Panama City is cosmopolitan, and as such offers a wide range of restaurants from almost every ethnic variety to suit all tastes and budgets. On the facing page is a list of some of the best restaurants and a short reference guide to their specialties and other details.
In the following pages, we offer a brief description of some of the restaurants that will help in choosing.
ALADDIN'S CAFE - Located in the banking area, opposite the Marriott Hotel. The restaurant offers a warm Lebanese style, with an interior that transports him to the mysterious world of the Middle East. His specialty is authentic Lebanese cuisine and international. It also offers executive menus, 12:00 m. to 3:00 p.m. The specialties are served in the main dining room at the bar and tables on the terrace, which offers a relaxing view. On weekends there is live music and a Lebanese dancer. Open from 9:00 a.m.
ANGEL - The owner of this local, after many years of dedication to the kitchen, opened a restaurant with a different concept in the art of gastronomy. In the kitchen of Angel House can breathe the air of Spain, especially in seafood dishes with exquisite flavors influence of the north.
BAR RESTAURANT 1985 - Renowned for its French cuisine and seafood. It was once a grand residence. Currently 1985 is a restaurant with soft lights, original paintings, antiques and fresh flowers. Ask for the prawns in cognac sauce, lobster Provencal sea bass with spinach and pepper steak. And choose from the extensive wine list selected by the owner, the famous Chef Willy Diggelmann. The restaurant has a lounge strictly reserved for nonsmokers. Its decor is very European, and remains attractive display posters of France and the Mediterranean.
CAFÉ SANTÉ - Whether you shop at the mall Multicentro or visit Café Santé, a pleasant restaurant where the group The Assembly Justine Waldo and raise your spirits with live music every day and serves excellent food. A large number of Panamanian and international dishes on the menu and prices are very reasonable. The executive menu price is $ 4.95
CAFE POMODORO - Modern "spaghetteria" located next to the Aparthotel Las Vegas, and near the Hotel El Panama. It specializes in pasta and Mediterranean origin meals, served in a sophisticated atmosphere. Specialties include sea bass, salmon fillets and medallions of pork, along with a wide variety of pastas and sauces.
DARNA COFFEE BAR - This friendly hotel is located in the culinary center of town, the Calle Uruguay. What are his specialty pasta, salads and fish. Darna Coffee Bar is managed by its owner, the renowned chef Ayelet Vahnish who studied and worked at the Ritz in Paris and Morocco-Israeli culture which gives the establishment a Mediterranean touch. The service is excellent and extensive menu features many of the delicious creations of Miss Benshimol. The fusion menu ranges from the bass in spicy Thai to a tasty pasta with mushroom sauce teriyaki soy, caramel, rum and garlic. "Darna" means "our house" in the Moroccan language. It's a restaurant for connoisseurs.
It is also famous for its breads can be ordered. For breakfast on Sunday test their famous "Bagels."
THE CANDLESTICK - "Good music, nice people and excellent food. What more do you want?" We did not invent this. Was a client of this exotic restaurant who wrote in one of its walls. So this establishment. While visitors can borrow a pen to write whatever comes to mind them, if they can find space. Another comment reads: "Life is beautiful. Enjoy it as I have enjoyed this place." La Candela is on the Plaza Bolivar in the Casco Antiguo. It's a bohemian restaurant that attracts a good number of Panamanians.
THE OLD TOWN - One of the best known restaurants in Panama, Casco Viejo is 100% French in the Old City, which was the place where the chef Pascal Finet, whose expertise still keeps the restaurant on top of his class, opened its first store more than two decades. The restaurant is located in a beautifully decorated colonial house, located opposite the old Club Union. Their dining room is on the top floor, and you may reserve tables in the narrow balcony overlooking the street, brick of a time that happened. On the ground floor is the Jazz Bar, a mecca for classic jazz, blues, Cuban melodies and rock.
EL MESON DEL PRADO - A chain of three restaurants in the city. The largest is located in the building on Via Ricardo Alcalá J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto), the right hand as he leaves the city to El Dorado. The dining room serves Spanish cuisine and seafood. It is comfortable and offers good food and reasonable prices.
EL PATIO MEXICAN - The reputation of Mexican cuisine has had to survive the attack of the era of fast food. In Panama, authentic Mexican food not only survives but is in full swing at the restaurant El Patio Mexican family owned Uribe, who came to Panama from Guadalajara. Everything in the restaurant is authentic, including pottery, hand-painted and furniture "equipales" leather covered. The interesting menu includes "Enchiladas divorced in red and green," "Conchita Pibil" Merida dish made with pork, orange juice and achiote, and a final touch: ask also the "Mole." Mexican historical photos are an important feature of the attractively decorated "ranchera".
THE PEACOCK - is the only English pub in Panama and is authentic in all its attributes, including food, served either in the bar or dining room is located along the local seats and dark wood tables and a privicidad environment and comfort. The menu features appetizers such as French onion soup or mousse of salmon, burgers and sandwiches and several entrees such as steak prepared with cognac and cream and, of course, the famous "fish and chips served with salt and vinegar newsprint. Vamos! What more could I expect?
THE TRAPICHE - In Via Argentina, specializes in Panamanian cooking style of the central provinces. The theme of the decoration is a "mill," Panamanian name for an old sugar mill, still used in some areas to squeeze the juice or cane juice sugar cane. This restaurant is very popular and is highly recommended that visitors interested in knowing something of the country. Some of the specialties that you would like to try are the puff sandwiches (flour leaves stuffed with meat or chicken), tripe (tripe seasoned) and gallo pinto (rice and bean casserole).
FISCH - If you know some English, do not think the restaurant's name is misspelled. It's probably the way they spell their owner, Swiss-born chef Willie Diggelman. In any case, the idea is what counts. This is a specialty restaurant par excellence, offering all seafood, cooked to perfection and accompanied by sauces that have made famous the chef Willie. Fisch Grill & Jazz is located at the corner of Balboa Avenue and Calle Uruguay, and offers an excellent view of the bay.
HAYCROPOLIS - If the Greek flavor is what you need, please contact Haycropolis, a two-story restaurant located on Avenida Balboa, which offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Panama. The chef specializes in Armenian cuisine, which is interesting because Armenia has high rates of longevity and the incidence of heart disease is among the lowest in the world and the secret of this is found in food. The taste of Haycropolis kitchen is also very tasty, accompanied by Greek wines, which is a good selection. The restaurant's Mediterranean atmosphere is highlighted by uplifting music. Beautiful Middle Eastern dancers (belly dance) delight diners every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Il Boccalino - Upon entering, your first impression is: "this is a friendly place!". Tiffany lamps provide a warm light and the decor is designed for relaxation. The best Italian dishes are presented in a very comprehensive menu that includes, of course, each type of pasta and a very wide selection of dishes (17 choices of spaghetti and many pizzas as you want). Fish and seafood are prominent on the menu, the grill is a popular choice, the antipastas, salads, soups and pizza bread are offered in abundance, and if you still have room, dessert trolley will have more pleasure for you .
KOREA HOUSE - This restaurant offers a double pleasure because it combines Japanese and Korean food. The regulars of the "Sushi Bars" will be pleased and those who know Eastern food will recognize subtle difference between them. (The menu, duly translated and illustrated, it is helpful to those unfamiliar.) Mr. Moon Yeung-On is both the owner and chef. The restaurant is housed in a cottage half a block from Via Spain, within walking distance of most hotels.
STAY - Many things have remained unchanged since the opening of Restaurant La Estancia, 25 years ago, such as your location, a cozy cottage to very few meters from the well known Calle 50 Panama City, and his specialty: grilled Argentina . However, a new element has been added to the menu: an entire section dedicated to Italian cuisine.
THE VAULTS - The name comes from the vaults and dungeons that were under the protective wall of Old Town in the picturesque Plaza Francia. These cells have been converted into a sophisticated restaurant and bar. A visit to Café The Vault is a very special experience, whether sitting outside on the plaza, or under the ancient roofs of stone and brick enclosing the cells centuries ago, but today have been artfully decorated. You can listen to live jazz some nights, especially on weekends.
THE TINAJAS - A bit of inside moved to the city ... an oasis of taste and folklore in the center of the metropolis so that you get and enjoy crafts from all over Germany. You will find at the Tourist Center Craft Tinajas authentic Panamanian food in a typically interioranos. Presentation of "shows" every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm Traditional and folk dance ensembles. Closed Sundays.
The Crazy Years - This restaurant is located directly behind the Hotel Caesar Park, a half block from Via Israel, coastal avenue that leads to Old Panama. Offers the best Argentine style with robust portions and the emphasis on barbecue. It is difficult to say if more apeticibles grilled seafood or meat. For its part, the meat, both imported and domestic, are all of one pound. Octopus is grilled to perfection. The restaurant is decorated in an attractive villa with stunning stained glass. Shellfish include a variety of ceviche and spider veins (small squid breaded). The desserts are particularly sensitive surprise yourself so strong after taste appetizers and entrees. The lemon mousse and special desserts made with whiskey and nuts complement the food.
MADAME CHANG - We recommend that you do not miss the restaurant Madame Chang, it is recognized as one of the best and most beautiful Chinese restaurants in Latin America. Siu Mee Chang and her daughter Yolanda, have improved the conventional Chinese restaurant concept, cleverly combining 30 years of experience in inter-Chinese cuisine, good service, reasonable prices and decor halfway between two cultures. Similarly, the restaurant combines modern elements with antiques, resulting in a surprisingly cozy atmosphere. We suggest you try the San Blas crab with ginger, Peking duck, the fish cut in clusters of grapes, wo-tip, their clams in black bean sauce, among other delicious.
MARBELLA - A charming Spanish-style cottage Balboa Avenue, facing the sea. This restaurant has an enthusiastic clientele Panamanian "bon vivants who appreciate the paella, and especially the seafood. Local oysters, clams and seafood casserole is always available. You can choose sea bass prepared in at least 11 different ways. The lobster and shrimp are the pride of the house, offered in eight different specialties.
MARTIN FIERRO - Named after a popular hero of Argentina, this restaurant offers the kind of food you apetecerá after riding in the Pampas from dawn to finish a long day of work after a day of city tours Panama. Hotel located in Granada, just a block from the Via Spain in the Crab, Martín Fierro is also smart and popular. The grilled meats are considered a specialty and has an excellent salad bar.
SWISS RINCON - Small, intimate and inviting restaurant, the Rincon Suizo is renowned for its quality and variety of veal dishes, raclette and cheese fondue. Its owner, Chef Willy Diggelmann, promises that its Swiss specialties will be unlike any you've tasted before. Swiss Corner communicates with the Restaurant and Bar 1985.
ROYAL THAI - Sorestad The strong flavors of Asia are well represented in this restaurant located on the corner of Calle 49 and Calle Uruguay, in the culinary center of Panama City. The restaurant offers delicacies from China and Thailand, most of them highly seasoned and spicy, made with Thai spices, lime leaves and spicy garlic. The spicy menu indicates the level of each dish with one, two or three red chilies.
The list of specialties includes two very interesting soups, Dom Yum Gung, praparado with spicy shrimp, and Dom Kah Gai, coconut milk and chicken.
STEINBOCK - The Ger-man family owns this restaurant has created a "Gasthaus" German in Panama. The traditional "Gasthaus" is a cross between restaurant and pub, where guests can be chatting with friends after dinner while enjoying a va-variety of beers, wines and spirits. By entering Steinbock, you cross the Atlantic with a single step and moved to a cozy "Gasthaus".
The menu offers everything you would expect in Germany: soups and cold appetizers, a great selection of sausages, schnitzels, roast pork and beef, and of course, apple strudel for dessert. Open for dinner Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday for lunch and dinner. Located on Route No. 50 Fiftieth Anniversary.
Itto Sushi KOREA HOUSE - This restaurant offers a double pleasure because it combines Japanese and Korean food. The regulars of the "Sushi Bars" will be pleased and those who know Eastern food will recognize subtle difference between them. (The menu, duly translated and illustrated, it is helpful to those unfamiliar.) Mr. Moon Yeung-On is both the owner and chef. The restaurant is housed in a cottage half a block from Via Spain, within walking distance of most hotels.
Ten Bistro - Perhaps ten is his lucky number. In any case, can not go wrong if you visit Ten Bistro, where you can choose from ten different entrees created every day by the chef Fabien Migny, each of which costs ... yes, ten dollars! The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Hotel de Ville Beatriz Miranda on the street a few steps from Calle 50, where the chef Migny and his sister Agnes (who prepares desserts fabulous) recently closed his previous restaurant.
The Bistro has "created a new culinary philosophy for the 21 century people are demanding, accelerated life and like to be in the forefront." Are you one of those people?
Tre Scalini - A pleasant informal and comfortable atmosphere makes this restaurant enjoys popularity among Panamanians. Tablecloths and curtains in bright colors, chianty, pastas, scenes of Vesuvius and the Colosseum on the walls ... charmingly Italian. There are two branches, one in El Dorado Boulevard and the other a few feet from the street 50. Visit any of the Tre Scalini and spend a nice evening!