Food & Drink

Best Restaurants in Cabarete: A Local's Guide

From fresh fish on the beach to hidden Dominican gems — where to eat and drink in Cabarete.

Cabarete punches well above its weight for food. For a small beach town, the variety is remarkable — you can eat fresh ceviche with your toes in the sand at lunch, try genuine Dominican home cooking for dinner, and find excellent coffee and pastries for breakfast without walking more than ten minutes from the beach. The international expat community means cuisines from all over the world are represented, and the local Dominican spots are the best-value meals you'll find anywhere in the Caribbean.

We've been eating our way through Cabarete for years. This is the list we'd hand to anyone staying at RR210 or passing through the north coast. Fifteen restaurants, honest opinions, no fluff.

Prices below are indicated as: $ = under 300 DOP per person, $$ = 300–700 DOP, $$$ = 700+ DOP (roughly $5 / $10 / $15 USD at current exchange rates).

Breakfast & Coffee

Vagamundo
Café · Breakfast
$$

The go-to breakfast spot for Cabarete's expat community and a genuine institution. Excellent coffee, fresh smoothie bowls, avocado toast, and eggs done properly. The outdoor terrace fills up fast — arrive by 8:30am on weekends if you want a table. Also a reliable spot for working remotely; the WiFi is strong and they're relaxed about people sitting with laptops for hours.

El Cocotazo Café
Café · Breakfast · Light meals
$$

Right on Kite Beach at the Cabarete Kite Point school. Excellent breakfast and lunch with a killer view of the kite action. The combination of fresh food, strong coffee, and watching skilled kitesurfers session makes for a genuinely enjoyable morning. Good spot to observe wind conditions before deciding whether to book a lesson.

Lunch on the Beach

Lax Beach Club
Beach Bar · Casual Dominican
$$

One of Cabarete's landmark beach bars. Tables right on the sand, cold Presidente beer, fresh grilled fish, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it very easy to stay for three hours when you only meant to stop for one. Great for watching the windsurfers and kitesurfers on the main Cabarete Bay. Go for the fish — it arrived this morning.

Mojito Bar
Beach Bar · Cocktails
$$

Exactly what the name promises, and they do it well. The mojitos are the best in Cabarete — properly muddled, generously poured, and served with a view. The food menu is simple but solid; this is more a place to drink and watch the beach than to eat a serious meal. Sunset hour is the time to be here.

Ono's Beach Bar
Beach Bar · International
$$

Another Cabarete institution, right on the main beach. Ono's has a loyal following for its relaxed vibe, consistent food, and excellent cocktails. Good for groups — the tables are big, the drinks come fast, and nobody rushes you. Known for lively evenings that start early and end late.

Aura Beach Club
Beach Club · Cocktails · Lunch
$$$

Aura is Cabarete's most polished beach club experience — think daybeds, a proper cocktail menu, and food that's a step above the typical beach bar. It draws a mix of well-travelled expats and visitors who want the beach club feel without the full Punta Cana resort price tag. The cocktails are the reason to come; the food is a solid bonus. Best on a weekend afternoon when there's a crowd and the vibe is right. Slightly pricier than the rest of Cabarete but still reasonable by international beach club standards.

Dinner

Bliss Restaurant
Fine Dining · International
$$$

If you're celebrating something or want a genuinely special dinner, Bliss is the answer. Creative international menu, beautiful plating, excellent wine list, and an elegant outdoor setting. It's pricier than most of Cabarete, but the quality is real and the experience is worth it for a special occasion. Book ahead in peak season.

Miro's
Italian · Pizza
$$

Cabarete has a surprisingly strong Italian community and Miro's is the local favourite for pizza and pasta. The wood-fired pizza is genuine — thin, blistered crust, proper ingredients — and the pasta dishes are made fresh. Relaxed atmosphere, reasonable prices, good for families. A reliable choice when you want something simple done well.

Parada 22
Local Dominican · Comida criolla
$

The best-kept secret for travellers who want to eat like a local. Parada 22 is a proper Dominican comedor (lunch counter) serving the national bandera — rice, beans, stewed meat, and salad — for around 200 pesos. The food is honest, generous, and delicious. The clientele is mostly local workers. This is the real Dominican Republic on a plate.

Yamazato
Japanese · Sushi
$$$

Yes, there's excellent sushi in Cabarete — and not just tolerable Caribbean sushi, but genuinely good Japanese food. Yamazato has built a loyal following among both expats and visiting foodies. The fish is fresh, the rolls are creative, and the sake selection is solid. Go on a Friday evening when the atmosphere is liveliest.

La Casita de Yolanda
Dominican Seafood · Comida criolla
$$

A local institution that gets overlooked by tourists because it doesn't look like much from outside. That's a mistake. La Casita serves some of the best Dominican seafood on the north coast — fresh catch cooked simply, with the national sides done right. The lobster when it's in season is exceptional value compared to what you'd pay at a resort. Come hungry and order whatever the server says came in that morning.

Casa del Pescador
Seafood · Beach dining
$$$

One of Cabarete's most beloved dinner spots, right on the beach. Casa del Pescador specializes in grilled whole fish, fresh shrimp, and lobster — the kind of seafood dinner that makes you understand why people move to beach towns. The beachfront setting is beautiful at night, and the service is warm and unhurried. It's on the higher end of Cabarete pricing but genuinely worth it for a special evening meal. Reserve ahead in peak season.

Dominican Food — What to Try

If it's your first time in the Dominican Republic, here are the dishes worth ordering wherever you see them:

Practical tip: Many restaurants in Cabarete don't take cards reliably — always carry some Dominican pesos or USD. ATMs are walkable from the beach. Tipping 10–15% is appropriate and appreciated; service staff in Cabarete work hard for modest wages.

Where to Eat by Area

Cabarete's food scene is concentrated in two main areas, each with a distinct feel:

Quick Reference: What to Order Where

The Full Cooking Option

Planning your trip around the food? Pair dinner at Bliss or Casa del Pescador with a day trip to the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua (30 min from Cabarete) or a morning session at Kite Beach — you'll have earned your appetite.

One genuine advantage of staying in a condo like RR210 over a hotel is the full kitchen. There's a fresh produce market in Cabarete town, a supermarket within walking distance, and excellent local bakeries for bread and pastries. Cooking your own breakfasts and the occasional dinner significantly reduces your food budget — and the balcony at RR210 is a genuinely great place to eat.

The Perfect Base for All of This

RR210 is right on Kite Beach — Lax, Mojito Bar, and Ono's are a short walk away, and the full kitchen means you control as much of your own cooking as you like. Two bedrooms, ocean view, private pool.

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