Rincón Restaurants

  1. Antojos

    In Spanish antojos means 'cravings' and you can satisfy a few at this local bar and restaurant situated on Hwy 115 south of the town. The specialty is fish served up with comida criolla side dishes, such as rice, beans and fried plantains. It's nothing fancy, but after a day of catching the waves it will replenish a hearty surfer's appetite.

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  2. Banana Dang

    Set up in 2007 by two committed coffee and banana addicts from LA, Banana Dang comes pretty close to delivering the best shots of caffeine on the island. Next door to the Lazy Parrot Inn in the hills above Rincón, it's well worth stopping off here to - in the words of the owners - think, drink and link (yes, there are computer terminals and wi-fi access). The banana smoothies are pretty memorable too.

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  3. Calypso Tropical Café

    Wall-to-wall suntans, svelte girls in bikini tops, bare-chested blokes nursing cold beers, and syncopated reggae music drifting out beneath the sun-dappled palm trees; the Calypso is everything you'd expect a beachside surfers' bar to be - and perhaps a little more. All that's missing is a prepsychedelic-era Brian Wilson propping up the jukebox (then again, Brian never could surf).

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  4. Casa Islena

    They could serve tripe here and it would still taste good, so evocative is the oceanside setting. Fortuitously, so is the food. Casa Islena serves delicious tapas washed down with rum-laced sangria. Picture grilled swordfish in spicy coconut broth and skirt steak marinated in ginger, soy and garlic, enjoyed over a scarlet-streaked sunset.

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  5. El Flamboyán

    With its faded Che Guevara posters and vaguely bucolic setting overlooking the surf break at Pools, the Flamboyán is definitely old-school Rincón. This is where you come for comida criolla and inexpensive fish and chicken dishes and to converse with weather-beaten expats about the days before the dudes with money crashed in.

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  6. El Palacio Chino

    This local Chinese restaurant doesn't look much but commands a loyal local following. Sweet-and-sour chicken costs around US$5 .

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  7. Horned Dorset Primavera

    Weird. One of Puerto Rico's most formal restaurants in one of its most informal towns. Don't even think about dragging your flip-flops, shorts or surfboard here. The dress code requires casual smart and appreciates suits. Suffice to say, the place is exquisite, with stunning views and equally stunning French-influenced food that would have Gordon Ramsey looking over his shoulder.

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  8. Natural High

    Glowingly healthy and unadulterated enough to suit even the strictest vegans, Natural High is - much to the surprise of visiting carnivores - also rather tasty. Mixing good old-fashioned home cooking with an unusual blend of raw, organic ingredients, the dishes here are as delicious as they are different. Try the crunchy fresh salads or the fruit-infused smoothies and save the muesli-munching for another day.

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  9. Pancho Villa

    If you have long grown bored of lukewarm enchiladas or unpalatable refried beans, this modest place in Rincón's main square could quite easily reignite your taste buds for all things Mexican. Though the décor's nothing fancy and the service only so-so, the Rancho Villa delivers the goods where it matters: the food's damn tasty. Try the house burrito or the crispy chimichanga washed down with a salt-laced margarita and beware the rose-toting mariachis on Friday nights.

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  10. Rock Bottom Bar & Grill

    Rock Bottom is a 'tree-house' style bar situated next to the Casa Verde Guesthouse in the Sandy Beach neighborhood. It has ladies nights, surf videos, tasty bar snacks (buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks) and a novel, less tacky version of karaoke which it calls the 'Acoustic Jam.' Swap your surfboard for a guitar and become the next Brian Wilson.

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  12. Smilin' Joe's

    Wonderfully creative food is par for the course at this happening restaurant situated in the Lazy Parrot Inn . Try the sesame-ginger churrasco steak or the mango-glazed chicken breast and choose something full-bodied from the comprehensive wine list.

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  13. Tamboo Tavern

    You don't have to be a surfer to hang out at Tamboo, but it helps. This is actually the patio bar of the Beside the Pointe guesthouse, but it doubles up as a great place for burgers, relaxation and a congenial après-surf scene. You may not always get live music here, but the sound system is pretty good and the twilight beach panorama something to behold.

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