POP Clubs
Okay, here we go again.
TO the OP, if you want non tourist, no hookers etc. there is absolutely nothing.... you will find them everywhere.
BUT, for what you are looking for, my impression of your question:
Orion: in puerto plata, only open sat and sun. Almost exclusively merengue, bachatta and salsa with just a little reggaeton thrown in. You will see more upscale people here, few tourists.
La Barrica: in POP, full of hookers, dark because that is where skanke people go with people they are not supposed to be seen with. That being said, yes, some people go there cause they like it. Almost all latin music like Orion.Mix of people, few tourists.
Rancho Tipico: not upscale, mostly the same music as Orion but more merengue tipico and a little more reggaeton. Lots of ladies of the night.....
La Canita: definately not upscale, same music, some reggaeton,lots of ladies of the night and a few tourists.
Mangu: the place to go to currently in Playa Dorada (Jack Tar Village), full of tourists, hookers and sankies! Lots of other music, rap, crappy rap, hip hop, reggaeton, some latin but not a lot of it, depends somewhat on the crowd and the DJ.
Hemingways: Playa Dorada plaza lots of tourists, some ladies of the night and sankies. Music is similar to Mangu. Not a great place to dance as it is almost more restaurant but there is a dance floor. Can be a great time depending on the mix of people...
Roadway: same mix of people as the other two in Playa Dorada. Same music, smaller club almost no dance floor. Nice to sit outside though...
Any given time you will see the "Upper echelon" of POP society at any club in Playa Dorada. Sorry, I use that phrase to describe them for lack of any other term!!!
This place needs a really good club that is responsive to the needs of the crowd! Most tourist related clubs play whatever the DJ seems to want to hear.... My pet peeve of the day.
Dance: you will find lots of people who dance merengue, bachatta but not many who dance salsa well here. AND, depending where you learned salsa, they dance it much differently here then what you are used to.
Let me know if you want to know more..... I am out dancing several times a week here.