Review: Hilton Garden Inn San Juan Condado

There are some hotels where I wish I could spend an entire day on the balcony. Hilton Garden Inn San Juan Condado in Puerto Rico is one of them.

Located on the banks of a picturesque lagoon in San Juan’s popular Condado neighborhood, this 240-room hotel is the result of a renovation and rebranding of an existing property. Opened in December 2023, the hotel marks the brand’s debut in Puerto Rico, as well as the stylish rebirth of a hotel building that, for years, was part of The Condado Plaza Hotel, which sits across the street and is still connected by an enclosed pedestrian bridge. Today, the reimagined hotel continues to offer the same central location in San Juan, Hilton Honors benefits to attract loyal guests of the brand and a variety of new features, along with a refreshed look.

A Fresh Approach for an Old Favorite

As a hotel history enthusiast, I was especially excited to witness what Hilton had done with this classic, midcentury hotel, which first opened in the late 1960s as Flamboyan Hotel and Casino. Within a few years, Flamboyan was attached to — and branded as the lagoon wing of — the neighboring Condado Plaza Hotel.

Now, the hotel owner has followed the current trend of creating attached, dual-branded hospitality developments by returning the two structures to their original format as individually branded hotels. This time, however, they share some services and facilities for meetings, destination weddings and other events. (The Condado Plaza Hotel, meanwhile, is scheduled to be rebranded as a Curio Collection by Hilton property following renovations.)

RELATED: A Travel Guide to San Juan, Puerto Rico

I was impressed as soon as I walked into the lobby of the wonderfully refreshed Hilton Garden Inn San Juan Condado. The decor exudes appropriately tropical vibes, with colorful wall treatments and attractive lighting in the reception area, giving it a sense of place with just a hint of midcentury style.

I appreciated the design and layout of my guestroom, too. I found it to be contemporary yet comfortable, and I especially liked the retro-chic San Juan travel poster art, as well as functional features such as a seating area with a movable work/dining table, a desk and many outlets and USB charging stations.

As attractive as the room was, I found myself drawn to the balcony, which was spacious and faced the lagoon, offering spectacular views around the clock.

I also found the public areas to be quite inviting — especially the swimming pool, which is furnished with lounge chairs, and the delightful, open-air space that’s located on a platform a few steps below that. In the hotel’s earlier incarnation, the space had been home to a tennis court, but now, the lagoon-facing seating provides a wonderfully relaxing setting to sit back and enjoy the warm weather and nice view.

Hotel management says the property plans to soon offer dining in the lounge area, along with lagoon kayaking and standup paddleboard services directly from the deck, which will make it even easier to appreciate the neighborhood’s natural beauty.

The hotel also has a small but well-equipped gym and two lovely dining venues; I enjoyed sampling tasty tapas and cocktails at Spanish restaurant Azahar, as well as wood-fired specialties at Ohrno Barbacoa Moderna.

Condado is my favorite neighborhood in San Juan; it’s a walkable area that provides easy access to beaches, restaurants, shopping and nightlife, and the hotel is just steps away from the small beach at the mouth of the lagoon.
Not that it’s necessary to walk far to take in  a postcard-perfect view. When you’re staying in a lagoon-view room here, it’s just a matter of opening the curtains.