La Terrasse - beachfront dining in Las Terrenas

Take a stroll along the famous Pueblo de los Pescadores shoreline and you’ll come across the Caribbean-cum-French chic beachside dining deck of La Terrasse. One of the oldest restaurants in Las Terrenas, this quaint little establishment is a time-honored local gem.

The beachfront deck gives diners stunning views of the sunset over Scottish Bay, and after dark a great place to watch the stars. With warm weather year-round and 230 clear days every year, the Dominican Republic almost guarantees great al fresco dining.

This small strip of the Samaná Peninsula is full of bars and restaurants to enjoy but La Terrasse Restaurant stands out.

La Terrasse feels cozy, relaxed and quite homely, something like a cross between a Michelin Star restaurant and a traditional family-owned French bistro, if you can imagine what that would look like adapted for the Caribbean climate. It does a fantastic job of maintaining a fine dining experience whilst holding onto that laid-back beach vibe that people come to Las Terrenas for.

The decor inside the restaurant is light and minimalistic with a lot of influence from Southern France and the Mediterranean. With white-washed wooden walls accented with soft sky blue, it almost feels like the front room of a fancy beach house.

Like a traditional French bistro, the menu at La Terrasse is about quality over quantity. La Terrasse offers a small number of simple dishes that are incredibly well done. Don’t come expecting an extensive list of choices - come ready to trust the head chef to know exactly how to best showcase local seasonal ingredients (and come hungry!).

The menu varies by season, but there are a few star dishes that return regularly and always earn rave reviews. Highlights include the octopus, which Las Terrenas return visitors say is the best in the city. The steak au poivre is another fan-favorite, with some saying this dish alone should earn Las Terrasse a Michelin star. The lobster ravioli is another highlight of the menu, incorporating both the taste of the Mediterranean and the Dominican Republic.

Dishes are slightly more expensive than other restaurants you will find in La Terrenas, but they’re also guaranteed to be excellent value for money.

La Terrasse Restaurant is a delightful taste of French/Mediterranean dining right on the spectacular beachfront of Pueblo de los Pescadores - one of the best nightlife areas in the Dominican Republic. It’s a restaurant that doesn’t try to be too big or too fancy. It keeps everything simple, and gets everything right. One of the oldest restaurants in Las Terrenas, Las Terrasse has a reputation for excellence among both Dominicans and visitors.

We recommend: the octopus, steak au poivre or lobster ravioli.

Written by Andrew Miles.

Published November 2020