Barts best of: Panama, Central America
oh Panama. A country that appeals to the imagination, although most people probably think mainly of the Panama Canal, the high-rise buildings and perhaps the tropical islands around the Central American country. That's all true, but the bustling capital of Panama is also one of the most stylish and surprising destinations we have visited in recent years. Surprise!
Anyone who spends 48 hours in Panama can experience the nicest part of the capital, Old Town, the lively old quarter of Panama City, basically playing it out (a bit of walking, eating and drinking, but it's doable). And the beautiful country is also home to paradisiacal beaches (not just on the famous islands; certainly also on the mainland) and is teeming with hotels that offer expert surfing lessons and yoga retreats. Put it on you wishlist hear, Panama, and hold (Barts) Best of Panama, Central America, at hand - including the hotels to book immediately.
You may not have known it, but Old Town, the old town of Panama City, is one foodies destination par excellence. All you can eat and drink there! Nice and beautiful that it is there! A walk through the narrow streets is reminiscent of Havana in Cuba and Bogota in Colombia. It's only a short drive from the airport (nice) and once checked in you'll be right at home in the compact city center. That's great, because then the exploring can start immediately. 48 hours seems short, but as said Casco Viejo not big and just right for a few days of entertainment. Especially food and drink entertainment, while you walk from one location to another through an open-air film set.
If you only visit one restaurant in Panama, Casco Viejo, leave it alone Lo Que Hay are. Don't ask questions, just make a reservation. The restaurant is not in the top 50 of the best restaurants in Latin America for anything: it is cool, and incredibly good (and always full: reservations are a must black). The best place to sit is on the outdoor patio, where the holiday feeling scores 10 points. The fried chicken and the toast with tuna are regularly found in our foodies to dream.
LAZOTEA Restaurant & Rooftop – During the day this place is not the most vibrant, but once the sun sets, it is one of the best places with an amazing view of the city. Don't let the photos of the swimming pool on the roof terrace fool you: you won't get much more than a few big toes in there. Good wines, tasty food.
CasaCasco – Sleek, beautiful, cool and hip roof terrace.
Pastissima – Tip from the KLM flight attendants who regularly visit Panama.
Isaki Casco Rooftop – Panama has many roof terraces and we thought this was the nicest, in a very pleasant neighborhood.
Capital Bistro Panama – Here you also go onto the roof. Something more low profile, also nice.
Selina – According to many, the best place for a cocktail.
Café Unido Casco Viejo – Perfect for coffee and ice cream.
Sisu Coffee Studio – Kinfolk style coffee shop.
Restaurante Tres Fuegos No fuzz, good food.
La Pulperia – For those who love squid. We were not necessarily charmed by the place itself, but the location is nice and the atmosphere is pleasant.
Madre Pizza – Sweetest staff and perfect for those who want to eat a good pizza. Or pasta. Of kids. Or without.
Restaurante Santa Rita – And favorite for nothing-going-on-but-good. Argentinian steaks and Spanish tapas.
Kaandela Restaurant – And this one too. Beautiful do try this at home setting, perfect shrimp. Tikkie high end well.
CascoMar – For a casual evening.
La Bárbara – For citizens & co. A bit of faded glory.
Step number one in preparing for your trip to Panama is – of course – finding a hotel in Casco Viejo. That's not at all complicated: download (if you haven't already had it) the Booking.com app, fill in your dates + travel group, check the filters of your preference and away you go! We fell for it (among others). American Trade Hotel. Since its opening, the hotel has been a magnet for seasoned travelers. Located in the heart of the Casco Viejo district, the hotel was once a shopping center before becoming the headquarters of several gangs in the 2000s, only to be completely transformed by the Commune Design studio led by the Ace hotel group. You know, that wonderful hotel group with great, affordable hotels in America. The result is a hotel decorated with art deco pieces from all over the world and a jazz bar run by Danilo Pérez, a famous Panamanian pianist.
When a hotel name starts with Sofitel Legend, you can count on your fingers that the chance of a wonderful hotel in an A-location in the city of your choice is 10 out of 10. This is also the case in Casco Viejo, Panama City: the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo. Everything here is 10 points, from the swimming pool on the roof terrace through the spa and the tastefully classic furnishings to the hotel restaurants. Perfect for a night or two for two, but maybe a bit too much fancy for those with kids travels.
In that case, be sure to book it La Concordia Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo, Panama City! An affordable option in an excellent location: the Casco Viejo district is not large anyway and everything is within walking distance. La Concordia has enormous rooms (nice), the most helpful staff (even nicer) and an uncomplicated restaurant with a bakery on the ground floor, which is open from very early until very late (best with little ones to whom you ignore the principle of that one Jet lag can't explain yet). On weekend days the roof terrace is a pleasant affair.
Another big (very big) advantage of sleeping at La Concordia is that you are right opposite the restaurant Mahalo Cocina y Jardin (photo left) is the nicest restaurant in town (apart from Lo Que Hay, which we thought was the best restaurant) with a delicious closing (nice with kids) courtyard.
If you only have 48 hours in Panama, for example as a long layover Belize, then play Casco Viejo completely. If you have longer, go to the neighborhood Down river for lunch. Restaurant Fanso may not necessarily look attractive in terms of formal and casual looks, but the mix of Panamanian and Jamaican dishes is delicious. Fancy more nature? About a two-hour drive out of the city you will find the mountains of El Valle de Antón – beautiful. And then stay overnight at it Caracoral Boutique Hotel, a fantastic accommodation that received the Booking.com sustainability seal (photos). Or the province of Veraguas in the midwest of the country, bordering both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. A beautiful undeveloped area with rivers, natural pools and waterfalls.
If you want to do something other than eating and drinking When in Panama City, put the BioMuseo on your schedule. The museum itself was designed by Frank Gehry, the architect who also designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao signed (amazingly too) and for the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Once inside, you will learn about the history of Panama and the country's global ecological evolution. The museum has almost 4000 m2 of galleries and a botanical garden along the Panama Canal.
Panama is undoubtedly home to some of the most spectacular and Insta-worthy beaches in the world. The winding, vast country that merges the Caribbean with the Pacific Ocean has a diverse collection of waterfront restaurants – where exactly you sit no longer matters. Most people will head straight to 'the islands', of which the San Blas Islands the best known are; a collection of no fewer than 365 islands. Our tip Wow, this archipelago is amazing, although the main coast of Panama is just as beautiful.
Those looking for the ideal yoga and surf spot, sails to Cambutal. A small village in the Los Santos region, where surfers from all over the world gather on the long, expansive beaches. Look for its restaurant there Sansara: perfect vegan dishes in a beautiful setting setting.
Bocas del Toro, one of Panama's westernmost provinces, is known for its islands and beautiful beaches: from the rough waters of Red Frog to the starfish-strewn Boca del Drago Bay. Bocas Town, on Isla Colón, is a great base to explore the archipelago. White sandy beaches, snorkel in crystal clear waters or hike through the tropical foliage. A beautiful beach here can be found on the uninhabited island of Zapatilla, about an hour by boat from Panama City. You can walk around the entire island in about 20 minutes: the Caribbean doesn't get any better.
Please check the photos first Booking.com: after all, images say more than 1000 words, especially when it is a tropical destination such as The Resort at Isla Palenque, a tropical private island that received all stars (green leaves in this case) on Booking.com's sustainable travel indicator, aka Sustainable Travel badge. With the introduction of the unique badge, Booking.com makes it easier for everyone to make more sustainable travel choices. On the accommodation page you can see what steps the accommodation has taken towards a more sustainable stay. As is the case with this dream destination.
As mentioned, you are staying here on a private island: there is nothing more than the resort. With the book Robinson Crusoe by Joseph Conrad as his night read, Benjamin Loomis created this dream of a desert island in 2018: a number of wooden huts overlooking the ocean.
That's all you need: you sleep among the rustling leaves of the green jungle with the pure white beach and the azure blue sea on your doorstep. A unique place in one of the most beautiful locations in Panama with (we quote) “extremely delicious, fresh food: local dishes interpreted in a modern way”. Ah, you're already gone. We get it.
