Il Cappuccino

Santo Domingo


You might leave this oasis of comfort and sophistication (on an otherwise gritty stretch) feeling envious of the regulars who are welcomed like family. It's the sort of place where the Italian owner bustles around, doling out pats and quips. Nearly three-dozen types of really top-notch pizza and pasta, plus fish and meat dishes round out the menu.

Great-looking pastries, cakes, gelato and wine are on display in the bright and welcoming cafe side. The larger dining room, often closed for private events on weekends, is a dreamy fantasyscape of papier-mâché trees and structures such as canopied beds.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Santo Domingo attractions

1. Plaza de la Cultura

0.15 MILES

This large, centrally located park, mostly a sun-baked, fairly unkempt plaza, has three museums (two of which are worth visiting), the national theater…

2. Museo de Arte Moderno

0.19 MILES

The museum’s permanent collection includes paintings and a few sculptures by the DR’s best-known modern artists, including Luís Desangles, Adriana Billini…

3. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural

0.27 MILES

This museum explores the natural environs of the Dominican Republic, with the massive jaw of a sperm whale welcoming visitors at the door. Old-fashioned…

4. Museo del Hombre Dominicano

0.31 MILES

Highlights here include an impressive collection of Taíno artifacts, including stone axes and intriguing urns and carvings and an interesting section on…

5. Palacio de Bellas Artes

0.65 MILES

This huge neoclassical building houses several national performing arts schools and is sometimes the sight for exhibitions and performances. Check the…

6. Playa Guibia

0.88 MILES

A beach area on the Malecón popular with families on weekends, featuring a sandy volleyball court, a kids' playground, gym equipment and free wi-fi access.

7. Palacio Nacional

0.99 MILES

The Dominican seat of government, which occupies most of a city block, was designed by Italian architect Guido D’Alessandro and inaugurated in 1947. Built…

8. Museo Bellapart

1.18 MILES

Incongruously located on the 5th floor of a large Honda dealership, which looks like a parking garage, is this significant private collection of Dominican…