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Old San Juan Shopping Guide: Best Streets, Shops, and What to Buy

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This is your key to shopping in San Juan with a special focus on the Old San Juan district. There are numerous destinations to explore during your visit, from artisanal sweets and handcrafted jewelry to local fashion and souvenirs. Our guide is here to help you navigate the diverse San Juan shopping scene.

Best Streets for Shopping in Old San Juan

  • Calle Fortaleza – The main shopping corridor running from Plaza de Armas to the waterfront. Home to jewelry stores (including Coquí el Original at #200), boutiques, and souvenir shops.
  • Calle del Cristo – Parallel to Fortaleza, lined with art galleries, craft stores, and the historic Capilla del Cristo chapel.
  • Calle San Francisco – Connects to Plaza de Armas, offering local bakeries, cigar lounges, and gift shops.
  • Near Plaza Colón – Closest to cruise piers, with quick-stop souvenir vendors and cafés.

What to Buy in Old San Juan

  • Puerto Rican Coffee – Locally roasted beans from brands like Café Yaucono or Alto Grande
  • Rum & Rum Cakes – Bacardi, Don Q, or souvenir rum cakes from local bakeries
  • Vejigante Masks – Traditional carnival masks (papier-mâché) at craft stores
  • Santos (Religious Folk Art) – Hand-carved wooden saints
  • Cigars – Premium hand-rolled cigars at K&K Cigar Lounge
  • Panama Hats – Classic straw hats at specialty shops along Fortaleza
  • Artisan Jewelry – 14K gold coquí frogs, larimar stones, Puerto Rican flag designs
  • Spices & Sauces – Adobo, sofrito, hot sauces
  • Handmade Shoes – Avarcas and espadrilles

Shopping Near the Cruise Port

Old San Juan’s shopping district is 5–15 minutes walking from cruise terminals:

  • From Pier 3/4: 10-min walk to Plaza Colón → Fortaleza Street
  • Route: Exit terminal → follow waterfront promenade → turn left at Plaza Colón
  • All shops in this guide are within a 20-minute walk of each other

1. Delicadas

A great place to purchase to go or sit down to eat local baked goods. All pastries are traditionally Puerto Rican like “besitos de coco,” “panetela de guayaba,” and lemon cookies. All packaging is very cute and branded, which can make a great gift and souvenir for a loved one back home. 

2. Larimar Handcrafted Accessories 

While Larimar is a stone that naturally occurs in the Dominican Republic, this store offers a variety of handcrafted accessories and jewelry for clients looking to purchase larimar. 

3. Gracias Skateshop

A one-stop-shop for all skateboarding equipment. Fun store to go to if you’re skilled in skateboarding!

4. Caribbean Beads

If you love to craft and create jewelry, this store is a perfect stop to source. 

5. Montadero Chocolate

This store makes delicious chocolate in their factory in Caguas, Puerto Rico where you can also book chocolate workshops. 

6. Coquí el Original

A jewelry family business since 1965 in Old San Juan, the fine jewelry line focuses its designs on Puerto Rico’s natural and cultural beauty. 

7. A List of Beautiful Arts and Crafts Stores

  • Sea Foam Rare and Authentic
  • The Handcraft Store
  • Pequeño Boriquén
  • Mariel Arts and Crafts
  • Mundo Taíno
  • Puerto Rico Arts and Crafts

8. Handmade Avarcas and Espadrilles

If you’re in the market for handmade shoes, this is the store for you!

9. K&K Cigar & Smoke Lounge

A great place for cigar aficionados to purchase and lounge around to smoke. 

10. Cariloha

Cariloha is a store that sells sustainable bamboo fabric made into clothes and home goods. You can shop for eco-friendly gym wear, socks, dress shirts, bed covers, blankets, and more, made from self-replenishing bamboo fields. 

FAQs

What are the best streets for shopping in Old San Juan?

Calle Fortaleza and Calle del Cristo are the main shopping streets, offering jewelry, crafts, cigars, and souvenirs within a 3-block walkable area.

What should I buy in Old San Juan?

Popular authentic purchases include Puerto Rican coffee, rum cakes, vejigante masks, santos (wooden saints), larimar jewelry, hand-rolled cigars, Panama hats, and spices.

Are shops open on Sundays?

Most shops have limited Sunday hours (10am–3pm) or are closed. Saturday is your best bet for full hours.

Where can I buy cigars in Old San Juan?

K&K Cigar & Smoke Lounge on Calle Fortaleza offers premium hand-rolled cigars and a comfortable lounge.

Where can I buy a Panama hat?

Look for specialty hat shops along Calle Fortaleza and near Plaza de Armas—several vendors carry authentic straw Panama hats.

Is Old San Juan walkable for shopping?

Yes, 100%. The entire shopping district spans about 0.5 square miles with flat, cobblestone streets.

How far is shopping from the cruise port?

5–15 minutes walking. Plaza Colón and Fortaleza Street are the closest (5–7 min); Calle del Cristo is 10–12 min.

What are typical shop hours in Old San Juan?

Most shops: Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–3pm or closed. Always check Google Maps for current hours.

¡Salud y Éxito!

Daniela Barquet

Self-portrait photo of Coquí's owners Daniela Barquet and Natalio Barquet Junior.
Daniela Barquet

Daniela Barquet is the 4th generation owner of her family's jewelry store located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico since 1965. The business tradition was started by her great-grandfather, Issac Barquet, in 1920. Daniela graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor's in the History of Art and Architecture and a Minor in Italian Studies. Daniela continues to grow under the mentorship of her father, Natalio Barquet Perez, who is a renowned, certified jeweler in Puerto Rico.

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