Don’t

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.

Rise and shine: eight must-visit breakfast places in Puerto
Rico

The yellow exterior of Mercado La Carreta, left, and a
breakfast dish at the café.

La Nueva Pastelería

Ponce

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.

Tía

San Juan

Grab 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.

Degree 18 Juice Bar

Río Grande

Nothing 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.

Behind the bar at Tía, left, and a selection of the café’s
elevated morning staples.

Mercado La Carreta

San Juan

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.

Spiga

San Juan

Got 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.

Panadería España

San Juan

Opened 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).

Seating at Tia, left, and a hearty spread at Mercado La
Carreta.

Las Vistas Café

Fajardo

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.

Tostado

San Juan

With 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.