Hotel El Convento sits at 100 Calle del Cristo in the heart of Old San Juan, in a building that began life in the seventeenth century as a Carmelite convent and has been a hotel since the early 1960s. It is a boutique property with arched corridors, tiled floors and a courtyard setting, and it is a favorite for travelers who want to wake up inside the old town. The hotel lists a rooftop plunge pool and heated jacuzzi overlooking San Juan Bay, open daily in the morning and evening, a daily complimentary wine and cheese reception on La Veranda Terrace, a 24-hour fitness center, free Wi-Fi, complimentary bicycles and guest beach access at Isla Verde. Rooms range from compact doubles to junior suites and larger signature suites.
Location and getting around: you are in the middle of the old town. San Juan Cathedral is next door, the Plaza de Armas and the port are a short walk, and El Morro and San Cristobal are both reachable on foot in about twenty minutes. Restaurants, bars, galleries and shops line Calle del Cristo and the cross streets. The hotel is the best base for anyone planning to do the old town on foot, so you can return to the pool in the heat of the afternoon. For the airport or beaches, take a taxi or rideshare, and for day trips to El Yunque or Fajardo, arrange tours with hotel pickup.
Rooms and who it suits: the historic building means rooms differ in size and layout, from smaller rooms to suites with sitting areas and views. It suits couples, history lovers and travelers who prefer character to resort scale. Light sleepers should ask for a quieter room away from the street and the evening music in the old town, as nights here are lively. The cobblestone streets are uneven, so check access needs when you book.
Good to know: the rooftop pool is a plunge pool rather than a lap pool, so it suits cooling off with a view rather than swimming. The hotel is an older building with limited parking, so ask about nearby garages before you arrive, and note that the old town's narrow one-way streets can be hard to drive. Rates are in the upper-middle to high range and rise in winter and on cruise-heavy weekends. Breakfast and restaurant details change, so check the current dining options on the hotel site before you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooftop plunge pool and jacuzzi
- ✓Daily wine and cheese reception
- ✓La Veranda Terrace
- ✓24-hour fitness center
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Complimentary bicycles
- ✓Isla Verde beach access
- ✓Meeting and event rooms
Good questions
Where is Hotel El Convento?+
It is at 100 Calle del Cristo in Old San Juan, beside the cathedral and within walking distance of the forts, plazas and restaurants.
Does it have a pool?+
Yes, a rooftop plunge pool and heated jacuzzi overlook San Juan Bay. The hotel lists daily opening hours, so check them before your stay.
Is it good for families?+
It suits couples and older children best. The historic layout and the old town's cobblestones are less convenient for strollers.
