A week at Finest Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, on the quieter north end of the Punta Cana coast, in August 2024. The beach was beautiful, but the real story was dinner: six nights of plated, multi-course meals at the resort’s restaurants, from a beachside dinner to a steakhouse and an Asian table grill.
The resort and the beach
Finest sits in Uvero Alto, about 40 minutes north of the main Bávaro and Punta Cana hotel strip. The grounds are green and spread out, and the beach is lined with palms and thatched palapas, which is where we spent most afternoons with a fresh coconut.
Night 1: Dinner by the beach
The first dinner started with warm cheese bread and three dipping sauces, followed by a green salad with grilled pineapple and a seafood starter.
Night 2: A long, slow tasting dinner
Night two began with a frozen coconut cocktail and olive bread, then a layered terrine, a steak with a rich sauce and a chocolate layer cake topped with passion fruit.
Night 3: Soup, filet and a chocolate sphere
A creamy soup, a filet with asparagus and a chocolate sphere for dessert, all served on heavy stoneware plates.
Night 4: The steakhouse
The steakhouse brought baked green-lipped mussels, then sliced steak sizzling on a hot stone with fries, creamed spinach and chimichurri.
Night 5: The Asian table grill
The most fun dinner of the trip was a tabletop grill. The table is set with small sides and sauces, and the shrimp and meat are cooked on the grill in front of you. Dumplings and a spring roll came first and a light panna cotta-style dessert came last.
Night 6: Rack of lamb to finish
The last night was a terrine starter, a herb-crusted rack of lamb and a chocolate dessert with vanilla ice cream.
Tips for Finest Punta Cana
- Uvero Alto is further from the airport than Bávaro, so budget for a longer transfer.
- The à la carte restaurants are the highlight, so plan which one you want for each night.
- Dinners are multi-course, so give yourself time and don’t book anything early the next morning.
- Get to the beach palapas early, since they are the best shade on the sand.
Looking for another Dominican Republic all-inclusive? See our stay at Casa Marina in Sosúa on the north coast.