La Taberna Lúpulo

He came here for drinks only, but I think it’s a go to place if you’re in town.
Located in a historic area in San Juan PR, this place makes you experience the real deal and a beautiful side of their culture.
It’s popular for local crowd and tourists, and it’s famous for their 100 and some brewed beers! All very unique and unbranded but with a variety to please everybody! From pales, to IPAs and ciders, they will most definitely impress you!
I’m saddened I could not try their food… but we will be back!

You have to stop in and get their Trifecta hamburger! With beef, chorizo and bacon and braised in Abita Turbodog beer if I remember correctly it was downright amazing. The beer list is a literal 3 ring binder — go, hang out, have a beer or three and try some amazing food. Staff was friendly though we caught them at a busy time and you can see the locals love this place.

I´m actually updating the review to 4 stars since the manager responded, so will do as suggested (hoping they improve!) The place is a big asset for Old San Juan, and this comes from a local. ;)

So many beers to choose from! In regards to food, I had the Cuban sandwich and it was outstanding! Great service all around.

If you are looking for your craft beer fix while in P.R., this is the spot for you! Great selection and not overpriced one bit.

So, so happy this places exists.
After living here for a bit, we’d become pretty resigned to the beer desert that is SJ (and all of the Caribbean). A cold Medella does the trick, we’ve been telling ourselves. Half-​truths:)
Thank you, thank you La Taberna Lupulo for your many *fresh* taps and for being divey and fun.
Ambiance reminds us of some of our fave San Francisco beer bars.
Can’t wait to get back over to OSJ and drink 9,000 beers and hopefully eat some food here.

I really enjoyed eating and drinking here. Dive bar with a massive selection of brews to choose from. Knowledgable and friendly bartender. Younger crowd. After taste testing several different beers, we had a couple local IPAs. Got the fried cheese, fish taco, and a burger. All delish. I will definitely stop back in here when in town.

I’ve been here a couple of times and only had the beer (so this review doesn’t include any food), but sometimes all you need are liquids. The selection here is definitely the best in town, thought admittedly may seem a little lackluster for a beer enthusiast coming from the mainland (or Belgium). Still, some interesting options and definitely brings more to the flavor party than a Medalla can offer.
The service can be slow — welcome to the islands — but once you get the attention of a bartender, I’ve found them to be really friendly and accommodating. Last time, they were even willing to give me samples of beers before committing to a pint during a busy time, which I really appreciated.

Great beer selection! Such a variety and it seemed like the only place we found that served Jameson. When we arrived, it was particularly busy and a lot of stares since we were probably the only Asians in the city. Although the beer is not cheap, it’s a taste of the states if you’re ever homesick.

I’ve been to this place several times on several trips, so let me qualify why I’m giving it one star. They do have the best beer selection in San Juan, hands down, so I’ve you’re in OSJ and you just have to have a night full of interesting craft brews, well, they have a monopoly on you. That said, if you’re a beer aficionado come to San Juan in search of great brews, you’re either very foolish or were cruelly misinformed, since the Caribbean is famously a beer desert. Learn to like rum or plan your next vacation in Belgium.
Anyway, their bartenders know their stuff, and can match your flavor profile with one of many of their excellent beers on tap. If you can get one of them to pay attention to you. And there’s the rub.
It’s always been difficult to get a beer in this place. It’s usually super crowded, the bartenders are all on Island Time, and there’s not much room to maneuver. It’s typical to spend somewhere between 1 – 2 times as long waiting to get a beer as you will spend actually drinking it. And that’s typical in Puerto Rico. But the last time I was there three of us sat at the bar on an unusually slow night. There were 4 bartenders, only one of whom was doing anything at all, the other three were in the back talking to each other, only occasionally darting out to perform some tiny task or pull one pint before going back to their own soirée in the kitchen.
Still, we tried to wrangle the attention of the one bartender who was visible, but after 15 minutes of first quietly trying to catch his eye, then politely giving a small wave, and finally standing up and waving together, we were completely ignored. This is the SINGLE WORST SERVICE EXPERIENCE I have ever had in a bar. The bartender was actively avoiding our gaze for reasons completely unknowable. This seems to be the standard for servers in San Juan, that if you are busy you just ignore people rather than reassure them that you will be with them as soon as possible, but this experience took it to a whole new level. After 15 minutes, we got up and left.
I’m sure they won’t miss us as we are only in San Juan once a year, and as of this writing they have 4.5 stars on Unilocal.But I’ll never be back. I cannot in good conscience give money to an establishment who so poorly treats its (would be) patrons.
Verdict: Best Beer and Worst service in San Juan. Unfortunately, the best beer in the Caribbean is only decent by mainland standards.

Puerto Rico hasn’t seemed to have adopted the states demand for craft beer. I finally found this place in Old San Juan. They have a great selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles. If you’re in PR and tired of Medalla and Coors Light, head here

DO NOT GO!
Went to the restaurant for a quick, fun dinner after seeing their draft wall and all the beers and liquor available. We sat at an empty table for about ten minutes with no service. We had to go to the bar to get a menu and a bartender said he would be with us shortly. I decided I wanted a mojito, bartender/​server was not able to make it because they were out of mint. We gave them Visa cards to start a tab after ordering our drinks. We then ordered food. I ordered chicken wings first when the server came back and said they didn’t have any left. Then tried to order a steak burrito said they were out of steak! Settled on chicken tenders… After this ordeal we tried to close our tab and they informed us that the credit card machine was not processing for the night (Despite not informing us when they took our Visa cards over an hour ago, waiting until we went to pay to tell us this). We didn’t have enough cash on us so we had to walk all the way to our hotel to get some and then return to settle our bill. This was some of the worst service I have ever received. Outside of a long beer list, this place does not have much going for it.

At first we were a bit hesitant to go in but after we went in we didn’t want to leave. They have an excellent variety of beers and offer food as well.
I would strongly recommend a visit to this place. It has everything to enjoy in Old San Juan.
Customers service is great. Prices are fair.
Sure will stop by when I visit the area.

It can get busy, but worth the bustle. Food’s good and beer’s the best in OSJ.
Several PR Nanobrews and a respectable selection from the mainland.

Wepa! Of course I would find in a hole in the wall beer bar in Old San Juan. Thank you Unilocal for getting this on my radar.
Tucked into a small corner Spanish Colonial storefront, this gem of old San Juan brings beer lovers, hipsters and foodies together in an unpretentious and relaxed environment. I ducked in to get out of a spontaneous rain shower and was more than happy to stay for a couple of beers.
They have an extensive selection of local and imported craft beers from all over in a large binder behind the bar. Ask for it, it’s worth the peruse. La Taberna also has a full bar with great selection of rums and whiskeys if that is more your speed.
I wish I had more room in my stomach to try some of their food. I saw a couple demolish some of the fish tacos and they looked amazing while they lasted. This seems like great place for a bite and a beer with its cozy low lit ambiance and graffiti covered back rooms. Clearly a must hit for any beer lovers in Old San Juan

Amazing beer selection with knowledgeable bartenders. The place looks picture perfect in a super hipster way, taking full advantage of the Spanish colonial architecture of the building. The food is good, not amazing, but after a few beers it tastes like heaven.
As of this writing, this place and Factoría are the only truly must-​visit bars in Puerto Rico, well and maybe the lobby bar at the Vanderbilt if you’re absolutely price insensitive.
The only issue with this bar is that since it doesn’t have air conditioning and it gets really packed, it’s almost impossible to visit between July (maybe May) and October without leaving drenched in sweat. There’s not much they can do about that without changing the whole vibe of the place so I won’t dock a star for it.

Their whole staff were really nice, joking around, and had incredible beards. We went here and didn’t want to leave because the vibe and people were awesome. However, we moved on to another bar and came right back. Their beer selection is only craft beers, but it’s a hell of a selection.

The beers amazing! 50 on tap. The bartenders super super cool (Gustavo) the food delicious, fish tacos off the hook. Cool place to hangout all day. Indoor and outdoor accommodation If you’re coming to Puerto Rico this place is a must visit.

Yeah, their selection of beers is awesome and they have a great stock of rums, whiskeys and others. But have you tried their food?! You wouldn’t know it from walking in, but this place has awesome food.
Try their fish tacos, their beer chips and their mac n’cheese! Try anything! It’s all good. I don’t love their queso frito (fried cheese), but it’s because I prefer them hard (that’s what she said). My favorite: the WINGS! You can order them with guava or spicy guava, but I personally prefer the classic buffalo with blue cheese. Don’t blame me if you become obsessed with these. I’m trying to make Wednesday Wings at this place a thing. Hopefully it will pan out.
Also, their brunch is amazing! Specially for hangovers. (Not that I get any…) I don’t like Bloody Marys, but I wish I did just to have theirs. It’s huge (again. what she said!!) and they put a little sandwich on top. It’s like a drink and a snack in one.
Ask for Bigote, Julio, Gusti, Mina, or Milton (or pretty much any bartender there) for a friendly and awesome experience.

This was a great brunch spot. The brunch menu boasts five perfectly crafted hangover helper dishes, plus some á la carte selections. What more could you want in life?
I ate a lot of eggs Benedict during my time in OSJ, and the eggs benny here was my favorite, by far. Juicy and tender skirt steak served over a toasted croissant and topped with perfect poached eggs and yummy tarragon hollandaise = yes, please! For dessert, I indulged in a champagne mojito and it was absolutely delicious.
There’s also an entire binder full of craft beer options. Like, hundreds upon hundreds. All of my favorites were listed plus many I’ve never heard of.
I hate to land on the term «hip», but that’s the vibe I was getting from this place. Not a pretentious hip, though. It’s more of a laid-​back kind of hip. Perfectly enjoyable.

Visited the Taberna after a meal at Marmalade.
It was a very welcome change of pace. Locals and tourists mingled nicely. We didn’t try the food but the beer & service were great!
Definitely the place to go in Old San Juan if you’re looking for craft beer.

Came again for Fathers Day. They have a new Brunch Menu and is delicious. The owner even shared a KBS with me because I was looking for a coffee stout and there wasnt any available. More than 50 draft beer available. I can sit alone at the bar and hang a couple of hours chatting about beers with the bartender. Love this sunday brunch.

Hey whatsup?
La Taberna Lúpulo is kewl.
When I’m vacationing in San Juan, and I need something on tap from Stone Brewery, this is where I go. Plus I need lots of big, furry hipster beards to rub my face in!
LTL is like a little shot of ‘00s Seattle right in Old San Juan. Remember when mac ‘n’ cheese was an ironic, retro menu item? They do! Remember when tattooed bartenders didn’t serve anyone without visible markers of kewl, and had a pathological lack of humor? I get nostalgic for those days when I was a kitten, prancing on the bartops at Seattle hipster dives, waving my fluffy tail in faces bedecked with horn-​rimmed glasses and Kool-​Aid dye jobs. I love it — this place makes me feel young!
Plus lots of trade.
Thank you I know.

«99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer…» except these guys have 300 bottles of beer on the wall — like seriously. There are so many beers here it makes you want to implant a tube to your liver so that you can just keep on drinking beer and cycling it straight out of your body. What a place. I thought Australians were some of the most beer-​literate people in the world, but these Puerto Ricans put us to shame!
They have Belgian, Czech, British, German, African, American, Tibetan and Martian beers all on tap or neatly listed in a gigantic folder of alco-​biblical proportions! Oh, and the burger — my god, so much love was put into that thing. I told my wife that I’m purchasing a sleeping bag and bunkering down for the next month beneath the bar. Unfortunately that didn’t go down too well… when we left there were 282 beers on the wall!

Came for the craft beer, left a happy hipster thanks to the vibe and décor. The spirits list is super solid, but I was most interested in drinking local brews. I tried a phenomenal local, seasonal sweet potato beer and loved it so much I returned a few days later for the same. I love the open air patio in the back with all the graffiti on the walls – super cool.
While I can’t attest to the food because I didn’t try it, the beer list is awesome – and not just for Puerto Rico. As a Californian, i was stoked on both the draft and bottle selection. Service slacks a bit on busier nights, but that’s to be expected. Bartenders are willing to let you try samples of drafts if you’re in between a few beers. Was bummed they were out of the one sour on draft, but was a happy customer nonetheless. I actually loved this bar so much that I wrote about it on my travel and beer blog.
Cheers!

Everyone talks about the beer list, but I also thought La Taberna Lúpulo had a good spirits list. We tried some rum that isn’t easily available at home. Unfortunately, my husband had hoped to enjoy a beer but the bartender misunderstood and poured us each a glass. It’s a hard life.
Once we finished the rum, we moved on to beer. This was easily the best beer list we saw in San Juan, featuring a wide variety of brews from around the world on draft and in bottles. The catch with the beers was that the first several we tried to order weren’t available, but the menu hadn’t been updated. We eventually found a beer for each of us and really enjoyed them.
We didn’t try the food, but it looked good.
My issue with La Taberna Lúpulo was really that I didn’t want to go to a place that felt like it belonged in NY or Chicago while I was in San Juan. However, if I lived there, this would be a great place to come and feel more like I was home. My verdict? If you’re in San Juan for any longer term period of time, definitely come here. If you’re in town for a week or less, skip La Taberna in favor of a more «Puerto Rican» experience.

Great atmosphere, great beer, great service. We will definitely be back here.
Your menu is a *binder* of beer choices and it doesn’t get any better than this — beers from around the world at a reasonable price. We tried some different things at first, but we finished out the night with a round of Scotch Ales recommended by our bartender, Jorge.
The place is loaded on a Saturday night, but there are plenty of windows and open doors to keep things cool.

One of the few bars that is open late every night.
Their menu selection is enormous, BUT, check to make sure it is in stock. The first 4 beers I ordered were not available :(
The location is great, in the middle the all the night time action with several other venues nearby. This is the only one that has a hidden back patio to chill and relax in away from the noise.
TIP: Order from a dude, skip this girl! One waitresses is super conceited and only works hard for customers that she likes, otherwise your drink takes forever to be served.

La Taberna is straight out of Williamsburg. Seriously. It’s like a slice of Brooklyn in Old San Juan. Do note that on Sundays, the brunch menu is extremely limited (it’s really four or five things); everything we sampled was tasty (the incredibly simple salmon crostini with brie was actually delicious– far better than it sounds on the menu– and the huge open faced taco plus egg scramble sort-​of-​thing was delectable).
Downside– snarky service. We were presented with the extensive menu, attempted to order something and the waitress rudely said «we don’t have that.» She had never indicated that the Sunday brunch menu is basically a tiny fraction of the entire menu. The waiter who came to our table moments later was equally unpleasant (when we asked for water, he told us he would get it for us «this time,» but we should know there is a water machine in the corner). These were the kind of micro-​encounters that make you not want to return to someplace even though the food is awesome. This was the only spot we went to in San Juan were folks were less than friendly (maybe it really is a slice of NYC!!!); but hey, if you’re in the area and want some good food, take your chances. Maybe at another day/​time, the waitstaff is kinder.

Muy buena selección de cervezas. Pero una barra de cervezas en el Caribe debería entender el concepto de la caña o media pinta de cerveza, ya q el calor la calienta si es muy grande. La música podría mejorar también. Pero en general es buen sitio.