Score Sports Bar and Grill
Score Sports Bar and Grill operates in the downtown Punta Cana commercial zone, targeting the sizable population of English-speaking resort workers, expats, and adventurous tourists who want sports, cold beer, and conversation in a language they speak fluently. The bar has multiple flatscreen displays positioned around the main room showing North American and European sports programming: NFL, NBA, Premier League, MLB, and occasional Champions League matches. The kitchen produces a standard bar menu of burgers, wings, nachos, and grilled items at prices that are high by Dominican standards but reasonable for what they are. The crowd is genuinely mixed in a way that few Bavaro venues achieve: Dominican resort workers sit alongside American and European visitors and the small permanent expat community.
Where to stay near Score Sports Bar and Grill
Hotels close to Downtown Punta Cana, Punta Cana.
What to Expect
An accessible English-friendly bar with sports coverage, cold drinks, and a mixed crowd that includes both tourists and residents. Not Dominican nightlife; an expat-accessible version of a sports bar.
Comfortable and casual. Livelier during major sporting events; quieter between them.
Ambient American pop and rock between games. Muted during sports coverage.
Casual. Shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers are the standard.
English-speaking visitors who want to watch sports, solo travelers looking for an accessible social environment, and anyone needing a night off from the full Dominican nightlife experience.
Cash and cards. DOP and USD both accepted.
Price Range
Beer 180-240 DOP. Cocktails 300-450 DOP. Burger with fries 600-800 DOP. Wings (12 pieces) 550-700 DOP.
Beer ~USD 3-4, cocktails ~USD 5-8, burger ~USD 10-14, wings ~USD 9-12
Hours
Daily noon to midnight or later. Stays open for late-night games.
Insider Tip
Check the sports schedule before going; the crowd and energy change significantly based on what's showing. The NFL Sunday games draw the largest American expat crowd. Arrive 30-40 minutes before a major match to get a good screen sightline. The bar staff are accustomed to English-speaking visitors and provide faster service than most downtown venues.
Full Review
Score does one thing well: it's a functioning sports bar in a location where no other functional sports bar exists. That's not a small achievement in the Dominican Republic, where television sports coverage defaults to baseball and the concept of an American-style sports bar is recent enough that most attempts at it fail within two years.
The screens are well-positioned, the sound management during major games is adequate, and the beer arrives cold and fast during peak hours. The kitchen produces recognizable food that tastes like what it's supposed to be rather than a local interpretation of American bar food.
The social environment is the main variable. When a major North American sporting event draws the expat crowd, Score transforms into a genuinely social place where conversations start around shared team affiliations and the bars where people grew up. On an ordinary weeknight without a compelling game, the atmosphere is pleasant but quiet.
For visitors who've spent several days in the resort environment and want to decompress with a familiar social context, Score provides the right combination of accessible, English-friendly, and low-effort.
The Neighborhood
In the downtown Punta Cana commercial area, near the Blue Mall. Accessible from the main commercial street.
Getting There
By taxi from Bavaro, 15-20 minutes and 800-1,200 DOP. Ask your hotel for the current address, as exact position in the downtown commercial zone can shift slightly between seasons.
Other Venues in Downtown Punta Cana
Mangu Nightclub
Large Dominican-style club near the Blue Mall commercial corridor drawing a mix of resort workers, local young professionals, and adventurous tourists. Reggaeton and dembow until 3 AM on weekends. Cover around 300-500 DOP for men.
Sip Sip Beach Bar and Restaurant
Casual outdoor bar and restaurant in the downtown area with a relaxed patio, Dominican menu, and cold drinks. A neighborhood hangout that draws a mix of local residents and English-speaking visitors.
Hard Rock Hotel Casino Punta Cana
The Hard Rock property on the resort corridor adjacent to downtown includes a full casino and nightclub open to non-guests. High production value, international crowd, and cover charges around 1,000-1,500 DOP on event nights.
Downtown Punta Cana Rooftop Bar
Rooftop lounge on a commercial building in the downtown area with city views, cocktail service, and a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. Popular with a slightly older local professional crowd.
El Mitre Sports Bar
Well-established downtown sports bar with pool tables, darts, and game coverage. Draws a mixed crowd of Dominican regulars and English-speaking visitors. One of the more sociable places to meet people who live and work in the Punta Cana area.
La Esquina Lounge
Corner lounge bar in the downtown commercial zone serving rum cocktails and local beers to a mid-20s Dominican crowd. Live DJ on weekends and an accessible entry point for foreigners interested in a more local social experience.