City guide · Panama
Where to eat in Panama City
Panama City eats like a capital that never settled on one identity - and that is exactly the appeal. Seafood and ceviche run through all of it, beside Italian, Peruvian, Japanese and Panamanian tables, at every price.
Where Panama City eats
15 neighborhoods, on the map
Browse by area - hover a card to find it on the map, open one to see every restaurant there.
Bars and nightlife spill into the Zona Viva after dark.
Dense, late and cheap - the city's everyday eating heart.
Where the city eats off the tourist trail.
The old town - rooftop bars, tasting menus and colonial courtyards.
Modern and international, built for the business crowd.
Business-district lunch and after-work tables.
Easygoing mall-and-neighborhood eating near the transport hub.
Old-city fondas and market eating - cheap and real.
Hotels, sushi and steak a block from the bay.
Leafy former canal-zone streets with relaxed tables.
Seafood and ceviche with a bay breeze and the skyline.
Cantinas and Chinatown edges right beside Casco.
A quiet upscale coastal pocket with a few sharp spots.
High-rise dining by the coast and the hospital.
A small, local cluster off the main drag.
By cuisine
Browse Panama City by cuisine
Jump straight to a kind of food across the city.
What to order
The dishes that define Panama City
Come hungry for these - the plates you'll see on tables all over town.
Before you go
How dining works here
The practical stuff locals take for granted.
What it costs
From a $2 plate of patacones at a fonda to $80+ tasting menus in Casco Viejo. Most of the city sits in a comfortable middle.
Reservations
Walk in most places. Book ahead for Casco Viejo dining rooms and weekend rooftops - many spots take reservations over WhatsApp.
When to go
Dinner runs late, with kitchens busiest from 8 to 10pm. Lunch, noon to 2, is the value window for menu del dia deals.
Tipping
Many bills already include a 10% service charge (propina). Check before you add more; rounding up for good service is normal.
Good to know
Panama City dining, answered
Where should I eat in Panama City?
It depends on the night:
- Special dinner or rooftops - Casco Viejo
- Late, cheap and lively - El Cangrejo and Bella Vista
- Modern and international - Costa del Este
- Seafood by the water - Amador
Pick the area that fits your plan, then open it to see every spot.
Which neighborhood is best for a night out?
For bars and late nights:
- El Cangrejo and Bella Vista - the densest nightlife (the Zona Viva)
- Casco Viejo - rooftops and speakeasies
All three keep late hours.
Where do I find the best seafood and ceviche?
Seafood is everywhere, but the classics are:
- Casco Viejo - cevicherias and proper seafood dining
- Amador - the day's catch with a bay view
Order corvina (sea bass) or a lime-cured ceviche to start, or filter any area by Seafood.
How expensive is eating out in Panama City?
The full range:
- A few dollars - patacones at a counter or a menu del dia lunch
- $15 to $30 - a solid sit-down dinner in most areas
- $60 and up - a tasting menu in Casco Viejo
Use the price filter on any neighborhood page. Many bills add a 10% service charge.
Do listings include ratings or paid placement?
No - and that is deliberate:
- No star ratings
- No restaurant can pay to appear or rank
- Every listing is built from public sources and menus
What is Panama City known for, food-wise?
Two oceans and a canal shaped it, so:
- Seafood and ceviche, especially corvina (sea bass)
- Panamanian comfort food - sancocho, ropa vieja, arroz con pollo, patacones
- A deep international mix - Italian, Peruvian, Japanese, Lebanese and Venezuelan tables
Start with a ceviche, then follow whichever kitchen the neighborhood is known for.
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