Charming one bedroom, one bathroom furnished ground floor apartment in historic Old San Juan, located in the residence of the late Master Puerto Rican painter Alfonso Arana.
This beautiful building of restored Spanish Colonial architecture is characterized by thick walls and brick-stone floors; all doors of the apartment open to a private, lush, interior garden. With ceiling fans throughout (no air-conditioning), this lovely apartment has an airy, tropical feel.
This is an “L” shaped, open floor plan apartment with a fully functioning kitchen. The bedroom has a queen size bed, and is separated by an archway from the living room, which can easily be used as a second bedroom. This setting is ideal for individuals, couples, and small families.
Our apartment is on Calle San José, just around the corner from the Cathedral and City Hall and two blocks from the main square, Plaza de Armas, the supermarket and open-air cafes.
Attractions •San Jose Church (1 block) •La Casa Blanca, home of Ponce de Leon (1 block) •The Cathedral, which houses Ponce De Leon's remains (Across the Street) •Pablo Casals Museum (within walking distance) •El Morro Fortress (within walking distance) •Felipe Fort (within walking distance) •San Cristobal Fort (within walking distance) •San Juan Cathedral (within walking distance) •Isla Verde Beach (7 miles) •Condado Beach (3 miles) •San Juan Nautical Club (3.5 miles)
Due to COVID-19, we have relaxed our cancellation policy. Feel free to contact us for more details.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 141359
Property # 275179
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
San Juan
Located by the sea, this apartment is in Old San Juan, a neighbourhood in San Juan. Shoppers can check out Distrito T-Mobile, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Condado Beach and Escambron Beach. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum or Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cave exploring and cycling.
Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
Calle Fortaleza - 2 min walk - 0.3 km
San Juan Gate - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
Port of San Juan - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Getting around
Sacred Heart Station - 10 min drive
San Juan (SJU-Luis Munoz Marin Intl.) - 16 min drive
Restaurants
La Factoría - 1 min walk
Drunken Cookies - 2 min walk
La Taberna Lúpulo - 2 min walk
Cafetín Serie 1.0 - 2 min walk
Birra y Empanadas - 2 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio on 15 July 2026 start from AU$265, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio?
This property doesn't offer parking.
What time is check-in at Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Beautiful 1st Floor Apartment with Private Patio located?
Located in Old San Juan, this apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista and Port of San Juan. Condado Beach and Puerto Rico Convention Center are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Beautiful ground floor apartment ideal to explore San Juan! The host was very helpful and went out of her way to make our accomodations as comfortable as possible!
It is wonderful and relaxing. Like coming home. The courtyard is absolutely amazing.My husband and I come here every year.Walkable to everything in Old San Juan.
This place is a true gem and located in a fantastic part of old san juan. not too noisy as there is one cocktail bar next door but it closes at 9pm. The room was spotless: kitchen adequate & the courtyard is the highlight of the whole place. The air temp was perfect with the doors & windows open all the time.
This was a lovely, rustic, fairly quiet (for the middle of the old city) place to stay. Well located to walk to everything you'll want to see in the old city. This was a lovely place to unwind and get some peace and quiet for a few days
What a Beautiful location! We stayed for a wedding and were close to everything. All of Old San Juan is within 15 minutes walking time and there are plenty of fantastic restaurants and bars nearby. Rosa our host was amazing, great communication and super friendly! We would definitely stay here again.
What an absolutely beautiful home. One of the nicest vacation rental homes i’ve ever stayed in, especially for the price! The location was superb, the outdoor open air patio area was stunning, and looking at the upper floors / main entrance hallway felt like we were in at art studio.
The host was very helpful. The patio was very open and filled with lush plants. Because of the building's design, there's a lack of privacy. There can be city noise.
The entire place was BEAUTIFUL! I love how it absorbed outside ambient noise, but yet, you could still hear the coqui and see the stars at night. The place was spacious. The pictures don’t do it justice.
Rosa was an exceptional host whose generosity made our trip unforgettable.Her home exceeded all expectations, it was a clean, beautifully decorated sanctuary that provided the perfect respite after a day of adventure.Its accessibility and prime location are unbeatable. It’s the perfect place to stay if you are planning a trip to Viejo San Juan. Highly recommended!
Exactly what we were looking for. Love to stay at local places within walking distance to everything in the city. Our friendly host Rosa greeted us and showed us into our huge apartment with beautiful open courtyard. Just be sure that you know this is an open building with no air conditioning, only fans. I still would go back in a minute.
Staying at Rosa’s place felt like stepping back in time in the very best way. Nestled in the heart of Old San Juan, the location couldn’t be more perfect — surrounded by wonderful eateries, unique shopping, and just steps away from incredible historic attractions.The courtyard is absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Even though you’re in the center of everything, the home is built around this quiet courtyard oasis where the coquí tree frogs gently sang us to sleep each night. It was magical. The bed was extremely comfortable, and the entire space felt both charming and restful.The walls are adorned with the artwork of Alfonso Arana, Rosa’s father — a true legend. (Look him up!) Being surrounded by his work gives the home a special soul. Rosa herself is an accomplished artist and a wonderful host. She graciously shares stories about her father and the art, which adds such depth to the experience.We will definitely be coming back.
We loved every minute of our visit. Perfect location. Close to everything we wanted to see and do. The property was quiet and serene. We will be back to stay again, without doubt.
The apartment was a wonderful way to experience old San Juan from the middle of the historic district. Art work decorates the outdoor patio where the bedrooms and kitchen are located. Mosquito netting allows for a natural experience of neighborhood charm.
This was my first time to Puerto Rico and I cannot think of a better place to stay than Luis’ property. The architecture, the art, the location and everything in between was lovely! When I come back to Puerto Rico in the future I’ll definitely be staying here again.
Katelin W.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024
About the host
Hosted by Rosa Meléndez Ibarra
Why they chose this property
Luis Alfonso, Rosa and Isabel, spent their early childhood in Old San Juan. Their house was in the Caleta de las Monjas until their departure to France in the early 1970's. In 1985 their father, the late painter Alfonso Arana, returned to buy this house in Calle San Jose and it became the family home. It is a beautiful building with the patio on the ground floor and beautiful terraces upstairs. Alfonso Arana used to call it "his Palace." In 2009 we decided to open the house for guests, and furnished the downstairs apartment for vacation rentals. Luis Alfonso and Rosa live, taking turns on the 2nd and 3d floor of the house, and Isabel resides in Wester Massachusetts. We love our Old San Juan home and hope you enjoy your stay there!
What makes this property unique
Volunteers or Relief Workers working for Non-Profit / NGOs, will receive a small discount (Standard Rate) in recognition for the their valuable contribution to the recuperation effort, after the natural disasters that have affected our country. The three night minimum stay could also be reduced to only two. Please describe the work that brings you to PR and send appropriate documentation to benefit of this offer. Gracias!
Favor preguntar por las tarifas especiales para artistas o residentes de otros pueblos de PR que necesiten un lugar en el Área Metro por razones médicas, de trabajo, estudios, etc.