Santo Domingo

Las Casas del XVI

Restored colonial houses with a Michelin Key

By Bridget Edwards, CTA, VTA · Updated October 13, 2026

← Dominican Republic

Region: Santo Domingo
Resort type: Intimate boutique hotel
Best for: Families or friends who want to stay together, and travelers seeking something truly unique
Visited by Bridget: October 2026

Bridget's Take

The firsthand perspective.

Las Casas del XVI is one of the most original hotel concepts I've seen. Instead of one building, it's a collection of separate restored houses in the Colonial Zone, each with its own number of guest rooms, and it has earned a Michelin Key.

What I loved

The concept: individual houses with varying numbers of guest rooms (some with three, some with five), so it feels more like a private residence than a hotel
A fabulous lunch, including citrus chicken and rice with bacon (tocino) that I'm still thinking about
Its location, perfect for exploring the history of the first city in the Americas

Good to know

Pair a stay here with a guided Colonial Zone tour, the Larimar Museum, the Colonial Gate 4D Cinema's film about Santo Domingo's founding, and the new Fortress of Columbus museum, once home to Diego Colon, son of Christopher Columbus.

Room Tips