Prior to my trip to Puerto Rico, my emotions were all over the place. I wouldn’t say I was depressed but my energy was very low. Creating became hard, my mind was overstimulated by the stresses of life, my confidence and self-talk were negative, basically I needed a reset. I’m not saying a vacation will cure the stresses of life and it’s not a one size fits all solution. For me, taking a step back has always given me a different perspective. I needed a sense of freedom because I felt trapped by life. I wanted to be free of my responsibilities, free of perfectionism, free of self-doubt… you get the idea. My trip to Puerto Rico emulated that, I got out of my head and into my blessings. I got back to me while enjoying the simplicity and beauty of the island.
Puerto Rico is the perfect location for an out-of-the-country feel without the hassle or expenses. It can be a quick trip or a week long vacation. During my five day stay I experienced amazing food, kind people, the beauty and calmness of water, and a mental reset. If you’re planning a trip to Puerto Rico, I hope my experience nudges you to take that trip.
Let’s start with my stay…
The Condado Ocean Club Boutique Hotel
The aesthetics had a very clean and simple island vibe. The rooms were minimalist with pretty shades of blue that reminds you of the water. It’s hotel itself depicted an intimate vibe, and although it’s a smaller boutique hotel, it lacked nothing. This would be the perfect stay for solo travel or a baecation, and in my case, a clean and clear space to get my mind right.
The stylish boutique hotel had one restaurants, The Social, and two other options for drinks and light bites — Sandbox and The Deck. I had breakfast at The Social, and the steak and eggs did not disappoint! Although I enjoyed the food, it was a bit pricey compared to all the other delicious food I had during my stay.
The Condado Ocean Club also had an infinity pool and it’s own private beach, that creates both a fun vacation vibe and a sense of ease.
Getting Around The City
I relied solely on rideshare because renting a car seemed unnecessary. Rideshare, like Uber, was super affordable and don’t think I spent more than $30, if even that, to get around. There were no long wait times and the drivers were very friendly and gave great recommendations. If you’re staying in the city, trust me, you do not need to rent a car.
I was inspired my the art and overall nature. It’s tropical, progressive, and inspiring. As I explored I couldn’t help but think about how this beautiful island recovered from Hurricane Maria. I thought about how devastating and damaging it was to the people of Puerto Rico, but something about its recovery let me know that I can recover too. There was signs of resiliency around me from the people to environment.
The Food
I couldn’t wait to bring this up. The food was nothing short of amazing. I probably had the best food I’ve ever eaten in Puerto Rico. Prior to visiting I never really heard anyone talk about how delicious the food was. I didn’t have one bad meal let’s get into where I ate.
Waiter’s Gastro Bar
This place was soo good, I had to spin the block lol. It was walking distance from the hotel so that’s the first place I went to grab dinner. Upon walking in, I immediately notice the two different vibes that the bar offered. On area (that’s for walk in diners) had a casual vibe accompanied with a bar. On the other side, that’s reservation only, is far more intimate and is more reserved for private parties and date night. Because I didn’t make a reservation I stayed in the more casual area of the restaurant. Despite the difference in ambiance, the level of amazing customer service was the same.
The first time I visited Waiter’s Gastro Bar I ordered a beef Paellita (paella) with fried plantains, because duh we’re in Puerto Rico. I also tried the fried breaded shrimp with mango BBQ sauce and alcapurrias — which is mashed green plantains stuffed with your choice of ground meat or pork. The alcapurrias was my least favorite but it was still good.
The second time I had fried snapper served with a simple salad and Caribbean wings with sesame honey mango glaze. Both were amazing! This is a must visit if you’re staying in Condado.
Raices
Raices is a local restaurant located in Old San Juan is popularly known for their Mofongo. If you plan to visit, make sure you have enough time to spare! The wait for a table can be anywhere from 30-60 minutes, but is worth the wait. I can’t attest to anything else on the menu, so if mofongo isn’t something you enjoy, you may want to skip this place. The vibe is very busy and family styled, I wouldn’t recommend for a date night, but it’s a perfect place to grab lunch and a few drinks while exploring Old San Juan.
Bistro Café
Bistro Cafe is a veryyy popular brunch spot, you may have seen it on TikTok. This is another place that you need to make time for because the wait can be anywhere from 20-90 minutes but it’s well worth it. The portions at this place is huge. I’ve never been served so much food in my life in one plate. The french toast is super sized and an order of eggs equals to about nine eggs. It’s a lot of food. The customer service was great and kind, they even have people walking around to take pictures of you, that you can buy framed for $20. This is a must visit place if you like breakfast.
Kumo Rooftop
Last but certainly not least is Kumo Rooftop. This is one of my favorite places for several reasons — the views are amazing, the food is upscale with beautiful presentation and an even better taste. The staff is very knowledgeable on the menu and has helped me a lot when making a decision on wine and food choices. It’s very intimate and perfect for girls night, dates, and celebrations. You will not regret this location!
If you can’t tell by the name, Kumo Rooftop is a modern infusion of Japanese and Peruvian dishes. It combines a unique taste that combines flavor and culinary expression. I tried three different dishes — king salmon green pear teriyaki, duck leg chaufa served with Peruvian fried rice, red peppers, carrots, and orange duck glaze. Lastly, I had the korobuta pork belly served with sautéed garlic broccolini in a pork glaze. Despite the portion size, this was very filling.
What Else Made Puerto Rico Amazing?
My trip helped me get in tune with myself and allowed my environment to inspire me. Sometimes you need to change your environment and get away from your daily task and responsibilities to gain a clear mindset. I truly believe I became free of stress, self-doubt, and perfectionism by getting back to simplicity. I took myself to a place I’ve always wanted to visit and made the best of it. I connected to the culture by exploring, trying new food, and even seeing aquatic animals while night kyaking.
I just lived freely.