Panama City
Our pick for a quick bite, this never-fail Italian-run eatery serves scrumptious thin-crust pizzas. Check out the award-winning pizza bianca, with roasted…
Must-see restaurants in Panama
Península de Azuero
This pink hacienda-like restaurant has a large covered terrace that is a delight on a warm evening. The emphasis here is on seafood and grills, but the…
Boquete
Crisp, thin-crust Neapolitan pies are the simple stars of this casual eatery. They're made from local mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and flour imported…
Bocas del Toro Town
Locals and travelers love this Mediterranean restaurant serving up gazpacho, goat's cheese salad, and seafood and meat dishes such as tabbouleh couscous…
Panama City
Fragrant pho (broth with noodles) with brisket, garlicky sea bass with gangalal, and barbecued pork over rice noodles are some of the mouthwatering…
Panama City
Serving rich kormas, fragrant rice and complex curries in a swanky piano bar, Canadian-run Avatar is sheer delight for spice enthusiasts. Southern Indian…
Panama City
Saint Honoré, a French-run bakery and patisserie, has locals going weak at the knees for its fluffy pastries, rich cakes and colorful macaroons. Also for…
Panama City
Indulge your sweet tooth at Athanasiou, an airy European-style bakery and cafe in Costa del Este. There’s a bread corner filled with freshly baked goods,…
Panama City
Part of an upscale Peruvian chain, Segundo Muelle knows seafood. You would do well to sample the causas (creamy potato dishes served stacked) alongside…
Panama City
Channeling a NYC vibe, this cool coffee shop is a great place for a morning caffeine kick and croissant, or a fill-you-up brunch. Later in the day, the…
Panama City
Subdued and upscale, this stylish, sometimes fussy eatery uses seasonal produce (much of it coming all the way from Britain) to bring you asparagus and…
Panama City
If you miss your cold-pressed juices, quinoa bowls and avocado toast, rush to this casual, plant-filled cafe run by two Canadian sisters. Set lunches are…
Panama City
This small, local chain of chic coffee houses boasts branches around the city, but our favorite is in Casco Viejo. Stop by for a great caffeine kick or…
Panama City
Duck into this dark nook for delicious fusion-style sushi. Spicy tuna on crispy rice squares hits the spot. Cocktails are innovative and well prepared…
Panama City
This shoe-boxed-sized shop in the heart of Casco Viejo might be small, but its palettas (ice lollies) pack a pretty punch. Cool off on a hot Panama…
Panama City
Get your fresh croissants and baguettes at this French bakery and cafe, also serving handsome meals of baguette sandwiches, pâté, couscous, meats and…
Península de Azuero
Atop a hill in La Arena below the TV tower, El Mirador is a popular spot where visitors from around Panama congregate to take in the views of the city and…
Boquete
Bringing cosmopolitan dining to the highlands of Panama, this restaurant attached to the Riverside Inn does decent gourmet fare, though it can be hit-or…
Isla Colón
Overlooking the water and with hammocks strung between the palms on the beach, this open-air restaurant is a local favorite, due in large part to the warm…
Panamá Province
For a leisurely bite, La Ruina serves stem glasses of ceviche (citrus-cured seafood) and authentic chicken curried with coconut rice bocatoreño-style. Sit…
Santa Catalina
Run by Francesco, a gregarious Italian chef, this thatched-hut sushi bar uses fresh seafood to create some delightful tropical fare. Think out of the box…
Boquete
This Italian restaurant and pizzeria has riverstone walls and just a few tables along one of Boquete's hillside roads. Sicilian Giovanni cooks while his…
El Valle
This upmarket Peruvian restaurant in the Hotel Valle Verde serves Inca-inspired favorites such as lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with vegetables and…
Coclé Province
This bar and grill just out of the center on the Interamericana consistently gets rated Penonomé's top restaurant. It's an asador (spit restaurant), so…
Panama City
While Panama has never had much in the way of Mexican cuisine, dive-ish Tacos la Neta wrestles to turn the tide. The scrumptious soft-corn tacos come in a…
El Valle
They say that this tiny restaurant and pizzeria just up from the orchid garden has the best pizza in El Valle. With an Italian owner and chef at the oven…
Península de Azuero
Matriarch of Creole cooking, Mama Fefa usually runs out of lunch by noon (though you can linger longer). Cheap and cheerful, these huge comidas típicas …
Bocas del Toro Town
Come to Azul for excellent-value gourmet dining set on a lovely 2nd-floor balcony (there's also seating inside). There's no menu, just the option of a…
Panamá Province
This cute, colorful eatery above Playa Honda offers the standard fare of fish and chips in addition to veggie options. It's a great place to have a beer…
Panama City
With an open-air dining room awash in violet light and set in a shell of Casco ruins, Tomillo's bare, beautiful ambience reigns supreme. Generating a lot…
Veraguas Province
This welcoming, family-run place just up from the town center serves better food than the plain-Jane menu would have you believe, including worthwhile…
Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro
A real only-when-traveling experience, Rana Azul is a remote restaurant-pizzeria facing Dolphin Bay from the Bocas mainland. It's hosted by Joseph and…
Coclé Province
It's gringo city at this Italian-owned bar-restaurant on the beach. Among the menu choices is a holdover from the previous owners, a Quebec dish of French…
Coclé Province
This colorful and quirky little place run by an affable Panamanian-Swiss couple for almost two decades serves up scrumptious Panamanian food à la…
Boquete
In a converted carport and garden, this family-run eatery is a find. All guests are mi amor (my love) to the affectionate Olga, who cooks breakfast like…
Santa Catalina
If you’re hitting the water early, this will be the first spot open for a bite and espresso fix. Great options include breakfast burritos and Greek…
El Valle
El Valle's best Panamanian restaurant is a simple affair – a fonda (cheap restaurant), really – serving up pollo asado (grilled chicken), mixed seafood,…
Bocas del Toro Province
More expensive than your typical Changuinola restaurant, but loaded with atmosphere, this Afro-Caribbean restaurant at the southern end of the main street…
Colón
If Panamanian ropa vieja (spicy shredded beef) and patacones (fried plantains) are not floating your boat after a week or so, head for this friendly…
Santa Catalina
This thatched restaurant offers lovely seafood meals and frozen fruit drinks. Start with fresh local clams or salad with tart passionfruit dressing. The…
