Best Restaurants in Panama City: Panamanian and International

When you’re eating your way through Panama City, know that you’re dining in a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Every meal is a chance to peel back the layers of Panama’s diverse cultures shaped by its Indigenous peoples and the many settlers who passed through during the colonial era, the Gold Rush, the railroad boom, and the building of the Canal.

I’ve spent years living here, and eating at the restaurants in Panama City is my favorite way to dig into the culture, history, and its communities. To help you do the same, I’ve put together this guide, updated for 2025, that puts Panamanian food first (because that’s non-negotiable) but also highlights some international restaurants worth seeking out.

I’ll encourage you to step outside Casco Viejo and explore other foodie neighborhoods for a well-rounded impression. I hope you’re hungry!

Where to Eat in Panama City at a Glance

How I Chose These Restaurants

To write this guide, I focused on the dishes you must try in Panama to experience culture on your plate. So far, my growing Panamanian palate has led me to these foods Panama is known for:

• Ceviche
• Patacones
• Carimañolas
• Sancocho
• Tamales
• Hojaldres
  

The restaurants in this guide range from traditional fondas and modern takes on Panamanian food to upscale fusion and a few international highlights (because sometimes you just crave something familiar).

I personally tried and paid for every place, choosing them not only for their food quality but also for their atmosphere. I’m always adding new finds, so if there’s something I’ve missed, drop it in the comments. I’d love to try it.

Foodie Neighborhoods in Panama City You Should Know

Knowing where to wander is half the fun. These are the three foodie neighborhoods in Panama City you have to visit:

• Casco Viejo: Apart from the best museums in Panama City, it boasts a great mix of Panamanian & international cuisine, albeit touristy.
  
• San Francisco: Here, you’ll find the best local food in Panama, a trendy scene, and both Panamanian and fusion dining.
  
• El Cangrejo: Local, laid-back, and a gold mine of cool cafés and bars.
  

Tip: these areas are walkable! Perfect for pairing with my restaurant map below.

Map of Restaurants in Panama City

Best Panamanian Restaurants in Panama City

Authentic Panamanian Restaurants

Mercado de Mariscos

One of the best things to do in Panama City is to walk from Casco Viejo along Cinta Costera. It’s a long, scenic stroll, with Mercado de Mariscos as the perfect pitstop in between. 

The food hall is right in front of the fisherman’s docks and adjacent to the fish market. You’ll be touted and ushered in, so pull up a plastic chair, preferably next to a big fan, and order a grilled fish with a side of patacones and a cupful of ceviche. 

The Panamanian method of preparation of ceviche involves extended marination, which makes it very sour. Scoop it with salty plantain chips to balance out the flavor.

⏰ Opening Hours:10 am to 11 pm (restaurants)
📍 Location: Avenida Balboa

Cafe Coca-Cola

Casco Viejo’s Cafe Coca-Cola is a mandatory stop on every itinerary. If you haven’t heard, it’s the oldest cafe in Panama City, opened in 1875, and the only establishment in the world allowed to bear “Coca-Cola” in the name. Many famous figures, including Pablo Neruda, Che Guevara, and Fidel Castro, dined here at one point. So, it’s no surprise that Café Coca-Cola is one of the most popular places to eat in Panama City. 

The interiors, delightfully old-school, are reminiscent of the bygone era. The fish version of ropa vieja that came with a giant side of patacones I had was nothing to write home about, but the atmosphere is the reason to go. Grab a Coke, soak up the history, and save your appetite for other places to eat in Panama City.

⏰ Opening Hours: 7:30 am to 10:30 pm
📍 Location: Avenida Central España

Fonda lo Que Hay

Another famous restaurant in Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood has garnered awards and boasts hour-long queues, attesting to its popularity. The chef and restaurateur of this establishment, Jose Olmedo Carles Rojas, took the concept of Panamanian fondas (local cafeteria-style eateries) and put a modern and upscale twist on it. 

The name of the restaurant means “whatever there is”, which is the essence of a fonda but also hints at the ever-changing menu by the creative team behind the pass. The restaurant oozes cool, especially in the evening when the neon signs are brightest and the cocktail bar’s giant candles are lit. Compared to a real fonda, though, this meal is a ‘must-do splurge’ if that’s your thing. Don’t miss ordering the bollo preñao – a corn-husk wrapped cousin of the tamal.

⏰ Opening Hours:12 pm to 11 pm (closed Monday)
📍 Location: Calle Jose Obaldia, Casco Antiguo

La Tapa Del Coco

In San Francisco’s foodie neighborhood, La Tapa del Coco celebrates Panama’s Afro-descendant heritage through elevated traditional cuisine, a recognition that has landed it on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. 

Chefs Isaac Villaverde and Armando Bramwell designed a menu and ambiance that are sophisticated yet comforting, encourage you to eat curiously in a cozy space, and leave both your soul and stomach satisfied at reasonable prices.

Start with hojaldres, then move on to the jerk chicken or seafood coconut rice (One Pot Colonese) — dishes destined to rank among your best meals in Panama. For dessert, try the mammallena de pera (pear bread pudding) or the whimsical Panacake, a nostalgic nod to Panamanian childhood in a cup that’s certain to launch your sweet tooth into orbit.

⏰ Opening Hours:12 pm to 10:30 pm
📍 Location: Calle 68 Este, San Francisco

Upscale Panamanian & Fusion Restaurants

Mai Mai

Mai Mai takes its name from a collaboration between two Latin American culinary powerhouses: Mitsuharu Tsumura of Lima’s Maido, Peru’s pioneering Nikkei restaurant, and Mario Castrellon of Maito, Panama City’s flagship fine-dining spot. Together, they created a menu that fuses Japanese-Peruvian and Asian-Panamanian flavors, spotlighting ingredients rooted in both cultures.

Mai Mai is more izakaya than restaurant — a stylish bar where you order small plates to share alongside a cocktail menu crafted by Martin Hudak, one of the world’s top mixologists.

Reading through the menu is half the fun, and the ingredients make even more sense when you know the story of Mai Mai’s origins and concept.

Located in Costa del Este, one of Panama City’s most upscale neighborhoods, Mai Mai also ranks among the best restaurants in Panama City with a view. Its outdoor terrace is pure magic at night, perfect for cocktails and conversation under the skyline.

Just keep in mind that traffic across town can be heavy during peak hours, so plan accordingly.

⏰ Opening Hours: 5 pm to 11:30 pm (closed Sunday)
📍 Location: Panama Design Center, Costa del Este

Maito

If your experience at Mai Mai was intriguing, why not try its Panamanian predecessor, Maito? 

Here, Mario Castrellon combines traditional Panamanian cuisine with ingredients sourced from indigenous communities and Panama’s multicultural identity on a single plate. 

The ubiquitous cure-all sancocho soup, shrimp wonton, and Chombasia fish are essential dishes to try. The latter is Castrellon’s signature, combining Afro-Caribbean and Asian flavors to create an edible representation of Panama’s heritage.

⏰ Opening Hours: Currently closed for vacation
📍 Location: Calle 50, San Francisco

Local Places to Eat in Panama City

San Felipe Neri Public Market

Before you have your fancy fonda experience at Lo Que Hay, I recommend you visit a real local fonda to better understand the inspiration behind Jose’s concept and see how the locals do it. Or better yet, join this food tour that takes you through the most historic and local food spots in the Santa Ana neighborhood, adjacent to Casco Viejo.

Firstly, what’s a fonda? A fonda is a counter-serve roadside eatery offering pre-cooked, hearty Panamanian dishes for anyone seeking a quick, homestyle meal. It’s the original Panamanian fast food joint that’s ideal for breakfast or lunch on the go. 

While the menu depends on what’s available that day — “whatever there is” — you’ll often find favorites like hojaldres, stewed proteins (guisado), rice and beans, sausage, and fried yuca or plantain.

The nearest place to Casco Viejo is located in the San Felipe Neri Public Market. The market is packed with produce, a butchery section, fresh juices, and an entire hall in the back filled with fondas. Grab a little bit of everything!

⏰ Opening Hours: 5 am to 4 pm
📍 Location: corner of Avenida B and Avenida Balboa

Riba Smith Tamales

Tamales, as I’ve come to understand, are a very controversial topic in Panama. Panamanians are opinionated about how, when, and where tamales should be eaten. Naturally, everyone has their own take, since the best tamales are usually the ones you grew up eating at home.

Raisins or no raisins. Olives or plain. Topped with pickled onion or absolutely not. Eaten any time of year or only in December.

All variations are finger-licking good. At their core, a tamal consists of ground corn mixed with an aromatic base that wraps a protein, then wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed.

Making tamales is traditionally a Christmas holiday affair because it’s labor-intensive and takes a whole proverbial village, but you can also find them year-round at Riba Smith supermarkets (in the bakery section). While they’re available elsewhere, Riba Smith’s tamales are highly recommended by Panamanians.

Their natural packaging makes them a perfect picnic snack for exploring Panama City’s parks!

⏰ Opening Hours: 7 am to 9 pm (depends on the branch)
📍 Location: pick the branch closest to you

Best International Restaurants in Panama City

Palacio Lung Fung

Panamanians are welcoming to influences from other cultures. Since the arrival of Chinese immigrants who worked on the transcontinental railroad in the 1850s, siu mai (steamed dumplings) has become a staple in the local diet. Without fail, every Chinese-owned mini-mart will have a steamer full of dumplings ready to grab, but for a whole dim sum experience, weekend brunches across the city are unbeatable, the best of which is Palacio Lung Fung.

If you’ve ever had Chinese yum cha, you’ll recognize the setup: a large banquet hall filled with round tables, some topped with lazy susans, while push carts circle the room with stacks of steamed and fried dumplings. Among the Cantonese classics, don’t miss the Chinese take on Panamanian carimañolas (pork-stuffed yuca fritters).

⏰ Opening Hours: 7 am to 9:30 pm
📍 Location: Avenida de los Periodistas y Avenida 7aC Norte

Onde El Gringo

Craving a rustic Texas barbecue? It doesn’t get much better than building your own tray at San Francisco’s Onde El Gringo. Don’t be fooled by appearances; a single tray is enough to satisfy two diners, so pace yourself!

The meats practically melt in your mouth, smoked to perfection, while the sides are equally impressive: creamy mac and cheese and buttery mashed potatoes are pure comfort on a plate. There’s also a selection of sauces to customize your tray exactly how you like it.

Service is quick, so before you know it, you’ll be settled into a cozy booth, enjoying one of the best restaurants in Panama City for casual dining.

⏰ Opening Hours: Fri-Sat: 12 pm to 10 pm; Sun: 12 pm to 8 pm; Tue-Thur: 5-10 pm (closed Monday)
📍 Location: SF69 Plaza, Calle 69, San Francisco

Lamro

If you find yourself in Casco Viejo craving something both different and comforting, head to Lamro. Khachapuri, a fluffy bread boat filled with cheese, egg, and butter, and khinkali, Georgian meat dumplings, will hit the spot.

Lamro is the only Georgian restaurant in Latin America. Recreating authentic flavors so far from home is always a challenge, but when I visited shortly after they opened, the dishes truly delivered. Even the tomatoes in the walnut-tomato salad tasted like they’d just arrived from Georgia.

⏰ Opening Hours: Tue-Thur: 6 pm to 10 pm; Fri-Sun: 12 pm to 10 pm (closed Monday)
📍 Location: Calle Victoriano Lorenzo, Casco Antiguo

Azahar

Azahar serves haute cuisine, blending Western European and Asian influences in a setting full of surprises. The restaurant is a speakeasy, hidden behind a large cooler door inside a flower shop, which opens into spacious dining rooms with vibrant, colorful décor.

The terrace is the star: it overlooks Panama Bay, the skyscrapers of Punta Pacifica, and Cinta Costera, making Azahar one of the best restaurants in Panama City with a view.

While I didn’t try all the Asian-inspired dishes, the meats are melt-in-your-mouth tender, and I still think about the profiteroles I had for dessert.

⏰ Opening Hours: Thur-Sat: 12 pm to 12 am; Sun: 12 pm to 10 pm; Mon-Wed: 12 pm to 11 pm
📍 Location: 7th Floor, PH Yoo, Avenida Vasco Nuñez de Balboa

The Verdict

Traveling through food is one of my 24 best ways to experience Panama, and there’s no shortage of restaurants in Panama City where you can do just that. Start with Panamanian flavors, then branch out into the city’s global dining scene.

Let me know which restaurant was your favorite!