At Platea, we want you to know your restaurant options nearby so you can enjoy Semana Santa.
Semana Santa arrives and Puerto Rico responds in its most universal language: coastal food. These days become the perfect opportunity to see how every corner of the Island interprets its relationship with the sea through signature dishes, from the empanadilla to a cup of conch. Here are options from around the Island.
If you're heading to the East
The waterfront at Naguabo can be an ideal destination during Semana Mayor. Below, we recommend three restaurants known for their coastal menus, which include shrimp, conch, octopus, lobster, a variety of fish, arepas, tostones, mofongo, frappes and piña colada.
These restaurants offer ocean views for beach and coast lovers. They also have outdoor tables and enclosed dining rooms where you can eat in an air-conditioned setting.
A recommendation for the evening
If you want to venture into other towns in the east of the Island, we invite you to take a drive through Villa Marina in Fajardo and visit El Cayo Restaurant and Beach Club, where you can enjoy fresh seafood, a view toward Isla Palomino and dinner under the stars. The restaurant has a banquet room for events and weddings.
Another option for the family could be Café Playero in the Las Croabas area of Fajardo. There you'll find brunch service, a bar and tapas.
If you're looking for a beachside coffee and a break
For a good coffee and a simple sandwich, visit Cinco Onzas in the Puerto del Rey area of Fajardo.
If the roads lead to the West
One of the most popular dining destinations among locals in Cabo Rojo and among visitors is Buena Vibra Bar & Tapas. The restaurant has a varied menu of seafood and meats, but it stands out for its stuffed avocados. They also have their own beer and a coffee shop.
The empanadilla route runs through Joyuda
There's no better time to visit the well-known spots along Route 102 than during a long weekend. If you're coming from Mayagüez, your first stop can be González Seafood, but arrive early because it's popular with locals. If you continue driving toward Joyuda, you can stop at spots like El Bohío, a longtime establishment with a balcony that's perfect for watching the sunset.
For quicker, more casual options, or because you still have sand on your feet, El Gatito, El Gato Negro and El Coral never disappoint.
If the roads lead to Rincón, we recommend a necessary stop at Kaplash, where they have empanadillas made with almost every type of seafood and a balcony with one of the best views of the west coast. When you reach the "Pueblo de los Atardeceres," head to any of these restaurants:
For dinner after sunset
Take a drive through the town of Aguadilla and visit Peña Blanca Restaurant, a space with dishes such as seafood cazuelas, mofongo stuffed with shrimp, fish tacos, salmon, fried snapper, calamari and octopus.
If you're heading to the North
When Semana Santa comes around, make a stop at Del Campo al Norte restaurant in Hatillo. There you can try both land and sea dishes, but we recommend the house plate, El Caracol, a chicken breast stuffed with mofongo and seafood.
As you travel through the north of the Island, stop at La Güira Cocina Puertorriqueña in Arecibo, where you'll find stuffed avocados, chorizo in wine, fried bacalaitos, alcapurrias and, of course, coastal dishes such as shrimp and fillets of snapper, salmon and mahi-mahi.
For a sunset facing the sea
In the municipality of Dorado, you can visit Kikita Beach House, a spot with excellent ocean views and a varied cocktail menu you can enjoy while watching the sunset. To order, you'll find risotto and pasta with lobster, mahi-mahi, fried red snapper and flounder fillet.
If you're heading to the South
If your weekend plan includes chinchorreo (hopping between chinchorros), you can head to the south of the Island and stop at La Casa de los Pastelillos, in Guayama, where you'll find a variety of fried foods such as alcapurrias, stuffed arepas and, of course, pastelillos filled with crab, octopus, shark, lobster and shrimp. They also have seafood salads and dishes with crab, conch and red snapper.
Other spots to visit in Ponce, Guayama, Santa Isabel, Salinas and Guayanilla include:
A hidden gem with a gourmet
touchIf you want to visit a different kind of restaurant in Guayama, stop by El Gallo Pinto, a place whose setting and dishes stand out for their simple, minimalist character. The spot was nominated for the James Beard 2025 awards in the category of Best Chef: South. Here you can try gratinéed oysters, octopus with paprika and fried calamari.
An essential spot with live music
Head to Ladi's Restaurant in Salinas and check out what they're offering for Holy Week. The menu includes several fish fillet options (grouper, red snapper, mahi-mahi and salmon). They also have crab salmorejo, lobster, conch, octopus and shrimp. On weekends they tend to have a live music set.
Keep using our guides and you'll have plenty of ideas for spending time with family and loved ones:
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
