I Ate My Way Through Puerto Rico While Hotel-Hopping, And These Are All The Must-Try Food Stops
by Kennya Rivera · BuzzFeedPosted 49 minutes ago
I’m Kennya Rivera, a BuzzFeed Producer based in LA, but I was born and raised in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Recently, I got the chance to experience Puerto Rico as a tourist after living there my whole life, and it reminded me why I love the island so much: the people, the culture, and especially the food. Hotel-hopping around the island made every experience feel completely different, and honestly, it was the best way to explore Puerto Rico and eat my way through the island.
First Hotel: Aire de Olive
My first stop was Aire de Olive, where the staff immediately made me feel at home. The ocean view from my room was beautiful and set the tone for such a relaxing stay.
During my visit, I ate at their in-house restaurant Kumo, a Peruvian-Japanese fusion spot that completely impressed me. Shout out to my bartender, Luis, who guided me through the menu and recommended some of the best dishes of the night.
I started with the Flor de Lima cocktail, which was refreshing and perfectly balanced with hibiscus and lime. The Chef’s Choice Dumplings were juicy and packed with flavor, and I still regret not ordering another round.
The Korobuta Pork Belly over Camote Purée absolutely melted in my mouth, and even the Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Cranberry Dressing and Oranges became one of my favorite combinations of the trip. Kumo wasn’t just a great meal; the warmth of the staff made the experience even better.
While staying near Aire de Olive, I stopped by Kasalta for breakfast and had a ham sandwich, coffee, a traditional Puerto Rican quesito, and orange juice. As per usual, it was really good — I’ve been going there since I was 12.
During my stay, I also had the chance to visit Roca Norte for a rock climbing experience with Kenneth Irizarry and Marianela Mercado. Kenneth was an amazing instructor, especially since it was my brother’s first time climbing. The views and experience were unforgettable.
After climbing, I headed to Vianda in Santurce, and this was easily one of the standout food experiences of the trip. Our server, Nandy, guided us through the constantly changing menu and made incredible recommendations.
The sweet potato house bread alone could’ve been my entire dinner. We also tried Sorullos de Maíz with chipotle mayoketchup, flavorful alcapurrias, and an unforgettable agnolotti Pasta with sweet plantain, bolognese, and chocolate (yes, chocolate). Somehow it worked perfectly and became my favorite dish of the night.
The Swordfish with Sofrito Butter was perfectly cooked, and the Vanilla Flan with Orange Caramel ended the night perfectly.
Second Hotel: The Serene House
My second stay was at The Serene House in Luquillo near El Yunque. The property is surrounded by nature, and owners Maribel and Pablo truly make you feel at home.
During my stay, I explored El Yunque with Caribbean Breeze Adventures. Our guide, Brandon, made the rainforest experience so fun and informative. Afterward, we stopped at the Luquillo Kiosks for classic Puerto Rican frituras and beachside food.
For dinner, we visited Sama. We started off with the Calamari for our appetizer, which was really tasty and crunchy.
Then we moved on to our main dishes: the Steak and Frites and the Swordfish with Crispy Vegetables. The food was phenomenal and super flavorful. The steak was juicy, and the swordfish was so fresh that the seasoning absorbed super well.
But for me, the highlight of the night was the dessert; we ordered bread pudding, and it might have been the best bread pudding I've ever had.
While staying in Luquillo, I also got to visit Culebra with Sail Getaways and spend the day snorkeling and enjoying Flamenco Beach.
Gilberto, Anthony, Jonathan, Benny, and the entire Sail Getaways crew made the experience so memorable and fun.
On my final morning, Pablo prepared breakfast at The Serene House: a mushroom casserole sautéed in wine with eggs, parmigiano, and bacon. It was honestly one of the best breakfasts I had the entire trip.
He also made me a chicken Caesar wrap as a to-go lunch, which was delicious!