Condado Vanderbilt Hotel completes room, suite renovation
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan has finished a top to bottom refresh of its guestrooms, suites, and corridors, blending historic character with contemporary polish. The legendary oceanfront address also introduced an in suite wellness package and appointed Executive Chef Juan A. Peña to lead its culinary program. For travelers flying through Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), the upgrade adds another marquee luxury option in the Condado district.
Key points
- Why it matters: Puerto Rico's flagship luxury hotel just raised its room, spa adjacent, and dining game.
- Travel impact: Refreshed rooms and new wellness perks tighten the case for Condado over Old San Juan boutiques.
- What's next: Chef Peña's menu updates and seasonal wellness dates roll out through winter.
- Suites and corridors now echo Spanish Colonial notes with modern art and finishes.
- Blackout dates apply to the wellness offer on late December and long weekends.
Snapshot
The renovation reimagines 317 guestrooms, including 100 suites, with crisp moldings, soft green palettes, marble, and warm wood tones. Metallic accents, mirrored details, and curated artwork add a subtle gloss, while oversized furnishings keep spaces residential and calm. The new in suite wellness package centers rest and ritual inside Commodore Oceanfront accommodations, pairing daily butler service with an in room massage, aromatherapy, cold pressed juices, and a guided yoga flow on a Stakt mat. Daily American breakfast for two and a $200 hotel credit round out the inclusions. With Chef Juan A. Peña now overseeing eight dining outlets, in room dining, and banquets, the hotel is positioning for a strong winter season in Condado.
Background
Opened in 1919 by Frederick William Vanderbilt, the property remains one of Puerto Rico's most storied oceanfront hotels. The latest project continues a decades long effort to preserve its grand public spaces while elevating the residential feel upstairs. Design references from Spanish Colonial architecture and Caribbean artistry appear in textures and color, keeping the aesthetic rooted in place. The Condado district sits minutes from Old San Juan, the convention center, and SJU's broad airlift, which simplifies weekend escapes and longer stays. For readers tracking luxury growth on the island, the refresh lands alongside new high end inventory, including Four Seasons at Bahía Beach. See our recent coverage here: Four Seasons Puerto Rico opens reservations for Nov. 20.
Latest developments
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel renovation adds wellness package
Beyond the room and corridor work, the in suite wellness package is the headline add for recovery focused travelers. Requirements include a two night minimum and availability exclusions over December 25 to January 3 and long weekends. The package delivers Commodore Oceanfront lodging with daily butler service, an in room massage designed to promote sleep, a sleep kit with pillow spray and eye mask, herbal relaxation tea, natural cold pressed juices, organic aromatherapy and Puerto Rico crafted body products, plus a reflection journal. A Stakt yoga mat with a QR code links to guided classes, making it easy to reset before dinner. Breakfast for two is included, either in room or at Ola Oceanfront Bistro, and guests receive a $200 hotel credit that can stretch to spa, dining, or cabana days.
New executive chef leads an eight outlet culinary program
Executive Chef Juan A. Peña, a Puerto Rican chef with a 25 year career across Five Star and Five Diamond properties, now directs the hotel's eight outlets, banquets, and in room dining. His resume includes leadership posts and training with marquee luxury brands around the island. Expect ingredient driven menus that pair local seafood and produce with contemporary technique, along with incremental updates to signature dining rooms and poolside venues. For events, his oversight should translate to tighter menu engineering and more regional storytelling across receptions, conferences, and weddings. Travelers who remember the property for classic white glove touches can anticipate those traditions, with a fresher lens in plating, pacing, and sourcing.
Analysis
For San Juan's luxury set, the Condado Vanderbilt renovation arrives at the right moment. Puerto Rico's inbound demand has normalized after recent storm seasons, yet the island's upscale inventory is expanding, and Condado competes directly with new and refreshed brands. The decision to channel wellness into the suite is smart. It removes friction, avoids spa bottlenecks on peak weekends, and aligns with how travelers actually decompress on short stays. The inclusions are practical rather than gimmicky, from functional sleep kits to a real yoga flow that fits between meetings. The blackout language is worth noting for holiday planners, but it should preserve rate integrity when demand spikes.
Chef leadership is the other lever. San Juan diners have become more ingredient conscious, and event clients expect modern banquet food that photographs well and moves quickly. Chef Peña's background suggests competence across both fronts. If he invests in vendor relationships and sharpens outlet identities, the culinary narrative can catch up to the refreshed rooms. Net, the upgrade keeps Condado Vanderbilt squarely in the conversation for first choice in Condado, especially for travelers who value a historic setting without sacrificing contemporary comfort.
Final thoughts
Condado Vanderbilt's latest refresh reads as a steady, guest centered lift rather than a flashy overhaul. Rooms feel calmer, the wellness offer respects limited time, and the culinary direction has a clear owner. For travelers weighing Condado versus other San Juan addresses, this will tip stays toward the Vanderbilt on winter weekends and milestone trips. If you are eyeing Puerto Rico for a close to home warm up, put this hotel on your shortlist, and check date specific availability on the in suite wellness package. The move reinforces the appeal of a classic property made new, and it underlines the value of a thoughtful Condado Vanderbilt Hotel renovation.