What to eat Puerto Rico? culinary specialties and gastronomy

In the so-called "gastronomic" restaurants, it is customary to reserve your table. For some establishments, it is even necessary to make a reservation several days in advance, as they are so coveted! These restaurants often have a reservation system on their website. On Sundays, for brunch or lunch after mass, Puerto Ricans like to meet up with family or friends at the restaurant. Weekend days are generally very busy, so it is best to plan ahead. Closing times and days may vary from one establishment to another. Some gourmet restaurants only welcome their customers for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.

San Juan is the place for gourmet pleasures at all prices. Bars, kiosks, popular restaurants or good restaurants: the neighborhood has the widest range of proposals to eat both local and at all prices. Smaller budgets will be able to satisfy themselves without resorting to fast food. From breakfast to dinner, from a gourmet break to a quick snack, you can indulge in the Puerto Rican way of eating at any time. Outside of San Juan, you'll find kiosks in all the coastal towns (Luquillo has about 60 family-owned kiosk businesses of all kinds!) and good restaurants here and there. Considering the prices of many establishments (10 US$ for a sandwich or 3 US$ for a coffee), kiosks are often the most economical solution for impromptu snacks. You will find coffees for 1.50 US$, soups or empanadas for 3 US$ and pastries for the same price

If for Europeans, service is included in the salary, this is not the case in the United States or in Puerto Rico. It is in restaurants that it is unavoidable, sometimes included in the bill for 15% to 20% of the total price. If it is not, you are usually expected to add it. Be careful not to include taxes when calculating your tip. Not tipping would mean that the service was very poor. In hotels of a certain standard, the cleaning staff usually leaves an envelope on the desk in the room to slip in a few dollars. In general, it is welcome to leave a tip for any service rendered (cabs, tourist guides...) except for shops. In the capital, some needy people sometimes offer to watch the car once parked. Attached to a specific area (around a fancy restaurant for example), these self-proclaimed guards are generally safe and their surveillance is not very expensive. Count 2 to 5 US$ for the price of the security.

The clichés related to gastronomy are rarely the first ones that come to mind when we evoke the Caribbean. However, the latter is the great surprise of Puerto Rico. Although a large majority of the typical dishes offered by Puerto Ricans are fried, there is an Afro-Caribbean cuisine, with Hispanic influences, which is extremely rich, both in terms of flavors and variety of dishes (and in quantity!), to which is added a creative international cuisine of quality. And for good reason, many chefs based in the big American cities, such as Boston, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, have their own little restaurant in the sun, here in Puerto Rico. This is a great way to make your trip more enjoyable by making your taste buds dance

Puerto Ricans are not heavy smokers. Only 13% of adults smoke. The law prohibits smoking in enclosed public places (bars, restaurants, discotheques, hotels...).

For a coffee, brunch or breakfast, most cafés are open every day from 7am-8am to 4pm-5pm. To sip a cocktail at any time of the day, you will find bars open from 2pm to 9pm, or from noon to midnight, with variable closing days depending on the establishment, but most often on Monday. In short, there is always a place open whatever the time and the day to eat or drink.

In bars, restaurants and nightclubs, the legal age to buy and consume alcoholic beverages is 21.

Coffee passion. With its paradisiacal beaches, colorful architecture, open and friendly people, lively nightlife... Puerto Rico is a dream destination in many ways. But this Caribbean island has also become a master in the art of the coffee break! Thanks to the revival in recent years of a high quality artisanal production, Puerto Rican coffee is very popular. If you pass by Ciales, don't miss to visit the coffee museum, you will learn a lot about the history of this precious beverage on the island. The farms, or haciendas, also open their doors to visitors, the opportunity to discover the plantations, beautiful estates, and learn more about the production process, up to the roasting: Hacienda Tres Ángeles, San Pedro, Monte Alto, Muñoz, ... to name a few. Finally, you will inevitably have the opportunity to enjoy a good espresso or delicious coffee con leche in one of the trendy cafés in the city of San Juan (Cuatro Sombras, Caficultura, Don Ruiz, Filtrado, Café con Cé, Café Régina,...) and elsewhere (Café La Finca in Jayuya, Friends Café in Mayagüez...) . You might just love Puerto Rican coffee!

Passion piña . The piña colada is THE national drink! This world famous cocktail, a sweet mixture of coconut cream, pineapple juice (fresh), white rum and crushed ice, is the pride of the Puerto Ricans, since it was created in San Juan. The history of its origins remains unclear, the identity of its creator controversial, but some say that the piña colada dates back to the 1800s: the Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí, would have served this drink to his crew to cheer them up. We like this version. So everywhere, and on the beaches during the weekend, you will find many kioskos (or street vendors) that offer it, with or without alcohol. The piña colada is the ideal cocktail to sip at sunset. And when you find the one you like, you'll definitely come back. A word of warning though: this delicious cocktail can be drunk like "whey" and the effects of the " ron oscuro" (local rum) used will not fail to be felt quickly, so be careful

Coquito, kesako? This typical Puerto Rican drink could be similar to an "eggnog", but... Puerto Ricans would say that it is much more! The holiday season in Puerto Rico lasts about 45 days (yes, yes!), beginning the day after Thanksgiving and ending in mid-January with the celebration of the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. The coquito, "little coconut", a clever drink, whose family recipe (based on rum, coconut milk and spices) is passed down from generation to generation, accompanies all the festivities. It is in a way the traditional Christmas drink

Chinchorros. These are food and drink stands that can be found everywhere along the roadsides, in towns and villages. The time of a takeaway order, a quick break, or a long moment to share, as long as the kiosk is equipped, and it can stretch over hours to discuss, lounging, listening to music, dancing ...