El CAFETÍN — Restaurant in San Juan

I had an extremely upsetting and unsafe experience outside El Cafetín on Sunday, August 31st, 2025 between 12:50 a.m. and 1:20 a.m. This happened just this past weekend after the Bad Bunny concert. I became separated from my friends due to an eye injury. They had the apartment key, so I only needed a moment to flag them down from inside the bar. The surrounding area is known for being unsafe, especially for a woman alone at night, and I was already injured and vulnerable.

When I approached the entrance, the security guard told me the bar was closed, which I understood. I explained multiple times that I was not trying to enter. I simply needed help reaching my friends who were in clear view inside. Instead of showing concern, he ignored me and scrolled on his phone. I stood in front of him crying with a swollen eye for nearly five minutes, pleading for help, while he acted as though I was not even there. He even stopped to greet his own friends during this time, showing me that it was not about being unable to help but simply a disinterest in helping me.

He had a walkie talkie and every opportunity to call inside or allow me to wave down my friends. His choice not to assist was careless and dismissive. As a business that promotes itself to tourists, safety and basic human decency should be a priority. In this case, the guard’s inaction could have left me in a truly dangerous situation.

Whether or not it was racially motivated, what I experienced was unacceptable. No woman, especially one visibly injured and asking for help, should be treated with such disregard. This left me shaken, and I want to warn others that this establishment did not prioritize the safety or well being of its guests that night. I am so disappointed since this place had been on my list of places to visit in PR for 6 months prior to this day. I hope this review will help this bar improve on their security and find those who are genuinely interested in protecting its patrons and women...

I visited this establishment while strolling through Old San Juan. Despite it being packed, I was willing to wait patiently for service. However, after standing at the bar for quite some time, I noticed that the staff consistently prioritized serving other patrons who spoke Spanish, while ignoring me entirely. Unfortunately, I never had my order taken and ultimately decided to leave. As a Black woman and a business owner myself, I found this experience deeply disappointing and concerning. I pride myself on fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment at my own bar, and I would never allow my staff or myself to treat anyone this way. This experience felt racially motivated, and I strongly encourage this establishment to reflect on their practices and strive to do better. And don’t even play the “you’re homophobic” card I literally went there with my GIRLFRIEND because it a GAY bar you’re just racist. look at the security footage and you’ll see all your...

Had a GREAT time visiting El Cafetín! We visited several times on our trip and kept recommending it to fellow travelers and other guests visiting the island that we would bump into in the lobby of our resort or during excursions. It's located on the outskirts of Old San Juan. Walking distance to 'El Castillo del Morro'. The 'Urbano' vibe is amazing and lively. As soon as you walk in, the music takes over and induces you to move to the rhythms. All the bartenders that helped us were very respectful, and courteous. We would like to highlight 'Jadiel' (in pic) he was fantastic. We tried all the flavors, but our favorite was the coco and parcha (passionfruit). We enjoyed the variety of patrons. The 'puro pari' vibes flow out onto the cobblestone streets. It never felt unsafe and both locals and tourist seemed to be there with the common objective: Enjoying life and the simple pleasures of a well-made drink. ¡MUCHAS GRACIAS Cafetín por una experiencia...