Must Visit Vegan Restaurants in San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a paradise of sun-soaked beaches, rich history, and vibrant culture. For veggie-loving travelers, it’s also a treasure trove of delicious vegan restaurants. San Juan has something for everyone, whether you’re craving fresh tropical flavors, hearty Puerto Rican comfort food, or creative international cuisine.

During a client research trip, I visited San Juan a couple of times and tried to hit as many vegan and vegetarian restaurants as possible. I sampled everything from mofongo to sweet and sour tofu. During that tasty research, a few spots really caught my attention and taste buds, one of which I actually went to twice!

For most articles, I try to provide a larger overview of dining options, but for this one, I will focus on my favorite spots — the ones I would go back to again and again. So, let’s get moving and uncover the best spots for vegan food in San Juan, Puerto Rico!

The farm-to-table menu features a variety of dishes that showcase the ingenuity of veggies and the artisanal creations of local farmers. All of their ingredients are organic and sourced locally, and many are also made in-house (like their burgers and flavorful seitan). The menu changes regularly, given the seasonality of their approach but you might find stuffed avocados, pumpkin tostadas, house-made burgers (made with black beans and mushrooms), and more.

You’re also in for a treat if you’re a coffee or tea lover. I would’ve never thought strawberries and coffee were a match made in heaven; well, at Berlingeri, they are. Also, this spot is within walking distance of a vegan and vegetarian hotel in San Juan (could it get any more perfect?).

From the unassuming storefront, you might not think much is happening in the kitchen, but that thought couldn’t be further from the truth. The three-part Asian-inspired menu starts with a creative lineup of adaptogenic mocktails — fresh fruits mixed with powerhouse tonics like Ashwagandha, spirulina, and Lion’s Mane. I suggest you don’t pass up either the Yerba Tonic for a little boost thanks to the Matcha or a spin on a Puerto Rican favorite, Spirulina Colada.

After you’ve gotten that out of the way, food is your next decision, and the options are stellar — sweet and sticky tofu, kimchi nachos, dan dan noodles, and a colorful array of vegan sushi options.  Their vegan sushi options are anything but standard; you’ll find rolls filled with pumpkin, tempura cauliflower, mushrooms, and so much more. As if that’s not enough, they also have a stellar lineup of house-made desserts. This is where I went wrong; I’m still daydreaming about their chocolate cake. You’d think at this point in my eating adventures, I wouldn’t pass up dessert!

The small spot in Santure has a real, local vibe — its focus isn’t on the latest trend or popular product; it’s on making people realize the power plants can have on your health. The menu is predominately vegan and gluten-free (the restaurant is vegetarian) and rotates a mix of daily dishes like colorful tacos, lentil and plantain cake, stews, and more. All of their dishes are hour-made right down to their tortillas. I was surprised to learn their tortillas aren’t corn; they are made of a mix of oat, pumpkin, coconut, and integral zanahoria (I’m still trying to figure out exactly what this is. I thought it was brown rice, but zanahoria means carrot, so your guess might be as good as mine!) — whatever it is, it was tasty.

You’ll find veganized takes on popular Puerto Rican classics like relleno de papa (fried potato croquettes), empanadillas, arroz habichuela (with Impossible steak), and more. I found the most variety of veganized Puerto Rican dishes here, so if it’s high on your list to sample some things, come here! In addition to Puerto Rican classics, you’ll also find massive burgers, sandwiches, and more.

I know this isn’t a vegan restaurant, but sweet treats are essential, and Anita Gelato has fabulous options. This ice cream parlor’s old-school meets modern vibe is almost as charming as its vegan options. I was elated to find all of the vegan flavors marked with a small green heart—no need to ask which options were safe or not. You also won’t find just sorbet. In addition to the fruity favorites, they also had dark chocolate, caramel cookie, and chocolate cookie.

We popped in here for brunch on the way to Ponce and was treated to a decadent plantain waffle (what can’t plantains do, am I right?) topped with maple bac’n and cashew cream and a veggie-packed tortilla with coconut bac’n and more cashew cream (you could put that on anything, I swear). The menu rotates to reflect what’s seasonally available as they emphasize sourcing ingredients locally to align with their sustainability goals.

San Juan Vegan Dining Tip

I already alluded to this above, but in case you missed it, the operating hours for vegan and vegetarian restaurants in San Juan are a challenge. Many places are only open for breakfast or lunch; only a few have hours past 4 PM. This means you need to plan ahead or you will end up hungry. A couple of times, we ran into trouble finding somewhere that was open, so we ran into the Freshmart location in Condado and picked up a few things to make a small dinner. There are multiple Freshmart locations throughout San Juan, and they have a great mix of organic veggies, fruits, alternative vegan products, and more.

There are a couple of vegan-friendly spots (with better hours) in Old San Juan, but the prices are sky-high given their touristy locations. This is just something to keep in mind if you’re trying to be mindful of a budget.