Abracadabra — Restaurant in San Juan

I first came here about 5 years ago with friends and had a delightful time. Recently, I visited again with a different set of friends on a Tuesday morning and was excited to share this place with them.

Unfortunately the mood was soured because our waitress was cold towards us and another who served us food was rude and completely disorganized.

1. When we ordered drinks, one friend ordered an iced Americano. We checked with the server that it would indeed be served iced, to which she said, "no, you asked for hot." She kindly did say she'd ask the barista to make it cold, but then brought it over hot without explanation. We dropped the conversation there.

2. Two friends ordered salmon dishes. Food came out at different times, and one of the salmon dishes was served first. When the server brought out the subsequent salmon-based dish, she was super confused by who it belonged to. When my friend explained it was hers, she denied it was and continued to ask around the table. This is when she repeated the dish name like we didn't understand her the first time (all interactions were in Spanish). When we all pointed to the person who ordered it, confirming that it was hers once again, the server just said "well there's so many salmon plates."

These interactions soured the mood as we felt unwelcome and like an afterthought. We enjoyed the food and got out of there quickly to...

There is a sign inside Abracadabra that says "casa de locos" (The crazies house). Unfortunately, that sign represents the inconsistency in service from one visit to the other.

The place is eclectic and their coffee is superb. The food is decent - much better than many places.

But their service leaves loads to be desired. In our last visit, on a Sunday at opening time (0900), four of us were seated but warned that the service would be slow. Nowadays, that's the norm. We don't have a problem with that.

What we have a problem with is being there at opening time and being served way after other customers that showed up later than us. Same number of people in the party, with similar orders, getting served in no logical or timely order.

When we got our food, only two of us got it. The other two of us had to wait another 15 minutes to get our food. Two of these plates were identical!

I had stopped going there for a while for poor service. I prefer Cafe Communion, Rosa & Elena, or Cortez.

To the owners, if they care to read this, decor will only take you so far. Your place is packed because your food ranks above many other places, but when someone has a complete solution: food, service, and consistency - you really earn...

Abracadabra is one of those authentic and rare spaces where creativity and hospitality meet seamlessly. The design is immersive and theatrical — clearly shaped by someone with a deep connection to performance and storytelling (the owner is a seasoned actor). It’s the kind of place that invites you to stay a little longer, look around, and enjoy the details.

I came for the improv night (hosted by the team of Teatro Breve) which was hilarious and fun! But I also left genuinely impressed — not just by the talent on stage and their sharp ability to ignite laughter in real time, but by the consistency and quality across the board. The food was standout: empanadas with great texture and flavor, perfectly cooked tender octopus, fresh salad, and perfectly crisp truffle fries. Cocktails were on point, and the service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing.

They’re open most days, though live performances are only scheduled on select nights — it’s best to check their calendar and book ahead, as seats can fill quickly with package deals and reservations. Whether you’re there for the show or simply looking for a dinner spot with atmosphere and soul, Abracadabra delivers....