Panamá City Restaurant Tips by call_me_rhia Top 5 Page for this destination

Petit Paris: a little corner of France

We found Petit Paris just by change, wandering up the via de Argentina looking for a place to have lunch... we knew we wanted something light and healthy but delicious. We also wanted to be able to eat outside. When we saw Petit Paris, tiny and cosy and with a patio, we knew it would suit us well. The only sad part is that it would close at 8 PM, so no chace to have our dinner there.

Favorite Dish: We had a lovely salad and a huge baguette.... a real baguette. We later fund out from the french owner that he had brought a baker from france to Panama for his little cafe. After the salad it was time for something decandent... and tere were plenty of desserts, pastries and homemade chocolates to choose from. As you can see from the photo we had quite a few of them, but my favourite remains that volcano negro, different sorts of nuts covered in delicious dark chocolate. Heavenly.

Address: avenida de argentina

Comparison: about average

Directions: opposite the greenhouse restaurant

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Bakery

an excellent churrasco lenos y carbon

This restaurant, with a large indoor and a small outdoor eating area is located on the causeway on the farthest island next to the shopping center, there's great views of the city and of the boats queuing up, waiting to enter the Panama Canal. Good service, too.

Favorite Dish: I had a most delicious churrasco, grilled to perfection, while my partner had smoked ribs... a bad choice, but totally his fault. We dined the night away sipping some pretty good mohitos, too. Definitely a good and popular restaurant with upscale residents. Come early-ish if you want to eat outside.

Address: Amador

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: At the end of the Amador causeway, where the tourist boats leave for the Panama canal.

Phone: (507) 303-6122

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Steakhouse

Pizzeria Napoli: the best pizza outisde Italy

Everyone we met in Panama, after hearing us talking Italian, told us we had to eat at Pizzeria napoli if we wanted to have a good pizza. Those people had never een to italy so we were not persuaded. Then again, on our second last night, we decided to give it a chance. Of course the place was packed with locals.

Favorite Dish: As soon as we entered the pizzeria we saw people being served a very sad dish of pasta... and started regretting we had gone there. Then on the table next to us pizza were served. They looked good, authentic - actually. We ordered a pizza with ham and a margherita with anchovies: they were simply delicious.. like in Italy, and even better (occasionally). Thebest part is that there's no italian working in the restaurant. Thumbs up!

Address: Calle Estudiante at Calle 16

Comparison: about average

Directions: East of El Cangrejo

Phone: 262 2446

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Italian

street food: try a palito, or many

I had the best meal in Panama city in the streets, or more precisely outside a supermarket where I had stopped to buy some local spirits for my brother-in-law, who collecs them. The smell was so delicious that I felt very hungry immediately.

Favorite Dish: “Carne en palito”, which is a classic Panama food that you can buy on the street... tiny meat skewers marinated in I-don't-know-what... extremely delicious, and they cost nothing... if I remember correcty it was 2 for a USD.

Address: via Espania

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: All around town, I guess. I had mine outside the supermarket El Rey.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Street Vendor

Parillada Jimmy: just another grill restaurant

Parillada Jimmy, just another restuarnat serrving grilled meats and fish... large and with a long open porch.. guidebooks say it has a farmhouse feel, which is not really true. However it looked like a nice restaurant and it was packed with locals. T

Favorite Dish: We had a grilled octopus (really hard) and a grilled churrasco... which was quite indifferent... It looked more like a very thin steak and it had a lot of fat. Not much like a real churrasco. Disapointng.

Address: Av Cincuentenario

Comparison: about average

Directions: San Francisco

Phone: 226 1096

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 2

Theme: Steakhouse