3 Best Restaurants in Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic

The simple, off-the-grid palapa seems to exhale with a breezy, unbothered joviality; bring your camera: from this cliffside perch the sea eagle's view of endless ocean makes you feel as if you're at the edge of the world (and in season it's ideal for whale-watching).The menu offers something more creative than the standard fish in coconut sauce: delicious calamari, seafood paella or stew, or stir-fried squid or conch. Vegetarians are well accommodated, too, but you have to call in advance if you want fresh fish, lobster, or paella. The long wait for your food is best done in a hammock. Remote, it's a rough ride up coastal dirt roads but still accessible with a regular vehicle. You can even stay overnight, as there are several cabanas and a renovated tree house.

As the name suggests, seafood is the headliner at this sophisticated marina-side restaurant (formerly Cafe Del Mar), serving Caribbean-influenced Mediterranean cuisine. By day, have lunch outdoors while dipping in and out of the infinity pool. At sunset, have a rum-something while chilling on a chaise and listening to lounge music. After dark, go inside, where rounded glass windows magnify the enchanting night-lit pool and ocean beyond. Start with ceviche and always consider the fresh catch of the day. The pizzas aren't bad, either.

This jaw-dropping, beachfront beauty is one of the better players in the ever-evolving, European-accented restaurant scene in Las Terrenas. The nautically themed dining room is by the well-known Dominican designer Patricia Reid. Smart servers take pride in providing the kind of service that normally is found only in Santo Domingo's finest restaurants. Though beautiful, the setting is decidedly casual; in between courses, guests who come in their cover-ups can dive into the crystalline waters just past the seagrape trees. The Peruvian-influenced cuisine has roots in Italian cooking, with Asian undertones, and focuses primarily on fresh seafood, including delightful Peruvian-style ceviche. The wine cave is impressive as well.

In low season the hours are cut back some.