4 Best Restaurants in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Hotel concierges still recommend this Malecón institution for Dominican food (it's now a local chain of four), although it has been branded as fast food. It's touristy, yes, but Dominicans still make up the majority of customers. Start with mojitos at sunset. The three-tiered, outdoor setting overlooking the sea is unique here. Opt for the excellent sancocho (a rich, meaty stew), mofongo (stuffed mashed plantains), or sopa de pescado (fish soup). Breakfast and lunch (a buffet) is served, as well as dinner: it's open 24 hours, and the clubbers come calling for late-night sancocho. The prices are reasonable, but the service is, unfortunately, somewhat inconsistent Be careful crossing the street here: use the crosswalk, and at night on the Malecón be alert for sketchy characters.

Hotel concierges still recommend this Malecón institution for Dominican food (it's now a local chain of four), although it has been branded as fast food. It's touristy, yes, but Dominicans still make up the majority of customers. Start with mojitos at sunset. The three-tiered, outdoor setting overlooking the sea is unique here. Opt for the excellent sancocho (a rich, meaty stew), mofongo (stuffed mashed plantains), or sopa de pescado (fish soup). Breakfast and lunch (a buffet) is served, as well as dinner: it's open 24 hours, and the clubbers come calling for late-night sancocho. Service is, unfortunately, somewhat inconsistent. Be careful crossing the street here: use the crosswalk, and at night on the Malecón be alert.

This cutesy, kid-friendly restaurant/bakery looks like a French café where chic ladies do lunch. It's buzzing for all three meals (it's the "in" brunch place for residents of this fashionable Piantini neighborhood). Happily, it's still moderately priced, even for apps the size of mains, and generous dishes such as one of the croque madames (perhaps with pulled pork added) or eggs Benedict. At breakfast, they squeeze your juice and tempt you with house-made croissants and beignets. For lunch there's grilled sausages and such sides as homemade waffle-cut fries in silver baskets. Dinner includes delicious mofongquitos (plantain cups filled with veal osso bucco). Signature desserts are luscious. If only the service was so good. Try to snag a seat on the less noisy terrace.

This cutesy, kid-friendly restaurant/bakery looks like a French café where chic patrons do lunch. It's buzzing for all three meals (it's the "in" brunch place for residents of this fashionable Piantini neighborhood), and happily, it's moderately priced, even for apps the size of mains, and generous dishes such as one of the croque madames (perhaps with pulled pork added) or eggs Benedict. At breakfast, they squeeze your juice and tempt you with house-made croissants and beignets. For lunch there's grilled sausages and such sides as homemade waffle-cut fries in silver baskets. Dinner includes delicious mofonguitos (plantain cups filled with veal osso buco). Signature desserts are luscious. If only the service was so good. Try to snag a seat on the less noisy terrace.