Tía María's Liquor Store

Tía María's is one of the oldest and best-loved local gay bars in San Juan, a down-to-earth neighborhood spot in Santurce whose "Liquor Store" name is pure misdirection; it's a bar and a Puerto Rican institution. Famous for pouring some of the strongest, cheapest drinks on the island, it's the classic first stop of a night out, with two pool tables, an old-school music box, and a crowd that spills onto the sidewalk to smoke and chat. Unpretentious, welcoming, and refreshingly free of the tourist bubble, open to men and women alike and leaning to a friendly, mature crowd, it's the perfect place to meet locals, get the lay of the land, and find out where the night is really headed, with one of the city's best gay clubs right across the street.