1919 Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Name Rooted in History

Named for the year the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel first opened its doors, 1919 Restaurant carries more than a century of elegance into every service. Set within this landmark Spanish Revival property on the oceanfront of San Juan, the restaurant has grown into Puerto Rico's leading fine-dining destination — recognised with a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star award in 2026 and featured by Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, USA Today, and Fortune Magazine, among others.

Chef Ciarán Elliott – A Global Vision, Island Soul

At the helm of 1919 is Executive Chef Ciarán Elliott, born in York and raised in Dublin, whose culinary path reads like a map of the world's great kitchens. He earned Euro-Toques Ireland's Young Chef of the Year while training at the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, before passing through celebrated houses including Arzak, Akelarre, Frantzén, Hertog Jan, and Chapter One. In 2015 he joined Thomas Keller's three-Michelin-starred Per Se in New York City. His arrival at 1919 marks a new era: guided by European culinary tradition and a global perspective, he crafts menus where purity of flavour, precision, and warmth define every dish.

Puerto Rican Cuisine, Elevated

The philosophy is clear — "flavor-forward" dishes crafted exclusively from local artisans and farmers, pairing social consciousness with exquisite taste. Bold Caribbean flavours meet European technique in a celebration of Puerto Rican cuisine that shifts with the seasons. Standout plates include spaghetti with sweet crab, wild sea bass, and a chayote salad with pickled ají dulce. Desserts such as mango passionfruit canelé and yuzu crémeaux offer a refreshing, island-inspired finish.

The bar programme is equally thoughtful, spotlighting local rum and tropical fruits in cocktails like the Lady Vanderbilt (Old Tom Gin, orange bitter, lemon and spice syrup) and the Honeysuckle (Don Q Cristal rum, honey and lime). The wine list has earned the Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence 2025, and sommelier-guided wine and cheese pairings are available through the intimate Cellar Experience — reserved for just one party per day.

An Atmosphere of Refined Warmth

The dining room strikes a perfect balance between chic and relaxed: dark woods, leather seating, burgundy hues, and metallic accents frame wall-to-wall ocean views that shift from golden sunset to glittering night sky. Formal attire is requested, lending each visit a sense of occasion. For a private gathering, the John Berwind Boardroom offers an after-dinner cigar and whiskey experience for up to ten guests — a fittingly grand coda to an evening at one of the Caribbean's most celebrated tables.