Avenida Venezuela
Not really a bar. Not really a restaurant. But, this is the place to party the night away. There are many different bars, Colmados, and places to eat along this stretch of the road. The weekends and holidays the party is even out on the street. All price ranges and types of music to listen and dance to or just hang out and people watch. It is a 3 block section where the local Dominican goes to party.
Location: East Santo Domingo, across the Ozama River, Av. Venezuela and Av. San Vicente de Paul. Ask any taxi driver and he can get you there. It takes about 10 minutes from Colonial Zone.
Barra Payan also known only as Payans
This is a 24 hour sandwich shop and the prices are very good. They are usually always crowded and quite noisy, especially late at night on the weekends. It is a local hangout and a real experience to visit, even if it is only for their famous fresh squeezed juices and to see the place.Try the blended juice with carnation milk, with or without added sugar, these are wonderful and so refreshing. Many of the sandwiches are made on fresh baked pan de auga, a great crusty bread. If you do not know Spanish it is really no problem.You can just point. Pick something on the giant wall menu, have a little adventure. The first sandwich on the menu is their special and it is quite good. I usually ask for extra pickles/ pepinillos as they have good pickles. They do not sell alcohol.
Contact: 809-689-6654
Location: 30 de Marzo #140, Santo Domingo (any taxi driver in Santo Domingo knows where it is), Dominican Republic
Restaurante Boga Boga (Spanish Food)
Serving Comida Española/ Spanish food Specializing in their Paellas and Seafood dishes. Their Entremeses Boratapas, Picadellas, Munchies, Appetizers, Snacks, whatever name you give them, they are great. Even if you come for just for a little shack plate of Serrano ham (hanging from the ceiling), Manchrgo cheese, and Chorizo (Spanish sausage) with a drink and a cigar it is worth the visit.
Price: Expensive
Contact: 809-472-0950
Location: Av. Bolivar #203 next to Apart-Hotel Plaza Florida, La Esperilla, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
Café Belgrado
Offering central European kitchen with German and Belgian beers in a European atmosphere. The place is small and familiar. There is a Beer Club where you get a free beer for every ten consumed. Many of the customers are expats and business people that live here as well as staff from various embassies.
Well behaved dogs are welcome on the terrace.
Price: Reasonable
Hours: Mon-Thu: 6pm - midnight, Fri/ Sat: 6pm - 2 am, Sun: closed
Contact: 809-534-6001
Location: Sarasota Ave. (close to Bella Vista mall) just before you reach the Nunez and Carceres, Santo Domingo
Cafe del Rio Bar and Cafe
Located at the mouth of the river Ozama on the opposite side of the river from Colonial Zone. Dine and see the boats come in at the Marina and see a great view of the Colonial Zone.
Open Monday thru Saturday from 6PM
Contact: 809-596-2518 and 809-205-1801
Location: Plaza Marina Bartolome Colon, Av. Miguel Barcelo, Margen Oriental del Rio Ozama, A few meters from the Puente Flotante, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Cinema Café
It's a meeting place of artists, students, young professionals, music and movie-lovers alike. Next to the Cinemateca Nacional/ -National Film Library in Plaza de la Cultura. It is decorated with movie posters and is a place to listen to some good music. They have different special evenings and many concerts with an impromptu stage for frequent poetry readings, music and theater performances.
They serve a Creole menu in addition to Spanish tapas. There is a sushi bar on Thursdays. They also serve a wide variety of teas, juices, beers and drinks.
The patio is very inviting. A nice stop anytime especially after visiting the museums. theater and the lovely grounds surrounding the place.
Hours: Monday thru Thursday 11AM to 1AM, Fridays 11AM to 3AM. Saturday 4PM to 3PM, Sunday 5PM to 1AM
Contact: 809-221-7555 http://www.cinemacafe.com.do
Location: Plaza de la Cultura. Enter at the Calles Pedro Henriquez Ureña, Gazcue, Santo Domingo