Nightlife outside resorts in Playa Dorada

Frank the Tank · #1 05-12-2005, 03:36 AM

I will be traveling to the DR for the third time this year at the end ofthe month and staying at the Coral Caribe in Playa Dorada. Other than the disco in the resort, can anyone reccommend some good places to go outside the resort for some good night life?? This is my first time to the north coast. I've stayed in Boca Chica twice and found that to be hooker central. I'd like to be able to enjoy more of the local atrtactions and flavors. Thank you all.

Music · #2 05-12-2005, 10:58 AM

I was in the DR last Feb I always have fun at La Canita, I've been to La Barrica, Orion and there is so many more. It depends what you like to listen to and what type of crowd you like. I love to hear Bachata and Merengue and Salsa. I like to go where I will dance all night.

I heard from a friend that lives in the DR that there is a new club in POP which is good but I don't remember the name sorry.
I usually ask the Domincan people what clubs are popular!

Have fun wish I was going!

Conchman · #3 05-12-2005, 12:35 PM

Mangu's in the Jack Tar Hotel and Roadway near Hemingway's are the hottest spots right now, at least in Playa Dorada.

carina · #4 05-12-2005, 02:40 PM

Are you staying at Coral Marien? This hotel is not located in Playa Dorada, but in Costa Dorada. This is another place closer to Puerto Plata.

Mangú and Roadway are about the hottest places right now, as Conchman wrote. There are also other discos/clubs in the Playa Dorada area.

Just outside Playa Dorada you also have Café Cito and El Campito that usually have local performers on weekends.

La Canita and La Barrica are local places, very popular to visit by sankies and prostitutes as well as ordinary middle or lower class locals.
I personally would not set my foot at a place like those 2.

In the city you also have a disco Orion, and more local places like Mountain View or Racho Tipico.

Also you might want to ask if Café Cito will be running their pubcrawl at the time of your visit, it is a full evening tour starting in Puerto Plata and going to Sosua and Cabarate and back. Usually very popular.

Have fun where ever you end up!

Music · #5 05-12-2005, 03:34 PM

I personally would rather go to La Canita than Mangu which is full of Sankies. I'm always annoyed by these sankies bothering me.
I've had no problems in La Canita nobody bothered me and my friends. I was lucky I guess. I just enjoyed dancing all night which is all I want to do anyhow.
La Baricca very dark, didn't like not being able to see my hand infront of my face

I've gone to Rancho Tipico which was good.
Orion was okay and Mountainview I went during the day it was okay.
I went to a Car wash as well in POP didn't like it too much.

Everyone has there own preference right. I say explore and see what places you prefer. I explored and sometimes went to three different clubs in one night. Live and learn right as long as you having fun along the way!

planner · #6 05-12-2005, 03:35 PM

Okay Playa Dorada - 3 minutes away, these are all targeted to tourists but on weekends will target Dominicans as well. So you will get a mix of thump thump thump , reggaeton, and latin music

You have the current favourite Mangu, at Jack Tar Village Hotel, beside casino, large and busy most nights.

Roadway, behind playa dorada plaza - smaller, I"m told good food, a little pricey by local standards. Sometimes local bands play.

Hemingways, in playa dorada plaza - decent food, expensive, music is a mix

Crazy moon, in Paradise Hotel - larger, less expensive but not too popular since Mangu opened.

?????, at Playa Naco Hotel - can't remember the new name. Not busy most nights.

OUtside Playa Dorada

Cafe Cito - as mentioned by Carina is close to you but it is a restaurant, they rarely have live music. NOt a spot for dancing. Good food there!

El Campito - only good if there is live music then it is amazing and my favourite spot. DOn't ever figure the band will start when they say it will. all latin music

Orion, in puerto plata- Only open saturday and sunday nights. Big dance floor on main floor smaller one on second floor. IT can be awesome or not depending on the crowd. Drinks are cheap. all latin music

La Barrica, in puerto Plata - very very very dark. It is where you go to NOT be seen, if you know what I mean. Drinks are cheap. All latin music

Rancho Tipico, just the other side of Puerto Plata - lots of fun, reasonably well lit, good dance floor, lots of fun but not many tourists though. all latin music

Mountainview, in Puerto Plata - can be a lot of fun, locals almost exclusively. All latin music.

La Canita, in Puerto Plata - This is a very inexpensive place that attracts "simple" people. There is no pretense here. Everything is available, at a cheap price...... if you get my meaning. Dance floor is a good size.

Car washes - there are many. They are all the same, simple people, cheap prices, everything is available including actually getting your car washed!

I have been to all these places. I have my favourites and others I don't really like. BUT any given night I will go to almost any of these places. I know how to act in each place. You will find a huge variety of people in each location but a higher percentage of certain types in each. ALSO, on any given night any of these places can be dangerous, just like back at home!!! You have to use your head if you are going out.

Pub Crawl - is running two nights a week right now. It goes to the Malecon, a car wash, dinner at cafe cito, to Sosua and then to cabarete.

By the way, I"m always available to act as tour guide....

Frank the Tank · #7 05-12-2005, 04:22 PM

Thank you to everyone for their suggestions. Yes, I did get then name of the resort I'm staying at wrong. I'm actaully staying at the Marien Coral. I'm looking forward to checking out some of these places. I like the bachata and merengue music and like to dance adn I'm getting good at it for a gringo.

daydream · #8 05-12-2005, 04:54 PM

I have been to most of the places you mention inside Playa Dorada many times

Mangu charges an entrance fee which includes one drink- do you have to pay to get into any of the clubs outside Playa Dorada?

Thanks
Daydream

planner · #9 05-12-2005, 04:58 PM

The only time there is a fee is if there is live music. It will vary from 50 pesos to 500 pesos depending on who is playing. Drinks are significantly less outside playa dorada.

Malibook · #10 05-12-2005, 05:44 PM

La Barrica is not THAT dark.
Those who wake up shocked after leaving Barrica should probably blame the booze more than the faint light.

I like Mountainview but for afternoons La Canita is much better.

Crazy Moon used to be so happening but it seems like Mangu is the palce to go now.
I like Hemingway's also.

Does anybody know if Mangu has free entry and drinks for Jack Tar guests?