Where to Catch Live Music in Puerto Rico

If you want to hear live music in Puerto Rico, you’re in luck. There are festivals nearly every weekend throughout the island, and music is always a major component. On weekends and holidays, parks and plazas are filled with the sounds of salsa, bomba, and plena music. To make an evening of it, try these popular hot spots.

Balcon del Zumbador is a casual, authentic beachside bar hosting concerts by top old-school salsa artists and bands. Photo © Marco Zanferrari, licensed Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike.

• Balcon del Zumbador: This old-fashioned, rustic beachside bar in Piñones is the place to dance to old-school salsa bands. On Sundays starting at 6pm, hear bomba and plena musicians perform.
• Downtown Bar & Restaurant: Located in Hato Rey, San Juan’s business district, this large, chic music venue hosts live performances by national and local Latin bands. Check out their calendar of events for upcoming performances.
• La Respuesta: At night, it’s where the hip crowd in Santurce goes to listen to DJs, live bands, hip-hop, rock, R&B, metal, and Latin jazz. Wednesday is Noche de Cine, featuring film screenings. Upcoming performances are listed on their website.
• Libraría Libros AC Barra & Bistro: This large, modern bookstore in Santurce is also a popular music venue for local rock, jazz, and Latin bands.
• Nuyorican Café: In Old San Juan, this is the island’s premier nightclub for live contemporary salsa music. The place gets packed with tourists and locals alike, and the dance floor is always smoking. Check their calendar of events for weekly performers.

Excerpted from the Fourth Edition of Moon Puerto Rico.