Where to Eat in Panama City: A Local Guide

Which neighbourhood to eat in, what a meal costs and when restaurants actually open: a practical guide to eating in Panama City.

Panama City is three cities when it comes to food, and knowing which one you are in saves a lot of wandering. The banking district feeds office workers at lunch. Costa del Este feeds families and business dinners. And Casco Antiguo, the old town, is where people go when the meal itself is the plan.

The three areas, and what each is for

• Casco Antiguo (Casco Viejo). The historic quarter, and the densest concentration of restaurants in the country: over a hundred within ten walkable blocks. Restored colonial houses, rooftop terraces, and the widest range of cooking anywhere in Panama. This is where visitors should eat at least once.
• Obarrio, Marbella and San Francisco. The business core. Strong at lunch, efficient, less atmospheric. Good steakhouses and international kitchens.
• Costa del Este. Modern, residential, mall-adjacent. Reliable and comfortable, built around the working week rather than the long evening.

When restaurants actually open

This trips up more visitors than anything else. Panama City eats late. Many kitchens in Casco Antiguo do not open until 5:00 p.m., the dining rooms fill around 8:30, and Thursday to Saturday they serve until midnight or later. Sunday is the exception: several places open from late morning and close early evening.

Lunch is the underrated slot. From noon to three you can walk into restaurants that would have an hour’s wait at night, often with a set menu at a fraction of the dinner price.

What a meal costs

Panama uses the US dollar, so no currency conversion is needed. Rough guide for a sit-down dinner, per person, before drinks:

• Starters and small plates: 11 to 20 dollars.
• Main courses: 16 to 28 dollars, with premium cuts going higher.
• Desserts: 8 to 10 dollars.

A 10 % service charge is often added to the bill in Casco Antiguo. Check before tipping twice.

What to actually order

Panamanian cooking is Caribbean, Pacific and Spanish at once, and it rewards curiosity. The things worth trying:

• Ceviche — usually corvina (sea bass) or shrimp, gentler and less acidic than the Peruvian version.
• Sancocho — the national soup: hen, culantro and ñame root. Deceptively simple and impossible to fake.
• Patacones — twice-fried green plantain, served with almost everything.
• Chorizo tableño — smoked sausage from Los Santos province, a genuinely local flavour.
• Ron Abuelo — the national rum, aged and worth drinking neat.

Practical notes

Reservations are worth making Thursday through Saturday, especially in Casco Antiguo. Parking in the old town is difficult; take a taxi or a ride app and walk. The streets are cobbled, so leave the delicate shoes at the hotel. And most restaurants take cards without a problem, though small places may prefer cash.

If you want Panamanian cooking specifically, rather than international food that happens to be in Panama, the old town is where to look. Aya la Vida, in Edificio La Cuadra on Avenida A and Calle 12 Oeste, cooks Panamanian dishes in a modern register, with an open-air terrace and live music.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Spanish to eat out in Panama City?
Not in the tourist areas. Menus in Casco Antiguo are commonly bilingual and staff generally speak English.

Is tap water safe in Panama City?
Yes. Panama City tap water is safe to drink and restaurants serve it freely.

What is the tipping custom?
Ten per cent is standard, and it is frequently already added to the bill as servicio.

Which day is best for a food-focused evening?
Thursday. The city is out, kitchens are fully staffed, and it is less crowded than Friday or Saturday.

Can I eat well on a stopover?
Yes. Casco Antiguo is about 30 minutes from Tocumen airport outside rush hour, which makes a long layover enough for a proper meal.

Keep reading

• Panamanian Food: What to Eat in Panama City
• Casco Viejo, Panama: What to See and Where to Eat
• Rooftop en Panama: las terrazas con mejor vista

Aya la Vida is in Edificio La Cuadra, Avenida A and Calle 12 Oeste, Casco Antiguo, Panama City. Menu and opening hours on its official site; book a table here, see the menu, or plan a Copa stopover.

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