The best restaurants Dominican Republic

Timetable

Restaurants in the Dominican Republic are generally open all day, with the exception of a few in the capital. Some are cafés serving food from dawn onwards, while others are more conventional restaurants, usually open from noon to 10pm, 11pm, midnight, or even later on weekends in major cities and seaside resorts.

Budget & Tips

Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is home to all types of cuisine: apart from national dishes, the most popular are Mediterranean, Spanish, French and Italian, all of which work very well with local products. From elegant tables to neighborhood gargotes, from international buffets in luxury hotels to world cuisine, from home cooking to "new wave" creations, there's a menu to suit every appetite. Chinatown (north of Rue Duarte) overflows with inexpensive restaurants and is also popular for lunch. The restaurants in the north and south-west zones, far from the main tourist attractions, are frequented by business people and Dominicans alike. Restaurants in the colonial zone are lively both day and night. La Atarazana is a string of pleasant restaurants. The terraces, overlooking Plaza España and the Alcazar de Colón, are particularly pleasant in the evening.

The site to know. The www.menu.com.do website lists an incredible number of restaurants, in the capital but also in the country's other cities, according to your wishes: sea view, open 24 hours a day, parking, brunch special, etc., with a very easy-to-use interface. It presents menus for all the restaurants and offers a takeaway and delivery service. A wealth of information on where to eat!

What costs extra

In the Dominican Republic, restaurant bills already include a 10% tip for the service team. However, there's nothing to stop you leaving a further 10% if you enjoyed the service. Water and bread are generally not free.

The local way

Typical Dominican dishes abound, fromarroz con habichuela (rice, beans and chicken) to sancocho (seven stewed meats), from pica pollo (fried chicken) usually accompanied by tostones (fried plantains) to... spaghetti! There are several types of eateries: frituras (street stalls offering simple, tasty fried dishes), comedores (canteens offering a low-priced dish of the day), cafeterias (more urban, frequented at all hours of the day, but especially for breakfast) and finally restaurants. Dominicans generally go out to eat at weekends, except in the colonial center of Santo Domingo, where restaurants are frequented every day.

To be avoided

While frituras - small makeshift kitchens that fold up once everything has been sold - are not to be avoided, it's worth bearing in mind that the hygiene standards to which a European is accustomed are not met here. Nevertheless, the food prepared on the run is delicious!

Kids

Children are welcome in most restaurants in the Dominican Republic. However, if your chosen dining establishment is more of a drinking establishment than a restaurant, you may not be accepted if you are accompanied by minors.

Smokers

Smoking is generally prohibited in enclosed restaurants. However, the vast majority of Dominican restaurants are outdoors or have terraces open to the four winds. If no one is smoking around you, the best thing to do is ask the wait staff for permission.