8 Best Restaurants in Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic

The simple, off-the-grid palapa seems to exhale with a breezy, unbothered joviality; bring your camera: from this cliffside perch the sea eagle's view of endless ocean makes you feel as if you're at the edge of the world (and in season it's ideal for whale-watching).The menu offers something more creative than the standard fish in coconut sauce: delicious calamari, seafood paella or stew, or stir-fried squid or conch. Vegetarians are well accommodated, too, but you have to call in advance if you want fresh fish, lobster, or paella. The long wait for your food is best done in a hammock. Remote, it's a rough ride up coastal dirt roads but still accessible with a regular vehicle. You can even stay overnight, as there are several cabanas and a renovated tree house.

The whitewashed, Victorian-style restaurant edged with gingerbread fretwork is as charming as any beachfront dining spot in town. One of the original—and still most popular—restaurants in Las Terrenas, the Mediterranean-inspired menu, although not wildly inventive, is consistently good. The octopus is especially delicious, as are the specials. A surprisingly good wine selection is in the wine cooler.

As the name suggests, seafood is the headliner at this sophisticated marina-side restaurant (formerly Cafe Del Mar), serving Caribbean-influenced Mediterranean cuisine. By day, have lunch outdoors while dipping in and out of the infinity pool. At sunset, have a rum-something while chilling on a chaise and listening to lounge music. After dark, go inside, where rounded glass windows magnify the enchanting night-lit pool and ocean beyond. Start with ceviche and always consider the fresh catch of the day. The pizzas aren't bad, either.

Smack in the middle of Las Terrenas town but on the quiet beach, this social restaurant has French savoir faire, from its contemporary bar with its stainless shine to the cushy couches and Asian beds. Classical French cuisine is coupled with Caribbean flair. The fish all but swim onto your white geometric plate, and the artistry that comes out of this kitchen is quite contemporary. The catch of the day or wiggly fresh lobster are all good choices. And if you adore profiteroles, this is one of the few places where you will find them. When the bill comes, you'll still be smiling since the prices are pleasing.

This jaw-dropping, beachfront beauty is one of the better players in the ever-evolving, European-accented restaurant scene in Las Terrenas. The nautically themed dining room is by the well-known Dominican designer Patricia Reid. Smart servers take pride in providing the kind of service that normally is found only in Santo Domingo's finest restaurants. Though beautiful, the setting is decidedly casual; in between courses, guests who come in their cover-ups can dive into the crystalline waters just past the seagrape trees. The Peruvian-influenced cuisine has roots in Italian cooking, with Asian undertones, and focuses primarily on fresh seafood, including delightful Peruvian-style ceviche. The wine cave is impressive as well.

In low season the hours are cut back some.

This laid-back outpost at the far end of Playa Bonita serves refined, French-inspired cuisine that always showcses the freshest seafood. Lunch can be taken at the beach palapa (which has free Wi-Fi), and candlelit dinners on the covered terrace; both have unobstructed ocean views. The backdrop is the white Hotel Atlantis, which looks like it came from a Greek isle.

This locally owned restaurant serves no-frills traditional food done right. Located just off the main strip, the local gem draws both travelers and locals to dine together under its palm roof. In fact, photos on the wall show owners, Evelyn and David, posing with local politicians (including some former presidents) and national celebrities. The fish is fresh and locally sourced and is always worth the wait when there is one, though service is usually efficient and warm. Portion sizes are good and prices are relatively cheap.