Kimpton Has a Boutique Hotel in the Dominican Republic’s 500-Year-Old Capital — And It Has Rooms for $165

Stone streets after dark. Rooftop cocktails above centuries-old buildings. Live merengue drifting out of open-air bars in the Colonial Zone.

That’s the version of Santo Domingo travelers keep discovering right now.

And in the middle of it is the new Kimpton Las Mercedes by IHG, one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated urban hotel debuts.

The hotel is currently showing rates starting at $165 per night for stays from May 28 through May 31, according to what we found on Google Hotels.

That rate stands out for a newly-opened (well, it opened in 2024, but still very new) Kimpton in the heart of Santo Domingo’s historic district — particularly at a moment when the city’s Colonial Zone has become one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing urban destinations.

A Different Kind Of Caribbean Escape

The appeal here starts with the neighborhood.

Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone remains one of the Caribbean’s great urban districts, filled with 16th-century architecture, open-air bars, rooftop restaurants, churches, galleries, and pedestrian streets lined with cafés. The neighborhood carries a completely different rhythm from the Dominican Republic’s beach destinations.

You spend the day walking between plazas, stopping for coffee in courtyards, ducking into cocktail bars, and lingering over dinner on streets where nearly every building has centuries of history behind it.

The Kimpton places you directly inside that atmosphere.

Kimpton Comfort With Colonial Character

The hotel blends contemporary Kimpton design with the surrounding historic neighborhood, creating a property that feels connected to the Colonial Zone instead of separated from it.

That combination is a major part of the appeal.

You still get the polished experience travelers expect from the Kimpton brand: modern rooms, upscale finishes, design-forward public spaces, and a strong food-and-beverage program. Outside the hotel, the Colonial Zone starts immediately.

That mix of comfort and historic character is increasingly driving demand in Santo Domingo, particularly among travelers looking for Caribbean trips centered around food, nightlife, culture, and walkability instead of traditional resort stays.

The Rooftop Scene

One of the defining features at The Kimpton Las Mercedes is its rooftop overlooking the Colonial Zone.

Rooftop culture has become a major part of Santo Domingo’s hotel scene in recent years, particularly inside the historic district, where restored buildings now house cocktail lounges, restaurants, and boutique hotels.

At night, the neighborhood changes completely. Streets around Plaza de España fill with outdoor dining, music, and crowds moving between bars and terraces late into the evening.

Staying directly inside the district changes the experience entirely compared to commuting in from newer parts of the city.

Why The Rate Matters

A nightly rate of $165 is notable for a newly-opened upscale lifestyle hotel in this part of Santo Domingo.

Comparable upscale properties in the Colonial Zone frequently command much higher rates during busy weekends, particularly hotels with rooftop venues and central locations.

For travelers considering a Caribbean city escape, the current pricing creates an unusually approachable entry point into one of the region’s strongest urban hotel markets.

The Takeaway

The Colonial Zone has become one of the Caribbean’s most compelling long-weekend destinations. We love it, and feel like it’s still vastly underrated.

You get rooftop bars, historic streets, art galleries, live music, serious restaurants, and a walkable neighborhood filled with character — all inside the oldest city in the New World.

And right now, you can experience it from the new Kimpton Las Mercedes for $165 a night.