Discover the Original Piña Colada Recipe from the Iconic Puerto Rican Hotel

This is the sweet drink you need right now.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

It might be obvious, but here at iBestTravel, we love, love, love hotels. In fact, every year, we explore our favorites and highlight the ones we’re most excited about opening. Besides the sheer comfort of hotels — the cloud-soft pillows, luxurious robes, and dreamy amenities — we’re also fans of the delightful creations they serve to guests.

For instance, did you know that brownies were first crafted in 1893 at the Palmer House hotel in Chicago? If you didn’t (or even if you did), you can make classic, sweet brownies for yourself. If desserts aren’t quite your thing, you might be thrilled to discover that New York’s Waldorf Astoria also pioneered iconic dishes, including the Waldorf salad, which combines grapes, celery, walnuts, and apples, back in 1893. Moreover, the same hotel is credited with inventing red velvet cake, Thousand Island dressing, and even eggs Benedict.

As the warmer months sweep in, it’s time to turn our attention to another hotel creation — one with a splash of alcohol. Let’s travel back to 1954 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you found yourself at the iconic Caribe Hilton, you might have been among the very first to try a piña colada. This cocktail, invented by bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero, was first served at the hotel’s Beachcomber Bar and subsequently took the world by storm.

Over 60 years later, the Caribe Hilton underwent a $150 million renovation following the devastating Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. However, like the spirit of Puerto Rico, the piña colada continues to thrive as one of the world’s most vibrant island drinks. In fact, in 1978, it was declared the official drink of Puerto Rico.

Now, our friends at the Caribe Hilton have shared the original piña colada recipe for us to make at home. They mentioned that they use Bacardi Gold rum, although your preferred brand is perfectly fine as long as it’s gold or dark rum. “The gold rum and cream are sweet like sugar when combined, but the pineapple is what brings it all together,” Caribe Hilton bartender Héctor Santos López informed us. “The key is to serve it ice-cold. The original is my favorite — it’s what everyone always asks for.”

And why mess with a classic, right? Wherever you are, ¡salud!

Caribe Hilton’s Original Piña Colada Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. rum
• 1 oz. coconut cream (signature recipe uses Coco Lopez brand)
• 1 oz. heavy cream
• 6 oz. pineapple juice
• ½ cup crushed ice

Directions:

Mix rum, cream of coconut, heavy cream, and pineapple juice in a blender. Add ice and blend for 15 seconds. Serve in a 12-oz. glass and garnish with fresh pineapple and a cherry.