It is fun to get a nice cold beer, a soda or a bottle of water and sit down to relax with the locals. The beer here is much cheaper than in a bar or restaurant. Most Colmados have music playing, usually very loud. Some have TV's where you can watch whatever is on which many times it is a baseball game, the beloved sport of the country. If you want to make some friends, even if you do not speak the language, buy a large beer, get a few plastic glasses and offer a glass to some of the people sitting around. Sit inside if there is room or take a chair and sit outside on the sidewalk and watch the passers by (make sure as to not block the sidewalk). Many places people even dance no matter the hour. It is alot of fun. So do not feel afraid to enter one of these places. Everyone usually is very friendly and love to meet foreigners.
Colmado Los Muchachos
A great place to sit and hang out with the locals. They have some bar type stools to sit on and also enough room to sit around small tables with friends. At times there are even people dancing to some local tunes. They have a lottery machine there and also they project the Baseball games on the wall and have 2 televisions usually with some type of sports showing. Open from 7AM to 12PM.
Address: corner of Nouel and Sanchez, Colonial Zone
phone: 809-688-8406 or 809-682-9524 for home delivery service
Super Colmado Brisas del Mar
This Colmado is quite large and is usually busy, especially in the evenings. the weekend nights you can find this place usually packed full with people hanging around the outside and sitting in the park across the street. Here you can sit and enjoy the breeze coming off the Caribbean sea in front of one of the original walls of the Colonial zone. It is directly across from the Puerta de la Misericordia/ Gate of Mercy.
Also in the evening in the front of this Colmado there is a street vendor selling frituras. Frituras are a variety of fried meats and foods. Don't let the look of them scare you away. You must give them a try. They are really quite good and are a great compliment for a ice cold beer or some rum and coke.
Directions:Palo Hicado and Arzobispo Portes in Cuidad Nueva on the border of Colonial Zone
Phone: 809-682-7528
Bodega Colonial
There is always music but it is not deafening. They also offer hot sandwiches that are quite tasty. The staff is very friendly and make you feel right at home and they speak a little English. There is lots of room for sitting and dancing also. Lottery machine. Be sure you tell them you saw their information on this web site.
Open weekdays until midnight, Saturday and Sunday until 2AM.
Directions: Arzobispo Merino #101 (2 blocks from the Malecon), Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Phone: 809-685-6113 and 809-685-3451 for delivery to your home or hotel
Rinconcito de Don Guillermo
This small Colmado has a great location if front of the Ruins of San Francisco. They have tables where you can sit and have a drink under an umbrella. They even will bring your drink to your table. In the evenings on most nights there is a grill set up where you can get some good food. Groupo Bonje plays in front on Sundays.
Contact - 809-688-3110 for delivery service
Location - Calle Hostos #349, Ruinas de San Friancisco, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic