Nestled in the heart of Old San Juan, Pio Pio combines luxury with comfort, creating a haven for locals and tourists seeking exceptional food, wine, and cocktails. Beyond its historic walls, Pio Pio stands out for its conscientiously curated list of elegant, lesser-known champagne and wine menu that strikes a balance of luxury and comfort, followed by an array of foods that showcase products from local farms, farmers, and fishermen.
Chef Ciarán Elliott and Laura Madera Nadal, co-owner and beverage director, opened the doors to Pio Pio June of 2021, transforming a 300-year-old building into a lively, intimate space that accommodates around 35 customers. But the historic nature of Old San Juan posed infrastructure hurdles, especially when renovating and installing new kitchen equipment.
“When we were given the opportunity to implement RATIONAL equipment into our tools, we were obviously fully on board, but it was an issue because this isn't an ideal space, and we weren't starting from zero,“ Madera Nadal says.
“Old San Juan is very finicky with water connections and electrical; these are buildings that have been around for over 300 years, so there's been a lot of layers of work. This is a machine that requires a lot of thought and intention into its nesting ground,“ she says. After trouble with installation, RATIONAL team members came to Pio Pio to support the process.
