Shopping in Dominican Republic
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Janet’s Supermarket
This is the biggest and best supermarket at the eastern end of town.
reviewed
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Mercado Modelo
Housed in an aging two-story building just north of the Zona Colonial near a neighborhood of Chinese restaurants and stores, bargain hard at this local market, which sells everything from love potions to woodcarvings and jewelry. The more you look like a tourist, the higher the asking price. It’s best not to dress too sharply or wear any fine jewelry yourself, in part to get a fair deal and in part because this isn’t the best neighborhood to wander around, especially after dark.
reviewed
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Mountain Maid Gift Shop & Restaurant
The Mountain Maid Gift Shop & restaurant is located near the entrance to the town of Fermathe. Run as part of the Baptist Mission, it sells crafts and produce from local cooperatives and self-help groups – everything from greeting cards and carvings to jams and cakes (the granola cookies here are famous). The restaurant is more a burger bar–cafeteria joint, but it has good sandwiches and great views.
reviewed
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Boutique del Fumador
If you want to see tabacos being rolled, drop by the Boutique del Fumador. It is located on Parque Colón and is owned by Monte Cristi de Tabacos. You can watch as one or two workers roll cigars in the shop window – a sampling of the 45 workers who roll away the day on the 2nd floor of the shop. Montecristo, Cohiba and Caoba brand cigars are sold at the shop.
reviewed
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Muñecas Elisa
Specializing in Dominican faceless dolls, this spacious shop sells the highest-quality figurines in town. Dolls are handcrafted in-house and are made of porcelain; all are also dressed in late-18th-century garb. Prices vary widely according to the size and detail of each and run from US$10 to US$550.
reviewed
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Museo del Tabaco
If you want to see tabacos being rolled, drop by the Museo del Tabaco. It is located on Parque Colón and is owned by Monte Cristi de Tabacos. You can watch as one or two workers roll cigars in the shop window. Montecristo, Cohiba and Caoba brand cigars are sold at the shop.
reviewed
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Felipe & Co
This shop on Parque Colónis stocked with charming high-quality handicrafts, like ceramics, jewelry and handbags, with also a good selection of paintings. Some of the best finds are stocked way in the back of this deep shop, easily one of the best in the Zona Colonial.
reviewed
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Prensa International
Towards the rear of the El Paseo shopping mall, this shop sells a variety of international newspapers and magazines – most are a day or two old and the majority are in French, though the International Herald Tribune is available.
reviewed
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Haitian Caraibes Art Gallery
For more of a selection of paintings, other than the ubiquitous cookie-cutter mass-produced ones, stop by the Haitian Caraibes Art Gallery; it also sells interesting crafts, jewelry and typical batiks and sarongs.
reviewed
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Supermercado Nacional
Supermercado Nacional lives up to its name. It is an enormous megastore occupying several city blocks. It’s located at one of the busiest intersections in the city. It has another branch in Gazcue.
reviewed
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La Leyenda del Cigarro
This small shop several blocks north of Parque Colón has a good selection of premium cigars, but equally importantly, the helpful staff are more than willing to answer the naive questions of cigar novices.
reviewed
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Supermercado £1
The largest grocery store is Supermercado £1; it’s not uncommon for a power outage to occur here in the middle of the day. The 2nd-floor pool hall makes it easy to spot on the main drag.
reviewed
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Swiss Mine
English, French, Italian and German are all spoken at this shop, which is notable for its high-quality design work; it now also has an excellent selection of artwork by contemporary Dominican painters.
reviewed
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Librería Pichardo
Some early and antique Spanish-language books, mostly on colonial history and Latin American literature and poetry, plus some curios. Bargain to get a good price.
reviewed
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Pulga de Antigüedades
Poke around the clothes, shoes, handicrafts and antiques at this open-air flea market, held every Sunday on a small plaza a block north of Parque Colón.
reviewed
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Punto Italia
This is a small Italian-owned grocery, a vital resource for expats who demand high-quality meat, cheese, bread and brand-name European exports.
reviewed
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La Cadena
In Gazcue, La Cadena is within walking distance of hotels in the neighborhood and carries produce, meats and everything you should need.
reviewed
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Galería de Arte María del Carmen
In business for over two decades, this place has been selling art long enough to attract a wide range of talented Dominican painters.
reviewed
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Editorial Duarte
This dusty shop in the Zona Colonial has a good selection of Spanish-language fiction books, foreign-language dictionaries and maps.
reviewed
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Supermercado Lindo
The largest and best supermarket in town, this is the place to go for canned foods, pastas, produce, snacks and any other supplies.
reviewed
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Librería Cuesta
This modern, two-story Dominican version of Barnes & Noble is easily the nicest and largest bookstore in the city.
reviewed
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De Soto Galería
This is a small gallery specializing in Dominican and Haitian painters. A rambling array of antiques is also for sale.
reviewed
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Supermercado Jarabacoa
A good-sized supermarket, this place has the best selection of canned food, produce and dry goods in town.
reviewed
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Flor Ambar Gift Shop
Amid cheap souvenirs, Flor Ambar offers a nice selection of amber and larimar jewelry.
reviewed
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Talisman Gift Shop
This is a good crafts and souvenir shop on the main road which accepts credit cards.
reviewed