Hamlet’s proclamation to Ophelia, “Get thee to a nunnery.” implies a certain negativity, but Puerto Rico is legions away from Denmark, and if the Bard had the good fortune to find himself on that Caribbean isle today, standing in front of the remarkable edifice of El Convento, he’d have surely penned something else. As its name implies, Hotel El Convento is a former Carmelite convent, embraced by the walled city of Old San Juan since 1651.

Fifty-eight rooms occupy the top four floors of the yellow-hued hotel, accessible via a private entrance in the original courtyard where a 300-year-old Nispero fruit tree from Spain still stands. Rooms and suites are individually decorated with Andalusian tile floors, mahogany beams, throw rugs and hacienda-style furniture. Each room has a view of Old San Juan or its bay. The first two floors feature restaurants, ten new guest rooms and meeting rooms interconnected by a series of black-and-white-tile hallways.

The garden terrace, overlooking the Plaza de las Monjas and historic San Juan cathedral, offers a serene atmosphere for relaxing and enjoying evening cocktails. Follow that by retreating to the flower-bedecked rooftop pool terrace, with its spectacular panoramic views of Old San Juan, and luxuriate under the warm tropical sun, take a dip in the plunge pool or soothe your woes in the Jacuzzi.  This small boutique hotel celebrates the old—as its address in historic San Juan indicates—while embracing all the comforts modern travelers expect.

The magnificent courtyard, where a 300-year-old Nispero fruit tree from Spain still stands, is home to the hotel's restaurant Patio Del Nispero.

Original Property Opened: 1651

Rate Range:
Standard: $235.00 to $365.00
Superior: $265.00 to $385.00
Deluxe: $295.00 to $420.00
Suites: $600.00 to $1,600.00