7 Ways to Experience Santo Domingo’s Food Scene for $20 or Less

Like its neighborhoods and its mix of people, Santo Domingo’s gastronomy scene is diverse, and presents a wide variety of dining scenarios and a unique range of flavors. Whether you’re up for a hearty meal of rice and beans, simple sandwiches, or a New York-style brunch, good food is never far or expensive in the Dominican Republic's Santo Domingo.

Local Restaurants and Cafeterias

The most affordable plate of lunch you can have in Santo Domingo is the plato del día or daily special. Offered in small, local restaurants known as comedores, or in cafeterías, which have a buffet counter set up, plato del día consists of a heaping plate of rice and beans, served with a meat stew of choice, and a side salad, for not more than $4 USD.  

The most popular cafeteria in Santo Domingo, Villar Hermanos sits in the heart of Gazcue, a residential neighborhood located one street behind the row of brand hotels on the seafront boulevard. You can indulge in the best-looking and tastiest buffet in the city at under $3 USD for the day’s plate. Expect to find Dominican classics such as meat stews, mangú–a mash of boiled, buttered green plantains–fish, various types of rice, and chicharrón or fried pork rinds by the pound. Arrive early to avoid a long line. Behind the lunch area is a bakery for cheap grab-and-go savory or sweet pastries.   

A block east, tucked along a partly residential street is La Fábrica Contemporánea, where fresh Dominican and other Latin dishes are on par for taste with the area’s best restaurants. There’s a special menu each day of the week (except Sundays when they close), in addition to a la carte options with burritos, nachos, fajitas, baked chicken, grilled meats, and salads. Prices range from $4-$9. Vegans will also find their picks–the house vegetable mofongo alone is worth venturing here. Wash it down with the té de la casa, a house made fruit juice, ordered with or without rum.

In the Colonial City, where more tourists roam, Mimosa Restaurant–a street behind the popular pedestrian areas–serves tasty daily plates starting under $6 USD. There’s plenty of seating in the charming colonial courtyard, or you can take refuge in an air-conditioned room, with wifi. Vegans will find similar prices and comfort at Kalenda, a couple of blocks south.

Cafés and Sandwich Shops

A Caribbean city with plenty of European flair, Santo Domingo doesn’t want for casual and trendy sidewalk cafes, snack shops, and diners.  

La Cafetera Colonial, on the pedestrian Calle del Conde, is as historical as the neighborhood it occupies. Once a hangout of poets and scribes, the diner and café-style establishment serves simple but tasty sandwiches for less than $4. They’re also known for serving strong coffee, freshly squeezed fruit juices, and shakes. Sit on the patio and enjoy the action in the Colonial City. For a thick juicy burger, chicken wings or pizza slices, Petrus Cafeteria is a solid bet, and a favorite in the area for its well-priced combo meals.