Santo Domingo has an amazing variety of night life options. Unfortunately, most bars and clubs must close at midnight from Sunday to Thursday and at 2AM on Friday and Saturday. This is a regulation imposed since 2006 intended to curtail the escalating crime in the city. Therefore, it is not uncommon for people to start partying at 8PM on the weekends. Happily, the regulation is suspended on holidays and the last two weeks of December for Christmas partying. Usually the clubs located inside major hotels are exempt from this rule, although they aren't usually much fun.

As of November 2007, there are a couple of bars that are open until 3AM on weekends since August 2007.

The Malecon is home to several options as well, depending on what's in style at the time.

Check out Jet Set on Monday nights for live Merengue and Bachata shows from the most popular top bands.

Head over to the upscale side of Santo Domingo (Naco, Piantini) if that is your scene. There are a ton of options there, including perennial favorites such as Trio Caffe, Praia and Montecristo. Be aware that those kind of places can have a rather strict admission policy, you usually have to look white enough and rich enough to be admitted. This discrimination hasn't go unnoticed, the Embassy of United States directed all resident official U.S. Embassy employees to refrain from patronizing Loft one of the most popular and exclusive nightclubs in the city, responding to the actions of Loft management in selectively denying entry to African-Americans embassy on July 22 2007. [http://usemb.gov.do/prelease/Loft_Disco.htm]

In this upscale area of Santo Domingo, consider: * Cue Dance club and lounge * Cinema Cafe Within Plaza de la Cultura, adjacent to Museo del Hombre Dominicano. Nice ambient, presents local rock bands on the weekends. In case of concert there is a $15-20 cover. * Dock Very trendy Bar at the Acropolis Center. Open air, electronic music. * El Barcito Very nice ambiance, mostly rock music. The owner is always present and very friendly. * 504 Fancy Italian restaurant, becomes bar later at night * Mamma A nice Club with House music, where some well known DJ's are invited. Near Santo Domingo Hotel. * Level 2 On the second flour of the Holiday Inn Hotel. Also check out the rooftop bar and pool! * Maruja New, trendy open air bar, close to La Marrana and Margo * Mix Right next to the Mix Restaurant, another popular bar. * Zambra The fanciest club, currently moved to the Holiday Inn Hotel. * Rua Open air bar in front of Aka * Shots Mostly rock music, very young crowd. Ave. Roberto Pastoriza.

If you you are more into the bohemian scene check out the Colonial Zone for great bars and cafes, as well as a vibrant gay nightlife scene. Here are some hints:

*Bio. Modern eclectic music from regueaton to latin rock, very young public. Famous for serving drinks from buckets. Calle Sanchez and Padre Billini *Mojiganga Currently the trendiest place in the Colonial Zone *Cacibajagua. Great rock music, nice decor, adult crowd. Sanchez #201. *Casa de Teatro Enjoy live jazz and rock concerts, pretty bohemian. *Doubles Good Latin dance music. *El Beduino New Hookah Bar on a rooftop in the Colonial Zone. *El Sarten Latin Dance music *Encuentro Artesanal. The decor is definitely the best in the Colonial Zone highly selected electronic music, frequented by artists and publicists. *Misifu New bar in the Atarazana street. Very trendy at the moment. *Museo del Ron The daytime museum turns into a very cosy bar, offering a wide range of Caribbean rums to taste, as well as some of the best rum based coctails in the city. Nice lounge music, beautiful patio. *O' Brien's Supposedly an Irish Pub, and although there's nothing of a pub about it, it is a very trendy place. *Ocho Puertas Rock, alternative and electronica with live music also, very beautiful place. Jose Reyes #107 *Parada 77. Latin rock, spanish songwriters some merengue and salsa , people in their mid thirties and forties. *S Bar. Mostly rock music can enjoy some falafels too, you would love the owner Isaac. Calle Sanchez and Padre Billini *Segafredo. A franchise, loungue music, italian food and good coffee.

Whatever you do, don't leave Santo Domingo without visiting La Guacara Taina, the only nightclub in the world inside a huge natural cave. Descend several hundred feet into a fantasy world of lights and sound. You have to see this place to believe it. Located (under) the Mirador Sur park mentioned above. It can be empty if you go early or on weekdays. (Only opens for events now)