Chynna SymoneIf youâre planning on making a trip to Panama City, itâs important to know where to go to eat local in Panama City! Panama city is a global hub due to mass immigration during the making of the Panama canal. As a result, thereâs tons of options from all parts of the world.
This post will tell you about a few places that I went to during my trip to Panama City, and other places that the locals tend to prefer!
Mercado de Mariscos (Seafood Market) Cinta Costera
This seafood market is right in the main part of Panama City by the Cinta Costera. Here you will find traditional Panamanian food and more seafood than you can imagine. Thereâs tons of restaurants so it’s highly recommended that you donât stop at the first restaurant you see. Walk around, see the sights, and definitely order the ceviche!
Fonda Lo Que Hay
If you want to eat local in Panama City, donât forget to stop by Fonda Lo Que Hay. This is a Panamanian restaurant that serves comfort food like sancocho (a hearty chicken soup) and arroz con guandĂș (rice with pigeon peas). This restaurant also serves shaved ice that you can top with your choice of syrups and condensed sweet milk.
Restaurante El Trapiche – Bella Vista
Thinking about dinner and a show? Considering eating local at Restaurante El Trapiche at the Bella Vista location. There are other locations in the city however at this location dance performances are held. The dancers wear beautiful traditional gowns and put on a show while you perform.Â
La BĂĄrbara
This restaurant is definitely the more modern option of the bunch. From the outside it appears like a regular barber shop with chairs, clippers, and mirrors, however once the main door opens a trendy restaurant with beautiful decor is exposed. The menu features yummy curated cocktails, sushi, and more. Although this may not be the go to spot to eat local in Panama City, If youâre looking for a more upscale experience I would highly recommend stopping by La Barbara.Â
La Ranchito
If you canât tell by now Panama City is a seafood heavy city! This is also apparent in the menu at the water-side restaurant, Mi Ranchito. If you have a chance to travel to Flamenco Isle, this is the perfect restaurant to try and is frequented by both tourists and locals The shrimp and steak are highly recommended!
La Rana Dorada
Located in Casco Viejo, this brewery offers a Panamanian twist to the brewery concept that tourists already know and love. Stop by this pub for a flight of local beers and some food along with it. This location also has tours of the brewery and distilleries where you can learn about the process of canning their product. Youâll also have a chance to learn about the process of cooking, fermentation, distillation, filtering and bottling this artisanal Panamanian rum.
Casco Mar
Another restaurant that I visited was Casco Mar also located in Casco Viejo. This restaurant is hidden within the side streets and definitely meant for the traveler that likes to eat local in Panama City. This restaurant primarily serves tapas, however there are other options like the paella.Â
Although the interior of the restaurant is beautiful, it’s the patio dining overlooking the water that is the most romantic and beautiful. The fabulous drinks and fresh seafood are incredible and worth the visit!
RosaNegra Modern Italian Kitchen
If youâve reached the end of your stay and youâre growing tired of the traditional food or seafood, consider stopping at one of the numerous Italian restaurants in the area. RosaNegra Italian Modern Kitchen is another location that I would highly recommend.
This small but beautiful restaurant offers the freshest and most flavorful pasta dishes. If this restaurant was in the U.S. youâd probably pay at least double the price, however the pricing was reasonable for such a luxurious establishment.
ANother fun part of the experience, is that the waiter brings around a tray of desserts so you can actually see and pickout what you want rather than just look at the menu. If iâm ever in Panama City, I definitely plan to come back here again!
If youâre looking to plan a trip to Panama City, consider hiring a travel advisor (like me!) to book either all or part of your trip (Starting at $0!). Travel advisors can book hotels, activities and more for you and that include a lot of perks at no extra cost to you!
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