La Parguera is a small fishing village in Lajas on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, which is also host to a boardwalk that bustles with music, food and drink. From La Parguera you can access some of the most beautiful waters with stunning snorkeling opportunities, then relax and enjoy stellar dining at one of the many tantalizing restaurants. Here is a list of some of the best restaurants you should try.
Moon's Bar and Tapas
Bar, Restaurant, Healthy, Seafood, Caribbean, Gluten-free, Vegetarian, $$$
Just a block off of the boardwalk on the corner of PR-304 and Calle 5 is the hidden gem called Moon’s. The outdoor seating is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of their sangría and watch the world go by. They have covered seating and plenty of fans to keep you cool on those hot days. At Moon’s you will get some of the best tapas and dinner items on the island. Start with the grouper ceviche with root vegetable chips and a plate of their setas con chorizo y tres quesos y pesto, mushrooms stuffed with chorizo sausage, three kinds of cheese, all topped with a dab of pesto. Their fish and seafood dishes are stunning, try the grouper stuffed with shrimp with a caper sauce. Also check out their second restaurant Isla Cueva Burger and Beer for some pub grub.
Being a fishing village, La Parguera has a lot of fresh fare from the sea, and La Casita Seafood offers some of the best. The dorado and red snapper are both very tasty, served with a side of tostones or mofongo or mamposteao. No worries if you have someone in your group who doesn’t like seafood – they also have marvelous steaks and pork chops. La Casita is a great place to take the family while you vacation in Puerto Rico.
Brújula is Spanish for “compass,” so use yours (or that trusty GPS) to find your way to the restaurant Brújula in La Parguera. They add a gourmet twist to Puerto Rican fare and offer dishes that will please all your senses. Stop by for tapas or a full diner’s delight, or join them on the weekend for their fabulous breakfast and brunch where you can try their decadent eggs benedict, incredible breakfast pizza or scrumptious chicken and waffles.
Before you head to the fogata (campfire) on the beach, stop by Fogata Bar & Grill for some great Mexican food and drinks, or better yet, have Fogata cater your campfire! They do amazing pizzas on the grill and a taco bar with savory meats, cheeses and lots of fresh toppings for you to build your own. They also have marvelous Puerto Rican dishes such as mofongo and great grilled meats. Check them out when they have live music and dance the night away.
If you want some fabulous drinks served by a tremendous bartender, and some incredible fresh seafood in a quaint little restaurant, try El Turrumote. The lobster is divine and the chapin and dorado dishes are savory and unique. Watch the world of this fishing village pass by while you relax and enjoy the company of friends.
As you enter the main boardwalk of La Parguera from the parking lot at the east end, on your right you will find a kiosk with two separate stands, Papo’s Pinchos and Frituras Clara. Both places are fabulous for a quick grab of some reasonably-priced food to eat at their tables or take on the go. Papo’s has pinchos of chicken, pork, shark, shrimp and mahi-mahi and they are all wonderful. He also has hamburgers and fish sandwiches made from shark or mahi mahi. Add a side of tostones and make it a meal. Frituras Clara has marvelous empanadillas and alcapurrias with many different fillings: lobster, conch, shrimp, octopus and shark are just a few of the seafood varieties, as well as pizza, cheese dog and chorizo and cheese. Clara’s is also a good spot to grab some candy for the kids.
The sister restaurant to The Copy in Boqueron, El Karakol has some of the tastiest mojitos you will ever try. They blend fresh fruit with their own simple syrup and fragrant mint to make an astounding drink. Try them all: apple, watermelon, strawberry, orange, coconut, kiwi, grape and classic of course. Fill up on their delicious chicken wings or fajitas, or some fish tacos.
