Panama City is a haven for delicious food. In recent years, however, creative chefs have opened buzzworthy restaurants across Panama’s capital. Here are some of the city’s ambitious cuisine offerings.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Azafrán
The wide-ranging menu at Azafrán, from Spanish chef Álvaro Perrino, offers something for everyone including duck, steak, fish, lamb chops, and more. It’s all inflected with Spanish, Asian, and Latin techniques and flavors.
Makoto
Japanese chef Makoto Okuwa was drawn to Panama by the abundance of seafood and he makes good use of it all at his Makoto Japanese restaurant. One local raved that “the outdoor seating experience is great and anything you order is a good choice.”
Maito
Maito is chef Mario Castrellón’s elegant, groundbreaking, 100-seat flagship restaurant in the Coco del Mar neighborhood. Expect chic presentation, surprising combinations, and ingredients you’ve probably never eaten before in dishes like palm fruit in corn sauce and blood sausage made with red rice from the Darien jungle.
Riesen
Chef Hernan Mauricio Correa Riesen won the first season of “Top Chef Panamá,” and he parlayed that notoriety (and his winnings) into Riesen in the El Cangrejo area of the city. He is committed to using 100% local ingredients and the result is a changeable, laser-focused tasting menu offering dishes like homemade organic chicken ravioli in a sancocho broth.
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