Not a breakfast person? Prepare to be converted, with our round-up of eight Puerto Rican eateries offering brilliant breakfasts – and, yes, coffee’s included.
18 August, 2022
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Don't be surprised if breakfast becomes your favourite meal of the day in Puerto Rico. The sun-soaked tropical island, with its pastel-painted houses, sprawling beaches and lush hilly terrain, has much to offer when it comes to kick-starting the day in style. From Spanish-style salami bocatas to elevated classics such as lemon-meringue pancakes, dishes are sure to inspire you to get more creative with ingredients when you get back home. Ready to wake up to the flavours of Puerto Rico? Here are eight hotspots worth setting the alarm for.
The yellow exterior of Mercado La Carreta, left, and a breakfast dish at the café.
Bright-and-breezy La Nueva Pastelería has got breakfast down to a tee. Recover from last night's inevitable slew of rum-based cocktails and beachside dancing with the help of the amazing sliders - with pancakes in place of a bun - topped with avocado and microgreens or refuel with a classic ham- and cheese-stuffed omelette. This popular Ponce breakfast spot also doubles as a bakery, offering an array of extravagantly decorated cakes that are almost too pretty to eat.
610 Calle Ferrocarril, Ponce 00717 +1 787 569 8608 facebook.com/lanuevapasteleriaGrab your besties and walk arm-in-arm to Tía - the perfect place to spill all the gossip over mimosas and eggs. Grab a seat inside - a space designed with colourful, 1990s-esque flair - or at one of the orange-topped tables on the patio, to enjoy elevated breakfast staples like lemon-meringue pancakes and berry toast with homemade jam. The attention to detail in both dishes and design makes Tía a standout spot in San Juan.
3009 Avenida Alejandrino, Guaynabo, San Juan 00969 +1 787 764 9999 tiacocina.comNothing says tropical island holiday more than a chilled drink and palm trees. Start the day as you mean to go on, slurping on sublime fruit smoothies and vitamin-packed juices blended with local produce (some of it grown on-site), on Degree 18 Juice Bar's leafy patio, at the base of El Yunque National Forest. Check the chalkboard for the day's specials - think vibrant acai bowls, vegan burgers, lentil wraps, in-house-made houmous and coconut energy balls - before taking a power nap in one of the gently swaying hammocks.
16 Calle Principal, Palmer, Río Grande 00721 +1 787 534 6645 degree18juice.com
Behind the bar at Tía, left, and a selection of the café's elevated morning staples.
The wooden arched doorways and stained-glass windows of Mercado La Carreta's Spanish colonial architecture meet contemporary design touches that - like the restaurant's menu - show an appreciation for old classics alongside modern favourites. Ravenous? Order the bandeja jíbara - a breakfast extravaganza featuring a fried egg, rice and beans, roast pork, avocado, bacon and plantains. Otherwise, indulge the Instagram influencer within and go for the photogenic avocado toast on brioche bread.
1511 Ponce de Leon Ave C, San Juan 00909 +1 787 395 7177 mercadolacarreta.comGot a sweet tooth? The scent of warm, freshly baked pastries emanating from Spiga, housed in a sunny yellow building in San Juan's Ciudadela neighbourhood, is sure to lure you in from blocks away. While the menu includes all the savoury breakfast options you'd expect, we say go straight to the baked goods. From the chocolate-laced babka buns and glossy cinnamon and cardamom swirls to the chunky peanut butter-and-oatmeal cookies, you can't go wrong. Be sure to grab a loaf of the signature sourdough on your way out.
258 Calle San Justo, Esquina Tetuán, San Juan 00901 +1 787 667 6159 facebook.com/spigavsjOpened in 1972, Panadería España honours Puerto Rico's rich culinary heritage, reworking traditional recipes that have been passed down from one generation to the next. The restaurant, located in San Juan's Carolina neighbourhood, balances hearty diner staples like scrambled eggs and bacon with local specials such as paella and salami bocatas (Spanish-style baguette). Round things off on a sweet note with a serving of the divine coconut flan or the mantecaditos (Puerto Rican shortbread cookies).
AO-23 Centro Comercial Villamar Marginal, Calle Román Baldorioty de Castro, Carolina, San Juan 00979 +1 787 727 3860 laespana.net
Seating at Tia, left, and a hearty spread at Mercado La Carreta.
Fancy lingering over breakfast while drinking in views of Las Croabas Bay's crystal-clear waters? Sounds good to us. Las Vistas, perched on a hill in Fajardo, is the perfect place to start your day. A highlight of any visit will be the beloved-locally huevos rancheros drenched in a homemade sauce, while the seasonal fruit platter promises the sweetest flavours the island has to offer.
83 Calle 2, Fajardo 00738 +1 787 655 7053 facebook.com/LasVistasCafeWith its brightly painted geometric exterior, Tostado may be Wynwood Walls' long-lost sister - but with far better prices. We're starting with the peanut butter-and-banana toast, then going in for something a little more savoury like the smoked salmon eggs benedict. Indulge in another version of earl grey breakfast tea, this time with bourbon, honey and ginger syrup - we won't tell. The back patio, weaved with greenery, also has a walk-up order window for breakfast on the go.
1805 Calle Loíza, San Juan 00911 +1 787 523 6902 facebook.com/tostadopr
