Puerto Rico: Barrachina (July 2009)

My spouse and I dined for lunch at Barrachina in early July 2009. In the late 1950s, a famous chef from Valencia, Spain, by the name of Pepe Barrachina, following a long family tradition in the culinary arts opened Barrachina Restaurant at 104 Fortaleza Street in the Old City in a beautiful interior colonial patio. Barrachina was recognized as the king of “Paella”, a traditional Spanish bartender, created what became the world’s famous drink: the Pina Colada. For over 40 years, Barrachina has offered the best in Spanish food and during the last decade has specialized in Creative Puerto Rican and International Cuisine. At Barrachina, you can eat, drink and even get married, since they offer banquet and private facilities for weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, meetings and are to accommodate large groups. Dining at Barrachina is not only a gastronomic experience, the ambiance coupled with Latin music and one of the largest collection of fine local art in any restaurant, makes it a complete cultural fantasy.