Food & Drink

Panamanian cuisine is less known than that of Mexico or Peru, but surprisingly good and diverse. It reflects the cultural mix of the country: Spanish colonial cuisine, Afro-Caribbean influences (coconut milk!), indigenous ingredients, and a touch of American modernity. The base of almost every meal: rice and beans (arroz con frijoles), along with plantains in all variations and fresh fish or chicken.

Must-Try Dishes

• Sancocho: The unofficial national dish — a hearty chicken stew with yuca, ñame (yam), corn, cilantro, and spices. Often served as a hangover breakfast. Available at any fonda for $3–5.
• Ceviche: Fresh raw fish (corvina or squid), marinated in lime juice, with onions, cilantro, and chili. A must at the Mercado de Mariscos in Panama City — a cup for $2–4.
• Arroz con Pollo: Chicken with yellow rice, olives, and vegetables — Panamanian comfort food.
• Carimañolas: Fried yuca rolls with meat filling — the perfect street food snack. $1–2 per piece.
• Empanadas: Stuffed pastries (meat, cheese, or vegetables), fried or baked. Found on every corner, $0.50–1.
• Tamales: Corn dough wrapped in banana leaves with chicken and olives, steamed. Traditional festive food at Christmas — but also available year-round.
• Ropa Vieja: "Old clothes" — shredded, stewed beef in tomato sauce. Of Cuban origin, lovingly adapted in Panama.
• Patacones: Twice-fried green plantains — crispy, salty, and served everywhere as a side dish. In the Caribbean, also a main dish with ceviche on top.

Caribbean Specialties

On the Caribbean coast (Bocas del Toro, Colón, San Blas), the Afro-Caribbean cuisine dominates:

• Rice and Beans: Not to be confused with "arroz con frijoles"! Here, rice and red beans are cooked in coconut milk — creamy, aromatic, a completely different taste experience.
• Rondon: A rich stew with fish, coconut milk, yuca, and plantains. Caribbean soul food at its best.
• Lobster: Freshly caught and surprisingly affordable in San Blas and Bocas del Toro ($5–15 per lobster depending on the season).

Beer

Panama has two national beers that are a must-try:

• Balboa: The most popular beer, named after the explorer. A light, refreshing lager — perfect in tropical heat.
• Atlas: Slightly fuller-bodied than Balboa. Both cost about $0.75 in stores, $1.50–3 in restaurants.
• Craft Beer: The scene is growing — Casa Bruja in Panama City brews excellent IPAs and stouts. Rana Dorada (Golden Frog, named after Panama's national animal) is the most well-known craft brewery with its own bar in Casco Viejo.

Rum & Seco

• Ron Abuelo: Panama's premium rum. The 12 Años and XV are top-notch and internationally award-winning. A bottle in the supermarket: $15–30. Many connoisseurs consider it the best rum in Central America.
• Seco Herrerano: THE national drink of Panama — a sugarcane distillate (similar to Cachaça), which tastes unusual neat but becomes a cult party drink as "Seco con Leche" (with milk and coconut milk). A glass in the bar: $2–3.

Non-Alcoholic

• Coconut Water: Available everywhere at street stalls directly from the fresh coconut ($1). Isotonic, refreshing, and the most natural refreshment in the tropics.
• Raspados: Panamanian shaved ice — shaved ice with colorful fruit syrup and condensed milk. The sweet salvation on hot days.
• Chicheme: Traditional drink made from corn, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Thick, sweet, and nourishing.
• Coffee: Panama produces world-class coffee (Geisha!), but many fondas serve instant coffee. For excellent coffee: Specialty coffee shops in Panama City (Bajareque, Unido, Café de Roberto) or directly on the farm in Boquete.