater Eater: The 26 Best Restaurants in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Four Star
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Eater The 26 Best Restaurants in San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Rank 7. COA
Puerto Rican
The awards
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The awards
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The awards
- The Pinnacle Guide The Pinnacle Guide: 1 Pin
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The awards
- Difford's Guide Difford's Guide: Difford's Guide