La Factoría is a bar located in
Old San Juan
Old San Juan () is a historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the San Juan Islet, islet of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan. Its area roughly correlates to the Ballajá, Old San Juan, Ballajá, Catedral, Old San Juan, ...
,
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
, established in 2013 by Leslie Cofresí, Roberto Berdecía, and Pablo Rodríguez. The bar features a network of seven interconnected spaces offering
craft cocktails,
tapas
Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...
, and a variety of music and atmospheres.
Description
La Factoría is a bar located at the intersection of Calle San Sebastián and Calle San José in
Old San Juan
Old San Juan () is a historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the San Juan Islet, islet of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan. Its area roughly correlates to the Ballajá, Old San Juan, Ballajá, Catedral, Old San Juan, ...
,
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
.
The venue is unmarked and appears inconspicuous during the day.
It features a series of interconnected spaces with different themes, decor, and atmospheres. The interior includes rustic walls, vintage records, bicycles as decorations, string lights, and open windows facing the
cobblestone
Cobblestone is a natural building material based on Cobble (geology), cobble-sized stones, and is used for Road surface, pavement roads, streets, and buildings. Sett (paving), Setts, also called ''Belgian blocks'', are often referred to as " ...
streets.
La Factoría contains seven distinct areas, each offering a combination of music and beverages.
Some sections are designed for intimate gatherings, while others include larger rooms with dance floors. It has a smaller wine-focused bar and
speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a beer flat or blind pig or blind tiger, was an illicit establishment that sold alcoholic beverages. The term may also refer to a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies.
In the United State ...
accessible through a concealed orange door.
Menu
La Factoría offers a
cocktail
A cocktail is a mixed drink, usually alcoholic beverage, alcoholic. Most commonly, a cocktail is a combination of one or more liquor, spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as juices, flavored syrups, tonic water, Shrub (drink), shrubs, and ...
menu emphasizing house-made ingredients and reinterpretations of traditional drinks. Examples include the Lavender
mule
The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey, and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two ...
, which incorporates homemade
ginger beer
Traditional ginger beer is a sweetened and carbonated, usually non-alcoholic beverage. Historically it was produced by the natural fermentation of prepared ginger spice, yeast and sugar.
Modern ginger beers are often mass production, manufactur ...
and lavender syrup, and the Spiced
old fashioned
Old-fashioned, an idiom meaning something not modern, or may refer to:
* Old fashioned (cocktail), a whiskey cocktail
** Old fashioned glass, a type of drinking glass named after the cocktail
* Old Fashioned (film), ''Old Fashioned'' (film), a 201 ...
, which uses aged
rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...
and spiced bitters.
Additional offerings include El Peligroso, prepared with citrus,
Campari
Campari () is an Italian alcoholic liqueur, considered an aperitif, apéritif of the ''bitter'' variety (and not an amaro) by Italians while considered an apéritif of the Amaro (liqueur), amaro variety by Americans, obtained from the infusion of ...
, and Barrilito rum.
The bar also provides a selection of
tapas
Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...
curated by chef Franco Busó, such as
pizzettas,
sliders
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series
* ...
, and
taco
A taco (, , ) is a traditional Mexican cuisine, Mexican dish consisting of a small hand-sized corn tortilla, corn- or Flour tortilla, wheat-based tortilla topped with a Stuffing, filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and fing ...
s.
A wine-based cocktail menu is available in one of the venue's specialized bars.
History
La Factoría was founded in 2013 by Leslie Cofresí, Roberto Berdecía, and Pablo Rodríguez.
The bar occupies the location of a former establishment, Hijos del Borinquen, which was part of the local
nightlife
Nightlife is a collective term for entertainment that is available and generally more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning. It includes pubs, bars, nightclubs, parties, live music, concerts, cabarets, theatre, ...
during the 1980s and 1990s.
Cofresí and Berdecía, both
bartender
A bartender (also known as a barkeep or barman or barmaid or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the Bar (establishment), bar, usually in a licensed bar (establishment), establishment as ...
s, selected the site for its historical significance and potential as a venue for cocktails and nightlife.
The bar's concept included cocktails and an adaptable interior that allowed for different experiences in its various sections.
La Factoría gained international recognition after its inclusion on the World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2014, shortly after being named a "Bar to Watch."
Over the years, the venue expanded to include additional spaces within the original location.
The bar received further attention in 2017 when it appeared in the music video for "
Despacito
"Despacito" (; ) is a song by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, originally written in 2015. In 2016, Luis sent the song to Puerto Rican rapper and singer Daddy Yankee to give it an "urban injection", and released it as the lead single from Fons ...
" by
Luis Fonsi
Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero (born April 15, 1978), known by his stage name Luis Fonsi (), is a Puerto Rican singer. He is known for his soulful and dance oriented songs, most notably 2017's "Despacito".
Fonsi received his first Latin ...
and
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (; born February 3, 1976), known professionally as Daddy Yankee (), is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to worldwide prominence in 2004 with the song "Gasolina". Dubbed the "Honorific ...
, filmed partially within the establishment.
Reception
La Factoría has been included on the World’s 50 Best Bars list multiple times, ranking 32nd in 2019.
The bar has been recognized for its combination of cocktails, ambiance, and representation of
Puerto Rican culture
The culture of Puerto Rico is the result of a number of internal and indigenous influences, both past and present. Modern cultural manifestations showcase the island's rich history and help create an identity that is uniquely Puerto Rican - Taí ...
.
It attracts both local patrons and international visitors.
La Factoría has influenced the cocktail industry through Licorería Miramar, a supply business established by Cofresí to provide ingredients and materials to other bars.
References
{{Authority control
2013 establishments in Puerto Rico
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Companies based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Restaurants in Puerto Rico
Bars (establishments)