The Bottom Line
Un Sitio Diferente. Translation: A Different Place. The name is appropriate, because there's nothing like Soleil Beach Club in the rustic setting of Piñones. Just a short drive away from San Juan, Soleil Beach Club combines the cuisine of a trendy eclectic bistro with a the down-home charm of a beachfront bar.
Pros
- Unexpectedly sophisticated food
- Right on th beach
- Free transportation to the restaurant
Cons
- Far from San Juan (i.e. by car only)
Description
- Check out the varied cocktail menu. This is, after all, a beach lounge and bar too, with live bands on weekend nights.
- Save room for dessert: the Bananas Foster (with homemade caramel) and key lime pie are terrific.
- After your meal, take a walk along the beach and catch the action at the many kiosks serving crispy goodies and cheap beer.
Guide Review - Soleil Beach Club: A San Juan Restaurant Removed from San Juan
Soleil Beach Club is a dining experience that will surprise you, and is also a chance to get away from fast-paced San Juan and enjoy the more local side of Puerto Rico.
Set in low-key Piñones Soleil Beach Club is the area's gastronomic star. The real question is, why should you travel to a beachfront eatery when there are so many fine restaurants in San Juan? Valid question, but I can think of four reasons:
- It's a free ride! Soleil Beach Club will send a comfy, free shuttle to pick you up (in San Juan), and will drop you back, so you don't need to worry about expensive taxis, being stranded in an unfamiliar neighborhood, or drinking and driving.
- Free transportation in and of itself is no reason to go anywhere. Fortunately, the setting is worth the effort. The restaurant looks like a typical seaside eatery: sun-bleached wood, a breezy upper level, rustic bar and even a mellow lounge. The view is sand and ocean, and the music is the rolling melody of the surf; not a bad backdrop for a good meal.
- Then there's the food, a mix of traditional Puerto Rican and creative fusion. The antojitos puertorriqueños is a good example of the former: an assortment of turnovers and fritters made of codfish (bacalao), beef, fish and corn. Another local favorite is the crispy and tender Chillo Entero. On the more eclectic side of the menu is the delicious halibut filet in oriental beurre blanc sauce with cassava mofongo. (Actually, all their mofongos are good.) And the Caribbean lobster, simply prepared but succulent and delicious, is a can't-miss specialty.
- Finally, Soleil Beach Club is an inviting place with a low-key ambience. From Chef Juan Carlos Madera to the young, amiable staff, there is no pretense here - just great food, great people, and a great setting.
