Hotel El Convento

San Juan


In a prime spot in Old San Juan, El Convento is a historic monument-turned-luxe boutique hotel. Built in 1651 as the New World’s first Carmelite convent, the 67 rooms and five suites channel Spanish-colonial style, with tiled floors and mahogany furniture. Service is polished, from the reception to the alfresco patio restaurant.

This sturdy baroque beacon is packed with priceless old-world relics and oozes subtle ‘Siglo de Oro’ (Golden Age) charm. Check out the Goya-esque tapestries in the hallway or the late-afternoon tranquility of the enclosed inner courtyard. Plunge into the tiny pool and Jacuzzi with sweeping views over the cathedral and Old San Juan.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San Juan attractions

1. Plazuela Las Monjas

0.02 MILES

This pretty little park faces the Catedral de San Juan Bautista. Its ironwork benches and shade trees make it a good place for people watching, especially…

2. Catedral de San Juan Bautista

0.03 MILES

While San Juan's cathedral is smaller and less flamboyant than many Spanish churches, it retains a simple elegance. The first church on this site was…

3. Casa Museo Felisa Rincón de Gautier

0.06 MILES

This museum, an attractive neoclassical townhouse, was the longtime home of San Juan’s beloved mayor, Doña Felisa. She presided over the growth of the…

4. Plazuela de la Rogativa

0.07 MILES

This diminutive gem of a square with lovely views over the bay is home to an interesting, stylized bronze sculpture of a former bishop of San Juan and…

5. Edifico de la Diputación Provincial

0.08 MILES

Originally constructed as a marketplace in the mid-1800s, this neoclassical building now houses offices of the Department of State of Puerto Rico along…

6. Puerta de San Juan

0.09 MILES

One of the three remaining gates into the old city, the lofty red portal known as the Puerta de San Juan is a popular photo stop. Spanish ships once…

7. Plaza de San José

0.09 MILES

This small cobblestone plaza is dominated by a statue of Juan Ponce de León, cast from English cannons captured in the raid of 1797. It's a popular spot…

8. Palacio de la Real Intendencia

0.1 MILES

The imposing Palacio de la Real Intendencia sits on the western edge of the Plaza de Armas. Built in the 19th century, this neoclassical beauty houses the…