Puerto Rico Partying: New Year's Eve in San Juan
(Above) Budatai will feature a live DJ at its rooftop lounge on New Year's Eve.
There’s no denying that Puerto Rico knows how to throw a party. And that’s especially true in the capital city of San Juan on New Year’s Eve, when revelers gather at venues public and private, large and small, to celebrate with food, drink, friends and family.
Some of the highest-profile festivities take place at the city’s stylish hotels in the beachfront Condado district. The Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza is staging a lively party, “Eternal New Year’s Eve,” at its Eternal Lobby Lounge. Entertainment here includes two DJs and live performances by Puerto Rican alternative electro-pop group Da’Zoo. Attendees — who pay $70 before December 30 or $80 on the day of the event — can also enjoy an open bar with sponsored liquors and drinks including Medalla Light beer, wrapping up the morning with a free continental breakfast at 4am.
At the equally cool La Concha, a Renaissance Resort, the private party in the always-hopping lobby bar and pool area is by invitation only, but hotel guests are among those on the list. Cuenta Regresiva, a Puerto Rican band that plays salsa and merengue as well as '70s and '80s music, will perform by the pool, and private seating areas can be reserved for small groups.
In the Isla Verde district, the El San Juan Resort & Casino is offering not one but two options for revelers: a $170-per-person dinner buffet accompanied by live music and dancing at the hotel’s Club Tropicoro and a $70 no-food option that allows plenty of opportunities to dance to live merengue masterpieces performed by Grupo Mania.
To escape from the hotel scene, consider Oceano, the hot new oceanfront bar in Condado. Grey Goose Vodka is sponsoring the night here, with lots of vodka-inspired cocktails in the works, and — if the tides permit — beach teepees offering a unique place to chill and see Condado Beach’s midnight fireworks. Also sure to be popular is Budatai, a trendy Condado fusion eatery and bar where a live DJ will serve up beats on the rooftop deck. There’s no cover to get in here, and the locale provides a good vantage point to see the fireworks.
If you’re not in the mood for a New Year’s Eve-specific party, head to Old San Juan, where the ever-popular Nuyorican Café is planning nothing more than its usual Saturday night activities — namely, lots of live salsa music and dancing. After all, in a city as festive as San Juan, you don’t need New Year’s Eve decorations to have fun.
