The Restaurants with the Best Views in Santiago
· Equipo QueHacerRD
Five tables with a view: from the hilltop that overlooks the whole Cibao Valley to the terraces that have the Monument for a neighbor.
Santiago makes more sense from above. The city sits in the middle of the Cibao Valley, with the Cordillera Septentrional on one side, and it has one landmark you can see from almost anywhere: the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración. So a great view here usually means one of two things: the whole valley lighting up at dusk, or the Monument glowing a few yards from your table.
We picked five restaurants where the scenery is part of the plan. All of them are among the most reviewed in the city, and one tip applies to all five: book ahead and ask for a terrace table, because the ones facing out go first. The best time is just before sunset, when you get the city by day and by night in a single dinner.
Camp David Ranch
This is Santiago's classic view. The restaurant sits high on the hill on the way up to the mountains, and its terrace opens onto the entire Cibao Valley with the city below. It has been welcoming diners for more than thirty years and is still where locals take first-time visitors. It gets cool up there, so a light jacket is a good idea. Expect a solid wine list and the kind of atmosphere that keeps you around until the lights come on down below.
Maximum Rooftop Restaurant
Right downtown, by Calle del Sol and across from the Gran Teatro del Cibao, this rooftop has the Monument straight ahead. The terrace is where you want to sit; if the weather turns, the indoor dining room has you covered. International cuisine, an elegant but relaxed feel, and one of the best night-time postcards in town.
Noah Restaurant
Steps from the Monument, Noah blends Dominican flavors with international cooking, and its outdoor area looks right at the illuminated tower. It is an easy choice for a special dinner: there is valet parking, which is a relief in the Monument district, and a broad menu that works for a date or a big table alike.
Casa Musa
Another neighbor of the Monument, with a carefully put together kitchen and cocktail program. It is the kind of place where you start with a drink looking at the tower and end up staying for dinner. On weekends, book ahead: the room is not huge and the view fills it up.
El Corral Paso Fino
The different view on the list. The restaurant is inside an equestrian center, so the scenery here is green and wide open, with Paso Fino horses in the background. It is a very family-friendly plan, with live music and a Sunday buffet that has a loyal following. Perfect for a long, unhurried Sunday lunch.
Before you go
- Book ahead and ask for the terrace; tables with a view go first.
- Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark.
- It is several degrees cooler up on the hill; around the Monument, the challenge is parking.
Looking for more options? Browse all the restaurants in Santiago in the guide.
