SANTIAGO – NIGHTLIFE
To a growing number of visitors, Santiago’s evolving nightlife is an attraction unto itself. This is divided into two distinct areas. One is the traditional Latin music scene, composed mainly of the island’s trademark rhythms (Merengue and Bachata). Local discos like “Ambis” (located at Autopista Duarte Km. 2) and various lounges like “Level” (located at Bella Terra Mall on Av. Juan Pablo Duarte), Zatarra Bar (Av. Estrella Sadhalá, Plaza Hache) and Típico Monte Bar (Av. 27 de Febrero #18) regularly book big-name Merengue acts like Fernandito Villalona, Eddy Herrera and Hermanos Rosario, as well as emerging bands. Because of the popularity of this music among locals of all social classes, there are always posters and banners roped on top of major intersections advertising upcoming Merengue and Bachata events (too many to list here).
The other area of nightlife in Santiago consists of the emerging Trance and House (a.k.a. Electro-House) music scene, popular among young middle and upper class residents. In recent years, reflecting a similar scene taking roots in the island’s capital, lounges and discos that play such sounds (often located within shopping centers and strip malls), such as Privilege (Plaza Palermo, Av. Juan Pablo Duarte), Zoom Lounge (Centro Comercial Metropolitano, Av. 27 de Febrero), Dubai Club (Calle de la Salle, Plaza Zona Rosa), La Dolce Lounge (Calle de la Salle, Plaza Zona Rosa), Francifol (Calle del Sol 127), and Soho RoofTop (Av. Juan Pablo Duarte, Plaza Bella Terra Mall, 5th floor). International House music DJs such as Dirty South, Axwell (of Swedish House Mafia), Bob Sinclar, and Roger Sánchez, have all done shows at these nightspots, as well as during outdoor shows in the Santiago area. Some of these same clubs, which typically attracts college students from PUCMM (Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra), may also book local rock bans, such as “Toque Profundo”, and
Since the House music scene is a stronghold for the 20-something crowd, more mature visitors will likely head for Cosmopolitan Bar (within the Gran Almirante Hotel, Av. Estrella Sadhalá) – a popular watering hole for the martini crowd; and for wine lovers, there’s the wine bar Punto y Corcho (Av. Juan Pablo Duarte, esq. Ponce / Centro Plaza Internacional).