Good to know
Good to Know
- Many restaurants are cash-only or have limited card acceptance; carry US dollars (which are commonly used alongside Panamanian balboas)
- Tipping is not required in Panama but is appreciated
- Drinking tap water is unsafe; always opt for bottled water
- Dining pace is slow and relaxed; be patient for your meal
- Many popular restaurants have no formal website; check Google Maps or local social media
- Water taxis between islands charge significantly more after dark, making dinner-hopping between islands challenging
- Happy hours are popular, especially at Raw Fusion (4-6pm) and Selina/Klika (3-8pm extended hours)
- Breakfast and late brunches are major cultural dining moments due to the high volume of tourists and backpackers
- Many waterfront restaurants operate on stilts over the water—a signature Bocas del Toro dining experience
- If you have food allergies, inform servers clearly and consider carrying a Spanish translation card
Supermarkets
Super Gourmet
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Note
- Known for in-house sauces, dips, trail mixes, salads, deli sandwiches and specialty products
Supermercado Bocas
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Note
- Main supermarket with fresh seafood and groceries
Budget
TOM
- Price Range
- PAB 10
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local Caribbean seafood and cheap eats
Chikita Beach Restaurant
- Price Range
- PAB 12
- Neighborhood
- Saigon Bay
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Caribbean seafood, fried fish, lobster tail
Amaranto
- Price Range
- PAB 8.00
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Healthy breakfast, smoothies, bowls, sandwiches, waffles
Coco Fastronomy
- Price Range
- PAB 14
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Bapé (specialty stuffed bread), fusion cuisine
High End
El Ultimo Refugio
- Price Range
- PAB 35
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood, ceviche, octopus, tuna tartare, creative pan-Caribbean
Arboloco
- Price Range
- PAB 32
- Neighborhood
- Isla Colon (outside downtown)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Caribbean food, rondon, mixed grill, local specialties in garden setting
Mid Range
La Buga
- Price Range
- PAB 18
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- International food court with multiple vendors, Caribbean, Asian, European
Raw Fusion
- Price Range
- PAB 16
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Japanese sushi, rice bowls, tempura, happy hour deals
Bibi's on the Beach
- Price Range
- PAB 20
- Neighborhood
- Isla Carenero
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Caribbean Creole seafood, passion fruit margaritas
Trattoria Pane E Vino
- Price Range
- PAB 19
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Italian cuisine, pasta, pizza
Delivery Services
Kosher Mediterranean food delivery across Isla Colon
- App Or Service
- Sababa Bocas
Local food trucks and informal delivery
- Note
- Food trucks available for crepes, grilled chicken with plantains and other casual meals
Local Must Try Dishes
Ceviche
- Description
- Fresh fish or shrimp marinated in citrus juice with onions, peppers and cilantro
Rondon
- Description
- Traditional Caribbean stew with coconut milk, fish, meat, plantains and root vegetables
Patacones
- Description
- Twice-fried green plantain slices, crispy outside and soft inside, served with salt or dipping sauce
Grilled Lobster
- Description
- Fresh Caribbean lobster grilled and served with lime, garlic and herbs
Sancocho
- Description
- Hearty chicken soup with yams, corn, cilantro and local spices
Whole Fried Fish
- Description
- Local red snapper or similar, fried whole and served with coconut rice and beans
Bapé
- Description
- Local specialty: stuffed bread (similar to arepa) filled with beef, cheese and sauce
Vegan Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Limited but growing vegan/vegetarian options in Bocas del Toro. The scene is small compared to larger cities, requiring some planning.
Venues
Leaf Eaters Cafe
- Price Range
- PAB 14
- Neighborhood
- Isla Carenero
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Vegetarian and vegan cuisine with fresh local ingredients, plant-based bowls and entrees
- Note
- Only a short boat ride from Bocas Town; offers waterfront dining and seasonal specials
Sababa Bocas
- Price Range
- PAB 12
- Neighborhood
- Bocas Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Kosher Mediterranean with falafel, hummus and vegan options
- Note
- Specializes in hummus, falafel pitas and Mediterranean dishes; delivery available
Halal Kosher Gluten Free
Halal
- Note
- No documented halal-specific dining establishments found in Bocas del Toro
Kosher
- Venue
- Sababa Bocas offers kosher Mediterranean food with delivery across Isla Colon
Gluten Free
- Note
- Amaranto explicitly offers gluten-free options; many restaurants can accommodate requests upon notice (advise checking ahead and communicating clearly due to language differences)
International And Other Cuisine
- Overview
- Bocas del Toro has a surprisingly diverse international dining scene including Mexican, Indian, Italian, Thai, Mediterranean and sushi restaurants, reflecting its large expat community and tourist draw.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Bocas del Toro
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.