As a female DJ of 24 years who lived NYC’c nightlife in the 90’s and early 2000’s, I am having a blast exploring Puerto Rico’s nightlife scene. I have been pleasantly surprised since I did not expect for there to be an electronic house music scene in the capital of reggaeton/Bad Bunny land. So I thought I would talk about some parties that are worth mentioning.
La Marquetta - Condado, San Juan
This spot will sadly be no more. The legendary parties that Musikone has hosted here will definitely stay in the memories of the locals who go here religiously. Not to mention the A list DJs who come to play here which many are still climbing up the DJ ladder of international success. Puerto Rico nightlife will definitely not be the same without this venue. But don’t fret, there will be a similar beachside indoor outdoor venue taking La Marquetta’s place in the near future.
Hugel - "I do't do if the money, I do it for the latinas"
I was able to hear Hugel, the french DJ producer play at La Marquetta for their last night and it was a scene of gorgeous Puerto Ricans with barely anything on except for their styled thongs and netted tops and their hand fans clicking to the beat. It was a professional latin beach party scene that not even Miami could emulate.. Hugel seemed happy since his tag link on his Instagram page does happen to be, “I don’t do it for the money, I do it for the latinas”.
Club Fifty Eight - Condado, San Juan
Another fun spot to visit in Condado is Club Fifty Eight located at La Concha Hotel. Musikone who also hosts monthly parties here had Andruss, the Mexican DJ /Producer who is known for tracks like “Frikitona” which recently went viral on Instagram. Damian Lazarus who had to fly in from Miami Music week played there last Thursday and the vibe was electric. His beats are pure underground minimal tech with samples of atmospheric sounds that just make you want to get down all night. It’s no wonder they call him the Wizard and why his Crosstown Rebels label has had such longevity and success. Damian’s set was definitely a highlight in Puerto Rico’s nightlife this week!
La Juntilla - Santurce, San Juan
One of my favorite local spots in Santurce was a smaller lounge that had actual cassette tapes in the bar counter and truly reminded me of an east village bar in the early 2000’s called La Juntilla. The best part was the talented @dimitrilabruha who is a multi talented musician who plays live over his DJ sets. His music selection was an eclectic house set with a chicago soulful vibe which would then switch over to some obscure electronic latin sounds.
Luquillo Beach Rave
Ever been to an underground rave on the beach? Well, there is a secret location where this rave takes place every two weeks. I had the pleasure of DJing here alongside my good friend Charo Velecio and some other amazing local talent. It was a mix of house music, break beats and electronic dance music vibes. Some of the people camp out with tents and stay overnight while the music continues well into the next day. So if you grew up raving or still actively rave this one is for you!
El Nie Bar
Don’t be fooled by the pool table and sports bar vibe when first walking into El Nie. If you keep walking a little further back there is a hidden gem of a lounge with a live DJ playing the dirtiest perreo music for the locals. My favorite part about this place is that no one has their phones out. It’s like everyone knows this is a hidden spot and no one would disrespect it by pulling out their phones to record. Sunday nights here are the best for underground reggaeton but they do have other DJs like @dimitirelbrujo playing on Fridays or Saturdays.
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