Santo Domingo Nightlife

If you have visited Barcelona and stayed in or near the Eixample Esquerra (commonly referred to as the Gayxample) you know the Arena chain of clubs. Their fame and near-monumental status for many visitors and locals of Barcelona is one of the reasons why I was baffled to find an outpost here, in Santo Domingo, given the generally conservative nature of Dominican culture. Of course, the club ALWAYS seemed to be closed when I passed by (even at midnight on a Friday), so I don't know what it's like inside or if there is some sort of private guest list you must be on to get in. If the club is anything like its sisters in Barcelona, its bound to be fun for all, with little emphasis on the sexuality of its partygoers.

Dress Code: You needn't be extremely fancy at any club in the downtown core of Santo Domingo, but do try to look like you cleaned up before you came. Appearance is really important in the DR, so try to impress rather than blend in with the walls.

This is where I used to sit while waiting to get in to Karaoke Sea Bar when it was full. Cheap beers, not a pretentious place. It's basically a little place where they have the cashier and the drinks, and a lot of white plastic chairs and tables, right in front of the street.

Dress Code: Casual/Leisure.

I love this place! I used to be a regular when I lived in SD. The bar isn't that spacious, or it doesn't feel that way when it's full - which happened often! This is a nice place to kick back, have a drink and enjoy the performances of "frustrated" singers - or better yet, work up some courage, choose a song from their often updated song menu and entertain them yourself! When nobody's singing you can dance the night away on their dance floor.

Part of the decor is, well, small fish tanks. Friendly staff. This isn't the place to go if you want to talk, as the sound is loud.

Dress Code: Casual/Leisure. No sneakers, no flip flops/beach sandals, no broken jeans.

We stumbled on this club by chance, during the day, as we were looking for a restaurant that no longer existed. The club is housed in an older building that has been renovated, and the décor is a mixture of colonial and modern club chic. The music changes from night to night, but, from what I gathered, there ar several house nights per week. Frankly, it appears this is the only club of this type in the centre of Santo Domingo.

Dress Code: Casual but chic.... that is, jeans and runners are ok, but they should be spiffy and not the dirty clothes you sweat into all day while seeing the sights.

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I was doubtful about writing this tip or not. This place is so authentic that I'm somewhat afraid that "advertising" it would be a bad idea. On the other hand, I'm sure that very few of the package tourists will go never there. This is not the kind of spot that "sand and sun and sex" crowds are looking for... However, if you are a visitor with genuine interest with Dominican culture and way of life you will love this place, and you'll be welcome here.

The place is a small bar. You can easily pass by without noticing it. The crowd was quite "old", lets's say around their fifties, but a few young people as well. I think everyone is welcome here, the only requisite is love for the authentic Salsa music and dance. This particular day they had an Uruguayan singer and entertainer as invited artist, later a nice lady singing some classic bachatas. Between performances, music to dance... A really polite and somewhat old-fashioned gentleman gave me some free lessons of salsa dance (I just loved the way he approached me and later took my chair for me to seat, he make me feel like in an old classic b&w movie :) !!) Later we spoke about his willing to visit Barcelona some day, and how we were enjoying his beautiful country... Well, I'm afraid you need to speak a decent Spanish to fully appreciate the place. But in any case, it would be nice to have a drink while enjoying the live music and people watching.

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Santo Domingo's colonial zone has so many trendy bars, restaurants and discos, all around the colonial square. There are spots for every single taste, age and musical preference. Musical rhythms - salsa, merengue and bachata - are as diverse as visitors.
There are no favorite rhythms, you can define your night according to your particular tastes and likes. Known locally as "la Zona", the area is the favorite spot for a hot disco, a quiet romantic dinner, or a just drink in one of the many popular bars spotted all around the colonial streets.

Wander, find "your" place, and enjoy yourself! But remember: most places don't get good until quite late, after midnight. So... take a nap and head to "la Zona".

Don't waste your time on the Guacara Taina, which was underwhelming in my experience.

Avenidas Venezuela and San Vicente have several popular discos, and are full of real Dominican people (instead of tourists) and play real Dominican music. I would recommend going with someone local though, especially if your spanish is limited.

Dress Code: dress nice and clean, but do not overdress; this is not a rich area, and you will stand out.

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE CROWD IN GUACARA TAINA.

SANTO DOMINGO'S Premier Entertainment Spot, where more than 900,000 persons have dined and danced, The best in CARIBBEAN artists come regularly to the Guacara Taina: merengue, salsa, merenhouse, Latin Reggae, Spanish rap, and cumbia.
The Guacara Taina sponsors MERENGUE WORKSHOPS designed for tourists to learn the basic movements to this enormously popular dance form (which originated in the Dominican Republic and can now be heard in every country).
The Club shows include Merengue Folkloric acts, it has three bars each one with it's own personality, an in-house international restaurant, three huge dance floors, with a capacity for more than 2,000 people inside the club.