Best Restaurants in Panama City, Panama

When you visit a foreign country, a few bad (or even mediocre) restaurant experiences can have you thinking that the food in that country isn't very good. This list will help you take the guesswork out of dining out in Panama and help you find some exceptional meals. At Choose Panama, we're also expat foodies, so we know exactly what you're looking for when you're hankering for a superb dining experience. The best restaurants in Panama aren't wallet-friendly, but they'll be the highlight of your trip.

If you want more restaurant recommendations (or other tidbits about Panama), please request our free book, Panama Uncorked.

Capital Bistro

Location: Casco Viejo
Type of Food: Upscale International
Contact: CapitalBistroPanama.com
Telephone: +507-6251-2120

Capital Bistro is located on the water’s edge of Casco Viejo with a beautiful view of the city. Portions are small but every bite is perfection. The restaurant is downstairs, and the upstairs is devoted to a trendy bar with fabulous water/city views.

Try the mushroom truffle ravioli as a starter. It's only three fat raviolis--not big enough to share--but every bite is perfection.

Capital Bistro shines when it comes to the fish and meat. The thick-cut corvina is memorable, and the steak will remind you why great food is so important in life.

Segundo Muelle

Locations: San Francisco and Ave. Balboa
Type of Food: Peruvian
Website: SegundoMuellePanama.com
Phone: +507-391-9234 (San Francisco location)

If you’ve never had Peruvian food, this is a great place to try it. There are a variety of interesting sauces for the protein portion of the meal (beef, fish, chicken). They also have sushi, salads, ceviches, pastas, rice, and inspired appetizers. The San Francisco location has a more extensive menu and is worth the effort if it's further away from where you're staying.

Try the Causa Limena appetizer (pictured right). It's a traditional Peruvian dish that has layers of mashed potatoes, avocado, and a creamy tuna. The Crab Cause is filled with crab instead of tuna.

Another favorite is the Pulpo al Carbon (grilled octopus). It's melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Cause Limene Appetizer at Segundo Muelle in Panama

Vinoteca

Venetian Clams Appetizer at Vinoteca Panama

Location: Obarrio
Type of Food: Italian
Website: VinotecaPanama.com
Phone: +507-223-7734

This is a small neighborhood Italian restaurant with only a handful of small tables. Rafael, the chef-owner, was trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and is ever-present in the dining room schmoozing with guests and offering suggestions.

They have the best clams in Panama, and their house made pastas are silky smooth. Be sure to save room for a main course, though, because Vinoteca is more than just pasta and wine. The thick-cut grilled corvina with mushrooms is swoon-worthy, and the grilled entrana (beef) will make you want to come back again tomorrow.

Azahar

Location: Ave. Balboa
Type of Food: Seafood / Fusion
Website: AzaharPanama.com
Phone: +507-203-9856

If you like chic dining with great water views, you’ll love this restaurant. It’s hip and cool with serious attention to quality food. It can standup against the finest restaurants around the world. It can be tricky to find, though, as you enter through a non-descript elevator next to the Yoo Panama residential building. When you exit, there is no signage that lets you know that you have to walk THROUGH the flower shop to get into the posh restaurant. This was done on purpose as a nod-to the speakeasies of yesteryear, but first-timers have to know the secret corridor to get to the fountain of gourmet delights.

Start with the salmon pizza and the sashimi platter (pictured right). If you love avocados, try the crispy avocado. Portions are small so be prepared to order many items to share. Even though this restaurant is fine dining at its best, they serve delicious Angus burgers for lunch. They also have a full lineup of pasts and risottos.