I'm from Dallas--which means I'm a big-city girl--but I've never lived in the heart of a city before. Living on Avenida Balboa, I've gotten to experience the very best that Panama City has to offer.

I spent three months in a high rise condo on Balboa Avenue, and the whole city was at my fingertips. I tried counting how many restaurants were within walking distance, and I lost track at 50. 

The restaurants in Panama City are spectacular. I keep a Top 10 list in my head of my favorite restaurants, but it changes almost every week when I experience another fabulous restaurant. 

If you live on Balboa Avenue, almost everything is within walking distance. For those who prefer to ride, taxis are plentiful and cheap. Plan on just a few dollars to get anywhere near the Avenida Balboa. Here is just a sampling of what's available:

• Cinta Costera: The Cinta Costera is Panama City's waterfront area, with large walking trails, biking trails, workout stations, playgrounds, tennis courts, and more. On a Sunday morning, it's a place to see and be seen while you're walking your dog, roller blading, riding your bike, playing tennis, or just out for a leisurely stroll. 
  
• Shopping:  There are two main malls that service the Avenida Balboa area. MultiCentro Mall is on Balboa Avenue. It home to shops, restaurants, a casino, and the Hard Rock Hotel. There is even a full-size Jewish grocery store attached to the mall. The other main mall is the MultiPlaza Pacific Mall. It's a high-end mall that offers designer stores such as Louis Vuitton, Armani and Cartier. Aside from the big malls, there are hundreds of small boutiques where you'll get handmade chocolates, wedding dresses, kitchen gadgets, and Panama fashions.
• Fish Market: The fish market is an easy stroll down the Cinta Costera. It is open daily and offers a wide selection of freshly caught fish, from Corvina to Octopus to Langostinos. Aside from buying fish for your evening meal, you can get dozens of different types of fresh ceviche. The ceviche is served in big Styrofoam cups and comes with crackers. For $2-$3, you can sit outside the fish market and have a light meal.
• Casco Viejo: If you are walking down the Cinta Costera and hit the fish market, it's only a few more minutes to Casco Viejo where you'll find more bars, restaurants and shops than you'll know what to do with. This is the old town and is definitely a must-see tourist destination. You'll see tourists mixing with artists stirred in with locals of all flavors. 
• Restaurants: There are so many restaurants within walking distance of Avenida Balboa that it's hard to know where to start. Whatever your favorite dining options, you'll find it. Great Italian ristorantes, casual pizza joints, fresh seafood restaurants, steakhouses, breakfast cafes, French restaurants, Peruvian cafes, and even middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurants are fabulous, and are one of the main attractions in Panama City.
• Nightlife: If you like to party until dawn, you'll have many options. Calle Uruguay is a main hot spot for restaurants, bars and clubs, as is Casco Viejo. You can also party like a rock star at the Hard Rock or watch tango dancing at Petit Paris or drink with the young and beautiful at the Manrey. 
• Casinos: If you like to gamble, there are a lot of casinos in Panama City. Bring Lady Luck with you, because you won't run out of casinos to visit.

If you're considering living on Avenida Balboa, my two favorite condos are the Villa del Mar by Bern (at the Corner of Avenida Balboa and Calle Uruguay) and GrandTower by The Group (right next to Trump Tower at half the price). If you'd like to know more about either condo, email me at melissa@ipreinfo.com. 

Until then, I'll see you on Avenida Balboa!

It shocked me more than anyone, but I love driving in Panama City. I started my driving career in Panama at the beach in Coronado, which I like to refer to as "Panama Driving Lite." The only problem was I was borrowing a friend's standard shift car. Being a newbie to manual transmission, I couldn't quite figure out the clutch, which can be a problem when your car stalls just when you're pulling onto a main interstate. But that's another blog. 

When I moved to Panama City, I knew I needed three things: an automatic transmission, a good air conditioning and an SUV for cargo space. I was prepared for a dozen dings while learning the city, but the reality of driving here is not what I anticipated. In fact, it's downright respectful.

I think driving in Panama City is a form of polite aggressiveness. There's a lot of traffic, so you can seldom go fast. (Okay, I don't always love the "a lot of traffic" part, but it is what it is.) Knowing that there is almost always going to be congestion, you can't wait for an opening in traffic... you have to create an opening. 

This is the part I love. If I can put the nose of my car in front of another car, other drivers are smart enough not to hit me. They may act like they don't want to let you in, but once your nose is in front of their car, they'll let you in. 

Within a week of driving in the city, I was able to cross a busy 5-lane intersection without the aid of a stoplight. The hardest part about driving in Panama City is learning a city filled with winding one-way streets and very few street signs. The good news is that landmarks are how the locals navigate. 

Want to know where a restaurant is? There's no need to squint to see a street sign and then attempt to translate it from Spanish into English... just follow the landmarks. "Go down the main road, turn right at the Dunkin' Donuts and then turn left on the first street. The restaurant will be on your right."

Landmarks are important in Panama City. Since street signs are not always readable (or even there), landmarks are how you navigate the city. For example, when I first moved to my city apartment, I knew that if I headed in the general direction of the tall buildings near my apartment, I would eventually get home.

A good GPS is a great investment against getting lost, but Google Maps on your smart phone will also do the trick. One word of caution, though. If you're used to driving while texting or driving after drinking...you'll need to change your ways. Driving in Panama City takes your entire concentration.

Traffic is worse on payday (the first and the 15th of the month) and almost non-existent on holidays. The roads in the city are very good. The photo of the road in this blog was taken from my apartment balcony. Balboa is a main thoroughfare, but this gives you an idea of how modern the roads are.

Driving in Panama City is easier than in Naples, Italy or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil... but for someone moving from a gentler driving climate, you may want to consider taking taxis for a while until you learn the city. But for those of you who love to really pay attention when you drive, driving in Panama City is downright fun.

When I think of the Waldorf Astoria, I think of cool marble, luxurious accommodations, and personal concierge service. 

The good news for luxury seekers is that a new Waldorf Astoria is opening in late March in the heart of Panama City. The location couldn't be better. The new Waldorf Astoria is located just off of Balboa Avenue and Calle Uruguay, within walking distance to dozens of the city's finest restaurants.

Touring the new 5-star hotel is like walking through a luxurious dream. The open spaces, muted surroundings and attentive employees made me realize just how civilized Panama City has become. 

The Panama City Waldorf Astoria boasts 130 elegant guest rooms, four restaurants and lounges, a world-class spa, a beauty salon, an outdoor pool, and a large fitness facility. There is even a meeting facility and social event venue that combines the cosmopolitan style of a Manhattan penthouse with the trendy swagger of a Latin American club, the perfect marriage of styles for Panama City.

For those who never want to leave, the Waldorf Astoria Panama also has 78 residence condominiums that boast stunning views of the Bay of Panama and showers large enough to fulfill your most indulgent dreams. If you would like to see of one of the new residences, email melissa@ipreinfo.com and setup a personal tour.  

If you've been looking for a reason to visit Panama City, the Waldorf Astoria should push you over the edge with its down comforters and never-ending service. Plus, mention that you're a friend of Inside Panama Real Estate and you'll get preferential pricing. Yes, in Panama it's all about who you know. As our friend, you can get a deluxe room starting at $189 per night. Now that's luxury you can afford.

I admit it...I'm a foodie. I love good food, I adore great wine, and I live for wonderful culinary experiences. Since living in Panama, I've tried as many new restaurants as possible. Some have been good, many have been great. 

Tonight was my second time at La Valentina, an Italian-Spanish fusion restaurant in Panama City. The first time I ate there was 3:30 in the afternoon and my friends and I had entered and exited 3 different restaurants before stumbling on La Valentina. It was an oasis of flavor and civilization, as my wine was served in a proper wine glass. I was hungry, I was thirsty, and I was instantly in love!

My second visit was more deliberate. I went with a group of expats and the dinner had been planned for weeks. I was thrilled to go back and explore their menu further.

Expats expect happy hour at five and dinner at seven, but Panamanians are very Latin in their meal time. One Panamanian told me he went to happy hour at ten o'clock at night, and I literally laughed out loud. I'm hungry at six and asleep by ten. Needless to say, I was thrilled at the early start time. 

I usually prefer wine over Sangria, but wanting to experience everything this country has to offer, I began the night with a glass of red Sangria. It was fruity and refreshing without being too sweet. Next, I tried the white sangria. (Don't worry, they were small!) I didn't like this one as well, as it was a bit sweeter but it was still spritzy and refreshing.

For dinner, I opted for a light appetizer instead of a full meal. I got the berenjena parmesano, also known as eggplant parmesan. The eggplant was sliced very thin and had been grilled rather than fried. It was layered with a light tomato sauce and a small amount of parmesan. It was delicate and flavorful, just as I had hoped it would be.


Two of my table mates got the mushroom risotto, something I had been eyeing on the menu. I didn't know them well enough to ask for a bite, but it looked wonderful. Another table mate got the rib eye steak, and another new friend got the pork tenderloin with chimichurri sauce. Everything looked delicious.

We sat outside, enjoyed the breeze, and listened to a jazz band play American standards music, like Frank Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon. It was a nice evening, and I'll definitely go back.