Discover Some Of The Most Beautiful Boutique Hotels In Puerto Rico.
When I started researching places to stay for our upcoming trip, I was pleased to find many boutique hotels in Puerto Rico. I don’t have anything against chain hotels, but I have a strong passion for places that are different and have a distinctive vibe, so I always try to book something unique when I have the chance.
The list I have put together of the 18 best boutique hotels in Puerto Rico is divided into three categories (Hotels, Resorts, B&Bs/Guesthouses) to make it easier to look for something that works for your needs.
A boutique hotel is a small, stylish, and often luxurious accommodation option that offers a personalized and intimate experience to its guests. Unlike larger chain hotels, boutique hotels typically have a distinctive design, unique decor, and a focus on providing exceptional customer service. They are known for their attention to detail, individualized amenities, and a charming ambiance that sets them apart from more traditional hotel offerings. These properties often have a limited number of rooms, allowing for a more exclusive and personalized stay, and they strive to create a memorable and authentic experience for each guest.
But enough talk! It’s time to check out my list of the 19 best boutique hotels in Puerto Rico (in no particular order of preference).
BEST BOUTIQUE HOTELS IN PUERTO RICO
Located in San Juan’s Ocean Park neighborhood, The Dreamcatcher is in the city center and near the beach. It features 9 rooms and 3 suites; all decorated with a unique style of their own. It is the only vegetarian hotel in San Juan. Guests may sign up for yoga classes, join a snorkeling excursion, or opt for nature-adventure tours outside of the typical touristy options. They may also rent a bicycle and go for a ride around the neighborhood beaches or the popular Loíza Street. Their breakfast & brunch is served daily and sourced mostly local. They are committed to using organic produce with a low carbon footprint and offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
This family-friendly Spanish-style hotel is located in the heart of Old San Juan. It features an eclectic cafe, a lobby lounge with elegant tile work and vintage furnishings, a rooftop sundeck with stone bathtubs, and a panoramic elevator. Each room is filled with local art and original furniture from the early 1900s. The individually decorated suites offer premium bedding, original floors, and courtyard views. Kids 12 and under (up to 2 per room) stay with their parents at no cost. The beach is a 5 min walk from Casa Blanca Hotel and a mile and a half away from Escambron Beach, where you can rent kayaks and snorkeling gear.
THE GALLERY INN
The Gallery Inn is a stunning twenty-five room art-filled boutique hotel that sits high aloft the Old San Juan City’s North Wall, commanding gorgeous 360º views over the San Juan Bay and mountainous central regions of Puerto Rico. It features a restaurant with terrace seating, a garden, an outdoor pool with a fountain, and a rooftop deck featuring ocean views. Six active art studios and world-class piano recitals are all open to guests. Continental breakfast is complimentary.
HOTEL EL CONVENTO
A landmark monument to the Conquistador Age and one of the most historic hotels in Old San Juan Puerto Rico, it showcases a timeless aura of Old World charm and splendor. Hotel guests receive beach privileges at the El Convento Beach Club on Isla Verde Beach. The hotel is housed in a restored 350-year old building. The pool and hot tub overlook the San Juan Bay, and a fitness center, library, and business center are offered to guests. Facials, manicures, and massages are available upon request. Every evening, the Manager’s Reception serves hors d’oeuvres and wine on La Veranda Terrace. Rooms at the El Convento have a Spanish décor.
VILLA HERENCIA HOTEL
Featuring local artwork and a relaxing terrace, this charming boutique hotel is on a quiet side street in Old San Juan near the boardwalk and in a walkable area with great shopping. Each of the eight rooms is furnished differently, but all share comfortable beds, high ceilings, antique furniture, ornate light fixtures, and direct access to a sunny courtyard. An honor bar is located inside the hotel. Tiled floors and a private patio are found in each room of the Villa Herencia Hotel. In the common areas, the old-world decor blends with quirky, eclectic modern accents, like zebra-print chairs and bright oil paintings.
LA TERRAZA DE SAN JUAN
This downtown boutique hotel features a roof-top terrace overlooking San Juan Bay and historic Old San Juan. Decorated in 19th-century Colonial style, it offers apartments with a fully equipped kitchen. Private bedrooms, a separate living room, and 2 bathrooms are offered in each apartment. Yoga classes and massage services are available. Set in a pair of adjacent Spanish Colonial–style buildings, this charming hotel is a 4-minute walk from the 18th-century Castillo San Cristóbal and a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista.
TAMBOO BESIDE THE POINT HOTEL
Set amid palm trees and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Rincon, this beachfront hotel is 3 km from Antigua Planta Nuclear Museum and Punta Higüeras lighthouse. You’ll be on the beach, just steps from Sandy Beach and a 5-minute drive from Playa María. Tamboo Hotel features 8 individually decorated rooms, a nightclub, a bar/lounge, and a restaurant in the heart of the entertainment district.
PUERTAS AT EL QUENEPO
Nestled along the enchanting Malecon in the vibrant village of Esperanza, Puertas Hotel in Puerto Rico stands gracefully above the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Embodying the essence of its surroundings, Puertas at El Quenepo exudes a refined and timeless charm.
Every aspect of the hotel’s design has been thoughtfully curated to showcase the rich heritage of the Caribbean. Adorned with captivating Caribbean artwork and adorned with antique furniture from both Puerto Rico and the American South, Puertas Hotel immerses guests in a captivating blend of cultures. Soft, natural elements further enhance the ambiance, creating a harmonious balance between elegance and relaxation.
RESORTS
VILLA MONTAÑA BEACH RESORT
Villa Montana Beach Resort is an upscale Colonial-style Caribbean beachfront boutique resort at the northwest tip of Puerto Rico (in Isabela, Aguadilla), situated on 35 acres along three miles of pristine, secluded beaches. It offers 76 accommodations with the possibility to choose a Deluxe Room, a Superior room, and one, two, and three-bedroom villas. The two bigger villas feature a private kitchen. The resort also has its own on-site Eclipse Restaurant, which features a diverse menu with various dishes to try and a relaxing atmosphere right on the beach. For those of you who surf or would like to try, Villa Montana Beach Resort is driving distance to some of the best surfing beaches on the North-West coast, including Middles, Jobos, Surfer’s Beach, Wilderness, Gas Chambers, Bridges, Secret Spot, and others.
CONDADO OCEAN CLUB
Located in the heart of San Juan, Condado Ocean Club is an exclusive ocean-inspired, adult-only boutique resort. Each of the 96 guest rooms boasts dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or the adjacent Laguna del Condado. The resort features two restaurants (including SOCIAL, which specializes in Mediterranean cuisine), an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and a bar. It is in the vicinity of the Pan American Pier and Port of San Juan and within a 10-minute walk from Condado Beach and Escambron Beach. Self-parking is offered for USD 30.00 per night.
ROYAL ISABELLA
This intimate oceanfront resort is located on Puerto Rico’s spectacular northwest coast, more precisely in Isabela. 20 freestanding Casitas are “little houses” designed for the ultimate in Puerto Rican resort stays. Each Casita encompasses 1,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space and is sited to best catch Royal Isabela’s stunning ocean vistas. Each accommodation has its own plunge pool and terrace. Their restaurant offers farm-to-table dining with local and international cuisine. There are other bars and restaurants within 6 miles of Royal Isabela. Royal Isabela also has an on-site golf course.
BLUE HORIZON BOUTIQUE RESORT
This adult-only resort is located on the island of Vieques, just off the coast of Puerto Rico. Blue Horizon Boutique Resort is on top of a hill that gives incredible views of the Caribbean Sea. It is 0.8 km from Black Sand Beach, 11 km from Fortin Conde de Mirasol (historic fort) and 15 km from Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. Amenities include a restaurant, a bar and a fitness room, along with a rooftop terrace, tennis courts and an outdoor pool with sunloungers. All 12 soundproofed rooms provide a private yard. Each room at this elegant, adults-only 10-room hotel is decorated with antiques and original art. Minimum-stay rules apply.
B&B's / GUESTHOUSES
MOOD HAUS
A 70’s inspired house with different moods. Each of their units (2 studio suites and 2 apartments) is uniquely designed with its own color theme and named after a famous disco diva. Stylish, curated retro-vintage pieces outfit every suite and outdoor space. Mood Haus is situated in the heart of San Juan’s Food & Art District, only a few steps from the beach, restaurants, bars, and shops.
HIX ISLAND HOUSE
It is the Caribbean’s first, all-solar guesthouse, that is entirely removed from the commercial electrical grid. Set 5 km from Black Sand Beach on the Caribbean Sea, this modern apartment hotel in concrete buildings is surrounded by 5 hectares of jungle. It’s 15 km from Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. The 1- and 2-bedroom loft-style apartments feature minimalist decor, Italian linens, and outdoor showers. Breakfast is complimentary. An outdoor pool offers nature views. Beach equipment is available, and children age 14 and over are welcome.
CASA SOL BED AND BREAKFAST
Within a minute’s walk of bars and eateries, this relaxed Colonial-style B&B is an 11-minute walk from San Juan National Historic Site. The 5 warm, individually decorated rooms come with private bathrooms and complimentary Wi-Fi. A living area and a loft bedroom are offered in 1 of the rooms. Homemade breakfast is served in a leafy interior courtyard. The owners take pride in their cooking, most of the ingredients are fresh sourced from local farmers and suppliers. They are vegan friendly.
TRES SIRENAS BEACH INN
Tres Sirenas is a beautiful oceanfront guest house located directly on the beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico. The villa offers five exclusive accommodations, all with exquisite panoramic direct oceanfront views. Spacious outdoor common areas offer ample space and privacy. Choose from their fully appointed, air-conditioned apartment suites with modern kitchen, living room, master bedroom, private bath, loft, and spectacular private verandah with breathtaking views or their comfortable, air-conditioned oceanfront double room with kitchenette and private oceanfront terrace. Independent ocean view vacation villa rentals are also available for larger parties (up to 14 guests). Tres Sirenas arranges private yoga classes, surfing lessons, deep sea fishing charters, private chef services and offers onsite kayak and stand up paddle board rentals and tours.
EL YUNQUE RAINFOREST INN BED AND BREAKFAST
Perched on the Northern edge of the El Yunque National Forest at the end of a gated, mile-long driveway, this rustic “boutique style” Puerto Rico bed and breakfast offers secure privacy and a touch of luxury just footsteps from one of the most impressive natural sites. Amidst the finest of linens and the antique furniture and cabinets, the spacious showers, bathrooms, and bedrooms, the Rainforest Inn is distinguished by the staff’s personal service and islander’s intimate knowledge, as well as a limited number of guests. Featuring private porches with seating and hammocks, the homey, intimate wood and brick villas offer free Wi-Fi, living rooms and kitchenettes, plus tea and coffeemakers. Vegetarian breakfast is served in an open-air dining area. Other amenities include guided hikes, massage services and a yoga studio. Children age 12 and over are welcome. Minimum-stay rules may apply.
THE SURFING TURTLE
Situated in the scenic coastal town of Luquillo, The Surfing Turtle stands as a luxurious 4-star destination, offering an awe-inspiring beachfront location. With its splendid terrace and well-appointed amenities, this hotel provides air-conditioned rooms where guests can enjoy complimentary WiFi. The guest rooms at The Surfing Turtle are designed with careful attention to detail, featuring comfortable seating areas that exude a cozy ambiance. For those seeking an elevated experience, select units offer enchanting sea views and are accompanied by delightful patios. Benefiting from its prime location, The Surfing Turtle grants easy access to nearby attractions. The renowned La Pared Beach awaits a mere 200 meters away, while the scenic Azul Beach lies within a convenient 600-meter reach.
I hope you enjoyed my article about my favorite boutique hotels in Puerto Rico. Do you know others?
