Café Manolín Old San Juan in San Juan - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Loved it. Ibis and Edwin are amazing 💕

Cute diner type place where you can sit at a counter, bar or table. Mofongo steak rice and beans excellent. Authentic Puerto Rican food.

For me, the worst experience I had at OSJ... since the waitress arrived with a terrible attitude and then I had to consume the suggestions she gave... in OSJ there are 300 better and more welcoming places than that one!

A reference in San Juan. Frequented by tourists and locals. Friendly and efficient service. The food is typically local. I suggest the mofongo with shrimp. A delight! The prices depend on what you order but you can get a meal for less than 20 dollars. There is seating at a table and a counter. It's my second visit and I hope it won't be the last.

Amazing food and service. Can get filled with patrons pretty quickly so avoid peak times

We were in old san juan for the day and looking for a lunch place and found this spot online. It's a perfectly acceptable restaurant with nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about. We got a mofongo special with shrimp chicken and skirt steak which was good. Service was good. I don't think you'd be disappointed coming here realizing it's not trying to be the best spot in town

After arriving in Old San Juan and settling into our AirBnB, the group was starving. With all the various options available to eat in this area, we decided on this place. Didn’t look like much, has that old diner feel but Wow food was amazing. Don’t sleep on this place.

Great food and service! Food was great! Cheaper than most places. Chuleta Kan Kan was the best!

I tried lunch at this place, it's like a cafeteria from the 80's but in good condition and with intense air conditioning, there can be a bit of a line to get in. We sat at the bar with great service, very good explanation of the dishes and several options of local cuisine, or classics such as hamburgers. Prices according to San Juan, similar to other restaurants. I ordered Creole shrimp, I liked them but they didn't fascinate me, I expected more flavor, and the portion was a little small, compared to the salad and fries. I tried my friend's Mofongo with shrimp and it was very good and I think better served. If you are looking for a very quiet place to eat, this is not it, there is background music and the noise of conversations is concentrated a lot. Very good location. If I return.

Look no further for an authentic Puerto Rican lunch at honest prices and great service. We wanted to have a taste for Puerto Rican cuisine and were more than impressed with Cafe Manolin. Located in a little side street but pretty easy to find you will immediately feel immersed with the locals in that great cafe/lunch spot. I went for the pina colada which was delicious because not too sweet and then we had the typical dish with snapper, rice, beans and plantains. As soon as we saw the rice and fish we knew it was gonna be great. Pro tip mix the beans with the rice as our server told us and it was so good. 16 dollars for a plate like that with a great piece of fish that was super fresh. Service was also top notch so will definitely be back. Thanks team

The food was excellent. The restaurant was recommended by a tour guide friend. He hit the mark. The food is great. The waitress was very helpful. We sat at the food counter. It was great. The picture was taken just as the Cafe was closing.

This is a place to try traditional and occasional food, I love it

Great spot / affordable highly recommend There is barely to no parking available take a Uber if ur coming here

A place where the locals are many and the tourist very few. A have to stop whenever we make it to the coast. I would very much recommend breakfast. The breakfast sandwiches are cheap and simple. With such a simple menu you will find something even for the pickiest eater and the ingredients so fresh that no one will be able to complain. The bread being the highlight. The bread has a buttery crunch crust with a pillow soft inside. Dont go looking for a reason to dress up though, the chill food reflects the atmosphere. A nice start to or a break in the middle of a very hot sight seeing day. Be careful though, the breakfast is only served until 10:45. Though the lunch is just as GOOD, it is a bit more expensive.

All the food was delicious! Good service. Family friendly environment.

Breakfast was all reasonably priced and delicious. I got a breakfast sandwich with bacon, and everything down to the bread was perfect. I swear I have not had bread that good in a long time, nothing back at home compares.

Located in Old San Juan and can visit by walking distance from parking in Old San Juan. Have reasonable prices and excellent puertorican food

Bambi is the quintessential waiter. The best

The food I ordered was not that good. However, my friends were excellent.

The best place in Viejo San Juan.

I recently dined at Manolin, and unfortunately, it was a deeply disappointing experience. The pork dish I ordered was incredibly bad—tough, overcooked, and almost impossible to chew. To make matters worse, the waitress who served us was surly and rude, making the entire dining experience unpleasant. I expected much better from this establishment and won't be returning. I hope the management takes steps to address these issues for the sake of future customers.

Friendly service and they serve the food quickly!

Great A/C to take a break from the San Juan heat in July. Bathrooms are tiny. The food was plentiful and affordable but nothing to write home about.

Excellent tourist place, very beautiful landscapes and fabulous food

Absolutely a must when I'm in old san juan

This isn't a place you go to for elegant, upscale dining. It is however, highly recommended by locals that we spoke with after the fact. It is packed wall to wall and has a wait for tables with first come first served seating at a long counter. The food was tasty as were the beverages. The service was on the high side of average, and the servers work hard to make any language barriers a non issue. Orders came out pretty quick and you didn't feel rushed. Had the gel of an old school family run dinner.

A place to eat good Creole food with good seasoning and very affordable prices.

The best choice for a local experience in Old San Juan. Great food, quick friendly service, good prices and portions. Lots of bar seating. Always crowded and very casual environment. Mofongos were amazing!

Great food and atmosphere. Service is also great.

Nice Boricua experience, the best pice and Food in Old San Juan.

great breakfast spot, lots of seating and reasonably priced

Great local food and prices. Venue is small so not a a lot space to move around or sit.

Best mofongo I've ever eaten! The cafe was packed, but we were seated quickly & served right away. We also ordered a coconut mojito that was top-notch.

We had brunch, food was mid. The only thing I disliked. Our server had said a sarcastic comment cause I’d forgot how to say scrambled in Spanish. I was disappointed, BUT the other servers were hospitable.

Mr. Manuel's attention and the excellent food. Nice place, thank you very much, I am from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Fun, sunlit diner atmosphere with lots of bar style seating and limited tables. Service is quick, staff are very helpful. Bathrooms are available for customers only. Everything is reasonably priced and very fresh. Highly recommend the fish, steak, and practically any of the Mofongos. Would recommend every time.

This diner is so cute and cozy! The food was authentic and was recommended to me when I walked by. The server I got was attentative and so pleasant, I forget his name but I remember him telling he once worked for Disney. It was a bit awkward trying to find a seat, BUT it is worth it because the service and food are top notch!

You have to repeat. Excellent place to eat and have a good time.

Great authentic food. Served fast.

It was my first taste of mofungo and I was very pleased. The staff is friendly and the Pina Colada is smooth well balanced. I would definitely recommend coming here for a quick bite.

Great food, gotta recommend the mofongo

The place is simple and good. All who visit the Island should stop by but if you live here need to visit at least once in your lifetime. Great prices, good staff!

Great choice for a local cafe. Nice casual atmosphere. No frills. Clean. Good service. Good food. Prices were very reasonable. We missed the breakfast time by 5 minutes so had to order from the dinner portion. I ordered the “Mofongo relleno de Churrasco” (mashed green plantains stuffed with skirt steak). You get big portions. They also have great choices in drinks. Coffee, juice, soft drinks and bar drinks. You’ll really enjoy it here.

Loved this place, the food and the customer service. Nelson and Erglado (I think that’s his name) were very polite and attentive.

This is a must stop if you are in Old San Juan. The fresh oj, plantains, and eggs were great. They have homemade salsa!

Very good food and feels like home service.

Service is horrendous. Waited for fifteen minutes for a table. tables open all around. Nobody said a word to us. Put 3 stars for food but never tried because we were never seated. So that’s a guess

Comfortable and friendly. Good place to stop to cool down.

It looks delicious but it closes very early and if you eat in the afternoon at around 5pm or something you can't eat because they close at 3pm

Stool at the counter and it was wonderful! The coffee was excellent. Tortilla de camerones was nice and made even better with the hot sauce. Very prompt and friendly service by the server.

Nice and friendly atmosphere. Food made to order. Hot and fresh. Would go there again.

An absolute must.. MUST! We came back 3 times. Great price for incredible food. As local as you can get. Bilingual folks. Ham or bacon eggs with tostadas, breakfast sandwiches, flan, coffee. Everything so good.

I got food poisoning that took 3 days to recover from after eating here. I know it was from here because a group of us ordered the same thing but I'm the only pescatarian. I contacted the owners to let them know what happened so that they would do the right thing, never heard back. Warning all to stay away from here, definitely the fish; I ordered the grilled salmon. It was mishandled and/or bad and served anyways, almost went to the ER.

A great place in the center of San Juan

Right in the middle of Viejo San Juan… charming place with super friendly staff and an even more spectacular price. We ordered a coffee because our intention was to have breakfast, however, we arrived late and breakfast ends at 11:30am (I'm not really sure), so we opted for lunch and it was really delicious!!!

Excellent place to eat traditional food.

Alittle crowded but the service and food is worth the visit. Great staff and close to the ports.

Great drinks, incredible food and super friendly staff. Will be back next time I’m in San Juan

The breakfast sandwiches are amazing , stop here on your way to Calle Fortaleza ! Lemonade is fresh , steak sandwich is amazing ! Get here early it can get crowded ! Definitely a must in viejo San Juan !

This is easily one of my favorite restaurants in San Juan. Local. Authentic. No frills. Just great food. I don’t visit Old SJ without stopping in.

I recently visited Manolin Cafe in Old San Juan and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. The food was not only delicious but also affordable, with the option of combo meals that provided great value for money. The atmosphere felt like a cozy diner with a bar, and the servers were incredibly helpful and attentive. However, I did notice that it could get a bit loud during lunchtime, which might not be ideal for those seeking a quieter dining experience. Additionally, it's a seat-yourself establishment, so finding a table during busy hours can be a bit challenging. Overall, my experience at Manolin Cafe was positive, thanks to the tasty food, friendly service, and budget-friendly prices. It's a great spot to grab a quick bite to eat while exploring Old San Juan!

Very busy diner restaurant. Food is great and didn't take long at all!

Very casual place with excellent food and reasonable prices. I would go again.

Jerry was an excellent server his food recommendations were excellent, and the service provided was excellent. The business is a family own. I will definitely go back.

The food was amazing and the service great.

Breakfast was pleasant bar seating was nice.

Great service but the food was not that good

The delicious Puerto Rican food served at this restaurant is not adequately represented by its name. Every bite of every dish was a delight. The chicharrones de pollo were well seasoned and crunchy without the need to be salty, a mistake made by many other places. The rice, the beans, mofongo, fish, steak and tostones all perfectly done. I could eat at this place every day. They just need to improve the payment system, which could be easily overhauled.

The best mofongo we had during our trip. They made accommodations for the vegetarians in our group. Everyone loved theirndishes. The dining room was a little crowded and warm.

Manager served us, nothing but amazing service and great food well priced.

Extremely pleased with this simple, yet fabulous family restaurant. Coffee is great, food was well prepared. The bacon deserves a review by itself lol. Highly recommended. Ask for the hot sauce if you order breakfast…worth it

Good price! The soups were bland. The roast chicken was bland. The tuna sandwich was very good. The serenade was good! It was very busy although the waiting time was reasonable.

The lunches were delicious, the Creole food, the Rib eye steak, delicious, good atmosphere and service. It transports you to another time.

Good pretty and cheap. The best cafeteria in all of Old San Juan.

It was such a delight to visit this Old San Juan diner. High energy and super busy say it all about the kind of place it is. They had the wait line out the door. We tried the Shrimp Mofongo and the grilled King fish. Mofongo lived up to its name. Most tables had ordered it. Service was quick and respectful. Enjoyed our time here and loved the vibe.

Great place food and service will go again when in the country

Nice classic atmosphere. Good for lunch or dinner if you're looking for local food. Not pretentious.

Breakfast was prepared quickly and good atmosphere.

The food is very good and the attention

We came in from a cruise ship. We are a group of 6 waited for about 1/2 hr for the seat. We ended up sitting at the bar. The waiter at the bar was so nice & friendly. We had a Mofongo with skirt steak, Mofongo with shrimp, Cuban sandwich, a chicken empanadas (ended up like a fried battered chicken) all come with rice and beans and fried plantain plus a cheese flan all very delicious. We also ordered a large fresh squeezed oj, mojito, one medalla light beer. We had a great meal. Total with tips about 110. Well worth it. Excellent service and great food. Not a fancy restaurant but with good food.

I went this morning and sat in one of the isles and no one came to ask what I wanted. They just walked by and ignore me. I finally asked the cashier and I was told to sit in a different Isle to be served. If I didn't ask no would have taken the time to help. When I went to pay my bill the cashier asked me to wait while she answer her text messages. Food was good but the staff lacks professionalism.

Great place to eat, mostly locals & friendly service with great food & prices...

Excited to explore Old San Juan, we went to eat our first lunch and it was busy. I don’t get it, I had the King fish and a salad. One of the worst meals ever. Old salad Juan. Overcooked fish. On a good note, the service was good.

Everything is excellent, I have been coming here for over 35 years and the layout of the premises is always the same, making it different and the service very personal.

Very popular restaurant in Old San Juan. Food and service is very good. Their daily specials are very good. They also have a regular menu.

A very typical place with very good local food. The service is not the best but it is not that bad either. A recommended place if you want local food at a good price.

Absolute tourist trap IMO Ordered the Mofongo w/ strip steak. Mofongo was dry and flavourless. The 'steak' was more like wet, unseasoned roast beef with zero flavor and an off consistency. Plantains were delicious and the beans were decent. For $16 USD - absolutely disappointing and would not recommend. Friends got one of the shrimp plates, it was 4 pieces of 'meh' shrimp for $17 USD. Service was slow but I understood they were busy. Our waitress wasn't super attentive and made it seem like we inconvenienced her.

Great little place in Old San Juan. Although a little cramped, the food is worth the wait. Very traditional Puerto Rican dishes and by far the best arroz con habichuelas I had during our stay. Everything was flavorful and delicious. Service can be a little slow when they're full but as long as you're not in a hurry, you won't be disappointed. We will definitely be back again.

Very busy place. Had to wait to be seated. The wait is compensated by the food quality and taste. Will be back when I visit PR.

We were visiting Old San Juan and it was time for us to eat, we appeared at a place that looked very good and that above all seemed local, it was very crowded, but we found a place quickly, we ate our first mofongo and it is delicious. Recommended, typical tourist site in a very touristy area.

Old school looking restaurant in Old San Juan. Definitely worth the visit. Kept it safe and for the skirt steak and it was a very good choice. Someone else in our group got the mofongo and said they approved. Theres practically no parking so you’ll need to walk to this restaurant.

If you want a true diner like Cafe’ in Old San Juan, this place is it! From fresh squeezed orange juice to a great Cubano sandwich, Manolin has a great menu!!!

Great for breakfast and lunch .. a must visit for me everytime I visit.. totally yummy menu to explore

Inexcusable stop in old San Juan. Very good breakfasts and at a good price. recommendable

Sooo good, super friendly, warm environment, great representation of PR, food was amazing, definitely try the Mofongo with skirt steak and the Puerto Rican onion steak, thank you!!

Café Manolín in Old San Juan, PR, has become my go-to spot for delicious meals in the heart of the city. The prices are reasonable, and the food is consistently excellent. Don't be fooled by the 'fancier' options in Old San Juan; Café Manolín offers authentic Puerto Rican cuisine without breaking the bank. The ambiance is reminiscent of classic 80s NYC cafes, adding to its charm. It's not overly fancy nor rundown; it strikes the perfect balance. If you're craving great Puerto Rican food but can't venture further than Old San Juan, this is the place to be. Highly recommended!

Good place to grab breakfast or lunch. Not a lot of vegan options though. If that's not a concern, then it's a good reasonably priced location in old SJ.

These people don't even know what a sangria is: they brought me a watery red syrup with rum... 🤮

The dining experience at this restaurant was nothing short of abysmal. From the moment we walked in, we were met with an air of arrogance from the server, whose condescending attitude permeated every interaction. Instead of providing courteous and informative responses to our inquiries, they responded with dismissive nods, as if our questions were beneath them. The condition of the restaurant itself was appalling. The tables were sticky and devoid of tablecloths, giving the impression of neglect and poor hygiene. Our drinks were watered down and lacked any semblance of flavor or quality. To add insult to injury, the restroom facilities were in a deplorable state, with filth and grime evident in every corner. Furthermore, the lack of proper air conditioning made the dining experience uncomfortable and unpleasant. The stifling heat only exacerbated the already dismal atmosphere, leaving patrons feeling sweaty and agitated. Overall, this restaurant falls far short of even the most basic standards of cleanliness, service, and hospitality. It is a disgrace to the culinary industry and a complete waste of time and money. Save yourself the frustration and steer clear of this establishment at all costs.

Bad food, terrible service. Stay away!