Nightlife 12am shutdown!

dtown_4life · Jan 26, 2008

Going through the threads I have read that things slow down after midnight during the week. Now I have learned that it is actually government law for Clubs and bars to close at 12am during the week and at 2am on Fri & Sat. Is that true in the entire Country? If so what are the other options for people who are trying to stay awake for their entire trip (literally)...
again I have read around but the answers appear to be all over the place..From pushed back to 1am (which doesn't help)..too not being true at all...Does anyone no the real deal??Thanks

DavidZ · Jan 27, 2008

Come to Cabarete...curfew laws are the most relaxed here. Or go to an all-inclusive, they can stay open all-night (at least in Playa Dorada, and I assume Punta Cana). Or come during a holiday wee...bars can stay open 24 hours...

augustus · Jan 29, 2008

The casino in Sosua, stays open till around 5am, again you will not find the all allusive "GOOD GIRL" there though -----!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is the disco there that everyone goes to after all the other bars & discos close. You know money rules, especially in DR.

fightfish · Jan 30, 2008

My experience is that little localspots stay open indefiitely to buy beer, sit in plastic chairs etc. I dont do many casinos or clubs, so I cant say, but the little colmados with a bit of bachata are open here and there.

rubio_higuey · Jan 30, 2008

Here in Higuey are some places that stay open, behind the closed doors.
I am sure in the North it's similar.

In Santo Domingo, Jaragua Casino stays open up all night, and serves also alcoholic beverages and has live music band playing. Be prepared to fork $$$ for the drinks - it's the only place in SD officially allowed to serve alcohol after the curfew. So lots of people and $$$ prices.

Bronxboy · Jan 30, 2008

rubio_higuey said:
Here in Higuey are some places that stay open, behind the closed doors.
I am sure in the North it's similar.

In Santo Domingo, Jaragua Casino stays open up all night, and serves also alcoholic beverages and has live music band playing. Be prepared to fork $$$ for the drinks - it's the only place in SD officially allowed to serve alcohol after the curfew. So lots of people and $$$ prices.

Last time I was there the Jaragua did stay open until late but no alcohol was served after 2:00am on Saturday.

Chirimoya · Jan 30, 2008

I heard that Adrian Tropical has been given permission to serve alcoholic drinks again, within the time limits. About a year ago they were given the choice - remain open 24/7 but don't sell alcohol, or close at 12 on weekdays and 2am on weekends if they're going to sell alcohol. They opted for the former and have now reached an agreement with the authorities, which is great for them and for their customers. The restaurants did not lose custom during the year, but not surprisingly their profits went down considerably. It was a crappy way to treat such a great Dominican business, but it appears that it was partly politically motivated.

rubio_higuey · Jan 30, 2008

bronxboyatheart said:
Last time I was there the Jaragua did stay open until late but no alcohol was served after 2:00am on Saturday.

Well, I was there day before yesterday with my GF, we arrived at 1 am (we got quite late to SD) -- it was Monday night -- beeped my friend who is chief of security, got my drinks voucher, and we stayed up till about 3.30 AM, drinking and watching the band. Also, the waitresses served many drinks at the casino tables.

There are several bars in Jaragua casino, there and only there the drinks are served, not in other hotel bars.

Bronxboy · Jan 30, 2008

rubio_higuey said:
Well, I was there day before yesterday with my GF, we arrived at 1 am (we got quite late to SD) -- it was Monday night -- beeped my friend who is chief of security, got my drinks voucher, and we stayed up till about 3.30 AM, drinking and watching the band. Also, the waitresses served many drinks at the casino tables.

There are several bars in Jaragua casino, there and only there the drinks are served, not in other hotel bars.

This is very nice to know, thanks!!!

Jan · Jan 30, 2008

be careful

Some of those places that stay open with locked doors have been raided. I was in a place last week. Locked door. enter by buzzing only. the police came with drug dogs. Noone got into trouble as far as I saw but they did take everyones ID at the door when they left. not sure what they will do with the ID's. Just be cautious.

El_Uruguayo · Jan 30, 2008

Apparantly there is a club, LED that is open afterhours, and sells alcohol. There is a loophole that if a club is within a hotel property, that it is exempt from the curfew. Not sure how many do this. As for the North, as mentioned the curfew is extended slightly, and the casino is open late - I have seen it happen that if the casino isn't doing well in Cabarete, the casino will have the cops shut things down a little early at the other bars, to bring in more buisness (the police station gets free electricity from the casion).

Asides from that, I really hope that Adrian did get a liquor license, it's really not fair to have it revoked because they are a 24hr establishment. I don't see why you can't just sell till midnight, then continue to serve food and no alcohol afterwards.

rubio_higuey · Jan 31, 2008

I didn't know there was anything like a liquor license in the DR and the people I know that have "negocios" certainly do not have any. Maybe it was invented just -- because and for -- this Adrian place?

cobraboy · Jan 31, 2008

El_Uruguayo said:
Apparantly there is a club, LED that is open afterhours, and sells alcohol. There is a loophole that if a club is within a hotel property, that it is exempt from the curfew.

I thought that exemption only applies to a "5 Star" hotel, and I recall I read that LED has or may be losing that exemption because the hotel is clearly not "5 Star".

suarezn · Jan 31, 2008

Man...this bull$**** rule is so arbitrary. It's not even a law but a decree. I just had a huge argument (discussion) with a friend of mine about this. She, of course supports it all the way, but then again she's a woman who doesn't go out much. I'm not even against the hours per se, but it's just the principle of restricting your freedom to move about as you wish. You can call it by any name you wish, but it's nothing more than a curfew.

Why is a 5 star hotel exempt, but not a 4 star or all hotels for that matter? Who decides on the ratings?

Fortunately I'm starting to see cracks on enforcement. At least in Cotui bars aren't paying that much attention to it anymore specially on the weekends.

El_Uruguayo · Jan 31, 2008

Hmm, I'm not sure what the hotel rules are, I just know that some hotels can have bars open later. As for LED and a possible loss of their exemption, maybe they haven't paid their "dame algo" fees. Hahaha, it's retarded anyways, the reason that hotels are exempt is that a lot of the owners probably have political pull, and also the amount of AI which are populated by non-dominicans. I think it's BS too. And as a decree I had understood that it was only to last a year unless made a law, which it has not been made. Oh well, not much you can do.

bigjuan163usmc · Feb 2, 2008

Well in Tamboril some of the colmados will SOMETIMES and quite frequently stay open until 4 in the morning selling beer. This is true in some small town places outside of Santiago. If you want to keep drinking after the curfew, get out of the big time cities like Santiago, La Vega, Santo Domingo, etc.

carlos · Feb 4, 2008

In Santiago, there is a club in el Matum hotel called Kartuja sp?
They were open until 4am when I went.

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