El Mesón de la Cava

Restaurant · Santo Domingo

El Mesón de la Cava

Restaurant · Santo Domingo

2

Av. Mirador Sur 1, Santo Domingo 00000, Dominican Republic

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El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by http://www.flickr.com/photos/genesys33/218... (Flickr CC)
El Mesón de la Cava by http://www.flickr.com/photos/genesys33/217... (Flickr CC)
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null
El Mesón de la Cava by null

Highlights

Cave restaurant with Spanish-French & Caribbean cuisine  

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Av. Mirador Sur 1, Santo Domingo 00000, Dominican Republic Get directions

elmesondelacava.com
@mesondelacava

$$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Av. Mirador Sur 1, Santo Domingo 00000, Dominican Republic Get directions

+1 809 533 2818
elmesondelacava.com
@mesondelacava
𝕏
@mesondelacava

$$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 21, 2025

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@atlasobscura

13 Places to Eat and Drink That Are Literally Underground

"In 1965, this cave was used for storage by soldiers of the Organization of American States (OAS), an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that counts all independent states in North, Central and South America as members. Two years later, it was turned into the Meson de la Cava restaurant. The restaurant, considered one of the most distinguished in the area by both residents of and tourists to the Dominican Republic, is tucked into a natural limestone cave created by waves over billions of years. In addition to provisions from the OAS, the restaurant displays several of the valuable belongings found in the cave from previous occupants, which include the Taino Indians, buccaneers who hid in the caves before launching an attack on Santo Domingo, and the guerrillas who fought against the occupation by foreign forces in 1930. The restaurant has three entrances at street level, but visitors must descend a 40-foot spiral staircase to get to the lobby, which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. While some might expect that the restaurant relies on its unique environs to draw visitors in, the Meson de la Cava is known for preparing some of the region’s best cuisine. Local, hand-selected ingredients are brought in daily, as is a catch from the Caribbean Sea. The diverse menu is focused around Spanish-influenced modern classical French and local Caribbean cuisine." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/underground-restaurants-bars
View Postcard for El Mesón de la Cava
@atlasobscura

El Meson de la Cava – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - Gastro Obscura

"In 1965, this cave was used for storage by soldiers of the Organization of American States (OAS), an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., that counts all independent states in North, Central and South America as members. Two years later, it was turned into the Meson de la Cava restaurant. The restaurant, considered one of the most distinguished in the area by both residents of and tourists to the Dominican Republic, is tucked into a natural limestone cave created by waves over billions of years. In addition to provisions from the OAS, the restaurant displays several of the valuable belongings found in the cave from previous occupants, which include the Taino Indians, buccaneers who hid in the caves before launching an attack on Santo Domingo, and the guerrillas who fought against the occupation by foreign forces in 1930. The restaurant has three entrances at street level, but visitors must descend a 40-foot spiral staircase to get to the lobby, which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. While some might expect that the restaurant relies on its unique environs to draw visitors in, the Meson de la Cava is known for preparing some of the region’s best cuisine. Local, hand-selected ingredients are brought in daily, as is a catch from the Caribbean Sea. The diverse menu is focused around Spanish-influenced modern classical French and local Caribbean cuisine. None" - bebeto, Nicholas Jackson

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/el-meson-de-la-cava
View Postcard for El Mesón de la Cava

Rose A

Google
The best restaurant I had been to while in DR. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! The food was delicious. The service was friendly and professional. The bathroom was clean and gorgeous. The view from outside was stunning. I wish I had the time to sit at the outdoor bar. Great vibe and I'd recommend it 100%.

Eboni R.

Google
Great place! Despite our limited Spanish, the servers limited English and Google Translate we made it work! We started the evening and ending the evening on a great note. Excellent service, delicious menu items, and cocktails. We dined inside, such a great intimate ambiance. We will be back, next time we will dine on the beautiful terrace 🙂

Ira Echavez

Google
Drinks • Paloma: A refreshing blend with a hint of sour citrus balanced by just the right touch of sweetness. The sugar rim elevates the drink, making each sip feel playful yet refined. • Sweet & Spicy: This cocktail surprises with a smoky aroma and a smooth tea-like finish. The cinnamon warmth evokes fall vibes and fills your mouth with layered, comforting flavors. Appetizer • Pork Belly with Fried Yuca: The pork belly was a standout—crispy skin with tender meat underneath. The creamy sauce beneath (similar to mayo) added richness, while the tangy vinegar onions cut through the fat beautifully. The yuca fries were hearty and well-fried, making this a strong starter. Main Dishes • White Wine Chicken Breast: While the dish arrived slightly cooled, which was a bit disappointing, the flavors remained intact. The creamy mushroom sauce was rich and comforting, pairing well with the smooth mashed potatoes. A solid dish, though not the most memorable. • Caveman Steak: Juicy and tender with a bold presentation. The steak was satisfying, though the sides fell a bit flat—the corn was dry, and the mashed potatoes with scallions didn’t add much. Best shared between two or more, especially for those with a bigger appetite. Overall Impression The food was decent—not mind-blowing, but enjoyable. What stood out most was the ambiance and pace of service. The timing between courses allowed us to fully take in the experience, converse, and enjoy the stunning cave setting. The atmosphere alone makes this restaurant worth visiting at least once. It’s a niche dining experience that adds charm to any trip to Santo Domingo, even if the food itself doesn’t leave a lasting impression

Genesis Arciniega

Google
Went with my husband for a romantic dinner inside the cave, we loved it! Our waiter was very nice and attentive. The food and drinks were amazing!! I recommend the salmon, it was delicious. Overall it is a great place to go for a special occasion.

Brittany

Google
The service was on point, food definitely was warm and full of flavor. I recommend the octopus and Seafood pasta dish along with a Coffee Martini.. I came for the CRAB and LOBSTER and they didn’t have either sadly but instead loading up the dishes with shrimp in the seafood pasta. This is more of a. Great steak place

sharon negron

Google
The place is absolutely beautiful inside and outside as well, outside was more fun inside we were falling as sleep but is really romantic. The drinks are mediocre most of them tasted like medicine, nothing to desire as well the food it was ok I honestly was expecting more it was not bad, but it definitely wasn’t great. And when it came to the service was horrible, our seemed to be upset or not wanting to be there, we ask for recommendations and his answer was “whatever you want” we were not ask if the food was good or ok, we had to ask for water which was not offered. It was not what we expected from such a nice place, definitely will not recommend!

C D

Google
An absolutely beautiful restaurant in Santo Domingo. I'm pleased to inform you that when it comes to Santo Domingo República Dominicana you will be impressed with this restaurant. My family and I dined inn for a lively Sunday evening and enjoyed a delightful dinner. I'll share my experience with you. First off I ordered the Ginger & Brugal mix as a drink it works however in my opinion it is a bit sweet to be a masculine drink. Less ice and a smaller glass would be more accommodating. My next drink was suppose to be a Moscow Mule. However, they brought me a strawberry "Moscow Mule" it doesn't work don't bother it's very sweet and doesn't fit the profile. My last drink was an authentic Moscow Mule. It was prepared as you'd expect. My only take back is that it was a bit on the sweet side. Overall, it does the job and tastes well. For appetizers we had the balls of cheese "bree" croquettes de Jamon and Pork Belly. All were prepared very well and had a flavorful taste. I'd recommend this as a starter for any dish. We also ordered Pork Belly Tacos as an appetizer. However, it was the least enjoyable of them all as it seemed it was prepared with gristle from the Pork belly. It was sloppily prepared and hard to eat. I highly doubt it was a fresh dish, and I suspect it's leftover bits and pieces of other Pork dishes. My wife had the skirt steak. What can I say. It was prepared expertly and tasted fantastic. The sides are very nice and just enough portion to make you full at the end of the meal. My dish was the burger on the pretzel bun with fries. Wow, what a delight. It was so voluptuous and hefty. Deffinatly a dish you Unbutton your pants too. The patty itself was deffinatly fresh and made to order. However, they could have used some more flavor for the burger as it did lack some. Overall, a fantastic dish, especially the fries and coslaw that came with it. Both were delicious and prepared fresh. For desert we had flan de coconut and tres leches. All were fresh and delicious. Overall, have a great restaurant for a visit to Santo Domingo.

Samu

Google
The food at this restaurant was exceptional and the service was great. The atmosphere was stunning. However, the risotto I had was served cold, which is not acceptable for the price of the food. Additionally, the waiters brought us another bottle of water while we were about to leave, which had to be paid for.