Our favorite food spots, whether you are looking to hang out or simply carry out

For those days when having a full kitchen isn't reason enough to use it, we love knowing that the food scene in the Rio Mar vicinity offers many great options to meet our needs, whether we're craving convenience, ambiance, great flavor or all of the above.

Rio Grande - the town where our villa is located - and the immediate area is having a moment as a rapidly-expanding Puerto Rican tourism destination. Its proximity to beautiful beaches - from placid and crystalline to surf-worthy - and to El Yunque Caribbean National Forest is driving plenty of real estate investment, which in turn has spurred many new and interesting eateries and watering holes. This is particularly notable in the nearby neighborhood of Palmer, which lies just south of Rt 3 before the entrance to El Yunque. Below, we share some favorite places we've gathered from guests, local friends, and our own visits.

Photo Credit: Dos Panza

Dos Panza - If you take a right down Calle Ocho as you approach Rt 3, you'll emerge from a meandering residential street into a lot right in front of Dos Panza, a colorful Tex-Mex style eatery with covered outdoor seating (indoor too), papel picado strung throughout, and a really good and very shareable pork carnitas platter. Get extra tortillas - you will need those. Try one of their margaritas which can be blended with a variety of local natural fruit juices for a tasty twist. Dos Panza does do carry out, but they get busy and estimated times can be more of a directional guideline (personal experience), so we'd recommend going in person.

Photo Credit: Bungalu

Bungalu Rest & Bar - Come here when you want good food with ambiance! On the main street in Palmer, Bungalu has an expansive menu with something for everyone - some of the standouts include the steak tacos, a varied menu of stuffed avocados, and loaded fries. Equally long are their lists of beers and cocktails, including a handful of non-alcoholic options. The rooftop bar is a great spot to watch the sun go down while you enjoy a cold beverage. They often host salsa nights, live music events, and recently opened their main level sports bar with billiards tables. With so much to cover, you could easily spend an entire evening here.

Photo Credit: Pika Pollo BBQ

Pika Pollo - Crowd-pleasing barbecue style chicken, to go or to stay. Inexpensive, super tasty and never dry, this place is a popular option for good reason! Accompaniments range from the expected - fried and coleslaw - to Puerto Rican classics like mofongo. It's just down the hill before the Rt 3 traffic light, but if you aren't in the mood to drive down for the pickup, DoorDash delivers!

Photo Credit: Ekelekua

Ekelekua - When we're craving a true brunch, we often end up at Ekelekua, ~5 mins down Rt 3 (in the direction of San Juan). They have all the breakfast staples you could want plus many with a unique Caribbean spin - dulce de leche or guava French toast anyone? They are open for lunch too, with tapas, burgers, sandwiches, wraps and tacos, as well as solid options for kids. Not to mention a long list of coffee and adult beverages. It's really quite hard to go wrong here.

Photo Credit: Degree Eighteen Juice Bar

Degree Eighteen Juice Bar - Puerto Rican food can be... heavy. Delicious, but heavy. When you're looking for something that's on the lighter side, but don't want to sacrifice creativity or flavor, Degree Eighteen is a great option. This vegan restaurant on the main street in Palmer offers fresh juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls, veggie burgers and a host of other veggie-based dishes covering all three meals.

Photo Credit: Amor + Harina

Amor + Harina - We found this bakery during our first stay in Rio Mar and it's become our go-to spot for coffee, fresh bread and pastries. They have savory breakfasts and sandwiches most days, and you can even pick up a liter of milk there in a pinch. To get there, drive down the hill towards Rt 3 - cross the light and make a right at the gas station; there's a lot right on front.

Photo Credit: Finca Neo Jibairo

Finca Neo Jibairo - This is a recent discovery and, full disclosure, we didn't get a chance to visit on the very short trip when we learned about it- but we can't wait! Finca Neojibairo is an organic farm about 15 minutes east of the villa. It's on the list because they offer food (Brick is their artisan pizzeria) and cocktails (or mocktails). But what's unique here is the experiences you can take advantage of when you visit. They offer tours of the farm which are suitable for the whole family and where you will learn about the agrofarming process (they grow 26+ crops year-round). They also offer a cigar-making experience (tobacco is one of their main crops and they produce their own line of cigars). We've also heard they have live music, cigar and whiskey tastings, and other events periodically.

La Frutera Flores - If you are craving a fresh fruit smoothie made simply, pull off Rt 3 (towards Luquillo) and make a stop by Frutera Flores. The place is a mix of souvenir shop, produce market, roadside cafeteria, and - the draw for us - fresh smoothie maker. Grabbing a papaya smoothie to go en route to or from the beach is just one of those things we have to do each time we visit.

Photo Credit: La Parrilla PR

Luquillo Kiosks - This one is a little bit of cheating, as it's not just one but ~30 distinct eateries that are clustered along the Balneario de Luquillo beach. The kiosks have been around for decades, initially starting as true, temporary food stalls and eventually growing into more permanent establishments. The largest kiosk, La Parrilla (kiosk 2), is a popular option and has its own parking lot at the very end of the row. but there's sure to be something for everyone with so many options. You'll be able to find anything from traditional Puerto Rican fish or meat fritters and empanadas, to heartier entrees (fried fish. mofongo, and more), to ceviches, to pizza.