Four Samaná restaurants shine with sustainable cuisine

On September 30, the awards for the third edition of the Plato de Verano 2026 contest were handed out in Santa Bárbara de Samaná, and the jury highlighted four restaurants in the area for their commitment to sustainable cuisine. The news comes via Arecoa, confirming that the peninsula keeps gaining weight as a culinary destination on the Dominican tourism map.

Samaná doesn't live on its beaches and whale watching alone. Cooking with local produce, from fish caught nearby to seasonal fruit and root vegetables, has become another reason to extend a stay and a selling point for boutique hotels and tour operators. A contest like Plato de Verano focusing on sustainability fits what European and North American travellers arriving on the peninsula are already asking for.

The challenge is keeping that standard all year round and getting the rest of the destination on board. That is where hoteliers in the area can find business, by weaving these spots into their packages and menus. Samaná's gastronomy has room to grow and to set the destination apart from other Caribbean hubs.