Old San Juan, United States
Central location, walking distance to the sights,
restaurants, and cafes of Old San Juan
Huge rooftop terrace with a bar, infinity-edge pool, and
lots of space to lounge
Impeccably restored architecture that exudes historic charm
Free continental breakfast
Two bars, one that opens directly onto the street
Attractive colonial-style rooms, some with views of the bay and city
Pay for one coffee drink and refills are free
Location requires walking up and down steep hills
No on-site parking
The pool is small, fitting only four people
Not located on the beach
No restaurant
Some of the rooms do not have windows and are located below
grade
No spa or fitness center
The stairs are steep and narrow
La Terraza is an upper-middle-range, 23-room historic boutique hotel set on a hillside in the heart of Old San Juan. Surrounded mostly by residential properties as well as a few restaurants and bars, the hotel's duo of impeccably restored 500- and 600-year-old buildings exude old-world charm through details such as high ceilings showcasing original beams, and original and replicated tiles on the floors and walls. Each bedroom is unique in layout and style, and some offer views from their balconies, but the pièce de résistance is the hotel's rooftop terrace with a small infinity-edge pool, shaded bar, and 360-degree views of the bay and the city. While the hotel is one of Old San Juan's best, it lacks a beachfront location and spa. Those seeking sand might prefer hotels in nearby Condado such as La Concha.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A sophisticated boutique hotel that caters to couples interested in exploring historic Old San Juan
Terraza, the Spanish word for terrace, was the inspiration
for this historic boutique hotel. The hotel is actually a duo of 500- and 600-year-old buildings side by side, and the spectacular rooftop terrace spans both. The
views from the airy perch deliver peeks at national monuments, into secret
gardens of city residences, and vistas of the stretching Bahia de San Juan, a waterway transit for a parade of boats and cruise ships. While open to outside guests, the terrace is mainly a private haven for those staying at the hotel, mostly couples who choose the hotel specifically for its historic charm
and central location in the heart of Old San Juan. On the terrace, a pool with room for four is set on the edge
facing the bay while at the back of the terrace, a small bar serves cocktails
under the cover of a sturdy wooden roof. Strands of lights crisscross
above the brick terrace arranged with bright orange lounge chairs, pots of
palms, and fuchsia bougainvillea. While the rooftop is a tempting place to ponder the grid of
Old San Juan's narrow cobblestone streets, exploring on foot is the
best way to experience the sights and energy of the historic city. Along the narrow Calle de Sol, the hotel's entrance, like most residences along the street, is secured by a decorative iron
gate that remains locked at all times -- guests need a security
code to enter. Inside, the small reception area is awash in warm hues of red, coral, and terra-cotta. The butter-colored walls are adorned with hand-painted swirls of red, a small cross hangs over an arched doorway, a pair of red high-back chairs offer a place to rest, and decorative red floor tiles encourage guests to wander along the hallway. Turn left into a small interior courtyard or right to enter the bar
(which also serves as the front desk) and the dining room. The sultry,
dimly lit space features checkerboard black and white tile floors and walls decorated with canvas prints of Degas ballerinas.Another iron door leads to the second building and another bar,
unofficially called "the gym," with tall wood doors that open to the
street. After breakfast, most guests head out to explore the many cathedrals,
monuments, forts, and museums before retiring to the roof deck or the bar for light tapas, a
cocktail, or a caffeine burst. While the hotel does not have a restaurant,
there are several within walking distance such as El Jibarito which specializes
in Puerto Rican fare, the charming St. Germain Bistro, or Al Fresco, a wine bar set in the former home of Puerto
Rican Nationalist, Pedro Albizu Campos.
Location
In the middle of the block of Calle Sol, a mostly residential area with a few restaurants and bars, about a 30-minute drive to the San Juan International Airport
Many of Old San Juan's historic sites are within walking
distance from the hotel, while the beaches of Condado and Ocean Park are within
a 15-minute drive.- Six-minute walk to Cathedral of San Juan Bautista
Rooms
A variety of room types with historic Spanish Colonial charm, plush bedding, and modern amenities
The hotel consists of two historic three-story buildings,
set side by side. The building with the cream-colored exterior was the first to
open as a boutique hotel. When the owners purchased the property in 2007, it
was in ruin with no electricity or running water. During the renovation and excavation,
they discovered rooms, along with eight cannon balls, buried beneath the
ground. The revealed rooms were renovated into a 1,000-square-foot courtyard apartment, which is popular with families and couples traveling together. A spiral
staircase winds to the private enclave that encompasses two bedrooms
(one king and two twins), a bathroom, and a large outdoor terrace with a wet
bar, microwave, and an outdoor living room. Other rooms in the building range
from windowless budget-friendly bedrooms with king-size beds to a light-filled
top-floor two-bedroom apartment with an open living room and kitchen, balcony,
and a washer and dryer. The rooms all vary in size and shape, but they follow a
cohesive color palette with accent walls finished in rich hues of terra-cotta, and artisanal tile floors in muted shades of yellow, blue, and red. Beds are
finished with ivory matelassé coverlets, red and ivory striped accent throws,
and coordinating throw pillows. Tall canvas replica artwork depicting paintings
by famous artists hang on the walls along with flat-screen TVs. Dark wood entry
doors with transom windows accentuate the 13-foot ceilings with exposed
brickwork and wood beams. The bathrooms feature lively designs of patterned
tile, stone vessel sinks, and glass-enclosed showers.While the rooms in the original building are rich in warm
saturated color, the rooms in the second, newer building offer a much cleaner,
lighter style. The building with the pale blue façade encompasses 16 rooms,
ranging from entry-level Superior Rooms with king-size beds, to Balcony Suites
with king beds and terraces that face the harbor, to Double Deluxe Rooms with two
queen-size beds. The First Class Suites feature a bedroom with a king-size bed and
a separate living area with a sleeper sofa, while the King Deluxe Rooms are long and
spacious with carved wood four-poster king-size beds, small sofas, work desks, and narrow balconies that open to views of Calle Sol and the city.Rooms in the new building are more modern in style with
white walls offering a neutral backdrop to contrast the dark wood furnishings.
The beds are finished with white duvets and accented with throws in shades of
woodsy green and deep blue. Bathrooms are finished with wide beige tile
work in the glass-enclosed showers, white marble vanities with basin sinks, and
brushed nickel fixtures that include rectangular rain showerheads.All of the rooms come equipped with mini-fridges stocked with sodas, beer, champagne, and snacks.
Features
A huge rooftop terrace, two bars, free breakfast served in on the rooftop terrace or in the dining room, and bottomless Puerto Rican coffee
Puerto Rico is home to some of the best coffee growers in the world and the staff/baristas at La Terraza de San Juan have perfected the art of the cup of coffee. A large vintage espresso machine named Gloria churns out coffee drinks on demand. Guests pay for the first one and the rest are free. The street-facing bar, unofficially named "the gym" (it was once a fitness center) is an ideal spot to linger over coffee, cocktails, and tapas and watch pedestrians pass by the framed doorways that open directly onto Calle Sol. The rooftop is an ideal perch any time of day whether cooling off in the plunge pool after walking the city or enjoying a glass of wine beneath the shimmering strands of twinkling lights while viewing the bay.
