Museum Of Rum — Attraction in Santo Domingo

True Caribbean Cultural Experience: Have some Rum with a nicely crafted Cigar

Housed in 16th century restored building, the Museum of Rum and Sugar Cane is one of my favorite places to spend an early evening in the colonial town of Santo Domingo. The walls display some pictures of the original building before reconstruction transformed this old house into a little hipster place.

The museum has a few rooms showing the history of rum and sugar cane. There are several stoves of bronze on display and numerous other items from the history of rum making in the Dominican Republic. Sugar cane can be found growing inside of the open patio, where one can enjoy a cigar and the house rum.

There is also a nice bar inside where you can enjoy some history in a variety of well prepared rum cocktails at very reasonable price… I mean cheap, or I would remember the price tag.

I particularly enjoyed Ron Piña on the rocks with some locally crafted cigars purchased earlier at Boutique Tabaco Caoba in nearby...

I had a bad experience there. They took me for a stupid gringa trying to make me pay more. And usually, when such unfair things happens, it means the place has bad energy with all that goes with it. I went there to dance salsa on a Friday night and as a non-drinker, I asked for any non alcoholic cocktail. The response I got was that « they do not have any non alcholic cocktails or drinks there » (yeah, right). Then the barman returns and tells me he can make a non alcoholic mojito. I happily agreed. Mind you, he tells me I had to pay for it as if I ordered a few rum cocktails. I didnt want to argue and paid. To later see that two Dominican girls who came later on ordered several times non alcoholic cocktails and they were served normally, they were not told that no non alcoholic drinks were available and the price they paid was fair. I find this totally unfair. Let the money that I paid three times higher be for Charity for Dominican people (well, i know it will not...

The place was PACKED (we were there after midnight on Saturday) so much so that there was hardly any place to dance. Dance floor itself is also tiny. Music was good but I wish stretches were shorter...like waiting for 20+ minutes to hear a bachata song because salsa has been playing on repeat. The dancer level was just OK. I danced with a couple of leads that I invited myself and they were good, but also most people just stand and watch ppl dance. Had to deal with a guy pinching my behind so had to tell him off.

I think this place is more for hanging out and drinking and dancing...