Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Eating out in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic treats diners to a wide variety of cuisine in almost as many settings. Take your meal in an old colonial palace, a street-side café, along the waterfront or down in an ancient sea cave. International fare includes everything from Italian, to Middle Eastern, French, Argentine, and native fare. Typical Dominican cuisine tends to be heavy in meats such as chicken, beef, pork and goat. The meal is usually centered on a stew of brown beans, plantains and rice flavored with very mild spices. Local dishes you are likely to encounter include sancocho, a thick stew blended with meats and vegetables, mangu, mashed green plantains, and arepa, a sweet cake served with your main dish. Presidente is a high-quality local ale and a jugo is a refreshing fresh fruit drink made with crushed ice and sugar.

Gourmet

La Puntilla de Piergiorgio is perched on a cliff at the edge of the sea. While your eyes enjoy a feast of their own with the view, your palate is treated to fine Italian cuisine served on the garden veranda. Don't miss the mimosa, it's a house specialty! Sosua.

Highly Recommended

La Bahia makes a great first impression on its patrons with its scenic setting along the sea promenade, then outdoes the view with its exquisite menu selections featuring an amazing variety of seafood dishes from baked red snapper to sea bass and several conch specialties. Santo Domingo.

Local Flair

El Mason de la Cava has a cool setting that you reach by spiral staircase; it's in a sea cave 50 feet below ground that was carved over the ages by ocean waves! The hearty menu is simple but top-notch. You'll enjoy steak, seafood, and local recipes served by an amiable staff. Santo Domingo.

Romantic

Casa del Rio is set amid the turrets, bougainvillea, and candlelight of a recreated 16th-century castle that offers one of the Caribbean's most intimate and romantic places to dine. Indulge in sumptuous meals prepared with a French flair and a West Indian twist. Altos de Chavon.

Going party in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

After dinner, the capital city of Santo Domingo buzzes with the excitement of the intense partying going on in hundreds of bars and discos, especially from those lining the Malecon and seafront promenade. Many of these nightspots cater to a young, college-aged clientele while a few such others feature live bands performing merengue, salsa and other zesty dance music.

Club Scene

The clubs in the prime resort areas of Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata include highlights like Bachata Rosa, a mega dance club in the Colonial Zone with 3 floors of action, Neon Discotheque in the Hispaniola Hotel, and La Guacara Taena, a sizzling merengue and salsa dance club set in an underground cave in Parque Mirador del Sur.

Casinos

Try your luck at card games and slot machines in one of the big hotel casinos, usually open until 4:00am (weekends until 6:00am).

Romantic Nights

An enchanting activity for a quiet evening is taking an open carriage ride along the Malecón.

Common events in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Fiestas Patronales

Each village has its own patron saint, and throughout the year they are honored with wonderful festivals featuring horse races, bullfights, street fairs, food, drums, and dancing. Some of the most notable are the Fiesta de San Felipe in Puerto Plata in June, the Fiesta de San Antonio in Sosua also in June, and the July Fiesta de Santiago Apostol in Santiago.

New Year

A grand fiesta along the waterfront rings in the New Year. Santo Domingo, January.

Carnival

The festival season really gears up with this national party with many parades, street shows, dancing, traditional music and dance, native cooking, and much more. Island-Wide, February.

Merengue Festival

This energetic, 10-day traditional music and dance event is very popular and always a blast. Santo Domingo, October.

Christmas

The season is celebrated over a 12-day period with religious services and many public celebrations. Island-Wide, December.