Santiago: Things To See and Do

[Lou2100]

On my adventure in the Dominican Republic, I plan on adding a stop over in Santiago . Found a location not to far from the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración.
I know there is a strip of restaurants and such near the monumento . Just wondering if there are any nice lounges in that area as well and looking for suggestions for daytime activities and places to see and/or visit.

 

[NanSanPedro]

On my adventure in the Dominican Republic, I plan on adding a stop over in Santiago . Found a location not to far from the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración.
I know there is a strip of restaurants and such near the monumento . Just wondering if there are any nice lounges in that area as well and looking for suggestions for daytime activities and places to see and/or visit.

I stayed at Hodelpha Centro Plaza when I was there a month ago. Really enjoyed it. They have an adjacent casino if you like that sort of stuff. I don't and we didn't go inside. Yea there's lots of places on the perimeter of the monument. I can't recommend any because I can't remember the names.

One thing we did do was get a taxi and go up to mundo aquatico. It's a water park and I think the admission is 300 pesos. We enjoyed it too. The food is below average but it's the swimming that you're there for.

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

Lots of restaurants near the monument. My favorite is Kukara Macara. I like sitting on the second floor near the front and people watch (and eat). They have a small bar on the ground floor. Food is pretty good and prices are similar to a mid-range American restaurant.
Centro Leon museum should be good for part of the day, as well as the botanical gardens.
Calle de Sol is a popular shopping area. You'll find these places and more with a simple google search.

Are you travelling alone or with others? If you're looking to hit the clubs and find companionship, you'd better know a lot more Spanish than "cuanto". Just sayin'.

 

[NanSanPedro]

Lots of restaurants near the monument. My favorite is Kukara Macara. I like sitting on the second floor near the front and people watch (and eat). They have a small bar on the ground floor. Food is pretty good and prices are similar to a mid-range American restaurant.
Centro Leon museum should be good for part of the day, as well as the botanical gardens.
Calle de Sol is a popular shopping area. You'll find these places and more with a simple google search.

Are you travelling alone or with others? If you're looking to hit the clubs and find companionship, you'd better know a lot more Spanish than "cuanto". Just sayin'.

Like I said, I don't know the name of the restaurants we went to, but your description of Kukar Macara sounds exactly like where we went. We got a seat for 2 on the area closest to the outside and people watched all dinner.

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

Like I said, I don't know the name of the restaurants we went to, but your description of Kukar Macara sounds exactly like where we went. We got a seat for 2 on the area closest to the outside and people watched all dinner.

If the wait staff was dressed up in Western costumes and there were John Wayne posters on the wall, that's the place!

 

[BermudaRum]

On my adventure in the Dominican Republic, I plan on adding a stop over in Santiago . Found a location not to far from the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración.
I know there is a strip of restaurants and such near the monumento . Just wondering if there are any nice lounges in that area as well and looking for suggestions for daytime activities and places to see and/or visit.

I can only suggest evening activities. My favorite local restaurant near the Monument (see map) is Ahi Bar Cafe Grill. Great menu, with option of seating indoor/outdoor cover. Very popular with the locals as the music and video screens make it a nice place to dine. Dress smart casual.
After dinner you can hang out (see map) at the Bajarando Bar with live music. On Fri - Sun you have to get there before 9;30pm to get a good table. Mainly Tipico or bachata bands performing with a nice dancing floor to enjoy until 1 am.
As far as transportation, I only use Uber, followed by Emi Taxi (app). My hotel of choice at least a dozen or more times is Matum Hotel. I call it the most mature and historical hotel in Santiago. I also have stayed in Hodelpha Centro Plaza a couple of times, however IMO it's nice where you want to be for shopping during the day, however nothing to do at night.
Hope you enjoy the city, I know I do....

 

[Lou2100]

Lots of restaurants near the monument. My favorite is Kukara Macara. I like sitting on the second floor near the front and people watch (and eat). They have a small bar on the ground floor. Food is pretty good and prices are similar to a mid-range American restaurant.
Centro Leon museum should be good for part of the day, as well as the botanical gardens.
Calle de Sol is a popular shopping area. You'll find these places and more with a simple google search.

Are you travelling alone or with others? If you're looking to hit the clubs and find companionship, you'd better know a lot more Spanish than "cuanto". Just sayin'.

LMAO....
Charm and personality translates in all and ever language .
Not a club guy , lounge and such more my vibe.
Polyamorous - so I am more than good.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

LOL....Can't buy it, but maybe you can rent it.

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

I can only suggest evening activities. My favorite local restaurant near the Monument (see map) is Ahi Bar Cafe Grill. Great menu, with option of seating indoor/outdoor cover. Very popular with the locals as the music and video screens make it a nice place to dine. Dress smart casual.
After dinner you can hang out (see map) at the Bajarando Bar with live music. On Fri - Sun you have to get there before 9;30pm to get a good table. Mainly Tipico or bachata bands performing with a nice dancing floor to enjoy until 1 am.
As far as transportation, I only use Uber, followed by Emi Taxi (app). My hotel of choice at least a dozen or more times is Matum Hotel. I call it the most mature and historical hotel in Santiago. I also have stayed in Hodelpha Centro Plaza a couple of times, however IMO it's nice where you want to be for shopping during the day, however nothing to do at night.
Hope you enjoy the city, I know I do....

Thanks for the tip on Bajarando. I'm not familiar with it, but I'm always looking for live music. Will definitely check it out. A friend told me that Matum was built by Trujillo for his daughter's wedding. I tried fact checking it, but couldn't find anything to indicate if it's true or false. She also told me that the designer of the monument intended it to bear a resemblance to a particular male appendage as a reflection of his disdain for Trujillo, although I think this is urban legend. If true, I'm fairly certain that things would not have ended well for him. Perhaps a resident historian like @NALs might know something.

Old reviews were unflattering, but I read that Matum was recently renovated. Have you been there recently? Are the pool and casino open?

 

[Lou2100]

I can only suggest evening activities. My favorite local restaurant near the Monument (see map) is Ahi Bar Cafe Grill. Great menu, with option of seating indoor/outdoor cover. Very popular with the locals as the music and video screens make it a nice place to dine. Dress smart casual.
After dinner you can hang out (see map) at the Bajarando Bar with live music. On Fri - Sun you have to get there before 9;30pm to get a good table. Mainly Tipico or bachata bands performing with a nice dancing floor to enjoy until 1 am.
As far as transportation, I only use Uber, followed by Emi Taxi (app). My hotel of choice at least a dozen or more times is Matum Hotel. I call it the most mature and historical hotel in Santiago. I also have stayed in Hodelpha Centro Plaza a couple of times, however IMO it's nice where you want to be for shopping during the day, however nothing to do at night.
Hope you enjoy the city, I know I do....

Thank you for the detailed info.
Something jumped out at me and out of curiosity, we Factor in a lot of unknows , what is your definition/interpretation of "Dress smart casual"?
**rule out the shorts and t-shirt I may wear to the beach.
** any dress pants and "so called designer t-shirt"

***DO RULE IN JEANS AND ONE OF MY WHIMSICAL SPANISH T-SHIRTS I HAD MADE THAT FEW READ.
for example one says " Todo el mundo se hace el tonto. No hay excepción a la regla." and another "Billetera".
Had those made after a trip doing ...... research , life research in Sosua

 

[BermudaRum]

Thanks for the tip on Bajarando. I'm not familiar with it, but I'm always looking for live music. Will definitely check it out. A friend told me that Matum was built by Trujillo for his daughter's wedding. I tried fact checking it, but couldn't find anything to indicate if it's true or false. She also told me that the designer of the monument intended it to bear a resemblance to a particular male appendage as a reflection of his disdain for Trujillo, although I think this is urban legend. If true, I'm fairly certain that things would not have ended well for him. Perhaps a resident historian like @NALs might know something.

Old reviews were unflattering, but I read that Matum was recently renovated. Have you been there recently? Are the pool and casino open?

At the end of last year I saw that the have a new entrance to the casino, however I did not enter. Where the Chinese restaurant is, just to the left you will see the glass door.

The pool was open, however my room was facing the main road, so I was not able to hear anyone using it. Also, I was told the rooms being renovated were the ones that are at the end of the corridor.

 

[BermudaRum]

Thank you for the detailed info.
Something jumped out at me and out of curiosity, we Factor in a lot of unknows , what is your definition/interpretation of "Dress smart casual"?
**rule out the shorts and t-shirt I may wear to the beach.
** any dress pants and "so called designer t-shirt"

***DO RULE IN JEANS AND ONE OF MY WHIMSICAL SPANISH T-SHIRTS I HAD MADE THAT FEW READ.
for example one says " Todo el mundo se hace el tonto. No hay excepción a la regla." and another "Billetera".
Had those made after a trip doing ...... research , life research in Sosua

Smart casual for me is clean jeans ( I do not own slacks) , polo shirt, or short sleeve dress shirt. Dress or soft casual shoes, and no sneakers. I will never go out at night in Santiago to a restaurant or for entertainment and wear flip flop, shorts ( even Bermuda) baseball hat or t shirt. But that is me, what you feel good in is all that matters.

 

[Lou2100]

Smart casual for me is clean jeans ( I do not own slacks) , polo shirt, or short sleeve dress shirt. Dress or soft casual shoes, and no sneakers. I will never go out at night in Santiago to a restaurant or for entertainment and wear flip flop, shorts ( even Bermuda) baseball hat or t shirt. But that is me, what you feel good in is all that matters.

We have the same definition, I do own slacks. As I do drink doseki

 

[Lou2100]

Do they have any live performances there such as theatre plays or any of those shows they do at casinos . I recall doing one in puerto plata at ocean world , where you get dinner , drink and access to the show , anything like that in Santiago?

 

[CristoRey]

Family oriented block party (old school salsa y merenge) every Sunday evening in Jonny Pacheco's (RIP) old neighborhood at the corner of Calle Cuba y Archie Michael. On average around 500 to 600 people in attendance. Afterwards hit Casa Bader (oldest bar in Santiago) for last call... all within a 10 minute walk from the heavily touristed over-priced Monument area.

 

[JD Jones]

Family oriented block party (old school salsa y merenge) every Sunday evening in Jonny Pacheco's (RIP) old neighborhood at the corner of Calle Cuba y Archie Michael. On average around 500 to 600 people in attendance. Afterwards hit Casa Bader (oldest bar in Santiago) for last call... all within a 10 minute walk from the heavily touristed over-priced Monument area.

I used to go to Casa Bader for Quipes after work back in the eighties when the owners wife was still there working the cash box.

Women couldn't go in the back in those days.

 

[CristoRey]

I used to go to Casa Bader for Quipes after work back in the eighties when the owners wife was still there working the cash box.

Women couldn't go in the back in those days.

Definitely one of my top 5 bars here in the DR. Good vibes.

 

[BermudaRum]

Family oriented block party (old school salsa y merenge) every Sunday evening in Jonny Pacheco's (RIP) old neighborhood at the corner of Calle Cuba y Archie Michael. On average around 500 to 600 people in attendance. Afterwards hit Casa Bader (oldest bar in Santiago) for last call... all within a 10 minute walk from the heavily touristed over-priced Monument area.

This (photos) be the area?

 

[CristoRey]

This (photos) be the area?

Indeed it is.
Nice pics.

 

[Lou2100]

Family oriented block party (old school salsa y merenge) every Sunday evening in Jonny Pacheco's (RIP) old neighborhood at the corner of Calle Cuba y Archie Michael. On average around 500 to 600 people in attendance. Afterwards hit Casa Bader (oldest bar in Santiago) for last call... all within a 10 minute walk from the heavily touristed over-priced Monument area.

Thanks. Nothing is over priced if I can go and come back with my life. I can earn money , only one life to live.