Cosmopolitan R.
Google
The hotel doesn’t quite appear as chic as it is described. In reality, it feels more like a 3.2-star property rather than a true 5-star experience. While it’s functional and comfortable enough for a short stay, it lacks the quality, attention to detail, and overall refinement expected from a luxury hotel.
When booking, I specifically reserved a room with an ocean view, but upon arrival, the hotel placed my wife and me in a room on the side of the building where the view was half-hidden. We didn’t realize it right away and decided to just let it go, but it was disappointing considering what we paid for and expected.
The rooms themselves are spacious and cozy, yet housekeeping and in-room service leave much to be desired. They often forget to restock basic amenities — even something as simple as bottled water, which you actually need if you want to make the complimentary coffee or tea. The key cards are another ongoing issue: they constantly stop working, both for the room and the elevator, even when kept away from phones or credit cards as instructed.
The restaurant on the ground floor serves breakfast and dinner, offering both buffet and à la carte options. Unfortunately, the food quality is poor. The variety is minimal, the dishes are badly presented, and the overall taste is disappointing. Most of the meats offered are cold cuts such as sausages, ham, and prosciutto, with a few fried items and cheeses that feel more like a fast-food self-service than a proper hotel buffet. On the top floor, food and drinks are also available, but the atmosphere feels empty and lacks energy.
The common area by the reception is one of the nicer spots — it has a bar and comfortable sofas that make for a cozy space to enjoy a drink. From Thursday to Saturday, the hotel hosts live musicians who perform there and at the rooftop, which is the reason behind the name “Dominican Fiesta.” These live performances are among the few enjoyable aspects of the property.
The gym and pool area, unfortunately, are a major letdown. The gym is dirty and disorganized, with weights piled on top of each other and equipment scattered around. Moreover, both the gym and pool are open to the public, which means they can become extremely crowded, especially in the evenings. This completely eliminates any sense of exclusivity or relaxation you might expect from a hotel that advertises itself as 5-star.
Overall, while the Dominican Fiesta has a long-standing history and offers certain conveniences, it is far from the luxury experience it claims to be. If you’re looking for a true 5-star hotel, this is definitely not the place to come. The property would benefit greatly from better management, proper maintenance, and significant improvements in food quality and guest service.
That said, the staff remain the hotel’s best feature — they are friendly, polite, and genuinely welcoming, which helps offset some of the disappointment.
Background
The Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino is a long-standing landmark in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, located at Avenida Anacaona 101, esquina Cibao Oeste, Los Cacicazgos, Santo Domingo 11108 — your address “C. Cibao Oeste 101” refers to the same intersection.
Built in 1976, the property was one of the city’s original luxury hotels, designed to serve tourists and the capital’s growing demand for events and conventions. Over the decades, it became known for weddings, conferences, and live music events. Renovations in the mid-2000s updated some facilities, but much of the infrastructure now feels dated and inconsistent with modern 5-star standards.
Today, the hotel is marketed under the Palladium Hotel Group and, in some listings, the Trademark Collection by Wyndham. Despite its historic reputation, the overall experience no longer lives up to its name or category.
