So much for breakfast ... time to move onto lunch. And it's much harder to pick favorites in San Juan when it comes to lunch, because there are so many terrific options.

However, I decided to limit myself to restaurants that, on average, are less expensive (after all, we tend to shell out the big bucks for fine dining at dinner, not lunch), more casual, and, in at least three of the choices below, more authentic to what Puerto Rican cooking is all about. I figured the fancy fusion fare, gourmet international cuisine, and nouveau Puerto Rican stars of the local restaurant scene can all wait. I also assumed few people would want to have lunch in their hotels (or someone else's hotel) while they're out and about.

For lunch, I want taste, I want a relaxed, casual experience, and I want to be satisfied ... especially if I've spent the morning exploring the old city. With that in mind, I came up with these five favorite restaurants in San Juan.

It's almost 5 am, and that means I'm thinking about one of two things: sleep or food. If it's the latter, I'd like to be at one of these places, which win my vote for best breakfast restaurants in San Juan.

Your preference will depend on your breakfast choices: if you like healthy and hearty fare, Pinky's is the spot for you; if you want gourmet breakfasts in a chic setting, Rick's will make you happy; want wi-fi with your coconut French toast? Head to Caficultura. Or if you just want a flaky and scrumptious pastry, head to La Bombonera or  Kasalta.

And if any of that made you hungry, join the club. Now I'm in the mood for French toast.

If you ever visit Puerto Rico's Second City (and from my last visit to Ponce, I can highly recommend it, again), take a look at the Ramada Ponce. For a relative bargain, you get to stay in the heart of downtown steps from the cathedral in the Plaza de Delicias; you get to enjoy comfortable accommodations with decent amenities and a great restaurant in Lola; and you even get a free continental breakfast in the morning.

But the Ponce is not the main reason to come to Puerto Rico's Second City. Rather, come for the amazing museum, the cultural treasures, and the architecture of a city that has earned the moniker the Pearl of the South.  And if you can enjoy its charms as well as a pleasant hotel, then all the better.

Let's be clear about this: Da House isn't for everyone. The small, funky, artistically inclined hotel hidden in an alleyway in Old San Juan, marches to its own bohemian beat. And there were even some in our group who couldn't wait to get away from the place. The noise, the stairs, the small(ish) bathrooms ... just not their cup of tea.

And then there were those who, like me, loved its at-home vibe, its relaxed and casual vibe, and its accommodations, which feel like a guest room at a friend's house more than a guest room at a hotel. Da House is perfect for travelers on a budget who want to be in the heart of the city, amid like-minded free spirits and surrounded by the arts and sounds of Old San Juan.