At the San Martín 415 building on Calle del Parque, a group of young people trade jokes and challenges while a couple takes turns playing against two friends.
In another corner, a group of adults who just got off work loosen up with every swing of the paddle.
Some are still in tucked-in shirts and dress pants; others are still wearing their work uniforms. It doesn't matter whether you come in casual, business casual or a uniform: at El Saque, formalities dissolve into the rhythm of the game, a back-and-forth where the only rule is shared focus.
Just one month after opening in March, this spot has turned five ping-pong tables into the center of a scene as diverse as it is lively.
The tables make no distinctions by age, style or occupation: here, everyone is equal.
On a Wednesday at 6 p.m., people arrive with the same intention,to connect, to share, to play ping pong,and in that harmony, for a few moments, this corner of Santurce comes alive, transforming a previously quiet spot.
"I love describing it as a multiverse of options, because in a single space you can find not only table tennis as a recreational sport, ping pong, but also a solid food offering and a solid cocktail offering," said Camila Reus Figueroa, co-owner of El Saque, a space she created with her husband, Ahmed Echevarría Rosas.
The idea actually started in 2014 at Artlab, an art gallery and framing workshop that Ahmed ran on Calle Condado in Santurce during his years in the visual arts industry, though it wasn't until 2023 that the couple developed the concept into something concrete.
"A lot of wonderful things happened in that space, and a lot of collaborations with local and international artists," Reus Figueroa recalled.
"In that space, Ahmed decided with some friends to put in a ping-pong table, and it became what we call the Clandestino ping-pong club, because every Friday we would play ping pong in the back warehouse and stay there for hours," the entrepreneur added.
Instagram capture, El Saque
The first informal competitions began in 2016, and the phenomenon gradually grew into invitational tournaments that gained traction.
Between 2017 and 2019, these events were held at venues including La Respuesta in Santurce and Pública Espacio, where more than 40 people would sign up to participate.
You come for the ping pong, but you stay for the food
Just as in ping pong, where you need rhythm, quick responses and a shared read of the game, collaboration among local entrepreneurs involves a constant exchange. Ideas going back and forth. Projects that require precision, attention and, above all, a willingness to play as a team.
"We believe strongly in collaboration. From the time we developed the concept, we knew we wanted to collaborate and form partnerships with local entrepreneurs and farms," Reus Figueroa said, noting that in the business ecosystem of the area the goal is not to win but to keep the game going. To keep the ball in the air.
"So we started exploring the idea of also developing a food and culinary component, with accessible options that fit the energy of the space," Reus Figueroa added. For that, they invited chef Paola Noriega to collaborate.
"We wanted the menu to be fun and varied, without being afraid to play with textures," said the chef, better known on social media as Deditos Gorditos, adding that they offer vegan and vegetarian dishes in which eggplant and squash take center stage.
In such a short time, certain dishes have already stood out enough that people come just to eat, among them the sliders, gnocchi, calamari and meatballs marinara.
All are the result of collaborations with local entrepreneurs and farms. Behind each bite is a story of proximity: the bread, handcrafted by Levain Bakery, comes from just one block away in the heart of Santurce.
The fermented products are from Obvio Microbio; the longaniza is also local, from AlCor Foods; the produce is from Frutos del Guacabo. The desserts also feature local flavors, with Titi's Sweets and Heladería La Crema.
The collaboration of local flavors extends to the cocktail menu, designed by Josué Echevarria with suppliers including Licorería Miramar, 173 grados and local beers such as Ocean Lab and Santurce Brewery.
In just a few weeks of operation, the public response has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Reus Figueroa, with messages of appreciation arriving through social media and from in-person visitors alike.
"The customers and people who visit us are genuinely very grateful that a space like this exists, the Santurce community. This whole street of neighbors and merchants also feeds off this movement," Reus Figueroa said.
The ping pong club, located at 415 Calle Del Parque, is open Wednesday through Sunday and accepts walk-ins, but space is limited and reservations are recommended through the mobile app, El Saque Ping Pong Club, available on the App Store and Google Play, or through the website.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
