Josiah gets a handful of days off surrounding Easter and as chance would have it we scored some super cheap tickets to San Juan, Puerto Rico that corresponded perfectly with those dates. It was a quick trip, but it was the perfect piece of paradise mixed with urban culture that we needed after a long Midwest winter.

One of the great things about Puerto Rico is although it’s a bit of a hop, skip, and a jump to get to from Nebraska — about a 2 hour flight to Atlanta and then another 3.5 hour flight from Atlanta to San Juan — it’s still technically a U.S. territory so there’s not a huge hassle with customs and such. Definitely a fun getaway that allows for some great beach time, but also feels like a dive into a unique cultural experience as well.

It’s far fetched to call this a “guide.” It’s more a a list-of-things-we-loved-that-hopefully-inspire-your-next-adventure! Thanks for stopping by!

Where we stayed

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t decided to go to San Juan because of this cute hotel (and the cheap tickets obviously). Mood Haus has such a funky, groovy vibe and although in my personal decorating I generally gravitate towards, calm neutrals, something about the poppiness of the color just drew me in. The unit we stayed in was a studio apartment that included a full kitchen that we used for a handful of meals. There was an adorable little porch with a hammock that we spent almost every afternoon and early morning reading on. We did have a ground level room so our view wasn’t amazing, but next time I would try to get a second floor room with a porch for a bit more privacy.

The location of this hotel was pretty dang perfect. It was nestled in Ocean Park — a very artsy, hipster neighborhood only a few blocks from the beach. We had a ton of great coffee and food options within walking distance which was perfect since we didn’t have a car.

The customer service of this hotel was fantastic. They offered flexible check-in and check-out times and were really responsive anytime we needed something. Their sister hotel offered complimentary beach-front yoga (times were limited because of COVID so it never worked out for us to do it, but next time we will definitely take advantage).

One thing I didn’t love about this hotel, and it likely comes from everything being made of cement, but there was a slight musty smell that was present throughout most of our stay. For the price this was a really fun stay.

OUR FAVORITE COFFEE

Café Con Cé - This shop had a really cute back patio where a lot of digital nomads were hanging out. It was super close to our hotel so it was generally our first coffee stop of the day.

Comunión - This shop had stunning floors and citrusy espresso! It seemed like a great place to hang out and get work done.

Café Regina - This was hands down our favorite! I’d highly recommend the iced cashew milk latter (honey, cinnamon, + fresh, creamy almond milk) and any of their sandwiches! We ate here every day for breakfast and still contemplate quitting our jobs and moving to Puerto Rico just to be able to go to this shop every single day.

Filtrado - This place is located in Old San Juan and they definitely do specialty coffee right! The barista was so kind and knowledgable. They have a super cute alleyway to sit in behind the shop where we hung out during a particularly rainy part of the day. It’s the perfect spot to bring a book and sit on a pour over of your choice.

787 - This one was definitely off the beaten bath! It was tucked away from the water up into the hills of San Juan. This place had an adorable swing chair that I fell in love with, but the coolest thing about them is the fact that they GROW THEIR OWN COFFEE! It does not get more local than that.

Transportation

The city itself was really easy to get around in. For the most part we walked (we really, really like walking), but there were a handful of times we did use Uber (to and from the airport, getting to Old San Juan — the historic part of the city, and when we walked further than we realized and didn’t want to walk back.) Renting a car isn’t necessary if you’re just going to stay in the city because parking is awful, but if you do want to venture to the El Yunque Rainforest (which we will totally do next time!) it’s probably best to just rent one.

WEATHER

As you’d imagine the weather was warm and balmy, BUT It did rain some of the days we were there which definitely caught us off guard a few times. I’d definitely recommend ensuring you have a layer to protect with you when you’re out and about just in case! The temperatures were in the 80’s and it was perfect! It did get pretty toasty in the middle of the day so we usually planned to take a break from the sun from like 2-4.

Food

La Preña - This place had a very casual atmosphere (which is what I’m into 90% of the time!) and all outdoor seating (which I am into 100% of the time). We had a mojito colada (it’s a lime + mint piña colada) that was delicious and so refreshing! The yukka fries were super crispy and the perfect side to the fresh ceviche.

La Cueva Del Mar - The shrimp tacos were fabulous (better than the fish ones) and their empanadas were amazing (defiintely recommend the spicy crab and beef).

La Crema Heladeriá - As if you need an excuse to get ice cream on vacation, but if you did, all you need to know is that they have hot honey ice cream with honey comb chunks. 10/10.

Tresbé - This place was right next to our hotel, but the reviews weren’t that amazing so we held off on trying this until our last night. Out of hangry desperation we decided to give it a shot and OMG it was sooooo good. We had phenomenal pork and chicken tacos! Don’t listen to the google reviews — our service was great and the food was so good!

Lote 23 - An outdoor food hall full of really, really cool options. Josiah got a pulled pork sandwich that had bacon, banana, and peanut butter on it which was TO DIE FOR and I got a really fresh poke bowl that was super filling without feeling too heavy.

Café Regina - This shop was already mentioned in the coffee favorites, but worth mentioning the food options as a favorite as well. We went here at least once a day working our way through the sanwhich menu and didn’t find a single thing we didn’t like. They have delicious pastry options as well that make for a great afternoon treat on your walk back from the beach!

Sights

Old San Juan - Just walking around this historic area will provide a lot of entertainment — the architecture is just so, so gorgeous. The colors and details of the buildings will keep you looking left and right! You will have a lot of photo opportunities around every corner! There was a farmer’s market and lots of restaurants and shops. It is a very touristy area, but totally worth going and walking around at least once while you’re in San Juan. It was a short Uber ride from our hotel.

Castillo San Felipe Del Morro - I wasn’t sure if this place would be worth the hype, but it 100% was! If you’re already heading to Old San Juan to do some exploring you have to pop on over to this incredibly old (like built in the 1500’s) castle fortress used through a series of wars over the last couple of centuries. We happened to be there on a day that all the national park’s were free, but if you aren’t so lucky it’s $10 to enter and I really think it would be worth it.

The Beach - Obviously we loved hanging out on the beach! We spent most of our beach time at the beach just north of cafe regina since it was the closest from our hotel. The beach was clean and overall quiet!