Food and Drink Highlights of Culebra

From food and drink kiosks on Flamenco Beach to seaside restaurants that afford idyllic views of this island paradise to all kinds of eateries, coffee shops and groceries in between, Culebra offers many opportunities to sample the specialties of Puerto Rico. Recreating, touring or just lolling about beneath the Puerto Rican sun tends to make you hungry and thirsty and thankfully you’ll find countless ways to satisfy your cravings while enjoying some of the signature offerings listed below.

Pastries, Breads and Sandwiches

Food and drink make up an integral part of the culture of Puerto Rico and it’s at the panderías, or Spanish-styled bakeries, that this is perhaps most on display. Not only can you buy breads and pastries at these bakeries, but they also serve as social hubs where locals like to sit, stay a while and sip and nibble on their favorite treats. Try a quesito, an oblong pastry filled with sweet cream cheese and drizzled with PR favorites such as chocolate or guava. Mallorcas, or soft brioche-like rolls, are another staple, which may be eaten as a sweet (when sprinkled with powdered sugar) or savory when used to make a Cuban sandwich, another favorite food widely available in Puerto Rico. Pandeli Bakery is a great place to find these delicious goods and more in Culebra.

Coffee, Guava and More

Coffee, the drink of choice to accompany Puerto Rican baked goods, may be purchased in a variety of forms at big grocery stores such as Supermacado Costa del Sol or small food shops such as D’s Garden. Puerto Rican coffee, which boasts a centuries-old history, is most characterized by a flavor that’s both rich and supple. You’ll want to pick up some to bring home along with guava paste, a uniquely Puerto Rican product consumed in a variety of ways. Often used as a filling for pastries and cakes, you can buy the jellied form of this tropical fruit at markets and eat it as an accompaniment to other foods such as cheese and crackers. Peruse the shelves at these stores as well as those of other local food purveyors for a ship’s cargo hold of all kinds of other tasty goods to bring home.

Seafood

Surrounded by the deep blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, you can bet that seafood stands out as a specialty of Puerto Rico, whether it’s fished locally or shipped (or flown) in from afar. Locals and tourists alike love the open-air atmosphere of Dinghy Dock, a casual restaurant along the dock. Here you can revel in fresh-caught swordfish, coconut shrimp and a host of other freshly-prepared–and often grilled–products from land and sea. For a more upscale dining experience, go to Susie’s where gourmet dishes, such as tuna sushi rolls, are infused with an Asian flair.

Rum

With a history dating back to the sugar plantations, rum is to Puerto Rico as wine is to France. Plus, it is especially delicious and refreshing served with a variety of fruit juices–think pineapple, mango, and grenadine, to name a few–all of which are synonymous with the island scene. Nothing says calypso like a rum drink, right? Let’s face it, it’s hard not to find a delicious rum drink in PR, however, your rum-drinking experience will be greatly enhanced by the setting. In Culebra, go to Mamacita’s, an open-air restaurant along the Dewey Canal, to while away some time watching the comings and goings of the boaters at this favorite locals hangout.