Creative Gastronomic City

Eating in Panama City, Panamá, is like going around the world with your palate. Each dish is the result of the multiple cultures that have arrived and settled in the country for centuries. Come with an appetite. You will be sitting at the table of a Creative Gastronomic City, so nominated by Unesco since 2017.

Gastronomy in Panamá is the product of a series of events that wove our history. The native peoples, the conquest of Spain, the Africans brought in slavery, the attempt of the French canal, the Chinese workers who arrived for the construction of the railroad and of course, the Panama Canal. Europe, Asia, Africa, America; the whole world has passed through here leaving ingredients, recipes and flavors, which today form the powerful culinary scene of Panama City.

Do not leave without trying some typical dishes such as sancocho, carimañolas, tamales, guacho, rondón. You can also try some international food: Greek, Italian, Japanese, Peruvian, Chinese; which today are an indispensable part of the gastronomic culture of the capital.

Close-up of a dumpling, with several Chinese breakfast dishes visible in Panama City, Panamá

The Capital of Flavor

Panama City has 4 gastronomic poles that you cannot miss: Casco Antiguo, San Francisco, Costa del Este and Cinta Costera.

The first 3 have modern proposals of international food, fusion cuisine and lots of atmosphere. Most options are found in Casco Antiguo, which is also very popular for its nightlife and rooftops overlooking the city skyline.

A dish served on a white bowl. The dish seems to be made up of dumplings, which are covered in a red sauce.

On the other side, next to the Bay of Panama, is the Cinta Costera. The options here are more street food, outdoors, informal, with typical and Afro-Caribbean flavors. Be sure to stop by Sabores del Chorrillo, a project that seeks to vindicate the neighborhood and the traditional cooks who used to sell fried fish and patacón from the doors of their homes. In the same area, a Sunday afternoon classic, the Mercado Del Marisco. Many say it has the best ceviche in Panamá. It is worth going to check it out. When you are in the area, be sure to stop by the Mercado San Felipe Neri, there you can see all the fruits and vegetables that are harvested in Panamá and get an idea of what national production is like.

Lamb ribs in a with plate beautiful served

Culinary Destination

Panamá shines once again on the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list, thanks to its outstanding culinary offering:

• Maito: A restaurant that has maintained its position among the best for several years. Its fusion menu, which blends traditional cuisine with Afro and Asian influences, continues to attract enthusiastic diners.

• Cantina del Tigre: Reinforcing its place on this prestigious list, delighting with its Caribbean cuisine proposal and reinvented traditional dishes.

A Chef with his crew cooking in a restaurant

Additionally, on the extended list from 51 to 100 of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, Panamá consolidated itself as the Central American country with the most mentions, thanks to three additional restaurants:

• Fonda Lo Que Hay: Repeating with its casual style and a menu designed for sharing, offering diners a varied gastronomic experience.

• Intimo: Also repeating, it stands out for its 90/10 approach: dishes made with 90% local ingredients and 10% imported products.

• La Tapa del Coco: Debuting on the 2024 list, it celebrates Afro cultural heritage with recipes full of flavor and tradition.

Panama City's gastronomic offering not only satisfies the palate but also the spirit, combining unique flavors with a cultural touch.

Visit these restaurants in the iconic areas of Casco Antiguo, Coco del Mar, and San Francisco. Remember that some require reservations, so we recommend confirming before your visit.