San Juan, the dynamic capital of Puerto Rico, offers a captivating blend of colonial history, world-class art, and tropical beaches. It’s also a shopper’s paradise, featuring a unique mix of local craftsmanship and international luxury brands. Below is a guide to the unique character and vibe of each of the city’s top shopping districts, along with the best shops in San Juan, offering a  shopping adventure that reflects the island’s rich cultural heritage and modern cosmopolitan spirit. 

San Juan Shopping District No. 1: Old San Juan

Stepping into Old San Juan is like walking through a living museum where shopping becomes an immersive cultural experience. The narrow, blue-cobblestone streets are lined with colorful Spanish colonial buildings housing an eclectic mix of San Juan shops carrying traditional crafts.  

On Calle de La Fortaleeza, visitors can explore Olé, which works with artisan weavers to offer hand-fitted, customizable Panama hats, while Puerto Rican Arts & Crafts displays handmade hammocks, hand-carved wooden santos (saints) and bladdernte masks carved from coconut husks or made out of papier-mâché. At the nearby Cuartel de Ballajá, a former military barracks and the last building constructed by the Spaniards in the New World, artisans sell handmade jewelry, artwork and more.

San Juan Shopping District No. 2: Condado

The Condado neighborhood offers Puerto Rico’s most sophisticated shopping scene, with its beachfront Ashford Avenue known as San Juan’s Rodeo Drive for its mix of designer boutiques, high-end jewelry stores, and local designer shops. 

Yes, there’s Cartier, Mont Blanc, and Ferragamo. There are also San Juan shops by Puerto Rican designers like Nono Maldonado, celebrated for his exceptional ready-to-wear collections for men and women. Nativa Boutique, just off Ashford Avenue on Calle Cervantes, is a local favorite for its cocktail dresses and evening gowns. 

San Juan Shopping District No. 3: Santurce

Once an industrial neighborhood, Santurce has transformed into a vibrant cultural district, whose eclectic shopping experience mirrors its thriving creative scene filled with street art-adorned walls and hip art galleries.

Here is where high-end San Juan shops like Harry Robles, renowned for custom-made evening and bridal dresses, mix amidst small boutiques such as Moni & Coli, known for its fun and flirty pieces curated by a local sister duo, and vintage shops like Vice Versa.

Where to Stay

Dreamers Welcome offers laid-back luxury stays throughout Puerto Rico, including at its award-winning full-service flagship hotel, Dreamcatcher by DW, and San Juan vacation rentals near some of the best shops in San Juan. Each Dreamers Welcome property has a strong focus on interior design, and all DW guests can take advantage of the amenities and activities offered at Dreamcatcher by DW, including a personalized photo shoot session with an expert photographer to show off your fashionable finds.

Dreamcatcher by DW

The hospitality group’s full-service flagship hotel features 19 bespoke accommodations, each with its own unique character and tropical outdoor space, along with a new hotel pool. Located in Santurce, the adult-only hotel is just a block from Ocean Park Beach and sits at the heart of the neighborhood’s stellar shopping scene, which represents the edgier, more artistic side of San Juan’s shopping landscape.

MARU by DW

The hospitality group’s newest property, Maru by DW, marks its first time in the trendy Condado neighborhood. The four stunning self-check-in apartments are situated on a leafy street just off Ashford Avenue and its luxury San Juan shops, upscale restaurants, and bars overlooking one of San Juan’s most popular beaches.

Mood Haus by DW

Styled after a different 70s icon, each of these four vibrantly patterned studio-to-two-bedroom vacation rentals features its own private outdoor terrace and a full kitchen. Another bonus is the prime location around the corner from Santurce’s main shopping street, Calle Loíza.

Tropicalia by DW

Tucked between Ocean Park Beach’s sweeping expanse of powdery, golden sand and Santurce’s eclectic shopping, these studio to three-bedroom vacation rentals all feature a dreamy chic, minimalist aesthetic. They’re also less than three blocks from Moni & Coli, so you can spend a day along the shores and easily snag a new outfit before heading out to sample the nearby nightlife.

APT by DW

Less than 200 meters away from Santurce’s main shopping street, Calle Loíza, this collection of eight two-bedroom apartment-plus accommodations combines thoughtful design touches, lush greenery and private outdoor space. APT 2 even comes with two separate outdoor spaces, along with an outdoor shower/soaking tub, hammock, and lounge.