Steeped in history and mid-century glamour, Fairmont El San Juan Hotel is one of Puerto Rico’s most iconic resorts. Its prime location along the powdery sands of Isla Verde Beach makes it ideal for anyone seeking a tranquil tropical reset. But the spacious property with its 388 rooms, 13 food and beverage concepts, four pools and luxurious spa offers much more than waterfront relaxation and endless mojitos. El San Juan’s handsome, mahogany-clad lobby is a destination unto itself, featuring a 1950s-inspired speakeasy and cabaret, a bustling casino and a showstopping sunken bar that glows beneath a 7,000-piece crystal chandelier.
Why stay at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel?
Fairmont El San Juan debuted in 1958 as the San Juan Continental, constructed to house Pan Am flight crews and jet setters arriving at Puerto Rico’s then-new international airport. A decade later, after a major expansion and remodel by famed Miami Modern architect Morris Lapidus, El San Juan Hotel had become renowned for its elegance and nightlife, hosting luminaries like Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra at its Club Tropicoro. Over the years, the resort underwent several renovations, including one in 2017 by noted design firm Jeffrey Beers. Operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts since 2020, today’s Fairmont El San Juan remains a beacon of Puerto Rican hospitality, boasting spacious suites, modern amenities, and world-class dining and entertainment—all while retaining its rich historic character.
That character is embodied in the lobby’s 4,000-pound, hand-blown Czechoslovakian oval chandelier that draws you in from the outside. It’s the third-largest of its kind in the world, rivaled by similar pieces in Milan’s La Scala, Rome’s Royal Opera and the palace of Versailles. Complementing Lapidus, interior designer Alan Lanigan meticulously sourced materials from around the globe for El San Juan’s lavish lobby, including rose-colored Tuscan Carrara marble for the floors and walls, and cherry mahogany from Santo Domingo for the wooden arches and ceiling, hand-carved by Puerto Rican artisans. It’s a sexy and celebratory setting that invites you to linger over cocktails and party well into the night. If you do make it beyond the lobby, which I recommend, you’ll experience Fairmont ESJ’s brand of relaxed luxury around every corner.
What are the rooms like at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel?
Accommodations range from guest rooms and suites in the hotel’s main tower to waterfront villas and a collection of private oceanfront bungalows with dedicated ambassadors to personalize your stay. While the lobby is dark and moody, the rooms at Fairmont El San Juan are bright, modern and beachy in a calming palette of neutrals and blues. We were given an Ocean View Villa with a balcony that overlooked the Atlantic and the resort’s pristine, palm-dotted pool decks. Our roomy bathroom had a double vanity, separate shower and whirlpool tub with sightlines to paradise outside. I particularly enjoyed lathering myself in all the bath products, which were Fairmont’s signature Le Labo Rose 31 scent. Compared to some other oceanfront accommodations I’ve experienced, this room was exceptionally clean, cool and dry, despite the salty air just outside.
What restaurants and bars are at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel?
Caña is the hotel’s flagship restaurant, featuring a seafood-forward menu of Puerto Rican fusion by James Beard-nominated chef José Enrique Montes. His ingenious Bacalaito (traditional cod fritter) topped with crème fraiche and caviar is one of the best first bites I’ve had in recent memory. Caña is also where you’ll go to enjoy breakfast overlooking the ocean, or the popular Sunday brunch buffet. Other highlights include elevated poolside service at El San Juan Beach Club, contemporary steakhouse vibes at Meat Market and an outpost of Sushi by Bou, the chain of high-end omakase counters that originated in New York.
For day drinking, Fairmont El San Juan is home to the requisite swim-up pool bar, a fine spot for socializing with other guests in between suntan sessions. Or reserve one of the many poolside cabanas, including adults-only options. By night, the lobby lights up with live entertainment at Chico Cabaret and classic cocktails at Chandelier Bar. There’s also a wine bar, a rum bar, the late-night Club Brava and the Foxwoods El San Juan Casino, which is open daily until 4am. I spent two full nights exploring the lobby and not once did I get bored. Many of the bartenders have been mixing drinks at El San Juan for decades and can share some stories, but my favorite part was taking in the multi-piece salsa bands at Chico each night, where glitzy locals twirl and shimmy around the dance floor like pros.
What are the spa and pools like?
Located in the hotel’s main tower, the Well & Being Spa offers a comprehensive menu of massages, body treatments and facials. Outside of the treatment rooms, the amenities are pretty basic but do the job, including a lounge stocked with teas and snacks and separate men’s and women’s locker rooms with saunas. Across the property, there’s also a modern, three-level fitness center with a rooftop where you can catch some stellar views as you work out.
The resort’s four sprawling pools make it easy to pick your own pace: from a relaxing and wellness-oriented pool with floating workouts to family-friendly areas with plenty of shade an and adults-only section with daybed rentals, bottle service and DJs. Lounge chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but if an area I wanted was taken, there were always plenty of other options. I also liked that the towel stands offered free sunscreen, pool floats and ice water for guests to grab and go at their leisure.
What’s the area like around Fairmont El San Juan Hotel?
The main reason you’re staying here is the beach. This stretch of sand is wide, soft and golden and the Atlantic surf is typically calm and clear. Beyond the beach itself, Isla Verde is a lively, safe and walkable urban area with many beachfront restaurants, casinos, bars and shops. By car, Fairmont ESJ is six minutes from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, 10 minutes from upscale Condado and the famed La Placita night market in Santurce, 15 minutes from Old San Juan and 40 minutes from El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system.
Why should you book a stay at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel?
A stay at Fairmont El San Juan is a solid choice for a wide range of travelers, from bachelor and bachelorette parties and weddings to low-key couples, adventurous families and even business travelers. Its modern accommodations, breadth of amenities, refined dining, gorgeous pools and picture-perfect beach make it easy to spend an entire vacation at the resort—but its proximity to travel hubs and the best attractions in San Juan make venturing off property a no-brainer. And you will find yourself feeling nostalgic for drinks under the chandelier long after you leave.
Address: 6063 Av. Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico 00979
Cost per night: Prices start at $450 per night, depending on the date.