The best restaurants Santo Domingo

L'azotea is one of Santo Domingo's finest addresses, with a superb terrace that's pleasant both day and night. Come with friends until late to sip a cocktail or drink a beer, while nibbling on delicious Spanish-style tapas: ham, mushrooms, chorizo, tortillas and croquetas of all kinds. The menu is very extensive, with plenty of hearty dishes to satisfy the cravings of the whole family. Friendly, young and dynamic service, and a great atmosphere at this restaurant in the colonial zone.

THE middle-eastern restaurant of Santo Domingo. Welcome with oriental music, interior room a bit old-fashioned and often deserted, the attraction being the magnificent patio opened on two floors. Besides the menu, filled with tasty falafels, kebabs, hummus (a must) and other chawarma, we like the atmosphere of the place. Sip a fresh chinola juice or a limonana in the shade of giant banana trees, or in the evening a house cocktail. We recommend the "pintchos" formula which allows you to taste all the specialities, in small portions. Fast service.

Run by Christophe and Stéphanie, the café La Moricette (formerly Paco Cabana), is the haunt of French people living in Santo Domingo and offers the best croissants and pains au chocolat in the colonial zone (a French baker is behind the ovens). Perfect for a French breakfast, a savoury break (croque-monsieur, sandwich), a juice or a smoothie, but also for an aperitif on the terrace while watching the animation of the street. No doubt you will find a French speaker if you feel the need.

Folklore 100% Dominican assured in this vast canteen dedicated to fish and seafood. Mora Pescaderia does not offer a menu, but a counter that presents the specialities of the day: octopus or conchas salad, marinated fish (which will be fried later), garlic shrimps... so many tempting dishes, served in generous portions. The room is often full to bursting, which ensures that the fish is always fresh! The dishes are accompanied by a good cold beer, a glass of wine or a fruit juice. Successful service.

The Barra Payan is an institution, a legend, a place of life and meeting. You can't come to Santo Domingo without tasting its juices and its sandwiches (we recommend the Payan Especial, made of crumbled pork, ham and two kinds of cheese). A biography in Spanish has been published about its owner: how he started from nothing and became very rich by creating the Barra Payan. The place is always full, never closes at night, people crowd around the counter to eat, but you can, of course, order takeaway.

Restaurant Laurel offers a unique dining experience, brilliantly blending traditional Dominican and international cuisine. This trendy restaurant is a favorite with locals, whether for a romantic dinner, a business meeting or a meal with friends. Always full, you can enjoy delicious dishes in a sophisticated, friendly atmosphere. Dishes are prepared with fresh, local ingredients, highlighting local flavors. For gourmands and gourmets, we recommend it!

An elegant address where the service is impeccable. You can come to The Market at any time of the day to enjoy some good food prepared with care: meat and fish, salads and pastas, pizzas and burgers, but also a wide choice of dishes from the buffet. The desserts are deliciously copious, just like the dishes. You can sit on the benches of the wooden tables lined up, or at one of the round tables for 4-5 people. Excellent value for money and good service in this place where the crowds rarely drop.

The Buche Perico hides its game well. Don't be fooled by the exterior façade, it actually houses a magnificent tropical garden with plant walls and small waterfalls: a true haven of peace cooled by the propellers of the ceiling fan. It is in this setting, both modern and colonial, that you can enjoy some Dominican and European dishes prepared in all simplicity. The staff is very friendly, the prices rather honest for the area, and the meals are occasionally enlivened by dance or music performances.

A veritable little embassy of Haitian cuisine, Maison Kreyol offers a deliciously spicy gourmet stopover. The French-speaking team will be happy to provide you with some keys to the menu: "Tèt Kabrit" broth, tilapia filet with cheese, shrimps or lambi à la créole, salt fish... All accompanied by the refreshing national beer Prestige, before finishing with a few swigs of Barbancourt rum. A large buffet is served every Wednesday. Attentive service. Highly recommended.

Le Maraca opened its elegant, chiselled wooden doors in 2020, and since then its success shows no signs of abating. Tucked away in a corner of the old colonial center, the establishment is chic yet accessible: high ceilings, light marble floors, an impressive dark wood bar subtly lit to evoke a luxurious car from the Caribbean version of the Orient Express... This tasteful decor is reflected in the presentation of the plates, colorful and balanced, whether ceviche, braised rice or tapas. Subtle cocktails and great music.

Here is an address that will delight travelers with a small budget but not without an appetite! The D Comer is a small Dominican canteen without pretension, appreciated by the inhabitants of the capital. After a great success in the west of the city, the sign opened a table in the colonial center for our greatest pleasure. Here, they cook simple and very copious dishes, as local as possible: salads, rice and other meats are on the menu. Prices are four times lower than elsewhere, the room is clean and the staff is very pleasant. A favorite!