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The Best Authentic Arts & Crafts Shops to Visit in Old San Juan
Serena Stauffer
Are you tired of purchasing the same cliche souvenirs from every vacation you go on? Are you looking for something authentic to remember your once in a lifetime trip by?
Mark your calendars and book a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico for your next adventure and you'll have an endless array of shops to choose from for finding your next one-of-a-kind souvenir.
Known for being a cultural gem in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico offers diversity and authenticity not only in its experiences and food, but also in its souvenirs. From paintings, sculptures, clothes and bags to spices, ceramics and art prints,
there's something that everyone will love.
Keep reading to explore and discover the best of Puerto Rican craftsmanship in these authentic shops.
Puerto Rican Arts & Crafts
204 Calle Fortaleza, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
http://www.puertoricanart-crafts.com/
This shop is located in the heart of Old San Juan and has both traditional and contemporary Puerto Rican souvenirs that would make the perfect gifts for yourself or someone back home.
The restored Spanish colonial building is spacious and has a variety of arts and crafts to peruse and fall in love with. The diverse pieces include: saint carvings, wood prints, clay and copper jewelry, oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, ceramics, pillows and vejigante masks. Local, farm fresh coffee, rum, sauces, spices, and sweets are also available for purchase.
The friendly and bilingual staff is yet another highlight of this shop. They make it their goal to find the perfect piece of art or native treat for you to remember your time on the island with.
The Poet’s Passage
203 Calle Cruz Old, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
https://poetspassage.com/index.php
This living museum of poetry and local art is the perfect place for any lover of words. Each poem is original content written by Lady Lee Andrews, and designed into the perfect art print by her husband Nicolas Thomassin.
Among the enchanting poetic prints, you’ll also find Lady’s poetry books, decorative tiles, local handmade arts and crafts, and paintings of Old San Juan.
Once you're finished shopping, be sure to check out the attached coffee shop next door, and if you're in town on a Tuesday stop by for an evening of live poetry performances.
Mi Pequeño San Juan
152 Calle Fortaleza Old San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
http://www.mipequenosanjuan.com/old-san-juan-store.html
This shop located in the heart of Old San Juan is truly an experience you won’t want to miss out on. Lady Lee Andrews and her husband Nicolas Thomassin carry on the tradition of the most unique craft in Old San Juan: hand painted replicas of historical buildings and doors of the city.
Each piece is an original design created in the store, molded with pottery plaster, painted and signed by the artists, and they can even personalize a door for no additional charge so you'll leave with your very own "casa de Puerto Rico."
Along with these world famous casitas (little houses), you can also find some of Lady’s poetry and Nicolas’ other artwork in the shop, making it the one-stop shop if you’re looking for a souvenir that truly captures the magic of Old San Juan.
Find souvenirs for the whole family at this versatile shop.
The panama hats, known for their beautiful hand-knotted bows, perfectly combine style and protection from the hot Puerto Rican sun while out exploring the island. The store also has sunglasses and jewelry to spruce up your island fashion.
Santos (saint) figurines, loiza and ponce vejigante masks, mosaic and byzantine art, greeting cards and cigars are also available for purchase. After stocking up on clothes and art in El Galpon, be sure to check out Spicy Caribbee right next door for some island treats.
Spicy Caribbee
154 Calle del Cristo, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
https://www.spicycaribbee.com/aboutus.html
If you’re looking for an authentic native treat to enjoy while on vacation or to take home, this is the shop for you.
You can buy by the crate or purchase single servings of seasonings, sauces, jams, honey and vanilla, as well as essential oils and soaps. If you’re looking for something sweeter, there are rum cakes, chocolates and candies also available for purchase.
And if you want to accessorize your kitchen back home with handmade Puerto Rican hot pads, aprons or tea towels, be sure to stop by this shop before heading to the airport.
Mariel Arts & Crafts
109 Calle Fortaleza, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
This shop may look like a typical souvenir store from the outside, but inside there’s a vibrant array of local arts and crafts to choose from.
Painted tiles and canvases, vejigante masks, saint statues, blown glass figurines, colorful magnets and jewelry are only a handful of the possible souvenirs to purchase from this store.
The owner, Mariel, greets each customer when they arrive, and ensures that when they walk out her door, it will be with their perfect souvenir.
3 Mujeres
63 Caleta de San Juan, San Juan 00901, Puerto Rico
Stop by this small, locally owned shop and get ready to be transported to a world of women empowerment. Enid Silvestry, Dafne Elvira, and Yelyn Vivoni join their diverse talents and display exquisite works of art that tell stories of women - past, present and future.
In this one room shop, you will experience Elvira’s impressive paintings bursting with color; Silvestry’s meticulously hand painted and stitched textiles; and Vivoni’s elegant and versatile ceramic pieces.
If you’re on the hunt for gifts for some of your favorite women in your life, or just looking for a new piece of art or jewelry for yourself, this is the shop for you.
This modern, local fair trade brand is known for its best-selling product line of tote bags designed by Concalma's founder, and manufactured at an industrial women’s coop in Utuado, Puerto Rico.
They offer 16 different styles of cloth bags, from wide fabric ones for the beach, to smaller hiking pouches and cross bodies. Their colorful fabrics represent the diversity of the island, and the bags are designed to be comfortable, long-lasting and fashionable.
The shop also supports other local designers and artists by selling clothes, art prints and jewelry, ensuring that there’ll be something for everyone in this spacious and relaxing shop located in the heart of Old San Juan.
