Good to know
Good to Know
- Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner (approximately 2:30–6:30 PM) and some close Sundays; reservations are recommended on weekends.
- Mercado de Mariscos (Seafood Market) near Cinta Costera offers the freshest and most affordable ceviche in the city—open daily 5 AM–5 PM.
- Coffee is exceptionally good everywhere; even inexpensive restaurants have espresso machines. Panama produces Geisha coffee, one of the world's most expensive and prized varieties.
- Seafood is fresh and relatively inexpensive except for lobster and crab, reflecting Panama's coastal location.
- Fine dining is concentrated in Casco Viejo, El Cangrejo, and Costa del Este neighborhoods.
- Food culture reflects Panama's multicultural history—indigenous, Spanish, African, Caribbean, Chinese, and Asian influences all appear in the cuisine.
Supermarkets
Super Gourmet
- Location
- Casco Viejo
- Note
- Local gourmet market within city center
Mercado De Mariscos
- Location
- Cinta Costera (near Casco Viejo)
- Note
- Open-air seafood market; fresh catch daily; ceviche cocktails around $3
Budget
Café Coca-Cola
- Price Range
- PAB 10
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Panamanian, historic café
El Trapiche
- Price Range
- PAB 6.00
- Neighborhood
- El Cangrejo / San Francisco
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Panamanian, arroz con pollo
Conolon Panamanian Street Food
- Price Range
- PAB 7.00
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local street food, traditional dishes
High End
Maito Restaurante
- Price Range
- PAB 70
- Neighborhood
- Coco del Mar
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Afro-Caribbean and indigenous Panamanian, tasting menu
Caleta
- Price Range
- PAB 65
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary Mediterranean, fresh local seafood
Kaandela
- Price Range
- PAB 80
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Panamanian heritage cuisine, five-course tasting menu
R.i.c.h.a.
- Price Range
- PAB 60
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary Mediterranean by Chef Roberto Richa
Mid Range
Fonda Lo Que Hay
- Price Range
- PAB 25
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Panamanian, reinvented traditional
La Posta
- Price Range
- PAB 22
- Neighborhood
- El Cangrejo / Calle Uruguay
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Latin American, fresh seafood and European influences
Nazca 21
- Price Range
- PAB 24
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Peruvian, fresh ceviche and seafood
Casa Catedral
- Price Range
- PAB 23
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Mediterranean-Spanish fusion
Delivery Services
Uber Eats
- Note
- Wide selection of restaurants available for delivery across Panama City
Rappi
- Note
- Regional delivery platform covering major dining and grocery options
Michelin Restaurants
Maito Restaurante
- Price Range
- PAB 70
- Neighborhood
- Coco del Mar
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Afro-Caribbean and indigenous Panama, tasting menu
Caleta
- Price Range
- PAB 65
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Contemporary Mediterranean by Michelin-starred chef Lorenzo Di Gravio
Kaandela
- Price Range
- PAB 80
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Panamanian heritage cuisine, five-course tasting menu
Local Must Try Dishes
Sancocho De Gallina
- Description
- Panama's national dish—a hearty chicken soup with yuca, plantains, corn, and culantro, comfort food served at celebrations and as a hangover cure.
Ceviche
- Description
- Fresh fish (typically corvina or sea bass) or shrimp marinated in lime juice with onions, cilantro, and peppers. Light and refreshing, often served at the Mercado de Mariscos for around $3.
Ropa Vieja
- Description
- Shredded beef slow-cooked in tomato sauce with onion, garlic, peppers, and spices, traditionally served with white rice and fried plantains.
Arroz Con Pollo
- Description
- Classic one-pot yellow rice with chicken, vegetables, and mild seasoning. A staple at family gatherings and local restaurants.
Patacones
- Description
- Twice-fried green plantain discs, crispy outside and soft inside. Served as a side dish or with toppings.
Carimañolas
- Description
- Fried yucca balls filled with ground meat or cheese, served as breakfast or a snack.
Tamales
- Description
- Corn flour parcels filled with meat (pork, beef, or chicken), wrapped in plantain or banana leaves. Popular at Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Guacho
- Description
- Thick, hearty stew of soupy rice with yams, yucca, mixed vegetables, and seafood (or beef/pork), traditionally served in a totuma shell.
Hojaldres
- Description
- Fried dough pastries—light, fluffy, and slightly sweet. Breakfast staple served sweet with honey or savory with cheese and meat.
Empanadas
- Description
- Popular street snacks and festival finger food, typically filled with meat or cheese and deep-fried.
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- Panama City has limited but growing vegan and vegetarian options. Several restaurants offer vegetarian menus or adaptations, particularly at higher-end establishments.
Venues
Riesen
- Price Range
- PAB 55
- Neighborhood
- San Francisco
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Wood-fired Panamanian with vegetarian/vegan tasting menu
- Note
- Offers dedicated vegan and vegetarian menus with prior notification
Kaandela
- Price Range
- PAB 80
- Neighborhood
- Casco Viejo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Panamanian heritage cuisine with vegetarian tasting option
- Note
- Offers vegetarian and vegan five-course tasting menus
International Cuisine
- Overview
- Panama City has a diverse international food scene reflecting its multicultural history. Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Peruvian, and Chinese cuisines are well-established, with restaurants concentrated in Casco Viejo, El Cangrejo, and Costa del Este.
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.
- 1.tourismpanama.com
- 2.fodors.com
- 3.allaboutpanamacity.com
- 4.opentable.com
- 5.pty.life
- 6.twosolesabroad.com
- 7.shebuystravel.com
- 8.thebambootraveler.com
- 9.willflyforfood.net
- 10.royalcaribbean.com
- 11.bucketlistjourney.net
- 12.getyourguide.com
- 13.mrhudsonexplores.com
- 14.tournow.city
- 15.tradingeconomics.com
- 16.xe.com
- 17.wanderlog.com
- 18.amarla.pa
- 19.opentable.com
More About Panama City
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.