Top 3 best hotels near bars in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

I will start with the classics. This five-star hotel is considered one of the best in the city due to its central location and truly excellent service. I had such a great time there after several unfortunate experiences that I didn't even want to leave. The main advantage is that it is located in the center, and several good bars are nearby.

Despite the fact that there is a cool Van Gogh bar in the hotel lobby, I of course headed into the city to find the perfect place to have a delicious cocktail, listen to live music, and meet interesting people.

A true discovery for me was Pa’los Bar y Tapas, located a five-minute walk from the hotel (on Roberto Pastoriza street). An incredibly beautiful place with the tastiest tacos and fabulous cocktails! Here I met some great people: both locals and tourists. And the El Caminante cocktail became a favorite not only in this bar but overall.

The bar has two areas: an open terrace (a perfect spot to chat with friends and grab a bite) and a hall where parties with a DJ take place. I enjoyed sitting on the terrace first, having a snack and a drink, and then going to dance. I’ll warn you: the prices are a bit high, but as soon as I saw the interiors and tried the drinks, I understood what I was paying for. I wholeheartedly recommend this place to you, as finding such delicious cocktails in Santo Domingo is truly difficult.

Very good hotel with many free services. I swam in the pool every day, worked out in the gym, had breakfast and lunch at the restaurant. By the way, the breakfasts are very tasty and familiar. The buffet is a true abundance of fresh fruits and delicious snacks. A separate delight is the local croissants (better than in Paris!). Honestly, such food would be enough for me until dinner, but it's just impossible to skip lunch at the restaurant. Even those who are not guests come here often. That's how delicious it is!

Let's be honest, Dominican hotels are not known for their service. But this one is an exception! At the pool bar, I felt like a VIP guest; they prepared various cocktails for me and treated me to fruits. The same attitude can be found outside the bar; the staff always tries to solve any problem that arises.

Another huge plus is the panoramic windows and stunning view of the city. The rooms, by the way, are not very stylish, but comfortable. Many people think that the furniture is outdated, but believe me, it's much worse in other places! I am not very picky and accustomed to five-star establishments, so I liked absolutely everything here. Great hotel and not too expensive (by five-star standards).

Another five-star hotel that I recommend everyone to stay in. Great location (although quite different from the previous one), excellent service, and very good living conditions. I liked almost everything here, and a big bonus was the great bars both in the building itself and nearby.

Within walking distance from the hotel, I found three cool bars! I went there often, so I can give an objective assessment.

The first and my favorite is RocknRolla Bar. It is located a 10-minute walk from the hotel and is considered quite popular in the city. As a rock lover, I find the atmosphere doubly pleasant. Great music always plays here, they make good cocktails, and the service is surprisingly fast. I can't say that you can spend a relaxing evening; the place is more suitable for fun and lively conversations. By the way, there are a lot of young people, all beautiful and pleasant to communicate with. The bar itself is not very spacious, but definitely cozy. There is a terrace and an indoor area. It is located in a noisy square where there are other bars, but slightly more expensive and pretentious ones.

Another cool bar is La Otra - Bar & Lounge, situated very close to the hotel. Here, the atmosphere is calmer; you can meet friends, have dinner, and enjoy delicious alcoholic drinks. Prices are standard, although the food could be a bit cheaper. It is best to reserve a table in this bar in advance, as it gets quite crowded in the evening. There is a DJ and karaoke, so there will definitely not be a lack of music.

Lastly, I visited Sparta Lounge, located just across the road from the previous place. I really like the open terrace of this bar; it's so romantic and atmospheric! And inside, you can even dance. For this purpose, it's better to come here after 21:00. Judging by the reviews, tourists enjoy coming here as you can meet someone. There are always plenty of young people, beautiful girls, and charming guys. I liked the local burgers, and I preferred to drink sparkling wine or simple cocktails (they make them excellently here!).

Having been in the Dominican Republic for over a month now, I have already gotten used to the fact that hotel staff do not speak English very well. But here, almost everyone spoke English perfectly. The food in the restaurant and room service were very good, considering that I am very picky in this regard. 

The main advantages: luxurious views, a large pool, a restaurant with a terrace, and spacious rooms. Of course, I liked the beautiful hotel grounds and the lovely garden in the courtyard the most. Such a peaceful atmosphere! The attentive staff, their daily smiles, and caring attitude towards the guests made me even happier. By the way, there is a pool, a gym, several restaurants, and even a casino on the premises. Also, there’s a cool bar here with very delicious cocktails and charming bartenders. I often visited there!

Of course, there are also some drawbacks. The biggest one is the terrible coffee machines in the rooms. Some of them are completely broken, and mine, for example, worked intermittently. In addition, it comes with awful coffee capsules. They need to be replaced immediately, as offering such bad coffee in a five-star hotel is inexcusable. I immediately complained to the staff, and let's hope they listened to me.

Well, I'll finish my selection with such a place – JW Marriott Hotel Santo Domingo. It is also considered one of the best in the city. I liked everything here; after all, it absolutely deserves its five stars. A huge bonus is its location in the very heart of the city, close to restaurants, bars, shops, and shopping centers.

Right in the hotel is one of the best bars in the city, in my humble opinion. Vertygo 101 is quite easy to find. There is an amazing atmosphere: cozy and quiet. I would say it’s the perfect place for a date, but it’s also great for meeting with friends. It should be noted right away that they prepare not only cocktails but also various dishes of European cuisine remarkably well. Moreover, the bar offers a cool view of the city, and there is even a glass floor! When I first saw it, I was very impressed and even a little scared! Of course, it's not a cheap place (about $30 for a cocktail), but it is definitely worth it.

Maruja Bar & Food & Coffee is another cool place near the hotel. By the way, it's one of the most popular bars in the city; everyone I met talked about it. I agree, it's great there. You can have a drink and a snack. The prices are much lower than in other popular bars, which pleasantly surprised me. The bar has a "happy hour" promotion every day when drinks become almost free! It's a great place to meet with friends and have casual conversations. Here I tried the most delicious Mojito of my life! I recommend it!

Great five-star hotel! I really liked the friendly and always polite staff, they solved all my problems and always tried to help (they called me a taxi and booked a table at the restaurant). I want to especially mention the rooms: huge and beautiful. I particularly loved that they are bright and have so much air and space! There are also huge junior suites with an area of almost 100 sq. m, but the standard room was enough for me alone.

The hotel has a restaurant and a bar, as well as a pool where I swam every morning. And there are also excellent breakfasts (already included in the room rate). Such a varied buffet is a rare thing in the Dominican Republic. And the coffee! How tasty it is!

Of course, I will note the great location. Right next to the shopping center. There I bought a lot of cool things and gifts for friends and loved ones. There are also plenty of restaurants nearby, you can have dinner practically anywhere!