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All 189 San Juan Attractions »

El Batey

Calle Cristo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ranked #7 of 37 nightlife in San Juan
4.5 of 5 stars 10 Reviews
Type: Bar/ Clubs
Activities: Drinking
Description: This buffet-style restaurant can serve you and up to 499 of your closest friends.
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10 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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    1
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Date Rating
Stratham, New Hampshire
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 14, 2012

This place will rock your world...that is, if you are cool with true dive bars. I don't mean the wanna be dive bar, I mean an actual dive bar. The jukebox was awesome, the drinks were perfect, and the bartender (Ivan??) was right on. There were locals, there were tourists, and everyone was more than taken care. OK, so the... More

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1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 31, 2012

If you are not a fan of señor frog than this might be for you. Cool jukebox, Ivan is bartender's bartender. More

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Chicago, IL
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 4, 2011

Such a nice break from the touristy and vanilla bars (Fat Tuesdays and the lame chainy types). Simple, stripped down and a great neighborhood tap. More for locals but I didn't feel out of place. Bartender (Donna?) was helpful giving us the history. The "decor" is great. Charactitures of all the locals who frequent the place. Farthest thing from touristy.... More

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See 9 more reviews by BMac2005 for San Juan
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Senior Contributor
35 reviews 35 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
44 helpful votes 44 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed September 23, 2011

The music was dull, the bar tender had no personallity and the usual customers were unfriendly. The place looks cool and fun but it isnt. The prices are not different than anywhere else we visited. I had two beers and went back to No No's. Cant go wrong with No No's!!! From what I heard they dont even have live... More

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See 14 more reviews by timelordjason for San Juan
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 12, 2011

Don't let the graffiti and bar windows scare you away. Many locals here, and everyone is so inviting. Pool table in the back...many great oldies on the box! The Bartender, Evan?... works the entire bar by himself - pretty impressive. More

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See 2 more reviews by MPearlS for San Juan
Miami Beach
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed July 2, 2010
1
person found this review helpful

This is one of those places that when I go to San Juan I hang out there several times. This place is a very cool out and mellow place to hangout and just people watch. The Medalla beers are $2.75 the cocktails are very cheap, and believe me coming from Miami where a rum and coke takes $10 out of... More

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Chapel Hill, NC
Top Contributor
98 reviews 98 reviews
Reviews in 49 cities Reviews in 49 cities
106 helpful votes 106 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 18, 2009

This bar is a local institution in San Juan, right across the street from the Church and the El Convento hotel. It has all sorts of people from tourists to locals alike. The bartender was very friendly and talked with us for awhile about the area and our trip plans, then suggested the best rums, and took shots along with... More

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Memphis, Tennessee
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 11, 2009

Just walked by this spot after leaving El Morro and went in after seeing a few little dogs sitting at the bar with their owners..the walls are covered in writing and you can hang your business card from the lamp shades. I had the signature 101 drink and it was $5, my boyfriend had a beer for $4. Very nice... More

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See 2 more reviews by PitBullLover for San Juan
DC
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed June 8, 2007

Sam the bartender takes good care of you at this Old San Juan haunt and the jukebox rocks. El Convento Hotel directly across the street offers an interesting contrast. More

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A TripAdvisor Member
brooklyn, ny
2 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 31, 2004
3
people found this review helpful

i was in san juan last summer for just five days, but after my first night there, i knew i had found my haunt of choice at el batey. the jukebox kicks ass, and the stripped down interior felt like any bar in the lower east side in manhattan... only with a much more attractive, well-tanned crowd. this was easily... More

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