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O:LV Fifty Five

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O:LV Fifty Five - Selected hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Hotel Details

Location

55 Condado Ave, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, Caribbean & Central America

Location

O:LV Fifty Five · San Juan, Puerto Rico

Key Highlights

  • Service & Hospitality: The staff consistently receives high marks for being wonderful, friendly, accommodating, inviting, welcoming, and attentive. Doormen are also noted for being "always on cue."

Expert Review: O:LV Fifty Five

O:LV Fifty Five: A Chic San Juan Escape with a Dash of Disco

O:LV Fifty Five, a Michelin Key Selected property in San Juan, Puerto Rico, generally garners positive attention for its stylish design, prime location, and exceptional service, though some guests have experienced inconveniences with noise and ongoing renovations. This adults-only boutique hotel, a sleek and ultra-modern counterpart to the original O:live Boutique Hotel, is particularly recommended for couples and those seeking a trendy, luxurious escape.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for O:LV Fifty Five is largely positive, with many guests rating it as "Exceptional" or "Superb." Review scores on various platforms indicate high satisfaction with staff, location, and cleanliness. However, a minority of reviews express significant dissatisfaction, primarily due to noise issues and unexpected renovations.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise O:LV Fifty Five for several standout features:

  • Design & Atmosphere: The hotel boasts award-winning, ultra-sleek, contemporary interiors with a glossy gold-and-white color scheme, gemstone-colored accents, and marble floors. It's described as "cool and hip" with a "lively" atmosphere. A notable design element on the rooftop is a 1970s Rolls-Royce converted into a champagne bar and DJ booth.
  • Rooftop Pool & Views: The rooftop infinity pool, solarium, and lounge area are frequently highlighted as major attractions, offering breathtaking views of the Condado Lagoon and the San Juan skyline.
  • Service & Hospitality: The staff consistently receives high marks for being wonderful, friendly, accommodating, inviting, welcoming, and attentive. Doormen are also noted for being "always on cue."
  • Location: The hotel's location in the trendy Condado neighborhood is highly appreciated for being close to the Condado Lagoon, steps from the beach, and offering easy access to tourist attractions, restaurants, and shopping.

3. Room Quality

O:LV Fifty Five is an all-suite hotel with 26 generously sized suites.

  • Design & Comfort: Rooms are described as luxurious, stylish, and comfortable, featuring bespoke marble bathrooms, leather accents, and custom-made furnishings. They incorporate retro touches with brass and black elements, interesting lighting fixtures, and richly veined marble. Amenities often include pillowtop beds with Frette Italian sheets, down comforters, premium bedding, Nespresso coffee machines, well-stocked minibars, and L'Occitane toiletries. Many suites offer impressive views of the Condado Lagoon and some have balconies or terraces.
  • Potential Issues: Some guests have reported issues with dark bathroom lighting, non-closing shower doors, and in some "Design Suites," a lack of windows combined with a loud, frequently cycling dehumidifier. A significant privacy concern was raised by one guest regarding direct visibility into their shower from the balcony in some higher-floor rooms due to nearby apartments. Soundproofing has also been noted as an issue, with guests hearing noise from corridors and outside.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel features two main dining venues:

  • DRGN Restaurant: This fine-dining establishment specializes in Asian-Caribbean fusion cuisine, blending tropical ingredients with bold techniques, including sushi and robata-grilled dishes. It's located in the lobby and offers a sleek, intimate atmosphere. Reservations are required.
  • The Rooftop: This poolside restaurant offers local and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an open-air setting with stunning views of the Condado Lagoon and skyline. Chef Mario Pagan oversees a brunch menu with options like the ARYA burger and Steak & Eggs. The ambiance is lively at sunset, with a bar serving signature cocktails.
  • Breakfast: Cooked-to-order breakfast is available each morning for a surcharge. Some guests have praised the breakfast, including delicious lemon berry pancakes and Puerto Rican coffee. However, others have reported limited breakfast options due to kitchen refurbishments. Room service is also available.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at O:LV Fifty Five consistently receives excellent feedback. Guests describe them as wonderful, friendly, accommodating, inviting, welcoming, and helpful. The doormen are also highlighted for their attentiveness. One front desk agent, Sarahi, was specifically praised for being "beyond amazing" with exceptional skills, knowledge, and confidence. The staff is multilingual, fluent in both Spanish and English.

6. Location & Accessibility

O:LV Fifty Five is ideally situated in San Juan's upscale Condado neighborhood, nestled between the Condado Lagoon and steps from the beach.

  • Nearby Attractions: Its location allows easy access to a range of tourist attractions, including Condado Beach, Casino del Mar at La Concha Resort, Castillo San Cristobal, Old San Juan, Fort San Felipe del Morro, Contemporary Art Museum, Munoz Rivera Park, and El Teatro.
  • Transport: The hotel offers an airport shuttle (available 24 hours for a fee) and limo/town car service. Valet parking is also available.
  • Accessibility: The hotel is committed to accessibility, with accessible entrances, registration, elevators, restrooms, restaurant, swimming pool, and designated accessible guest rooms featuring roll-in showers and grab bars.

7. Value & Pricing

Pricing for rooms at O:LV Fifty Five can range from approximately $162 to $522 per night, depending on the room type and time of booking. While many guests find the experience worthwhile, some have expressed concerns about the value for money, particularly when encountering issues like ongoing renovations or noise, suggesting it can be "so expensive and really not worth it" in those circumstances. It is considered a luxury property offering a high-end experience.

8. Common Complaints

Several recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:

  • Noise: This is a significant and frequent complaint. Guests have reported hearing noise from the corridors, outside on the street, and from private events held at the hotel, sometimes late into the night. Some rooms are not soundproofed adequately.
  • Renovations: Several recent reviews mention ongoing renovations that were not communicated to guests prior to their stay. This impacted the availability of certain facilities, such as the pool bar and kitchens, leading to disappointment and limited dining/drink options.
  • Room-Specific Issues: Issues like dark bathroom lighting, shower doors not closing properly, and in some windowless "Design Suites," a loud dehumidifier that created condensation on the floor have been reported.
  • Privacy Concerns: A notable privacy concern was raised regarding the ability to see directly into some showers from the balconies of other rooms or nearby buildings.
  • Breakfast System: While breakfast quality is generally good, some guests have suggested improvements to the breakfast system.

Sources

  1. michelin.com
  2. thehotelguru.com
  3. travelweekly.com
  4. youtube.com
  5. booking.com
  6. booking.com
  7. momondo.com
  8. booking.com
  9. planetofhotels.com
  10. kiwicollection.com
  11. tablethotels.com
  12. olvhotel.com
  13. kayak.com
  14. expedia.com
  15. hotel-scoop.com
  16. travelocity.com
  17. youtube.com
  18. hotels.com
  19. olvhotel.com

Points to Consider

  • Several recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:
  • Privacy Concerns: A notable privacy concern was raised regarding the ability to see directly into some showers from the balconies of other rooms or nearby buildings.

Google Reviews

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4.0

463 reviews

Recent Guest Reviews

Joke Ajuwon

Local Guidea month ago

We stayed and booked this hotel via booking.com for 9nights December 26- 04 January Pros: -the front desk staff were kind, polite and friendly -the hotel is located in Condado which is a few mins walk to most restaurants and the beach. -two times I went for breakfast at 11:30 and the guy at the bar restaurant (tall slim and with curly hair) was very polite and accommodating. -I liked our room and...

Carolina Peguero

Local Guidea month ago

O:LV Fifty Five Hotel is almost there. The decor is interesting and very much what you would expect from a high end boutique hotel. Stylish, curated, and visually appealing. The location is excellent, and the rooftop view is absolutely amazing. It is truly the hotel’s biggest asset and the main reason I chose to stay here. That said, there were some notable shortcomings. My room did not have a t...

nelson ortiz

Local Guide3 months ago

I recently stayed here while in town for business and was extremely impressed. The location is perfect — everything I needed was within easy walking distance, which made my trip so much smoother. The bathroom was huge and genuinely felt luxurious, which isn’t something you can say about most hotels. The pool area was like a piece of art — visually stunning but also very functional and relaxing. I...

Brittany Nienhaus

Local Guidea month ago

Absolutely stunning everything. The corner room was incredible. It was over the restaurant which had serious base/music playing pretty late. It was so loud in the room. Not being a party animal i did have to switch rooms. There was not another similar room but everything is beautiful. Staff was great.

Desireé Bray

Local GuideEdited 2 weeks ago

The rooms were nice but it's an old hotel that's being remodeled. The room was very nice, marble-wall tile bathrooms, but the Air conditioning was a local unit, and can get humid if not really cold. The rooms with no windows are like caves...next time we'll have a window or balcony.

Aeboni B

Local Guide4 months ago

When we first got there, the front desk was super friendly and helpful check-in was quick and easy. The hotel is beautiful, with a modern vibe, valet parking, and it’s only about 15 minutes from the airport. There’s even a lake nearby where you can go kayaking, which was a nice touch. I also liked that you need your key to use the elevator good safety feature! Now, the room… that was a different...

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