Panama is a beautiful country with an equally enticing history. And if you like yourself some history lessons and love to visit places that have interesting stories linked to their origins, then you should definitely add the country of Panama to your bucket list. In addition to the history lessons and scenic beauty,, this place has got a lot to offer. Panama is a country that is hanging in the middle of the old colonial world (Casco Viejo) and the modern skyscraper cities, making it even more enticing for new visitors. Adventurous sports, like scuba diving, surfing, snorkeling and hiking, attract young tourists from all over the world. The Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean both share their coastlines with Panama, and as a result, this place is quite rich in flora and fauna.
Food in Panama is a reflection of its diverse culture which is a mix of European, Afro- Caribbean, and Latin American heritage. Because of its coastal locations, Panamanian cuisine is rich in meat and seafood, accompanied by the local vegetables that are grown up in its plains. Many people prefer coconut water for drinking. If you are planning to visit Panama, we advise you to get out of your comfort zone and try some new things, like some authentic Panamanian dishes. Below is a list of some of the best places in Panama where you can go when you feel like having a feast!
El Trapiche
El Trapiche is Spanish lingo, which translates into English as a sugarcane juice-squeezing mill. The idea behind the name is to educate people that this restaurant stands good on its name and offers a variety of dishes that are prepared from the local produce of Panama. The restaurant serves food inside air-conditioned rooms as well as on an open terrace. The ambiance here is more upscale while at the same time won’t be a burden on your wallet. The signature dish here, ‘Panamanian Fiesta’, is a group of eight local dishes, and it is simply delicious and a must-try.
Visit El Trapiche Official Website (in Spanish).
Peach Fuzz International
A lot of local people might not know about this place, but that doesn’t make it unpopular. Peach Fuzz International is not located in the best of neighborhoods in Panama, but do not let that deter you from trying some of the best seafood you will ever have. The food here will be worth your visit.
P.S. Book yourself an Uber to get there and stay safe.
Diablicos
This restaurant in Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves delicious food that will definitely appeal to your taste buds. Diablicos offers a vibrant setting to enhance your enjoyment of your meal. The food here is served in a gourmet style while customers are treated to the main show of Los Diablicos (a religious dance) and other folk dances from the various regions of Panama.
Fonda Lo Que Hay
This place is perfect for grabbing a meal after a full day of sightseeing. The amazing food here is served in the gourmet style of a local Panamanian café and will give you a food-gasm. What makes this place so special is that the food on the menu here is changed weekly so you can never be sure about what you should order. But one thing that can be said for certain is that whatever you order is bound to taste delicious.
Tantalo Kitchen
If the food served at the Tantalo Kitchen were not so appetizing, the rooftop bar that offers some of the very best cocktails you will find in Panama, along with the cheerful ambiance of the place and its interior decorated with paintings by local artists will guarantee to entice visitors. But fortunately for everyone, this place serves some of the very best mouth-watering dishes. The food here is served in the Spanish tapas style where each dish is prepared from local produce, with little influences from the Mediterranean, Indian and Latin American cuisine.
Donde Jose
If you happen to appreciate your meal served in a small quiet place with not many people around, then you will find Donde Jose according to your likeness. This place serves food in an intimate space that can seat only a maximum of sixteen people at one time. As such, be sure to book your reservations well in advance. If you want to make your dining experience a little more memorable, then you can also book a seat for yourself at the chef’s table. The food here is prepared with local Panamanian ingredients, and as such, will definitely offer you a new experience.
Visit Official Website.
Maito
Maito offers traditional meals served in a gourmet style with a hint of international flavors – African, Spanish, Columbian, etc. The ingredients are directly ordered from small-scale Panamanian producers to ensure purity and quality. The food is made even more appealing by the addition of a variety of organic herbs that are grown in Maito’s onsite garden.
Mercado De Mariscos
Dining at Mercado De Mariscos is a thrilling experience. This place is actually a fish market that is divided into two parts, the inner and the outer markets. In order to dine here, you want to look for the inner market (which closes at 2:30 p.m.). So what you do is buy yourself some seafood and then head to the second floor where you can ask the restaurant to cook it for you! The added bonus here is that you get a side dish for each pound of seafood your purchase so if you purchase 5 Ibs, you get five side dishes for your dish!
Las Clementinas Café and Bar
This is another restaurant that is located in the colonial part of Casco Viejo. The Las Clementinas Café and Bar has its own lush green gardens that are covered with beautiful trees and herbs that are indigenous to the plains of Panama. As you might have guessed by now, these gardens are the real source of the delicious food that this place serves. The dishes served here are both locally and internationally inspired, and whatever you order will without a doubt taste wonderful.
We’ve got your taste buds covered with this list of the best places for authentic Panamanian cuisine.