Gourmet products local specialties and wines Dominican Republic

This "passage", which spreads over two levels, with its numerous shops, bars, restaurants, a brasserie with daily specials or even its Maison de la Presse française is the nerve centre of shopping in Las Terrenas. And don't be surprised, all the shopkeepers speak French! There is even a French-speaking pharmacy in case of small injuries, a medical center, a bureau de change and probably many more shops to come, because some shops are closing and others have not yet found takers.

There's also a rum factory, which you can visit when the arranged rums are being prepared, and a large adjoining store where you can buy painted bottles of punch. Several flavors to choose from: coconut punch, pineapple, banana, passion fruit, coffee, lime... A good idea for a smart gift, especially as you don't have to limit yourself to two bottles to get through customs, as these painted bottles are considered to be handicrafts, although moderation is of course required.

Step through the door of this French-style bakery to rediscover the pleasure of dipping your croissant into your morning coffee! Breads, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, quiches and delicious wholemeal omelettes are presented in the window. You can also sit down at the few tables set up on the terrace in the heart of the village, at breakfast time or for a sweet break at snack time. The French Bakery is very frequented by the numerous French inhabitants of Las Terrenas.

Every Friday, the Haitian market ties up an artery just outside the city for the entire day. You can find all kinds of clothes, shoes and other very cheap products whose origin is not always known, but which you can easily suppose to come from international organizations or to be escaped products from the free trade zones... Some good deals to be done here (don't hesitate to bargain, Haitians understand your French), while enjoying the pleasant and somewhat frenetic popular atmosphere.

It is the biggest supermarket of Las Terrenas, all the international products are present and the prices are very correct. It is here that the French community comes to stock up, because there are many European products. Do not miss to make a small all in the good French bakery-pastry shop located in the same shopping center. It also offers online shopping and then delivery (from $5,000). For a smaller amount, head to the Komida app.

These are the most popular shopping streets of the colonial city: a real Ali Baba's cave! Hundreds of intertwined electric wires hang along the gigantic multicolored signs. And as the Dominicans do not know how to live without music, the incessant din of the merengue mixes with the noise of the engines and the horns. You can find everything: clothes, shoes, textiles, beauty products, sports articles, food products, telephones... at very competitive prices. La Duarte marks the beginning of Chinatown.

It is the main handicraft market of the capital! It was inaugurated on October 24, 1942, date of the birthday of Trujillo, who ordered its construction. The architecture, very modern for the time, benefited from a system of natural lighting provided by the openings of the roof. Until 1963, only meat and agricultural products were sold there. Today, many craft shops have been set up on the first level, while agricultural products have been relegated to the immediate surroundings of the market.

Horns blaring, scooters whirring, mules braying and merengue chords, raw colors under the hot sun, fried food smells, tropical fruit scents, this is the Caribbean coast in all its splendor, shimmering and turbulent. In addition to the fruits and vegetables that pile up on the ground (come and fill up on bananas!), you will find a whole bunch of sometimes unusual objects along its lively and dusty alleys: kitchen utensils, second-hand clothes, brightly coloured plastic basins..

Tropical fruits, local specialties(dulce and rum), handicrafts, clothes... So many products that you will find in the Mercato Modelo of Santiago. Shops also propose, and especially, jewels of amber and larimar. However, it is very far from the animation and the choice of the Mercado Modelo of Santo Domingo. The one in Santiago has unfortunately decreased in quality for a few years. A visit where to go in spite of everything to impregnate you a little bit of a mercado to the old one and leave the modern shopping centers.

Effervescence and products of all kinds, such is the image of the Mercado Modelo of San Cristobal. You will find on the stalls and in the shops vegetables, tropical fruits, clothes of more or less good quality, various accessories, CDs to remember the years when these musical objects were in vogue but also to find, who knows, songs and melodies unknown (or too little) in France. To soak up the atmosphere of a Dominican covered market. Stop by, even if this Mercado is less important than the one in the capital.

An excellent address for gourmands and gourmands alike: Cabarete Bakery is simply the best patisserie in town. On the menu: brownies, cookies, carrot cake, fruit pie, as well as ice cream and other sweet treats. You can even order special cakes for birthdays and other celebrations, in a variety of shapes - hearts or numbers, for example! The service is perfect, and don't hesitate to call if you have an allergy or other (e.g. vegan or gluten-free), as the pastry chefs will be happy to adapt their recipes to your needs.

For generations, people have been coming to Chichita's to enjoy pastries washed down with delicious fresh fruit juices, or accompanied by a coffee "coup de fouet" to start or continue the day. And don't forget to try the house specialty, a meat pie and banana puree cooked in a banana leaf. A specialty almost unknown in Europe that we will take pleasure in discovering. Possibility of eating on the spot or to take away. Here, local and lively atmosphere. Smiling service. An address to visit.

Nothing very original about the Blue Mall. It is simply a modern shopping mall that houses the biggest European brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Façonnable, l'Occitane and many others... But also international brands and some restaurants for lunch. Also toilets and Wi-Fi access. As well as banking and telephone services. Parking. For those who miss the big shopping mall or for a cool break if the outside temperatures are too hot.

It's a five-minute walk from the central park to this artisanal pastry shop, which is housed in a small building with an aniseed green façade. Jessica Carolina bakes delicious cream-covered cakes. Birthday cakes and wedding pieces are her speciality. She has built up a solid reputation among the locals. So if you have a sweet tooth, don't hesitate to come and try her creations. Everything is made on the spot.

An institution in Santiago. This neighborhood bakery, created more than 100 years ago, is the perfect place for a sweet or savory break. In the window and on the menu, you can choose fromempanadas, muffins, carrot cake, brownie... So many goodies to enjoy throughout the day, accompanied by a coffee or a cold drink. Panaderia Cibao is one of the most popular places for locals to order in or take away. An address of quality equal to the atmosphere and the friendly welcome.

An ice cream shop that offers homemade ice creams, some of which are gluten free, no added sugars and no lactose. All the ice creams are made from fresh local fruits. Special mention for the coconut, strawberry, mango and passion fruit flavours. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy their ice cream on a hot waffle! Cinco Gelato - which has a shop in Santo Domingo and Casa del Campo - also makes frozen yogurts and brownies, great sandwiches, and serves tight Italian coffees just like back home!

Here is the address that will make food lovers melt with pleasure! The concept is simple, efficient and fantastic: choose a combination of frozen fruits in the window, mango/cherry/peach, blueberry/banana, pineapple/passion fruit... They will then be mixed with frozen yoghurt (you can choose with or without sugar) in front of you. Sprinkle with granola, chocolate chips or coconut crumbs, pay 100 pesos and you're done! The good news is that you'll find the chain's stores all over the Dominican Republic.

An elegant, modern setting for this pastry shop run by an American-Dominican. People come here for breakfast or a gourmet coffee, at any time of day: cakes, tarts and other pastries, each more tempting than the last, line up on the display. The Crema Pasteleria is also a restaurant, with a choice of excellent meat dishes, sandwiches and burgers, as well as delicious fresh salads, pasta dishes and risottos.

Here is a very good option for breakfast, but not only... The Vagamundo offers a wide selection of coffees, teas and infusions, as well as some juices, to be accompanied by delicious plates of waffles and bowls declined according to about fifteen recipes. It's also the place to be for nomadic workers and hipsters: the internet connection is fast! You can stay as long as you need to, without having to drink regularly to stay.

You can't miss it with its yellow and white façade. Right in the centre of town, this bakery-pastry shop is a great place to get some food if you're feeling hungry or want a snack. There are even a few small tables in the shop where you can sit down, otherwise the Parque Central is only a few steps away. It's not the best bread in the world, but it's good enough to eat on the go. The workers come here to drink their coffee, chat, read the newspaper...