With rounded latticework cinderblock exteriors, it is easy to spot the bold new hotel in Vieques’ seaside village, Esperanza. Inside, the 3,000-square-foot lobby restaurant and bar, also named El Blok, is meant to be the focus and aims to draw locals and visitors to mingle in the casual dining space. Jose Enrique, the young chef from San Juan who was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2013 and 2014, takes an innovative approach to Puerto Rican cuisine and serves a fresh, minimalist tapas menu.
The building’s design comes courtesy of native architect Nataniel Fuster and is Gold LEED–certified for its sustainability. Though the exterior appears impenetrable, the interior features open spaces and a skylight in the hallway that allows ample light to enter. As the tallest building on the island, the structure has a big rooftop that boasts stunning ocean views, the perfect place for sundowner cocktails.
Twenty-two guest rooms are vibrant in color and design with bright-blue or green-tiled floors and private balconies that flaunt the dappled light from sculptural latticework panels. Magniflex organic hybrid foam mattresses for the king-sized beds were hand-picked by the owner, Simon Baeyertz, and come complete with memory foam pillows.
On an island where setting is key, this hotel’s location cannot be beat for those who wish to stay in the main town. Guests can easily explore the local restaurants and bars by foot, and drive 10 minutes to picturesque beaches.
