10 Great Restaurants in Punta Cana

Citrus Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Punta Cana, where you’ll find a big menu with a diverse range of dishes from the Caribbean, Italy and Asia. Raw, fresh and locally sourced fare are highlighted here, from its enticing choice of ceviche and tartar dishes to sushi specials. Its lobster dishes and chillo a la boca chica (fried fresh fish with local seasonings) are worth the splurge, but if you just want some easy comfort food, then go for a burger or pasta.

Citrus is open for breakfast, but most come in the evenings to enjoy delicious cocktails and live music along with their meal. The decor here looks as fresh as the food, in a modern tropical style and large dining patio.

Playa Blanca is a breezy, open-air restaurant with a modern flair that sits along the 5-km beach of the same name. Tucked inside the Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, the restaurant is open to non-resort guests. It’s also a popular place for groups and events.

Playa Blanca’s menu offers a good selection of seafood, as well as grilled meats, burgers, and tasty local dishes like chivo guisado (goat stew). Don’t forget to bring along your swimsuit as the clear, calm waters are great for a dip or a bit of kayaking, windsurfing or kiteboarding – rentals are available on the beach.

La Palapa wows you with its outstanding location within the Eden Roc Cap Cana resort, offering views of the turquoise sea, white sands and tall palm trees as you dine. But the food here also shines, with a choice of quality meats, seafood and local favourites like boca chica (fried fish with plantain). You could also go local with their dessert pick, as the restaurant has its own twist on the Dominican tres leches – a sponge cake soaked in 3 different kinds of milk.

La Palapa’s sharing dishes including its seafood paella make it a great place for a date night or family dinner. Come on a Friday to enjoy its Social Fridays evening of live music while you dine.

La Yola is an award-winning restaurant by the marina at La Marina Puntacana Resort & Club. Styled in wood and bamboo to look like a traditional fishing boat, La Yola is a friendly place where you can relax on the open-air terrace while enjoying the sounds of the waves.

The menu features Mediterranean and local cuisines, with a wide array of fresh seafood choices. There's also an extensive wine menu, including suggestions on dishes best for pairing. With its limited opening hours in the evening, reservations are recommended.

Jellyfish Restaurant is one of the great restaurants in Punta Cana that’s set on spectacular Bavaro Beach. It has an open 2-level design giving all who dine here optimal views of the white-sand beach and sea. Tall, swaying palms lining the sands add to the restaurant’s romantic ambience, making Jellyfish a highly sought-after place for wedding events.

Known for their delicious Caribbean seafood dishes, the chefs of Jellyfish ensure things are fresh by selecting the day’s catch of seafood from the nearby pier. Lobster is the speciality, but seafood lovers have plenty to choose from including mahi-mahi, snapper, and octopus.

Little John at Juanillo Beach looks a lot like the kind of place that city-bound people might imagine when dreaming of their next tropical holiday. Much of Little John fits the bill – set on a beach of white sand, lobsters on the grill, serving fruity cocktails to be sipped in the shade while gazing out at clear turquoise waters.

Most who visit Little John go for its seafood “surf” selections, including its tasty ceviche, but there are plenty of local and “turf” tastes to try like its goat risotto and a variety of sandwiches, burgers, pasta and pizza. You can find Little John at the beachfront on Playa Juanillo in Cap Cana.

Wacamole is a friendly dining spot just a 5-minute walk from Bavaro Beach. Serving mainly Mexican dishes with local eats and seafood rounding out the menu, Wacamole keeps things festive with live music every Wednesday and Sunday. The restaurant’s streetside open-air design, splashed with bright colours, adds to its lively atmosphere. 

Wacamole is open for lunch and dinner, with most diners gathering here in the evenings for the music and cocktails. It’s a great spot to unwind after a day at the beach.

Noah Restaurant is the place to go if you're looking for a meal with some extra pizazz. Caribbean, Latin fusion and local dishes are served fresh and with eye-catching presentation. Noah's tuna ceviche bowl is a riot of colour that's almost too pretty to eat. Be sure to leave enough space for dessert and try their lemon pie cones.

Noah is found in the Bavaro shopping district, about a 5-minute walk away from Plaza San Juan Shopping Center. It’s designed in a classic style in soothing sand tones, with a large covered terrace where you can enjoy alfresco dining if preferred.

La Cava Kitchen and Bar offers a classic and cosy setting with an interior dining area in cool, muted tones set under a vaulted ceiling. There’s also plenty more space on the wraparound terrace. It attracts a more dressed-up business crowd with its executive lunch sets and after-work cocktails.

La Cava's diverse menu offers something for almost everyone, from sushi to colourful grilled seafood to rich soups and fresh salads, with a good selection of wines for good measure. Those with an appetite for more local flavours could go for its peje macao (fried red snapper with coconut sauce, sweet potato and fried plantain).

La Bruja Chupadora serves up hearty meals in a bright and airy setting with double-height ceilings, exposed brickwork and black-and-white tiled flooring that give it a chic, industrial edginess. There’s also a sprawling covered terrace that's perfect for lazing away an afternoon with a cocktail or 2.

Barbecued meats are a highlight here. Even so, you could try the grilled octopus or the 96-hour short ribs for a little indulgence. Catch some live football action on the restaurant’s big-screen TV or check their calendar for live music nights.