By Alexander Britell
When it opened its doors in 1949, it was the first Hilton outside of the continental United States.
And for decades, the Caribe Hilton was one of the Caribbean’s signature places to stay, how Conrad Hilton first sent San Juan into the jet-set era and defined Puerto Rico’s glamorous side.
And now the iconic Caribe Hilton is making history again, ready to unveil a dramatic $150 million transformation project when it reopens this week.
The hotel first opened in 1949.
The sprawling resort, set on 17 acres on a peninsula on the northeastern coast of San Juan, has been undergoing a comprehensive, “top-to-bottom” transformation, one that included renovated guest rooms and suites, new-look event space, a new spa and upgraded food and beverage concepts.
P3 Design Collective led the makeover of what is the largest hotel in San Juan.
It’s a stunning waterfront location next to San Juan’s historic San Geronimo fortress.
All 652 rooms and suites have gotten a more colorful, crisper look, all including Wi-Fi, coffee markers, HDTVs and mini-fridges, from the basic rooms to the ocean-view suites.
Dining options include 11 restaurants and lounges, from a Morton’s Steakhouse to a Starbucks, along with a lobby bar, Caribar, that is one of two purported birthplaces of the Piña Colada cocktail. (The other is San Juan’s legendary Barrachina, but you need to try both just to be thorough in your research).
The hotel, which is owned by Park Hotels and Resorts, is also launching a brand-new fitness center.
It all adds up to as complete a resort as you’ll find in Puerto Rico’s historic capital, with myriad pools, a private beach, tennis courts, tropical gardens, the Zen Spa Oceano and a swim-up bar, among others.
For more, visit the Caribe Hilton.
— CJ