ABOUT US
Bienvenido! Welcome! Bienvenue!
Welcome to Lucía Patisserie & Café, a cozy neighborhood bakery in the heart of Miramar, Puerto Rico. Since 2017, we’ve been part of this community, sharing our love for artisanal, French-inspired pastries made with local ingredients and flavors we cherish.
Lucía Patisserie & Café began with a simple story. Founded by Lucía Merino and Johan Villafañe, it grew from a shared love of pastries—one of us passionate about making them, the other devoted to enjoying them. Together, we’ve poured that love into everything we bake.
We believe in the power of good food to connect people and create memories. For us, it’s about more than pastries—it’s about bringing people together and sharing small moments of joy, every single day.
Nuestra Historia - Our Story
Lucía Merino is a highly trained pastry chef with over 20 years of experience in the culinary world. She studied Baking & Pastry Arts and Food & Beverage Management at Johnson & Wales University, and her career has taken her through many roles—from managing catering operations (where she was once underpaid peeling mountains of potatoes and deveining endless buckets of shrimp), to developing dessert menus for fine dining restaurants in Miami, Dallas, and Spain. She has also been part of the opening teams of luxury chocolate shops and hotels, and has led pastry teams at renowned properties such as The Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne, The St. Regis in Bal Harbour, and The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach.
Johan Villafañe brings equally valuable experience, having worked both front- and back-of-house in respected kitchens, including Jean-Georges. Together, they shared a dream: to open a bakery that reflects their love for exceptional pastries and creates a welcoming space for their community. Along the way, they lived and worked in vibrant cities like Miami, Madrid, Barcelona, and Dallas—experiences that helped shape their vision for their own neighborhood patisserie.
After years of planning and perseverance, Lucía and Johan launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring their dream to life, starting with very limited resources. With the support of friends, family, and early believers, they secured a lease and basic equipment, then spent months renovating their space and fulfilling special orders. In late 2017—just months after Hurricane María—they opened the doors of Lucía Patisserie. Despite the challenges, they felt honored to serve their community during such an emotional time.
Eight years later, their small bakery has grown beyond its original space. In 2023, they moved just a few blocks away into a larger home, where they now work alongside a talented team who share their passion and care for every detail. Together, they continue to refine their craft and offer new creations that keep their neighborhood coming back.
Lucía and Johan have been partners in life and in business since 2010. When they’re not laminating croissant dough or working on new ideas, they enjoy road trips around the island, beach days, playing tennis, and spending time with their family and their dog. A few times a year, Lucía Patisserie closes for a short break, giving their team paid time to rest and recharge.
Nuestra Misión - Our Mission
At Lucía Patisserie, our mission is to offer a warm and memorable experience to everyone who walks through our doors. We’re dedicated to making exceptional baked goods with the finest ingredients, always with care and intention.
We believe in the power of good food to connect people and create memories. Through what we bake, we hope to bring a little joy to each day and stay closely connected to our community.
We’re also committed to supporting our team by creating meaningful work, fostering growth, and offering fair wages. As we continue to grow, we look for ways to be more thoughtful and sustainable, with respect for our environment and our future.