The Nightlife

Read Part 1 - Create your own or go with an organization?

Read Part 2 - The Children

Read Part 3 - Transportation in the Dominican Republic

In Canada, drinking on the street is forbidden but I enjoyed it when I visited England and I have taken to it here in the Dominican Republic. There is something very social and kind of cool about having a drink on the street.

But really, what a great way to spend an afternoon or evening, heading down to your closest park, listening to music, visiting with other people, firing up the BBQ and having a drink or two? The popular drinks here are Presidente cerveza jumbo size, rum with coke or 7up and vodka and energy drink mixes. You'll see people mixing these drinks on the street. There are some Volunteering in the Dominican Republicpopular spots along the Malecon in Santo Domingo in the Colonial Zone where get-togethers like this happen regularly, especially on Sunday evenings. If you're travelling with a local, they'll know the area between Estreletta and Santome.

If you travel the city by car at night, generally you'll see large groups gathered down many streets and in smaller areas called barrios, people often dance in the streets or sit in plastic chairs talking. Playing dominos and listening to music blaring from jukeboxes or watching baseball on tv in colmados (mini convenience stores) are other popular sites. Duarte Park in the Colonial Zone on Saturday nights is always full of people talking, listening to music and eating from the food stands that temporarily set up in the historical area. There are also liquor stores, the most popular called Drinks to Go that are regular meeting places every night of the week where you can buy alcohol and then drink outside talking with friends.

Many of the higher end dance clubs charge a cover fee and are located along Lincoln. The bars close at 12 pm from Sunday to Thursdays and on Fridays and Saturdays they are open until 2 am. Dress your best as admittance and adherence to dress code is strict. If you want to extend your night, most people head to the casinos down on the Malecon that are open for 24 hours.

My personal nightlife favourites are Atarazana 9 on Street La Atarazana 9 in the Colonial Zone. They play a wide mixture of music: electronic, merengue, hip hop and reggaeton. People tend to be in their mid 20s to late 30s. Generally Atarazana gets busy after 10 o´clock. Thursdays is ladies' night and it'is all you can drink until 11 pm and the cover is 100 pesos for women, about $3 and 300 pesos for men, which is about $9.

The DOCK is happening any day of the week and is located in the Acropolis Mall on the main floor at Winston Churchill and Polibio Diaz in the zone Evaristo Morales. Happy hour runs every day from 5-8 pm where you can drink two drinks for the price of one. Happy Hour is a regular and popular feature that many bars offer here.

Segafredo is another favourite located again in the Colonial Zone. It´s cafe setting with large white umbrellas is located near the end of El Conde just down from Columbus Park. They serve great coffee and pizza and like nearly every other bar here serve really strong drinks.

So if you find yourself out at night in Santo Domingo, you will likely be sitting in a plastic chair on the street at a colmado, on a bench in a park, dancing in a club or even just dancing in the street and very likely enjoying a drink.

About Kelly McIntyre

Kelly holds a Masters Degree in Counselling and has nearly ten years professional experience working directly with individuals to facilitate action toward their employment and life goals. In 2007, Kelly faced her deepest fears, developed new personal truths and followed her dreams of living in the sun and moved to the Caribbean! Now as a Career/Life Coach, Kelly applies her knowledge of how to create a life you love! Her website http://www.transitioncounselling.com/ and blog will provide additional information about her and how she can help you move forward in your own life!

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