The 24 Best Restaurants in Cabarete (I Actually Keep Going Back To)

Best restaurants in Cabarete

If there is one question I get all the time from people visiting Cabarete, it is: where should we eat?

And, for such a small beach town, Cabarete has a surprisingly good food scene.

You can have waffles and coffee surrounded by tropical gardens in the morning, grab a healthy bowl after surfing, eat Dominican food with your feet in the sand for lunch, and end the day with wine and a more elevated dinner.

I've lived in Cabarete for years, so this isn't a list of restaurants I found online. These are places I actually eat at, take friends to, recommend to visitors, or, in some cases, go back to way too often.

The ratings below are completely based on my personal experience and taste, and I've rated each place for food, ambience and price.

For price, more stars = more expensive.

If you just want my quick picks:

Best Breakfast: Vagamundo / Gypsy Bowls
Best Coffee: Cabarete Coffee Company
Best Healthy Food: Fresh Fresh / Gypsy Bowls
Best Beachfront Lunch: Mojito Bar
Best Dominican Options: Mojito Bar / Serenade
Best Italian: Bliss
Best Pizza: Ceiba / Drifter
Best Date Night: Bliss / Drifter / Sunset Grill
Best Sunset Dinner: Sunset Grill
Best Sushi & Asian-Inspired: Ojo / Yamazato
Best Location: The Beach Club at Sea Horse Ranch
Best After Surf: Bonsai

My favorites by category

🥐 Best Breakfast
Vagamundo · Honey Company · Cabarete Coffee Company

🌊 Best Beachfront Lunch
Mojito · Ojo · Serenade

🍝 Best Italian
Bliss · Ceiba · Mojito

🌅 Best Sunset Dinner
Drifter · Tamar · Sunset Grill

☕ Best Coffee
Cabarete Coffee Company · Vagamundo · Cafecito

💚 Best Vegetarian
Gypsy Bowls · Fresh Fresh

Now, let's get into the full list.

This is a random order.
REMEMBER: more stars = more expensive.

★☆☆☆☆ very convenient
★★★★★ very expensive

➜ Breakfast & brunch

1. Vagamundo

If I'm meeting someone for breakfast or bringing my laptop somewhere for a couple of hours, Vagamundo is one of my first choices.

The surroundings are probably what make me love it so much. It's green, relaxed and feels removed from the main road even though you're still right in Cabarete.

And then there are the waffles. Definitely some of my favorites in town.

Go for: Breakfast, waffles, coffee, remote work
Good to know: no dinner, Vagamundo closes at 5 PM.
Instagram: @vagamundocoffee

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★☆

2. The Honey Company

A great little breakfast spot, especially if you like starting the day with something fresh and simple.

Their honey is obviously the star, and I love their Greek yogurt with honey. It's the kind of place I'd choose for a slower, healthy breakfast rather than a huge brunch. They also have English muffins…so delicious!

Go for: breakfast, local honey, fresh Greek yogurt
Instagram: @thehoneyco

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆

3. Cabarete Coffee Company

For coffee and croissants, this is one of my go-tos. It's easy, casual and perfect when you don't necessarily want a full breakfast but still want something good with your coffee.

Go for: coffee, croissants, and a quick breakfast
Instagram: @cabaretecoffee

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★☆☆☆

4. Fresh Fresh Cafe

Fresh Fresh has been around for a reason. Bowls, wraps, bagels, smoothies, juices and açaí, it's one of those places where almost everyone can find something.

As a vegetarian, it's also one of the easiest places for me to order without having to modify half the menu.

Their smoothies are some of my favorites in Cabarete.

Go for: smoothies, açaí, wraps, bowls, vegetarian options
Instagram: @freshfreshcafecab

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★☆☆☆

5. Gypsy Bowls

Another favorite when I want something healthy. There are plenty of vegetarian-friendly options, colorful bowls and fresh ingredients. I especially like it for lunch rather than planning a big meal.

Go for: healthy lunch, bowls, vegetarian food, wraps, coffee & smoothies
Good to know: no dinner, they close at 5 PM, closed on Sunday, try the Golden Milk & Moringa Latte
Instagram: @gypsybowls

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★☆☆

6. Cafecito at Kite Beach

Part coffee stop, part lunch spot and known for their customizable mugs.

Cafecito is one of those places where you can feel at home. Stop for coffee, have lunch and gossip a little.

Go for: coffee, lunch, grilled cheese sandwich
Instagram: @cafecito.cabarete

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★☆☆☆

7. Bonsai Pokè & Tapas

Bonsai and surfing just go together for me.

It's fresh, casual and exactly the kind of place you want after spending the morning at Encuentro, right on the beach. Nothing too complicated, just good food in a relaxed setting.

Go for: after-surf lunch, fresh casual food, breakfast
Good to know: closes at 7, closed on Monday and Tuesday
Instagram: @bonsaipoke

Food: ★★★☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★☆☆

➜ Casual Cabarete favorites

8. Mojito Bar

Mojito Bar is one of those classic Cabarete places I keep going back to.

I love it for sandwiches and bruschetta, but there are also Dominican options if you want something more local.

It's casual, right by the beach (Cabarete Beach) and works equally well for a quick lunch or an afternoon that accidentally turns into drinks and dinner.

Go for: sandwiches, bruschetta, Dominican options, casual lunch, fresh fruit juices
Instagram: @mojitobarcabarete

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★☆☆☆

9. Gordito Fresh Mex

Sometimes you just want Mexican food.

Gordito is casual, quick and reliable, with burritos, tacos and plenty of fresh options. It's especially good when you want something filling without turning lunch into an event.

Go for: Mexican food, burritos, tacos, casual lunch
Good to know: they have a signature dish, the Mambo Fish Taco. Closed on tuesday and Wednesday. There is an area with AC.
Instagram: @gorditosfreshmex

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★☆☆
Price: ★★☆☆☆

10. Serenade at Hotel Villa Taina

Serenade is right on Cabarete Bay and works for breakfast, lunch, dinner or simply sitting by the beach with a drink.

But what makes it different are the weekly all-you-can-eat buffets, including Dominican, Mongolian and BBQ nights.

If you're visiting Cabarete, it's worth checking what's happening that week.

Go for: casual beachfront dining, buffets with live music
Instagram: @serenade.cabarete

Food: ★★★☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆

➜ Beachfront restaurants

11. La Casita de Papi

You can't really write a Cabarete restaurant guide without including La Casita de Papi.

It's one of the town's classics: seafood, beachfront tables and the kind of atmosphere people imagine when they picture eating in the Caribbean.

If seafood is your thing, put it on your list.

Go for: seafood, fine beachfront dinner
Google Maps: click to view

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★☆

12. Tamar at Millennium Resort

Tamar is one of my favorites when I want tapas, Mediterranean flavors and a beautiful setting without going somewhere overly formal.

It's right by the ocean at Millennium, so it's also a great option for drinks and a few plates around sunset.

Go for: tapas, Mediterranean food, drinks, location
Instagram: @tamarcabarete

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★☆

13. Sunset Grill at Velero Beach Resort

The name gives you a pretty good clue about why you come here.

The setting at the end of Cabarete Bay is beautiful, especially around sunset. It's quieter than the center and has a romantic, slightly tucked-away feeling.

This would definitely be one of my picks for couples.

Go for: sunset, romantic dinner, beachfront setting
Instagram: @sunsetgrillatvelero

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★☆☆

➜ When you want a nicer dinner

14. Drifter

Drifter is one of the places I'd recommend when you want dinner to feel like a proper night out.

The menu is more gourmet, there's a good wine selection, and even the pizza gets the elevated treatment with a wood-fired oven. It's refined without feeling too formal, which is very Cabarete.

Go for: date night, wine, gourmet food, wood-fired pizza
Instagram: @driftercabarete

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★★

15. Bliss

If I want real Italian food and a special-occasion dinner, Bliss is high on my list.

This isn't the place I'd choose for a quick pizza after the beach. It's somewhere you go when you want to dress nicely, sit down, take your time and have a proper dinner.

Go for: Italian, fine dining, date night, special occasions
Instagram: @blisscabarete

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★★

16. Aura

Aura is probably one of the more eccentric dining experiences in Cabarete.

The atmosphere is part of the fun, the drinks are good, and the menu has an interesting mix of fusion and Jamaican influences. They also have a live show with dancers on weekends. I'd come here when I want something different rather than traditional.

Go for: cocktails, fusion, Jamaican-inspired dishes, date night, friends night out
Instagram: @auracabarete

Food: ★★★☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★☆

17. Ojo Club | LAX

Ojo is one of my favorites when I'm craving Asian flavors. I especially like the bowls, gyoza and friends have good things to say about their sushi. The menu feels modern and creative without being overly complicated.

It's also a good choice when you're with a group and everyone wants something slightly different while having drinks before dancing the night away.

Go for: bowls, gyoza, sushi
Instagram: @ojoclubcabarete

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★☆☆

18. Yamazato

Another option when you're in the mood for Asian food. I tend to think of Yamazato as more of a proper Asian dinner, while Ojo has more of a fusion feel and less options.

Go for: Asian food, sushi, dinner
Instagram: @yamazatorestaurant

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★☆☆
Price: ★★★☆☆

➜ Italian & Pizza

19. Ceiba

Ceiba is in Perla Marina, between Cabarete and Sosúa, but it's absolutely close enough to make this list.

Visit for Italian food, especially the wood-fired pizza and ravioli.

Perla Marina also has a completely different atmosphere from central Cabarete, so dinner here can be a nice excuse to explore another neighborhood.

Go for: Italian, wood-fired pizza, ravioli
Good to know: pizza should be eaten at the restaurant for the best experience (the crust is not as crunchy if you wait to eat it at home)
Instagram: @ceiba_cafe_e_pizzeria

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆

20. Coconuts

Coconuts is another good pizza option, but the location is a big part of why I like it.

It's relaxed, casual and works well for an easy evening when you don't want anything too elaborate. It is located in Hideaway, right on Encuentro Beach.

Go for: pizza, casual dinner, location
Instagram: @coconuts.restaurant

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆

➜ A little different

21. Mi Bodegón

This one is for the meat lovers.

Mi Bodegón has much more of an Argentinian dining experience, so it's a good choice if you're craving grilled meat and a hearty dinner.

Obviously, as a vegetarian, I'm probably not the person to judge the steak, but I've included it because it's one of the places I'd recommend to someone specifically looking for that experience.

Go for: meat, Argentinian-style dinner
Instagram: @mibodegoncabarete

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★★

22. Swai

Swai is one of the more unusual places on this list.

They're known for fish and homemade dishes, but the setting itself makes it memorable, with aquariums on-site that give the restaurant a completely different atmosphere.

It's one of those places that's difficult to compare directly with anything else in Cabarete.

Go for: Fish, homemade dishes, something different
Instagram: @swai.cabarete

Food: ★★★★☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★☆☆

➜ Worth the short drive

23. Natura Cabana

Natura Cabana is somewhere I recommend even beyond the food.

The whole setting is beautiful. You're surrounded by nature, close to the beach, and everything feels slower.

The food is freshly prepared and delicious (they have their own garden), but you can easily turn your meal into half a day here, especially if you combine it with yoga, a treatment, a walk on the beach or their monthly Sunday market when it's happening.

Go for: fresh food, brunch or lunch, Dominican food options, atmosphere, slow morning
Instagram: @naturacabana

Food: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★☆☆

24. The Beach Club at Sea Horse Ranch

This one needs a little honesty. Would I say the food is the best value/quality on this list? No. Would I still tell you to go? Absolutely.

You're paying partly for one of the most beautiful settings on the North Coast. The dramatic coastline, oceanfront pools and atmosphere make it a place I'd recommend for a long lunch or, even better, sunset drinks.

For me, the location makes up for the higher prices.

Go for: location, ocean views, sunset drinks, special lunch
Instagram: @thebeachclubdr

Food: ★★★☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★☆

So, where should you eat in Cabarete?

If you only have a few days, this would be my personal shortlist:

Breakfast: Vagamundo / Gypsy Bowls
Healthy lunch: Fresh Fresh
Beachfront lunch: Mojito Bar
Sunset: Sunset Grill
Date night: Drifter or Bliss
Italian: Ceiba
Sushi: Ojo / Yamazato
Something uniquely Cabarete: Mojito Bar
Worth leaving Cabarete for: Natura Cabana
Best location: The Beach Club at Sea Horse Ranch

But part of the fun of Cabarete is trying somewhere new. Restaurants change, menus change, new places open all the time, and I'll keep updating this guide as I find new favorites.

Are you visiting Cabarete soon?

If you're planning your trip, start with my 3-Day Cabarete Itinerary for my favorite way to experience town, from breakfast and beaches to water sports and sunset.

You can also check Kitebarete before your trip for events happening around Cabarete and water sports lessons and activities.

And if you're looking for somewhere to stay, you can book one of the vacation rentals I manage in Cabarete HERE.

And if you start thinking, "could I live here?"

It happens more often than you might think.

I'm Gio in the DR, a real estate agent based in Cabarete, and I help people go from visiting the North Coast to finding a home, investment property or completely relocating here.

If you're curious about what living in Cabarete actually costs, where you should live or what properties are available, explore my Cabarete Area Guide, Cost of Living Guide and Dominican Republic Buyer's Guide.

Or simply get in touch and tell me what you're looking for.