We found The Gallery Inn to be a delightful experience, rather than just a hotel stay.

The hotel is very clean. Our room was cleaned daily, including refreshing of towels, soaps, etc. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The front desk personnel speak English well and are knowledgeable about the area. They provide excellent suggestions and are quite willing to help you with directions. They will recognize you and your room and name.

The breakfast that is included in the room rate is simple, but adequate. The coffee is excellent (and we’re very particular about our coffee!) The breakfast options vary from day to day, as well as from hour to hour. They include orange juice, coffee, bananas, apples, breads, sweets, muffins, butter and a tasty jam. One morning we wanted some muffins, but they were not on the buffet table. We asked and they were happy to make them for us, which took only a little while. The breakfast is self-service. Additional breakfast options are available for a charge.

We stayed in an “Artist Room,” named after the owner’s granddaughter: Jan Marie. It was a good size, with a large closet, a desk and chair, two low chests with two draws each, several mirrors, and a bathroom. The plumbing worked fine and there was plenty of hot water. The shower (no tub) was large and had a “rain head” and a hand-held shower head. A strange aspect of the bathroom is that it is not totally separated from the rest of the room when the door is closed. The bathroom is clearly a separate room, but instead of a traditional door, there are two bi-fold doors and an opening high above them. While the doors closed well, it is not what you would expect, as the bathroom is not fully and tightly enclosed. It was not a problem for us.

The ceiling in our room was very high… possibly 12 feet or more, lending a dramatic sense. There was an air conditioner solely for this room that worked quickly and well. You control this with a remote control.

There are two factors related to this particular room that you should be aware of: (1) There are 21 stairs leading up to this room and then 7 stairs to descend after opening the door to the room to enter. While not a problem for us, someone with limited physical capabilities might want to request a different room, which we assume would not have this feature. (2) The window in the room was certainly not traditional. It was solid wood, not glass, and was topped with a glass semi-circle. It opened into a courtyard.

The hotel interior (including the guest rooms) is wonderfully decorated with the artwork of Jan, an owner. Everywhere you look you’ll find delightful pieces. The architecture is highly interesting. You can wander from room to room, on multiple levels, both inside and out. The pictures on their website give you a feel for this, but the real experience is far better.

Between 6 & 7 PM each evening there is a wine (also hard liquor) and cheese/crackers hour that I recommend you attend. It is a casual gathering of a number of the guests, as well as the owners, Jan and her husband Manuco. It provides a relaxed opportunity to talk to others and learn about their adventures in PR. Jan and Manuco are friendly and respond quite knowledgeably to questions about the area, as well as their hotel. They are both likable characters! The cheese and crackers are free, but there is a modest charge for the drinks (which I recall was somewhere in the range of $5 US per glass.)

The parrots lend a nice exotic touch. While they are free in the general area, they will not approach you, other than to possibly offer a “hello.” If you want, though, the staff will help you to have one perch on your arm and possibly feed them. I did and it was great.

For excellent salads, sandwiches, etc., you should try St. Germain, a bistro & café, which is located only a couple of blocks away on the corner of Cruz and Sol. The atmosphere there was pleasant, the food excellent, and the prices moderate. They serve alcohol.

There are free trolleys that frequently ride around Old San Juan. There is a stop very near The Gallery Inn. You just get on and off the trolleys wherever you like, without the need for a ticket.

We had a great time at The Gallery Inn. It truly is an experience, not a cookie-cutter hotel stay.

My husband and I loved every moment we stayed at The Gallery Inn, so we were surprised to read the negative reviews included here. I think whether or not you will enjoy your stay depends upon the type of traveler you are. If you really want to experience Old San Juan, you shouldn’t look any further. If you prefer the amenities of a typical 4-star hotel, then you should look to the Sheraton or Hilton. Personally, we couldn’t have imagined staying anywhere else.

We were trying to decide between The Gallery and El Convento, but there is no comparison when you consider The Gallery’s location and amazing views of the city and the ocean. People have complained about the price, but I never saw anything comparable for a cheaper price. If I remember correctly, El Convento was actually more expensive. We could not have been more pleased with our room, Hector B. It had two balconies which gave us amazing views of the ocean. We slept with the balcony doors open so we could enjoy the sounds of the waves as we slept. Paying for an upgraded room with a view is worth the price. The room had plenty of room for us, too. I’m not sure why people expect state-of-the-art amenities in rooms that, in some cases, are 300 years old. Why wouldn’t you prefer the character of these rooms over a nondescript chain hotel room?

Others have complained about the breakfast and wine and cheese hour, but again we were completely satisfied with both. We don’t expect full American-style breakfasts when away from the mainland or out of the country, and the cereal, muffins, fresh fruit, juice, and strong, delicious cafés con leche were plenty for us. We also attended the wine and cheese hour each night we were there. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to sit on the rooftop after sunset feeling the cool ocean breezes. You also shouldn’t miss the opportunity to sit and talk with Jan. She is so full of life, and she makes you feel right at home.

I also can’t leave out The Gallery’s staff. I found them to be incredibly hospitable, and they went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. Jan and the staff also gave excellent recommendations for restaurants and “must see” places in the city.

If you really want to experience the culture of Old San Juan, look no further. You simply must stay at The Gallery Inn. To be completely honest, I’m not sure why the travelers who insist on a modern hotel are visiting Old San Juan in the first place.

We will be returning to Old San Juan, and we could not stay anywhere else than The Gallery Inn.

we spent two nights at the gallery inn recently and while the common spaces are gorgeous and staff are friendly and helpful, keeping in mind that san juan is quite expensive, we still felt our room was overpriced by at least $100. we had a great balcony, but the room was stuffy, not the cleanest and a strange puddle formed on the floor. when paying $275 a night, it is reasonable to expect a working soap pump and shower. very minimal inconveniences, but not a great value and details are overlooked, in general. the included breakfast was also mediocre and minimal for the price.
on a positive note, though, location was great.

I payed the big bucks to stay at the Gallery Inn during La Fiesta de la Calle de San Sebastian which is a lot like Mardi Gras in it's revelry. I wanted to stay in Viejo San Juan and the Gallery Inn was the only place I could find accommodations because their rates were so high that many wouldn't pay them. So I shelled out $450/night for the "Secret Room" which was small but funky. It was secluded and I liked that but the shower had almost no hot water. The Gallery Inn itself is very beautiful and the view from the rooftop patios can not be matched. The staff was very friendly and helpful and the location is fantastic. HOWEVER, I would not stay there again because it is way too expensive for the tiny rooms and the lack of parking. Driving and finding a place to park in VSJ is not easy so I would suggest staying in Condado or Isla Verde and taking a taxi into VSJ for the day or night. There are many more accommodations in Isla Verde & Condado so it is also cheaper to stay. In all, I don't regret staying at the Gallery Inn but would not recommend it to anyone other than maybe newlyweds who want to stay in the rooftop suite.