Above: Carli’s Fine Bistro & Piano (CJ Photo)

OLD SAN JUAN is a snapshot of a different time — it’s the oldest portion of Puerto Rico’s capital and one of the best representations of colonial architecture in the Caribbean.

Today, though, San Juan is about the new, too — and home to an emerging dining scene featuring cutting-edge cuisine.

One of the city’s most interesting dining spots is more than just a restaurant, however — it’s also an exceptional jazz club.

Carli’s Fine Bistro & Piano is the brainchild of pianist Carli Muñoz, whose nearly five-decade career has seen him play alongside everyone from the Beach Boys (with whom he played for 11 years) to 10-time Grammy winner George Benson.

The menu features a mix of local Puerto Rican fare like Buñuelos de Bacalao and more traditional steak and seafood.

As for the live jazz menu, Carli himself plays every night from Tuesday through Saturday, with the music beginning every night at 7:15.

Carli’s Fine Bistro & Piano
Plazoleta Rafael Carrion
at the Banco Popular Building,
 corner of Recinto Sur and 
San Justo Streets
Old San Juan,
Puerto Rico 00902
(787)-725-4927

— CJ