The capital of the Dominican Republic is the largest in the Caribbean and offers many attractive places, as well as a culture that is just as easily discovered in some of the country’s beach enclaves.
Here are things that caught my eye after spending a long weekend here.
Santo Domingo was the first city built by Europeans in all of the Americas. So, you’ll find a lot of firsts here: the first street, the first cathedral, the first monastery, the first grocery shopping district, etc. Santo Domingo was the center of the New World for many years. For a time, any shipment sailing anywhere in the region had to first arrive in Santo Domingo to get permission to sail to its final destination.
This is where Columbus first sailed (and “discovered”) and located several statues, monuments, and sites dedicated to himself, as well as his son Diego, who also played a role here as Viceroy of the Indies. While Columbus’ role in history (and the atrocities perpetrated among the peoples of the New World) is still hotly debated, the Dominicans I spoke with seemed to take a measured approach: this unhappy history, however, has influenced this island in multiple ways.
Exterior view of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. (Photo credit: Photo via Paul J. Heney)
For a country with such a warm climate, I was a little surprised to find out how popular stews and soups are. For breakfast, a classic dish is mangú, which is made up of mashed green plantains, fried salami, and fried cheese. I heard a lot of noise about the dreamed dying, a drink made of ice, milk, and orange juice. I found it so strange that I had to check it out and was pleasantly surprised by the concoction, which reminded me of an orange cream.
Sancocho, a stew of meat, root vegetables, and beans, is served with rice and avocado and was my favorite discovery of the trip. It is considered one of the national dishes. I also enjoyed the coconut seafood chowder, another common dish here. It can come with scallops, clams, and even lobster. And Dominicans have their own edition of mofonpass, the popular Puerto Rican food, which was also delicious. Needless to say, there’s new fish here, and you can’t go wrong opting for anything from the sea when you’re in town.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Santo Domingo, but after visiting three homes under the Marriott umbrella, I came away very inspired by the diversity of hotels and the quality.
Vestibule of the Santo Domingo Courtyard. (Photo credit: Photo via Paul J. Heney)
The Courtyard Santo Domingo is one of the most adorable Courtyards I’ve ever experienced, with high-end finishes from the public spaces to the bedroom bathrooms. While much of the occupancy here comes from business travelers, the hotel has an adorable terrace where you can find a live band or karaoke every night. And the location is close to many local museums, so it can be a good choice even for recreational travelers.
Downtown, the JW Marriott Santo Domingo is an upscale asset attached to an upscale mall but one that has an intimate vibe. Check out their Vertigo Bar, located in the lobby on the sixth floor of the building. The glass grounds allow you to sip cocktails while hunting. 101 feet away, toward the cars and pedestrians below. And the upscale Winston’s Grill restaurant.
View of the Vertigo Bar at the JW Marriott Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo credit: Photo via Paul J. Heney)
My favorite is the Hotel Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua
There are 3 at the Renaissance: Bohio Coffee House; Sol Pool Lounge
Visitors will find a variety of museums in the city, from the Museo de los Angeles Casas Reales to the Columbus Lighthouse and the Museum of Modern Art. But I was delighted with some of the smaller and more exclusive ones. The Museum of Rum and Los Angeles Cana is a small rum museum with exhibits that tell the story of sugar cane and rum in the Caribbean. The rum here is more regulos angel than in other countries; Here it will have to be made solely from sugar cane and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months.
I also enjoyed the Amber Museum. This family-owned establishment has a wealth of facts and engaging exhibits about this jewel-like material, made even more so by its role in the plot of the movie Jurassic Park. Here in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, a large amount of amber has been discovered. And the museum’s exhibits include everything from ants and termites to vegetables and flowers.
Dominicans are friendly and courteous hosts and love to share their culture with visitors. The island of Hispaniola was colonized by the French to the west and the Spanish to the east, eventually resulting in the division of the island between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Although most of the native Taino people have been killed, some remain in their pockets. Today you’ll find a rainbow of people here, with locals of Spanish, African, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and French descent. The Taínos gave the Spaniards words from the conquistadors for things they didn’t know, adding some that we use today, such as: papaya, guava, hammock, barbecue, and iguana.
Baseball is very popular and MLB has even played exhibition games here. There is a national winter professional league with six groups that the whole country follows. Since tourism is the biggest industry here, Dominicans are eager to please. A local told me that the country exports a lot of rum with fruity flavors like pineapple and artisanal fruit, but it’s all meant for tourists. ” We don’t drink rum that way,” he said. For us, it’s a popular rum paired with Coca-Cola, Seven-Up or beer. “
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Paul J. Heney is a long-time regular traveler. He has been editorial director of several hospitality projects. . .
Chief Executive Officer of Zenbiz Travel, LLC
Chief Executive Officer of Zenbiz Travel, LLC