Spending An Evening In Old San Juan
Posted on Aug 15th, 2008 by Gwenn • Updated on Jun 18th, 2010
We get asked time and time again about things to do in Old San Juan in the evening. And you know what? There are actually lots of things to choose from!
We have done a self-guided walking tour, a guided night-time walking tour, ride a Segway, and have just gone out and have a drink. In addition to these ideas, we complied a list of live music and dance "shows" around town.
I’m not going to talk about the dance clubs in this article, though there are tons of great bars and dance clubs in and around Old San Juan to check out if you are in the mood to dance. Realize, most of these clubs don’t get going until well after 11:00pm. It’s in the clubs that you will find the Salsa, Merengue, Cha-Cha and Reggaton – the more popular of today’s dances.
The setting of Old San Juan is historic city, so it’s fitting that many of the shows are Flamenco, which reflect the history of the island, but you will find some other dances/music.
Every Night
Live Salsa Music and Salsa Lessons
- Where: The Latin Roots in Old San Juan
- When: Every night- Salsa lessons from 7pm, live music from 8pm (9pm on Saturday and Sunday nights)
- Cost: free for music and lessons! There is a restaurant and bar for drinks and dinner/late night snacks
- Contact: call 787-512-9050 for information
Monday Night
Juan Carlos Flamenco Guitarist & Flamenco Dancers
- Where: Escambron Beach Club in Old San Juan
- When: Monday & Tuesday nights at 8:00pm during high season (Nov-April)
- Cost: $28/person, which includes one drink
- Contact: call 787-409-5376 for tickets and reservations
Live Jazz at Carli Cafe Concierto
- The owner of Carli Cafe, Carli Munoz, is the ex-piano player for the Beach Boys. Carli plays Jazz on the acoustic grand piano most nights.
- Where: Carli Cafe, located on the first floor of the Banco Popular Building, corner of Recinto Sur and San Justo Streets in Old San Juan
- When: Monday nights from 8:00pm until 10:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-725-4927 for more info or reservations
Beginner Salsa Lessons
- Learn some Salsa dance moves in a class designed for tourists.
- Where: The Tablao de Paulette – 1st floor Ballaja building in Old San Juan (by El Morro)
- When: Monday nights from 5:00pm until 6:00pm
- Cost: $5 per person
- Contact: call 787-775-9438
- The Le-Lo-Lai Festival demonstrates traditional music and dance.
- Where: Fort San Cristobal, Old San Juan
- When: Tuesday nights at 6:00pm
- Cost: free with admission to the fort ($3)
- Contact: call 787-721-2400 for information
- Where: Escambron Beach Club in Old San Juan
- When: Monday & Tuesday nights at 8:00pm during high season (Nov- April)
- Cost: $28/person, which includes one drink
- Contact: call 787-409-5376 for tickets and reservations
- The owner of Carli Cafe, Carli Munoz, is the ex-piano player for the Beach Boys. Carli plays Jazz on the acoustic grand piano most nights.
- Where: Carli Cafe, located on the first floor of the Banco Popular Building, corner of Recinto Sur and San Justo Streets in Old San Juan
- When: Tuesday nights from 8:00pm until 10:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-725-4927 for more info or reservations
- Learn some Salsa dance moves in a class designed for tourists.
- Where: The Tablao de Paulette – 1st floor Ballaja building in Old San Juan (by El Morro)
- When: Wednesday nights from 5:00pm until 6:00pm
- Cost: $5 per person
- Contact: call 787-775-9438
- Where: Mojitos Restaurant on Recinto Sur in Old San Juan
- When: Wednesday nights from 5:00pm until 10:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Where: Carli Cafe, located on the first floor of the Banco Popular Building, corner of Recinto Sur and San Justo Streets in Old San Juan
- When: Wednesday nights from 8:30pm until 11:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-725-4927 for more info or reservations
- Where: Mojitos Restaurant on Recinto Sur in Old San Juan
- When: Thursday nights from 5:00pm until 10:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Where: Cafe la Princesa, on Paseo la Princesa
- When: Thursday nights from 7:00pm until 12:00midnight
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-724-2930 for more information
- Carli plays Jazz on the acoustic grand piano, with special guests.
- Where: Carli Cafe, located on the first floor of the Banco Popular Building, corner of Recinto Sur and San Justo Streets in Old San Juan
- When: Thursday nights from 8:00pm until 10:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-725-4927 for more info or reservations
- Enjoy a free dance show with dinner featuring live music.
- Where: Barrachina Restaurant, 104 Fortaleza Street in Old San Juan
- When: Friday nights from 8:00pm until 9:00pm, dinner seating for show starts at 7pm
- Cost: reservations for the dinner show are necessary
- Contact: call 787-725-7912 for more information
- Where: Carli Cafe, located on the first floor of the Banco Popular Building, corner of Recinto Sur and San Justo Streets in Old San Juan
- When: Friday nights starting around 8:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-725-4927 for more info or reservations
- La Rumba is a Floating Night Club featuring a full service liquor bar.
- Where: San Juan Bay – departs from Plaza Darsena right by La Casita in Old San Juan
- When: Friday nights at 10:30pm, 12:30am and 2:30am
- Cost: adults $14, children (over 6 years old) $7, seniors $10
- Contact: call 787-375-5211 or 787-525-1288 for more info
- Where: Rosa de Triana Tapas Bar & Restaurant, 72 Caleta de San Juan (across from El Convento Hotel and the Cathedral) in Old San Juan
- When: Friday nights at 8:30pm
- Cost: dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-722-1144 for more information
- Where: Cafe la Princesa, on Paseo la Princesa
- When: Friday nights from 8:00pm until 12:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-724-2930 for more information
- Where: Makarios Mediterranean on Recinto Sur in Old San Juan
- When: Saturday nights at 9:30pm
- Cost: dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-723-8653 for more info
- Learn some Salsa dance moves in a class designed for tourists.
- Where: The Tablao de Paulette – 1st floor Ballaja building in Old San Juan (by El Morro)
- When: Saturday nights from 4:00pm until 5:00pm
- Cost: $5 per person
- Contact: call 787-775-9438
- Where: The Tablao de Paulette – 1st floor Ballaja building in Old San Juan (by El Morro)
- When: Saturday nights at 7:00pm
- Cost: $21.40/person, which includes tapas and refreshments
- Contact: call 787-775-9438 for tickets and reservations. Tickets may be available at the door.
- Enjoy a free dance show with dinner featuring live music.
- Where: Barrachina Restaurant, 104 Fortaleza Street in Old San Juan
- When: Saturday nights from 8:00pm until 9:00pm, seating for dinner show starts at 7pm
- Cost: reservations for dinner show are necessary
- Contact: call 787-725-7912 for more information
- Where: Carli Cafe, located on the first floor of the Banco Popular Building, corner of Recinto Sur and San Justo Streets in Old San Juan
- When: Saturday nights starting around 8:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-725-4927 for more info or reservations
- Where: Cafe la Princesa, on Paseo la Princesa
- When: Saturday nights from 8:00pm until 11:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-724-2930 for more information
- La Rumba is a Floating Night Club featuring a full service liquor bar.
- Where: San Juan Bay – departs from Plaza Darsenas right by La Casita in Old San Juan
- When: Saturday nights at 9:30pm, 11:30pm, 1:00am and 2:30am
- Cost: adults $14, children (over 6 years old) $7, seniors $10
- Contact: call 787-375-5211 or 787-525-1288 for more info
- Where: Makarios Mediterranean on Recinto Sur in Old San Juan
- When: Friday nights at 9:30pm
- Cost: dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-723-8653 for more info
- The Le-Lo-Lai Festival demonstrates traditional music and dance.
- Where: Plaza Darsena, Old San Juan
- When: Sunday nights at 8:00pm
- Cost: free
- Contact: call 787-721-2400 for information
- This is an enjoyable evening attended by many older locals who all dance and sing along. Presented by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
- Where: Plaza Darsena, on the waterfront next to La Casita in Old San Juan
- When: Sunday nights from 5:00pm until 6:30pm
- Cost: free
- Where: Mojitos Restaurant on Recinto Sur in Old San Juan
- When: Sunday nights from 5:00pm until 10:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Where: Cafe la Princesa, on Paseo la Princesa
- When: Sundays from 3:00pm until 5:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-724-2930 for more information
- Where: Cafe la Princesa, on Paseo la Princesa
- When: Sundays from 5:00pm until 7:00pm
- Cost: no cover charge, dinner recommended
- Contact: call 787-724-2930 for more information
- La Rumba is a Floating Night Club featuring a full service liquor bar.
- Where: San Juan Bay – departs from Plaza Darsenas right by La Casita in Old San Juan
- When: Sunday nights at 7:30pm, 9:30pm, and 11:30pm
- Cost: adults $14, children (over 6 years old) $7, seniors $10
- Contact: call 787-375-5211 or 787-525-1288 for more info
Tuesday Night
Le-Lo-Lai Folkloric Dance Show
Juan Carlos Flamenco Guitarist & Flamenco Dancers
Live Jazz at Carlis Cafe Concierto
Wednesday Night
Beginner Salsa Lessons
Roger Rodriguez Live Music
Jazz Jam Session at Carli Cafe Concierto
Thursday Night
Roger Rodriguez Live Music
Live Blues & Funk Music
Live Jazz at Carli Cafe Concierto
Friday Night
Flamenco Dance Show
Carli Munoz Jazz Trio at Carli Cafe Concierto
La Rumba Party Cruise
Flamenco Dance Show
Live Jazz Music
Belly Dancing Show
Saturday Night
Beginner Salsa Lessons
Cadencia Andaluza- Flamenco and Music
Flamenco Dance Show
Carli Munoz Jazz Trio at Carli Cafe Concierto
Live Jazz Music
La Rumba Party Cruise
Belly Dancing Show
Sunday Night
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