Pio Pio

Pio Pio is a very cute coursed hole in the wall restaurant in the middle of Old San Juan. The chef is a cute Irish gentleman with a terrific Puerto Rican inspired menu. Highly recommend the Con Coco cocktail, which is basically an old fashion with coconut flavoring. The meal started with a cream tart, lobster roll, and a crudo. I especially liked the creaminess of the lobster roll. Following that was a swordfish tortellini — I’ve not had a fish tortellini before and I was pleasantly surprised at the texture and flavor! Easily my favorite with at the restaurant. It was magical to see the staff make the tortellinis in front of us. We liked the lamb and dessert as well. But the real star after the tortellini was the Irish coffee with an ice cream sandwich. Beautifully sweet but not overpoweringly so. Great vibe and a family feeling amongst the staff, they definitely are passionate about what they do! Do note that the meal will get into the $300s for two, so if that’s not your cup of tea then be warned.

We made a reservation for the Playlist Chef’s Table experience and WOW—-it was amazing. We were seated at the bar and right from the first moment we felt like we were a part of the back of the house team! The food was amazing—watching the chefs prepare the food with such love and care was a sight to see! We also got the wine pairings with each course. All were amazing and the wine service was great, too. Highly recommend this dining experience!

This is one of the top 5 meals of my life! Such an intimate setting, you get to talk to the chef’s and watch them create the amazing cuisines. I would highly recommend the tasting menu. On top of the food, had the best champagne and white wine I have ever had. As not a huge wine person I would have finished both bottles if I want so full from all the amazing food.

One of the best culinary experiences of my life. Chef Ciarán is a magician and every person that works there is just incredible! Do not miss the opportunity to go to this magnificent culinary gem! 1st course : lobster roll, homemade brioche with caviar and a tart with cream, cured egg, and truffle. 2nd: tuna crudo 3rd: house made sourdough, whipped ricotta with olive oil, prosciutto, and candied walnuts 4th: pasta with conch and spicy tomato sauce with fresh Parmesan 5th: porchetta with black beans 6th: pineapple upside down cake and coconut trifle with mango 7th: chocolate and hazelnut ice cream sandwich

Found this restaurant via a google search. It had great reviews and we were not disappointed. Its a very small restaurant with a few tables and a bar top in front of the kitchen. It was basically a chef's table experience sitting at the bar top watching all the food be prepped and cooked. We opted to share the tasting menu with wine pairing. Every single dish was beautifully plated and tasted equally amazing! Wine pairings were thoughtful and lovely. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant and would definitely visit again in the future. Thanks for a lovely time!

Just wow. The food, staff, and atmosphere blew us away. After a great meal featuring unique small dishes, our waitress served a free moonshine that’s commonly made inland. They also have the best high hydration sourdough I have ever tasted.

I ordered the tasting menu expecting individual servings, but what we received were shared plates for two people something that was never explained to us when ordering. While that lack of communication threw us off, I have to say the food itself was amazing. The pasta was absolutely delicious, and the lamb was incredibly tasty. Despite the confusion, I’m happy to give them a second try.

Pio Pio completely turned our night around after a disappointing experience at a restaurant nearby! The food was absolutely top notch. There were multiple times when we stopped to note that we had never tasted anything like the dishes we had at Pio Pio. The drinks were excellent too. The cocktail list was very unique and creative. Lots of interesting clarified cocktails. The drinks themselves were so good we ended up getting multiple rounds. We could tell that the owners and staff cared a lot about what they were doing, and this shined through our every experience there. Pio Pio made me want to move to San Juan permanently. 10/10, A+, 🔥

I came here with high expectations. The place is small and intimate, primarily a cocktail bar with a limited selection of snacks and dishes. We ordered the two clarified cocktails and the lobster rolls. I don't understand why they would go to the effort of clarifying a cocktail only to add other ingredients that change its taste and appearance. The drinks were decent but not impressive. The lobster rolls were tiny and didn't justify the $32 price tag. The main issue is the service which was lacking; none of the staff seemed friendly. We felt awkward and unwelcome. The door felt like it was locked at first, and there was someone's dog wandering around, also sitting on one of the bar stools. It felt like the staff were waiting to get rid of us. I ended up spending $80 for an overpriced and disappointing experience.

Wow - - incredible experience. We sat at the chefs table, so highly recommend that route if you go. We started with lobster roll, a quiche and tuna tartar. Had a pasta dish and then pork belly - - which were all incredible. The service was amazing. Very attentive. The ambiance was classy yet still had the old San Juan feel to it.

After eating in a 5 star restaurant nearby we held our hunger a little to have dessert and drinks at this place. WOW WOW WOWOWYYYYYWAAAA!!! Was this worth it? ABSOLUTLEY!!! To begin, the service here is 100% perfect! Being such a small place, the attention to detail to the place and quality of service does not disappoint by any means. From the decorations and perfect room temperature, the staff was an all time best. The food. Ooohhh the delicious desserts. The Passion Fruit mousse with those delicious fried pistachios; or the home made chocolate ice cream cakes, or the strawberry mousse!! I'm mixing flavors! I will not break this down to you. If its hard to explain how bitcoin works, the taste is the exact complex exquisiteness! The drinks are made just right, the food is cooked right in front of you if you sit at the bar for now). This hidden gem is something that could trend rapidly. Heads up Yelp!

Best meal I've had in San Juan. We ordered the tasting menu. Three starters included a lobster roll, a fish crudo, and a creme fraise/cracker that was sublime. Past course pumpkin tortellini was delicious, as with the meat course chicken/rabbit version of the beef Wellington. Chef gave us two desserts to share. Service, taste, presentation, it was a perfect meal.

Vacation in Puerto Rico isn't fun unless you indulge in the culture and beverages. From wine to rum to beer you won't be upset. This place was a phenomenal wine bar and it all started with my girl Lau. She was so cool and let us try so much stuff until we decided on buying a bottle and sitting and talking while we enjoyed our evening. This place isn't that big and might have a little trouble fitting large(7-9) people at a time. My group was 5 deep so we were fine . This place is a vibe and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to explore some good wine on a night out.

The food, service and drinks were amazing. Very small menu but high quality. I'd recommend making a reservation unless you're going right when they open.

Here are some notes from tonight as I am reminscing from the couch (because food coma). - The food was unique and imaginative. While the place is upscale, it's not uptight, the vibe is great. The service staff is friendly and unobtrusive. - We loved the food for the most part, especially the lobster rolls and the conch with coconut sauce. The presentation was flawless. The portions are bigger than we thought, so we ordered too much. - Def recommended for a dinner night out with some delicious cocktails and a refined selection of wines.

Upscale place. Great service - friendly and professional (leading us to overtip, with pleasure). Good prices. A nice place for a drink. The food looked good but . . . well, it wasn't cheap and we'd already eaten our fill at a few of the other great places in the area.

Is it possible to give a place with a world class experience more stars? I'm a wine lover and I appreciate learning about the wine I'm drinking. We stumbled upon this location while vacationing in PR. A gem of a find that provided us with so much more than the price of tasting amazing wine. We loved it so much we went twice. This establishment provides small plates that we didn't sample because we were there both times between meals. They gave us unlimited small bowls of citrus flavored popcorn. Yummy! However I can attest that their passion for wine and the knowledge that they shared with us was memorable and inspiring. When we return to Ole San Juan we will return again. I didn't catch the owners name but she spent a lot of time with us and other patrons even though on our second visit the establishment got quite busy. I encourage you to support this small, woman-owned business. You won't be disappointed.

We stopped in shortly after they opened at 3pm mostly looking for a drink. Host admonished us for following her- stating no- she told us to wait at the door she had to check the books. (No one was in the place). I love champagne and had been looking forward to trying this place. Unfortunately it seemed like the staff was (unpleasantly) surprised when guests entered so early. I felt awkward and unwelcome. We were seated at the bar/chef's table- four people working and no one makes eye contact or smiles. We only had one drink and no food mostly because it really seemed like they couldn't wait to get rid of us.

Lau was fantastic! Potentially the best wine list in Puerto Rico. With an excellent level three sommelier with incredible taste in wine. The food was also delicious. Very hospitable and would definitely recommend.

Perfection. I'm pescatarian and had a wonderful seared dry aged tuna and very creative tomato salad. Actually a really special and well done meal. Ambiance is perfect sitting at the bar watching food prep. Service is outstanding. One of the few places in San Juan I felt was worth the price point.

Great service and delicious wine. Definitely get the crumpets. We came on a hot Thursday at 5pm with a reservation. They were very accommodating to us and our 5 lb dog "as long as our dog wouldn't bark at people". Our dog slept quietly next to me. Ask them for their wine specials! Their blanc de blancs are delicious. Also best ice cream sandwich I've had in the US!

Stopped by on a whim after dinner elsewhere! Good spot for bubbly wine/champagne - more on the drier side. They also have cocktails if you want that too or small food.

This place is a hidden gem. The staff was very accommodating and was really knowledgeable about all their offerings on the menu. I tried the cheese cake and man was it good. I'm not a big drinker so I choose the Piragua with is a shaved ice desert with alcohol in it. I feel like anything you order on the menu you can't go wrong. I had the chance to sit at the bar with my husband and was lucky enough to see how much passion the chefs and staff put into their work in making drinks as well as putting together the food. While this place does not serve full meals more like a "pica pica" if you will, it was enough to feel full and not go hungry later.

Fantastic food, craft cocktails, wonderful wine and thoughtful servers. Highly recommend the ricotta bread and any cocktail. And the unfiltered rosé bubbly!

A fantastic gem in Puerto Rico that is worth getting reservations for. Went here last night with my mother for dinner and we had a blast. Food was terrific and reasonably priced (honestly better value then most of the tourist traps down by the port). They do have a few expensive items on the menu but we steered clear of those and instead had the grilled cheese, the Yorkshire pudding and the gnocchi. All were to die for. Wine list and drink menu were great as well. Recommend this place highly

This is an absolute must-go spot in VSJ. I have a friend who is a regular at Pio Pio because it's the type of spot that has regulars, but uniquely also has super elevated cuisine. Their service is top notch - Lau recommended awesome wine pairings. Cannot rave enough about their food - everything was perfect and I cannot wait to enjoy more of their lobster rolls. Because I don't see this in other reviews - 10/10 for the endless supply of popcorn!

Other reviews that mention this restaurant is a hidden gem are 100% accurate! Had the most wonderful experience here last night. A hip and trendy vibe but also warm and inviting in an intimate space. Our server was delightful, super knowledgeable and so kind. Each of the prepared dishes were fantastic and it really is amazing that they can create such beautiful food from behind that small counter! We had dinners at other places like Santaella and 1919 which were also fantastic but Pio Pio was my personal favorite. There aren't a ton of tables so highly recommend making a reservation in advance. You have to pay a deposit fee per person to reserve but they reimburse you as soon as you check in. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

Had the pleasure of dining at Pio Pio this weekend. The staff made our experience so fun and memorable. Not only were the cocktails exceptional but all the food we tried was to die for! We loved our seats at the bar so we could check out the detailed execution behind all the dishes. Highly recommend you check out pio pio!

An awesome experience. Phenomenal bartender, really beautifully plated food. And the champagne was so so good. My sister and I ducked in here before going out to dinner and we almost (and should have) stayed for the night. We tried several champagnes, had the (ridiculously tasty) popcorn, and made conversation with the female bar tender who's name I forget but who was SUCH fun to chat with. A true highlight of SJ for us!

AMAZING!! Me and my friend absolutely loved this wine/champagne bar. They had the best selection and our server helped me pick out a wine based on what I usually drink. I loved my wine and my friend got champagne by the glass. The service was impeccable- quick and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious, especially the ricotta toast. They make sourdough in house! And the ice cream sandwich, omg so good! I would highly recommend this place for a chill night and great service!! Thank you so much!

Its my third visit to Pio Pio and I will keep coming and bringing friends. Amazing foods, mostly small bites to share, great drinks and wine selection. Small quaint lovely place, makes you feel secured following the current Covid mandates. Thank you for that! Laura and Ciarán are great hosts. Will keep coming back!

What a great evening ‼ PioPio an unpretentious place with pizazz.... simple with glamour... The service is unique and detailed. Ask Laura for suggestions of bubbles, wine and 'bottled cocktails'. The food is simply great. Non complicated, savory, and executed to perfection. (they practically have no kitchen)... we tried almost everything in the menu and to tell you the truth...try,--oysters rockefeller, parsley, parmesan, lemon, ---house-made morcilla, quail egg, salsa criolla, bagel, pork belly, egg yolk, sturgeon , --- rustic pork terrine, pistachios, "apio" aioli, cornichon ... and don't leave without having an irish coffee. the best!

Pio Pio is one of *those* places--a rare find where everything comes together to make for a perfect evening. So perfect that I was hesitant to go back a week later on our way home, but it was just as good again. The first night, the four of us ordered every food item on the small menu except the desserts. Every dish that came out of the tiny kitchen behind the bar was astounding, (a root vegetable beef wellington in mushroom sauce was mind blowing), every cocktail was unique and delicious. They put as much attention into the glassware and garnishes as they do the concoctions. Each wine recommendation was spot on. (My wife fell in love with a wine from the Canary Islands of all places.) I couldn't believe this was in San Juan. Turns out the delightful young owners (Irish chef Kieran and Puerto Rican bartender Laura) met at Per Se in NYC. Of course. The atmosphere is fun, intimate and unassuming. Sit at the bar, if you can, to watch the action and talk to the engaging staff and owners. We had the four seats on the corner the first night then asked for them again on our return. The best seats in the house. Order it all and ask for recommendations. On our second night we had the desserts we had passed on the first night. A delicious shaved frozen Negroni. An amazing Irish coffee (I dislike Irish coffee but had a sip of my friend's and ordered it) with ice cream bars (I don't eat ice cream, but I did). One bite, one sip. Wow. Repeat. Take your time. Settle in for a long night. Pio Pio is a treasure.

We walked in for a glass of champagne and didn't realized we walked into a gem - soon to be favorite stop on our trip. The food was fantastic, Laura was extremely knowledgeable and warm. I highly recommend the lobster rolls. Everything is fresh made and locally sourced.

I went to Pio Pio with large group for a bachelorette party and could not have had a better experience. Laura and the team there are incredible. From the first time I reached out to her about planning the dinner through the end of the night, I knew we were in good hands. Laura went above and beyond to help us curate a delicious menu (the food was amazing - especially the kingfish tiradito!) with just the right wine pairings. They even accommodated some tricky dietary restrictions and printed off adorable customized menus for our group! This is a must visit! I can't wait to go back!

Some of the best wine selection in PR and exceptional cocktails and at a reasonable price! Food is excellent and not what you would get in most places in PR. Service is very helpful, kind and welcoming and customize the experience to the kind of evening youre trying to have. The place is chic but not stuffy and you feel your money is well spent! You feel youre having a nice and "fancy" night but like youre still having "at home". Will become one of my new go-to date/girl night spots! Ps: negative reviews are coming from places refusing to abide by the covid protocols. Not from anyone who had a bad experience!

What a wonderful quaint place. The chef has a wonderful imagination and never disappoints. Niko is very knowledgeable about wines and you can see her passion for wines when you discuss. We have been here twice now, and just drink her recommendations. I gave it 5 stars because it has it all, great food, great wines, great ambiance, and great staff. We have thoroughly enjoyed both our times here and look forward to our next visit.

Excellent night. The service was great. The owners and the personnel Treat you like family ! The sommelier has excellent knowledge and recommendations of the champagne and wine list . Highly recommend .

Amazing food (super consistent!) and a superb wine selection. The service is even better!! The go-to place if you are in old San Juan!

This place is amazing! The food is delicious. Wines and champagnes are selective and well curated. Great advice and service! A must-visit!