Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to Main Content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Caribbean
  4. Puerto Rico
  5. San Juan
This restaurant now offers Takeout

This restaurant now offers Takeout

Bring the restaurant to you. Order and pay for food directly on OpenTable.

Santaella

4.8
4.8
2955 Reviews
$50 and over
Puerto Rican
Chef José Santaella has trained with some of the best chefs in the world, including Ferrán Adriá, Eric Ripert, and Gary Danko. His apprenticeships and successful catering career paved the way for Santaella, his signature restaurant in Santurce's La Placita Marketplace. The decor is rustic yet elegant, with exposed walls, Edison light fixtures, an interior garden, and a sparkling bar. Chef Santaella fuses local and international ingredients to perfectly execute Puerto Rican nouvelle cuisine. The menu is dominated by tapas, which you can easily make into a meal. Favorites include the ahi tuna skewers, goat cheese quesadilla, 'alcapurrias' topped with crab, and foie gras terrine with fruit jelly . The cocktail bar is one of the best on the island, so don't leave without trying one of the concoctions by Santaella's mixologists. -Fodors

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 31 times today
Experiences are available.

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Latin / Spanish

  • Hours of operation

    Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 am–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:45 pm Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (787) 722-7600

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Pay with OpenTable, Visa

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Owned/operated by

    Latinx or Hispanic, LGBTQ+

  • Executive chef

    Chef José Santaella

  • Catering

    For Caterings, please contact: events@santaellapr.com or visit www.josesantaella.com

  • Private party facilities

    For Group Dining Inquiries please visit our website at: http://josesantaella.com/

  • Private party contact

    Kristian Toro: (787) 725-1611

  • Neighborhood

    San Juan

  • Cross street

    La Placita de Santurce

  • Parking details

    Santaella has valet parking thru Valera Parking ($10) and there are also two public, paid parkings nearby.

  • Public transit

    Stop #19. Bus lines: A5, B21, M3, B16

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Experiences

  • Large Group Prix Fixe Menu

    $120.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy a delicious selection of dishes perfectly sized for your group. Select from a variety of dishes to create your custom Santaella 3-course prix fixe menu. Visit our menu section at santaellapr.com to view our group menu options or email us at reservations@santaellapr.com with any questions. Once booked, we will follow up with you to select desired menu. Group menus are required for parties of 11 or more guests. THIS EXPERIENCE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

Popular dishes

What 2,955 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Caribbean

    Puerto Rican

  • Caribbean

    Most Booked

  • Puerto Rico

    Best Food

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rican

  • Puerto Rico

    Most Booked

Sort by

  1. EmilioS

    Miami

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food5service3ambience5
    The food was excellent. It was tasty, temperature was right on point. The portions were perfect. The presentation was excellent. Great ambiance. Highly recommend it.

    SantaellaResponded 2 days agoThank you for the great review! We're glad you enjoyed the excellent food, perfect portions, and wonderful ambiance. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to serving you again soon! Warm regards, The Santaella Team

  2. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great vibes and excellent service. Will def come back here again

    SantaellaResponded 5 days agoWe're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the vibes and service at our restaurant! Your satisfaction is our top priority and your words are truly encouraging. We're looking forward to your next visit and the opportunity to provide another great experience. Thanks again for your positive review!

  3. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of the best meals I’ve ever had in my entire life. Highly recommend!

    SantaellaResponded 2 days agoWow, thank you for your extraordinary praise! We are incredibly honored that you consider your meal at our restaurant as one of the best you've ever had. It's feedback like yours that truly motivates our team to continue striving for culinary excellence. We deeply appreciate your high recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable dining experience. Best regards, The Santaella Team

  4. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful birthday dinner!!! Classy & lovely restaurant

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoWe're thrilled to hear you had a wonderful birthday dinner with us! Thank you for your kind words. We strive for elegance and charm in our restaurant. We look forward to welcoming you back for your next celebration!

  5. Traveler

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Came here with our friends- both first time in Puerto Rico. We had a fantastic meal- the food and cocktails were excellent. The restaurant has a great vibe. If you are visiting San Juan and in particular the scene at Santurce it's a great place for a great meal while escaping the party happening right outside the restaurant!

    SantaellaResponded on May 22, 2023We are thrilled to hear that you and your friends had a fantastic dining experience at our restaurant. It's great to know that you enjoyed the excellent food, cocktails, and the overall vibe of Santaella. We take pride in providing a great meal experience while offering a temporary escape from the energetic atmosphere of Santurce. Thank you for choosing Santaella and taking the time to share your positive feedback. We hope to have the pleasure of serving you and your friends again.

  6. queshont

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience3
    Food amazing, service is mid, waiter kept the change without asking… otherwise very nice.

    SantaellaResponded on May 21, 2023Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the service issue you encountered. We appreciate your compliments on the food and overall experience. We will address the matter and strive to improve. We hope to have another chance to serve you in the future. Sincerely, Kristian Toro General Manager

  7. jessica

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Santaella is the first restaurant i've been to in San Juan and it set the bar probably a little too high. it's one of the best meals i've had in my life -- you need to go here. my only regret is not getting the tomato salad with parmesan ice cream! the apps we got were ceviche and tuna tacos. the ceviche was incredible. sooo much flavor. the tuna tacos were great too! for the mains, we got the sea bass and garlic shrimp. everyone was saying the sea bass was the best dish on the menu and if you like fish, it definitely was! i liked how the garlic shrimp was flavorful, but not heavy. the drinks were good, a little strong but that's ok! 10/10 recommended eating here. it's a must.

    SantaellaResponded on May 21, 2023Thank you for your amazing review of Santaella! We're thrilled to hear that it was one of the best meals you've ever had. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon for another fantastic dining experience. Cheers!

  8. SanJuanRC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of my favorite places in San Juan, highly recommended!

    SantaellaResponded on May 21, 2023Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for considering us as one of your favorite places in San Juan! It brings us immense joy to know that you enjoy your visits to our restaurant. We strive to provide a memorable and enjoyable experience for all our guests, and we're thrilled to have met your expectations. Your support and recommendation mean the world to us. We look forward to continuing to serve you and providing you with exceptional dining experiences in the future.

  9. JamesB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our host, Reinaldo Santana was incredible! Our server, Fernando was very attentive and professional. Carlos, a server at an adjacent group of tables would also check on us periodically and provide service.

    SantaellaResponded on May 21, 2023Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an incredible experience with our host and Fernando provided attentive and professional service as your server. We're also delighted to know that Carlos, went above and beyond to check on you and provide exceptional service. We strive to create a welcoming and enjoyable dining atmosphere, and it brings us great joy to hear that our team members contributed to making your visit memorable. Warmest Regards, Santaella

  10. Bianca

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    10/10 experience and food. A must do in Puerto Rico!
  11. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall2food3service4ambience1
    Was expecting more of a food experience… at the end, was more of a concert because of the loud music that didn’t allowed us to enjoy the great food that they are known for.

    SantaellaResponded on May 21, 2023Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the loud music that affected your dining experience. We appreciate your input and will take it into consideration to improve our ambiance for our guests. We hope you will give us another opportunity to provide you with the exceptional food experience we are known for.

  12. OpenTable Diner

    Jacksonville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What an experience! From start to finish..5 stars all the way! The pulpo was fantastic as was the watermelon mojito. Ronnie and Pedro were very informative and a joy to share our time with!! Enjoy!

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for the 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience from start to finish. The pulpo and watermelon mojito were fantastic. We're glad Ronnie and Pedro provided excellent service. We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back to Santaella for another enjoyable time.

  13. elvirk

    St. Louis

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on May 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome food awesome service deff enjoyed it and when coming back we will eat here again

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoWhat an experience! From start to finish..5 stars all the way! The pulpo was fantastic as was the watermelon mojito. Ronnie and Pedro were very informative and a joy to share our time with!! Enjoy!

  14. CarolG

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Our best meal in San Juan, at a great table near the window wall of plants (had to request this after first table offered, so we were lucky). Our server, Gabriel (I believe), was very personable and had many favorite dishes to suggest. Took advantage of valet parking, but navigating the crowded streets outside was tricky so allow a little extra time.
  15. MarkD

    Caribbean

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    all round great place. one of the best in Puerto Rico
  16. RebeccaH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, service and drinks. The food was delicious. Not one bad dish and we tried a lot, having a dinner of appetizers. The foie gras terrine and burrata were my favorite. Must have reservations even for bar seating.
  17. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a wonderful experience! Food and service was amazing!!

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for the perfect 5.0 ratings in food, service, ambience, and value! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience at Santaella. It's fantastic to know that you enjoyed the amazing food and received exceptional service. Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to providing you with another memorable dining experience in the future.

  18. GlennG

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Sat at the bar which has a nice feel. Bar tender was friendly and service was good. Food was delicious. We’re going back for sure.
  19. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Unbelievable service and some of the best dishes we’ve ever tried. Truly outstanding.

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for the amazing 5.0 ratings across the board! We're thrilled to hear that you loved the food, service, ambience, and value. Your support means a lot to us, and we can't wait to welcome you back to Santaella for another exceptional dining experience.

  20. PedroG

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Been there many times so I'm used to their good food and service. Having said that, the Calamari appetizer was too hard and chewy. We couldn't eat it. We were not given credit or an apology. The bartender was great! It was a slow afternoon and it was pretty empty for a Friday, Cinco de Mayo. Apart from the Calamari incident, the rest of the appetizers were excellent, as usual.
  21. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food and service. Best meal and beverages we’ve had in a while. Kudos to the chef! Wonderful waitstaff, too. One more reason to return to PR soon.
  22. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    From the outside, it’s unassuming; you wouldn’t expect much, let along consider it a restaurant. However, the inside was gorgeous, and the food not only looked spectacular but tasted amazing!
  23. OpenTable Diner

    Caribbean

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere. Excellent food and cocktails. Would highly recommend!

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for the amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic experience at Santaella. We're delighted that you enjoyed the great atmosphere, excellent food, and cocktails. Thank you for recommending us highly. Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another exceptional dining experience.

  24. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on May 3, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience5
    The croquettes and dessert pudding were both amazing…calamari was almost inedible…everything else was decent/good.

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the croquettes and dessert pudding, and we apologize for the disappointment with the calamari. We appreciate your honesty and will use your input to improve. Thank you for your support, and we hope to serve you again for an even better experience.

  25. JoseP

    New Mexico

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excelent food, service and ambiance. It is expensive, but worth it. Best fried calamari i have ever tasted.

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for your outstanding review! We're thrilled to hear that you rated the food, service, ambience, and value all with a perfect 5.0. We're delighted that you had an excellent dining experience with us and enjoyed the fried calamari, which you described as the best you've ever tasted. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again soon at Santaella.

  26. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Gabriel was an amazing server! As everyone suggests get the tune skewers!
  27. CesarV

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food and better service by Nicolas, our server.

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for your wonderful feedback! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed our food and the service provided by Nicolas. We always strive to offer the best for our guests and it's encouraging to know we hit the mark with your visit. Nicolas and the team will be pleased to hear your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back to Santaella soon. Best Regards, Santaella Team

  28. Cynthia

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience5
    I expect more since we are talking about a restaurant of a great chef. I expect a more dynamic and different menu that highlight and make a difference of so much better restaurant that you find in Puerto Rico. It doesn’t satisficed my expectations. The prices it was ok but a little overprice for what it was. It was a “mehhhh” experience. Nothing special, nothing new, nothing exiting. But the ambience, service and alcoholic’s drinks was great.

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience didn't meet your expectations. We strive for culinary excellence and your comments about our menu's uniqueness and dynamism will be seriously considered as we continually work to innovate and excite. We're glad that the ambience, service, and drinks met your approval. These are aspects we take great pride in. We do hope to welcome you back again, offering an experience that truly impresses you.

  29. KenM

    New England

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best meal we have had on our vacation. Lively atmosphere.
  30. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our favorite spot in Puerto Rico! The food is AMAZING! Beautifully prepared and presented. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! The tuna skewers are a must! We sat at the bar and got to see the skillful bartenders craft incredible cocktails. The watermelon mojito was so good! Great wine selections too. Excellent food and service!

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for your glowing review and for naming Santaella as your favorite spot in Puerto Rico! We're delighted that our dishes, like the tuna skewers, and our watermelon mojito impressed you. Your praise for our service and bartenders warms our hearts. Can't wait to welcome you back for another great experience!

  31. Valpar

    Dallas

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food and ambience! Great service too! Definitely a must when you’re in PR.
  32. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing. Had the bao buns, popcorn chicken, salmon with vegetables and noodles and salted caramel dessert. 10/10

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoWe're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your meal at our restaurant! It sounds like you had a fantastic variety of dishes - from the bao buns and popcorn chicken to the salmon with vegetables, noodles, and the salted caramel dessert. Your 10/10 rating is truly appreciated. We can't wait to welcome you back for another delicious dining experience! Thank you!

  33. KatherineR

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    We order 2 appetizers, the escargot and the blood sausage. They were both very tasty. For entrees we had the whole snapper and the braised pork shank. Again both very delicious. I normally get a drink but I was so exhausted from the sun I just needed to hydrate so instead I had the coconut water. Very fresh and tasty as well. Overall I recommend Santaella.

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoIt's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience at Santaella! Your satisfaction with our diverse menu - from the escargot and blood sausage appetizers to the whole snapper and braised pork shank entrees, as well as the fresh coconut water, is highly encouraging. We're truly glad that you would recommend our restaurant. Your kind words and support mean a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you back for another satisfying meal! Thank you!

  34. MariannP

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food, drinks, service and ambience. Worth the trip to San Juan!
  35. RestaurantReview

    Caribbean

    29 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service. Great restaurant. Siempre. I highly recommend!
  36. JoseB

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience3
    Food presentation was nice , food flavor was bland.. service was pretty good.. Overall experience was okay nothing to come back for..

    SantaellaResponded 6 days agoThank you for sharing your experience with us. We're pleased to hear that you appreciated our food presentation and service. However, we regret that our flavors didn't meet your expectations. We always strive to provide a memorable dining experience and your feedback is valuable to us for improvements. We hope for an opportunity to better serve you in the future. Your satisfaction matters to us. Thank you again for your feedback.

  37. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a wonderful experience here, it was a busy Saturday night. We had a few cocktails, and different items from the menu and they were all tasty. Definitely would return.
  38. Danae

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service by Nicolas. Amazing food and cocktails! Will definitely go back
  39. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing experience and the drinks were fantastic. All of the food we tried was phenomenal!
  40. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our second trip to Santaella and it was excellent again! Our waiter (Chicky, sp?) made the evening really fun. We’ll be back out next time we’re in town.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Santaella using the Order Online button. Santaella also offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Santaella also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (787) 722-7600.

Santaella is rated 4.8 stars by 2955 OpenTable diners.

Santaella does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 31 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Santaella

219 Cll Canals, San Juan, PR 00907

Additional information

  • Cross street

    La Placita de Santurce

  • Neighborhood

    San Juan

  • Hours of operation

    Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 am–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:45 pm Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Latin / Spanish

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking details

    Santaella has valet parking thru Valera Parking ($10) and there are also two public, paid parkings nearby.

  • Public transit

    Stop #19. Bus lines: A5, B21, M3, B16

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Pay with OpenTable, Visa

  • Owned/operated by

    Latinx or Hispanic, LGBTQ+

  • Executive chef

    Chef José Santaella

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (787) 722-7600

  • Catering

    For Caterings, please contact: events@santaellapr.com or visit www.josesantaella.com

  • Private party facilities

    For Group Dining Inquiries please visit our website at: http://josesantaella.com/

  • Private party contact

    Kristian Toro: (787) 725-1611

Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2023 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
Rentalcars Logo
OpenTable Logo