El Mesón de la Cava

At first we thought this was a gimmicky club -- you descend a perilous iron stairway into an actual cave with stalactites and stalagmites -- but the cuisine is among the finest in the capital. The quality ingredients are well prepared and harmonious in flavor. Recorded merengue, Latin jazz, blues, and salsa give the place a festive ambience. Try small shrimp sautéed in a delicate sauce of garlic or white wine, perhaps a mixed seafood or "sexy" conch gratiné. The gazpacho is also an excellent beginning, as is the bubbling sopa de pescado (red snapper chowder). Follow it up with the grilled Caribbean rock lobster or the double French lamb chops, which are done to tender perfection.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.