Azul Bar & Grill (Calle Punta Colón, Paitilla, Panama City) – located on the 13th floor of the Trump Hotel, this is both a restaurant (serving lean cuisine options, along with burgers), and a poolside lounge that fills up during the weekends. It already scores points with local and international patrons because of its bright, […]
Altabar (Calle 49 – half a block east of Calle Uruguay, Bella Vista, Panama City) – this open-air lounge, located on the second floor of a disco, plays House and Electronic music to a mostly 20-something year old local crowd. It holds an after-office happy hour every Tuesday (attracting its share of locals who work […]
Puerta de Tierra (Calle 9, Edificio Montefiore, Casco Viejo, Panama City) – launched by Venezuelan entrepreneurs in 2009, this steakhouse is housed within a historic structure that recalls Panama’s boom years from the early Canal period. This restaurant has a diverse menu – ranging from BBQ steak dishes, to seafood, soups, salads, as well as […]
Mi Ranchito (Isla Naos, Calzada de Amador, Panama City) – diners here choose this restaurant for its view of the city across the bay. It is also a decent place to try local (Panamanian) cuisine. Dishes served are include orvina entera frita (a whole fried sea bass), rib-eye steak encebollado (smothered in onions), camarones a […]
Mexicanita (Calle 53 Este, Marbella, Panama City) – this is a Mexican restaurant which has received mostly positive reviews from international diners. The biggest plus is its reasonable prices for its dishes, be it the house-made tortillas and chips, the guacamole, enchiladas, or tostadas. Some say it can improve on the décor, but that’s a […]
Market (Calle 48 entre Calle Uruguay y Aquino de la Guardia, Bella Vista, Panama City) – USDA beef is a status symbol for top-quality beef among upscale Panamanian restaurants, which is a major selling point with this steakhouse. This along with the organic chicken and pork items served here. The décor is consistent with similar […]
Manolo Caracol (Av. Central y Calle 3 Este, Casco Viejo, Panama City) – this restaurant (with an accompanying art gallery) is housed in a renovated colonial building, and serves a variety of seafood and meat dishes. Diners give this restaurant high marks for its large portions and natural ingredients.
Luna (Calle 53, Marbella, Central Comercial La Florida, Panama City) — In a city where the service can be questionable (even at high-end restaurants), this vegetarian-friendly fusion restaurant has gotten high marks from various diners for its impeccable service, as well as for its dishes – whether it was chicharrones, beef carpaccio, or Asian combos. […]
La Posta (Calle 48 y Calle Uruguay, Bella Vista, Panama City) – reflecting the city’s ethnic mix, La Posta’s menu is a mix of Latin American and European influences. With an ever-changing menu, its food items include USDA beef (apparently a big seller in Panama), fresh seafood, along with risottos and pasta. Its brightly-lit Caribbean […]
Kyoto (Plaza Bolivar y Calle 4, Panama City) – located within the Casco Viejo section of town, this restaurant lives up to its name in serving Japanese food. They also host live music – bossanova – Wednesday and Saturdays starting at 8 pm.