The Bottom Line
Pros
- A unique blend of historic beauty and modern elegance
- Prime location on Cristo Street in the heart of Old San Juan
- Specially designed wedding/romance packages
- Excellent dining includes Spanish tapas and fine Italian cuisine
Cons
- One of Old San Juan's more expensive places to stay
Description
- Top-class service, an unmatched setting, and the best of the of old and new worlds are the hallmarks of Hotel El Convento.
- Guestrooms have tiled floors, heavy and rich wood furniture, and the aura of a four-hundred-year old building.
- Ask about the hotel's special packages, which include cruises, walking tours, and romantic touches.
- Of the hotel's three dining options, try to make time for El Picoteo, which serves authentic Spanish tapas.
Guide Review - History and Luxury Make El Convento an Icon Among San Juan Hotels
Hotel El Convento’s 58 rooms surround an open, leafy courtyard where tables and cafes are set up as the main dining area, called El Patio del Nispero. The mezzanine level, which fronts Cristo Street (one of the main arteries through the old city), has an excellent bar and tapas restaurant called El Picoteo, as well as a fine dining restaurant called Il Perugino, which serves some of the best Italian food in Old San Juan.
Other hotel amenities include an outdoor wading pool (actually quite small and tucked away in a terrace that has wonderful views of the bay) and Jacuzzi, and several banquet/meeting halls. Weddings and romantic functions are the norm here, and they do it in grand style. This is easily one of the most romantic accommodations Puerto Rico has to offer. For wedding parties in particular, you can’t beat its location across from the San Juan Cathedral, considered the place to get married on the island.
But guests who expect a sprawling accommodations packed with the most modern amenities won’t find it here. The rooms, while comfortable and stocked with antiques, maintain an antiquated charm that would be ruined by too many high-tech gadgets (although you do get a flat-panel TV and Bose sound system). At this hotel, it’s all about enjoying the ambience of a bygone era.
It’s not a cheap destination, but if you still have any doubts about how special this place is, let the hotel’s accolades be your guide: El Convento has been given a four-diamond rating by AAA, and was named one of the world’s best places to stay by Condé Nast. Among the many San Juan hotels, El Convento stands out.
