Hotel Milano and surrounding area

[SoPoME04106]

Hey everyone...

I just booked us for one night at Hotel Milano. While this hotel might not be for everyone, I particularly like to experience the flavor of an area. All that I have read says that while this is small and doesn't have amenities, it is safe, clean and convenient to lots of Old San Juan.

 

So, if anyone know this hotel or the area... do you have suggestions on where to eat, shop, visit while there? We have a red eye that gets in at 9am on Friday and our cruise doesn't leave until early evening on Saturday so we have all of Friday basically and some of Saturday.

 

We won't have a car so we will walk or take the free shuttle (or cab) to wherever we need to go.

 

Thanks!

Kim

[texancruzer]

Well for breakfast go to La Bombonera. This is a 100+ yr old diner/bakery and the food is very good, cheap and the pastries are to die for. Have a mallorca for me ! 4 adults ate until they were FULL for $16.00 including tip ! That is unheard of in San Juan.....most hotels charge that for coffee and bagel. They have lunch and dinner too. The waiters wear bow ties and their coffee is their own - grown on the island and brewed in a big silver contraption on the counter. Not fancy......just good cheap food and local ambience. Also near shops etc.

 

For dinner: depends on what you're looking for. We are headed back in Nov. for a day stop and plan to head back to El Picoteo in the courtyard of the El Convento hotel. We stayed here 2 nights precruise in '05. Their tapas were really good and the courtyard with tiny white lights is quite relaxing and romantic. We also ate at Pamelas (not in Old town) located at Numero Uno Guesthouse......best meal of the entire trip. Pricey but really good. Right on the beach (eat inside or out).

 

Found most of the shopping a tad high in prices..... try bargaining as some will and some won't.

 

We loved old San Juan...... cobble streets, parks and plaza, fountains, old buildings with wrought iron balconies painted in Caribbean colors. People were very friendly and we felt safe (stay to main streets at night) as we walked all over even at night (went salsa dancing) and there was quite a few police.

Hope this helps....have fun.

[Lsimon]

Walk around the block the hotel is on and you'll pass a lot of restuarants. You can do this before dinner and check out the menus. You can also walk to Baracchina restuarant which is toursity but nice. It is several blocks away and between your hotel and Baracchina you'll pass some shopping areas. If you like Tappas - there is a very nice tappas bar in the El Convento hotel that has tapas which are very true to the style we've had in Spain.

[rlkubi]

We stayed at the Hotel Milano on two visits to San Juan and loved it. There are lots of great restaurants in the area and you will love the hotel!

[rusty0769]

We had stayed at Hotel Milano in August of 2007. It was a very pleasant stay with one exception that on the weekend nights the clubs behind the hotel were very loud making it a little difficult to sleep as long as you're not a light sleeper you will be fine. As long as you keep that in mind the hotel is one of the best values in San Jaun. La Bombonera is a must for breakfast they have the best coffee and pastries. There are a couple of other diner type restaurants within a block that were really good and inexpensive. There are also a decent amount of more upscale restaurants on the same street as the hotel. El Morro is within walking distance and the view from the top of the fort is not to be missed.