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This technically impressive installation uses natural seawater to fill its various tanks, displaying an enormous and colorful range of tropical marine life. The pride of this place is Tamaury, an orphaned manatee, which was saved in 1995 after its mother was killed and now basks, apparently quite happily, in a large tank. A pleasant snack bar looks over the sea (see Acuario Nacional, Santo Domingo).

Local dishes such as mofongo , and international cuisine, in an attractive setting by the sea.

A hotel restaurant set by a pool, serving Mexican food four days of the week and Thai food the other three.

Good Japanese fusion food for lunch or dinner.

The leading gay club in Santo Domingo, Arena (formerlyknown as Aire) hosts popular theme nights, and lots of parties, and plays music from the 1970s and 80s (see Arena, Santo Domingo).

Located by Alcázar de Colón, Atarazana 9 is acafé and bar offering live musicand a relaxed atmosphere (see Atarazana 9, Santo Domingo).

Five Barceló hotels share the facilities of a 24-hour casino, a theater featuring Las Vegas-style Tropicalísimo casino shows, and a disco which plays a variety of music.

Until the 1990s this was a quiet fishing village, with nothing much more than a few boats pulled up on the beach. But a wave of tourist development has changed its character, bringing more amenities and many more visitors. Even so, the pastel-colored wooden huts and gracious palm trees that line the beach still form a pretty scene, while the jetty is the starting point for boat trips to the offshore Isla Saona and Isla Catalina. Bayahibe is also well endowed with eating and drinking spots.

The easiest beach to reach from Santo Domingo is a boisterous and unpretentious place, verging on the raucous at weekends when tens of thousands of people escape from the capital to swim and listen to music. During the week it’s a lot quieter, but even then there’s no shortage of bars and restaurants. There are a number of hotels and guesthouses, too, offering good-value accommodation. The main draw is the beach (see Boca Chica Beach), a lovely strip of sand set in a protective bay with clear water.

This French-owned small hotel with a restaurant and bar specializes in fresh lobster and seafood. It’s popular with guests from the all-inclusive hotel opposite.