Savoring Panama: Food, Locals & Nightlife

If you haven’t yet, don’t forget to read about our adventures in Colon in my previous post! 

When traveling to new countries, eating at different restaurants and meeting people who live there is at the top of my list. So that’s exactly what I did. 

I’ll share with you some good spots to eat and what I did that didn’t make me feel like a tourist. 

The Food Scene

The food scene here did not disappoint. Living in the DMV (DC, MD and VA) area, we have a lot of great restaurants, so I would say most were on par with what I was used to. Of course, there was more variety of seafood and I definitely had my share of red snapper throughout the course of the week. 

Azahar Panama

The very first place we ate on arrival was Azahar Panama. It’s located in the Yoo Panama and Arts building where our Airbnb was, so it was very convenient. After traveling all day it’s nice to have somewhere to eat in the same building. 

There is indoor and outdoor seating and the restaurant faces the bay, so we opted to sit outside. The food was good and the prices were comparable to a higher end restaurant in the states. 

I wondered why we were the only ones sitting outside, but about 20 minutes in, it started to rain. Thankfully we were under a covering and it didn’t last long, but I did slide over to the empty chair.

La Tapa del Coco

La Tapa del Coco is in the San Francisco area of Panama City, so from our Airbnb it took about 10 minutes in an Uber. It’s known for Afro-Panamanian cuisine and very popular with the expats that I follow online. So we decided to check it out.

Of course like most restaurants in Panama, there is outside seating and you can choose where you want to sit. I’m not sure if it’s the area or the time of year, but I didn’t see a lot of bugs flying around. I can remember in Belize trying to eat fast so the bugs wouldn’t get there first.

This was the only place I was able to get a fresh coconut since I didn’t go to many street vendors as I had liked this trip, but the coconut was refreshing.

I ate a typical dish with fish and coconut rice. I realize that I don’t like the flavor of coconut rice. It didn’t taste bad, it’s just not what I enjoy. I had coconut rice for the first time in Belize and I wasn’t too fond of it. Now I know it’s not the restaurants, it’s just me. 

Fonda Lo Que Hay

We took an Uber to the narrow streets of Casco Viejo to get to Lo Que Hay. On the way we were able to see the small streets, quaint stores and architecture that make this area a place to visit. We didn’t have time on this trip to venture out, but it’s definitely a stop for next time.

This restaurant was amazing. All the places we ate had good food, but there are restaurants that really stand out. This was one of them.

If you come here, make sure you have reservations. We went on a Tuesday around 2pm. It was busy with patrons and we ended up waiting about 10 minutes for our table. The plates are meant for sharing so don’t be surprised when your meal comes if it seems like a lot.

Here’s a tip. Go with friends. 

Making Friends Overseas

Abroad Ability

I’ve watched many YouTubers over the years, especially when it comes to traveling or living abroad. But this was the first time I met someone in person. Special shout-out to Aisha and providing insight on Panama through her channel Abroad Ability. 

We were able to meet up at Café Lavanda which is a local breakfast spot in the San Francisco area of Panama.  Great way to start my birthday celebration! And fun fact, hers was the day before. 

Black Expats in Panama Meetup

We arrived on a Wednesday and you’d think we would have just called it a day. However, that evening we attended BEIP Welcome Wednesdays hosted by Charlotte Van Horn. It was amazing to see expats who had decided Panama was going to be their home for a while. When you see others achieve similar goals, that gives you the idea that it’s possible. 

The meetup place was at Emotions which is located inside the Hilton. We were in luck because it was the building right beside us so we were able to walk.  

The conversations and connections were priceless. We met people from Chicago, Atlanta, and the DMV area. Something to look forward to when we visit again.

Healthcare event by DemButlers

Later in our trip I attended a Healthcare seminar hosted by DemBulters. They are another couple that I follow on YouTube with great insight about moving abroad. The event was packed. It was at the Julian Rooftop and it had a beautiful view of the city. 

More and more expats in one setting. I didn’t know anyone, but I never felt out of place. The location was a little hard to find since I went through a parking garage, then a small hallway and then an elevator. I made it with the help of others going to the same place.

The information provided was helpful. But what I enjoyed seeing was people old enough to be my parents use their cell to translate to the bartenders on their order. If they can move abroad while being in their 70s, what fear should I have? I walked away knowing that information was available to those willing to seek it out.

Out on the Town

StarBay Casino at the Hilton

I’m not big into gambling, but we ventured over to the StarBay Casino a few times since it was next door. It was a nice place to hang out with food, games and entertainment on two levels. I tried a few slots and figured out how to play with the directions being Spanish. 

The food was decent and the prices were average. One of the nights we went had live entertainment with dancing and singing. 

Umani Bodega

I’d say visiting the Umani Bodega was one of the best places we went. And unfortunately we went on the last night of our stay. But we can always go back on the next trip to Panama. The club is located in the San Francisco area of Panama and it was about a 10 minute Uber from our Airbnb. 

The Umani Bodega plays jazz music on Tuesdays and Reggae on Thursdays. We went on Tuesday and the music was amazing. The music was less like elevator music and more like a soulful instrumental twist to songs we know. The band played a version of Solange’s “Planes in the Sky” among other great songs.

We had a 7pm table reservation so we had time to eat. Another great meal before the music started at 8:30pm. 

If you visit, get there early to get a good seat and you won’t be disappointed.

My Panama series is almost complete. Stay tuned for my next post covering city travel, family moments, airport departures, and final wrap-up thoughts!