Business Directory

Bars Nightclubs

Bars are very popular in the Dominican Republic and there are plenty to choose from. Dominican bars tend to play local music such as Merengue and Bachata, which if you are looking for a taste of local life will be just fine. Dominican bars tend to serve a limited range of drinks, usually local beer, such as Presidente, and local rum, the most popular being Brugal. Typically Dominicans drink their rum with cola, usually Coca-Cola due to there being a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Puerto Plata. Wine is often not available at the most basic Dominican bars, and if it is, it may not be of very high quality.

As towns such as Sosua and Cabarete tend to have a higher than normal population of foriegners, due both to the touris and expats, a number of bars, usually operated by foriegners, have sprung up to cater for a more western clientele.

Although, the most popular beers are still Presidente, Bohemia and Brahma, a number of bars offer foriegn brands such as Heineken, Becks, Sol and even some German beers. These all tend to be a fair bit more expensive due to the costs involved with importing.

You are also more likely to find a selection or palatable wine in bars run by foriegners, as historically, wine is not consumed by Dominicans and is viewed as an expensive foriegn drink.

Popular wine brands are Frontera, Concha y Toro, Santa Helena, Viña Maipo and lastly Valdeplata (not our favorite!).

Even if you didn't drink rum back in your home country (unless you were in the Navy!), it is so common here and inexpensive, you will likely find yourself trying it. The largest producer in the country is Brugal, recently acquired by Scottish distiller, The Edrington Group. Barcelo is the second largest rum producer, and there are quite a few more.

Each rum distiller usually produces a range or rums, both white rum and brown (golden). There are also various aged rums, known locally as "Viejo", "Gran Viejo", and "Extra Viejo".