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Restaurants

The tastiest Dominican delights are usually found outside the resorts, but even if you don't venture out you should still look for these local dishes on menus at your hotel: Mangu, a typical Dominican breakfast dish made of lightly salted mashed plantains and onion, often mixed with cheese and bacon; Chibo (goat), a Dominican delicacy served on special occasions; and Chimichurri, usually referred to as a "chimi" – this ultimate Dominican street food is similar to a hamburger and sold by street vendors (the vendors themselves are also sometimes referred to as chimis, so don't get confused).

Those with high-end tastes and a preference for posh surroundings love the Oscar de la Renta-designed Coccoloba (809/959-2262; www.puntacana.com) at the PuntaCana Resort & Club. Named after the sea grape tree that's common to the DR, this small and elegant restaurant offers an excellent wine list and serves seafood, meat (including chibo), and pasta and is widely regarded as the top dining experience in Punta Cana (reserve ahead). Also at the Puntacana Resort & Club, La Yola (closed Tuesday; 809/959-2262) is an open-air, waterfront restaurant with glass floor panels overlooking the resort's marina. Appropriately, the menu is dominated by fresh seafood dishes.

For mid-range dining options, your best bet is to head to Plaza Punta Cana (across from the airport) where you'll find several good restaurants and a variety of cuisines. Trattoria Mama Luisa (809/959-2013) offers fried calamari, meat-sauce lasagna, tomato and mozzarella salad, and many other Italian-American food items, all in a red-checked table cloth setting. Pizzarelli (809/959-4017) is a casual place that offers – you guessed it – pizza, while El Guano (809/959-1007) serves traditional Dominican cuisine in slightly more upscale surroundings.

For a barefoot-in-the-sand eatery, you don't want to miss Captain Cook's (Playa El Cortecito; 809/552-1061), where the menu – mostly seafood – is hanging on the wall. Watch the fishermen come in with the day's catch and pick your meal from a barrel. Bare feet and swim trunks are the attire of choice. Tip: If your resort isn't far from Playa El Cortecito, you can arrange to be brought to the restaurant by water taxi. The similarly-themed but more upscale Jellyfish (Carretera Bavaro; 809/886-5754; www.jellyfishrestaurant.com) is another well-regarded, primarily seafood restaurant with a beachfront location – spend some time in a beach bed or hammock after your meal and enjoy a few more cocktails.

See Dominican Republic Travel Guide