*Dining Experience: Dining at Mar Y Rosa was an exceptional experience, with each dish leaving a lasting impression. We will be repeat customers, and it's easy to see why.
*Service: The service at Mar Y Rosa was top-notch, and our waitress was truly incredible. She was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made excellent recommendations. Her friendly and warm demeanor elevated our entire dining experience and made us feel genuinely cared for. Janira was the best server ever!
*Food: We've tried a wide variety of dishes at Mar Y Rosa- Here are some of the highlights:
~Hamachi Ceviche Taquitos: A refreshing and flavorful dish with crisp taquito shells filled with tangy hamachi ceviche. Comes with 2 small tacos. ~Salmon Carpaccio: While smoked flavors aren’t usually my favorite, this dish was still enjoyed by many at the table, with its thinly sliced salmon providing a delicate and smoky taste. Not my favorite. ~Crab Donuts: These savory donuts were light, fluffy, and packed with crab, making them absolutely irresistible, especially with the tangy dipping sauce. ~Pincho de Pork Belly: Tender, juicy, and caramelized to perfection, the pork belly had rich and satisfying flavors that made it a standout item. This was WILD with the flavors- never thought to pair butterscotch with pork belly. Also the pork belly was incredible itself- not fatty or chewy. Super delightful. ~Salt n Pepper Calamari: Crispy, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection, the calamari was served with a dipping sauce that enhanced its flavor, making it disappear quickly from the plate. ~Steak Tartare & Caviar: This dish combined finely chopped, well-seasoned tartare with the briny pop of caviar, creating an elegant and sophisticated flavor profile. ~NY Steak: Cooked to perfection, the NY Steak was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor—a hearty and satisfying entrée. ~The Castillo Burger: Juicy, flavorful, and loaded with toppings, this burger was a favorite and the perfect indulgence.
*Dessert: ~Don’t skip the cheesecake! It’s creamy, rich, and has the perfect balance of sweetness—an ideal way to end the meal on a high note. We weren’t hungry for dessert but tried it anyway- it disappeared so fast we ended up ordering a second one- when we didn’t even want one to begin with- so that should tell you something about how good it was.
*Drinks: ~Mar Y Rosa offers an impressive cocktail selection, and the Hibiscus Guava Margarita is a standout. I highly recommend asking for it with mezcal instead.
*Price: While Mar Y Rosa is on the pricier side, the freshness and quality of the ingredients shine through in every dish. The uniqueness and care that go into each preparation make it worth the splurge.
*Atmosphere: Mar Y Rosa has a trendy, vibey ambiance reminiscent of a Miami rooftop, complete with stylish decor and lively energy. The space feels chic and modern, making it perfect for a fun night out. If they added a house music DJ on the weekends, this place would be absolutely jumping and take the experience to the next level. There’s also a retractable roof if it starts to rain.
*Location/Parking: Mar Y Rosa is a rooftop bar and restaurant located inside the Alma Hotel, providing stunning views overlooking Old San Juan. Parking options are available nearby, there are several parking garages.
*Overall: Mar Y Rosa delivers a memorable dining experience, with outstanding service, exceptional food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared and packed with flavor, making it a highly recommended spot in...
Read moreRestaurante Mar y Rosa, perched on the rooftop of Hotel Alma San Juan at 405 Calle San Francisco, offers one of the most spectacular dining views in Old San Juan. Finding the entrance can be tricky as it's somewhat discreet - the hotel itself is beautifully maintained but easy to miss among the historic buildings. Pro tip: look for Hotel Alma near Plaza de Colón, then take the elevator by the reception up to the rooftop. Once you ascend, you're rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views that make any navigation challenges worthwhile. The vistas of Plaza de Colón and Castillo San Cristóbal are simply stunning, offering a perspective of Old San Juan that few restaurants can match. It's perfect for sunset dining when the historic city takes on a golden glow. Our server Hollis deserves special mention - attentive, friendly, and engaging with excellent table touch throughout our meal. This level of service significantly enhanced our dining experience, as Hollis consistently checked on us without being intrusive. For food, we enjoyed several dishes: the Wakamole was absolutely delicious with perfectly ripe avocados and a nice balance of flavors. The Arroz con Jueyes (rice with crab) was flavorful though perhaps a bit too salty for my taste - if you're sensitive to salt, you might mention this when ordering. The Castillo Burger was satisfying and well-prepared. We washed everything down with refreshing Coqui Lager and Old Harbour beers, which complemented the meal nicely. Our total came to $93.18 including tip and taxes - reasonable value considering the prime location and spectacular views. While not the cheapest option in San Juan, the combination of ambiance, service, and that incredible rooftop setting makes it worth the splurge for a memorable meal. The restaurant strikes a nice balance between upscale and relaxed, making it suitable for both special occasions and more casual dining. Just remember to factor in some time to find the entrance, and perhaps make reservations during peak tourist season to secure a table with...
Read moreWe visited your restaurant for the first time after landing in Puerto Rico, anticipating a delightful tapas experience. Unfortunately, it was an incredibly disappointing one. We were informed it would be a tapas-style dining, yet the food did not arrive at an appropriate pace, failing to meet the expectations of such an experience. Our first appetizer took so long that we were forced to order everything at once due to our growing concern about the delays.
It took a staggering three hours to receive our main courses. My boyfriend initially ordered a beer, but it wasn’t cold, so he opted for a piña colada instead. After waiting an hour without that drink, the waiter informed him it would take even longer to prepare, suggesting he choose something else. He ended up ordering the same margarita I had; mine was fine, but his was simply undrinkable. He eventually resorted to a basic beer, which was far from ideal. Considering we were dining at 5:30 PM, it’s unacceptable to not have cold drinks available.
The calamari we received was overly chewy, and the main course was a hugely disappointing steak that was not cooked to our requested temperature and contained excessive tough tissue. Quite frankly, it did not resemble a dish one would expect from a restaurant. The high price point is completely unjustifiable given the subpar quality of the food.
Your menu and cooking standards need significant improvements. This restaurant has a beautiful location, and it deserves better. The name does not align with the heavily Asian-influenced food, which added to the confusion. It was embarrassing to introduce someone to Puerto Rico in such a disappointing manner. I hope you take this feedback seriously for the sake of...
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