Tips & Tricks

Cafetería Mallorca (300 Calle San Francisco, Old San Juan) — The specialty at this old-fashioned, 1950s-style diner is the mallorca, a sweet pastry that’s buttered, grilled, and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. Wash one down with a terrific cup of café con leche. For something more substantial, try the breakfast mallorca, which has ham and cheese; the menu also includes pancakes, egg dishes, sandwiches, and comida criolla. The waitstaff—all dressed in crisp black uniforms—are friendly and efficient. It gets packed on weekends with locals, who consider it an institution.