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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Dinner
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
- La bandera: The national dish — white rice, red beans, stewed meat, and salad. Simple, filling, and good at a hundred different price points.
- Mangú: Mashed green plantains, typically served for breakfast with fried eggs and salami. Sounds simple; tastes extraordinary.
- Sancocho: A hearty stew with chicken, vegetables, and root vegetables — more flavour than it looks. Traditional Sunday lunch food.
- Tostones: Twice-fried green plantain slices, served with everything. The Dominican version of chips and endlessly snackable.
- Chinola juice: Fresh passion fruit juice, usually mixed with water and sugar. Intensely tropical and refreshing — order it at every opportunity.
- Presidente beer: The local lager, served ice-cold. Light, clean, and remarkably good in the heat. The unofficial drink of Cabarete beach.
The Full Cooking Option
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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