At Tomi Tours, we believe that understanding a city goes beyond seeing its landmarks. To truly experience Panama, you need to taste it.
Whether you’re exploring aboard our iconic yellow, green, or orange VW Safari vehicles, cruising through the city in our beautifully restored Ferrari-red 1972 VW Kombi, or enjoying a solo adventure in our classic VW Dune Buggy, discovering local food often becomes one of the most unexpected highlights of the journey.
The Flavors That Define Panama
Panamanian cuisine reflects the country’s unique position as a crossroads of cultures.
Influences from Indigenous traditions, Spanish heritage, Afro Caribbean communities, and international migration have all contributed to a rich and diverse culinary landscape.
Visitors quickly discover that food in Panama is both comforting and flavorful.
Traditional dishes such as sancocho, the country’s beloved chicken soup, are deeply connected to Panamanian culture. Often considered a national comfort food, sancocho is simple, hearty, and surprisingly flavorful.
Another favorite is arroz con pollo, a dish found at family gatherings, celebrations, and local restaurants throughout the country.
Fresh seafood also plays a major role in the local cuisine. Thanks to Panama’s location between two oceans, fish, shrimp, octopus, and shellfish are often incredibly fresh and prepared using recipes that have been passed down through generations.
Beyond the Tourist Restaurants
Many visitors spend most of their time around Casco Viejo, the Amador Causeway, or the financial district.
While these areas certainly offer excellent dining options, some of the city’s most authentic food experiences can be found in neighborhoods that rarely appear on tourist itineraries.
Small family-owned restaurants often serve recipes that haven’t changed in decades.
In these places, visitors may find themselves dining alongside office workers, taxi drivers, local families, and longtime residents rather than other tourists.
The atmosphere is often simple.
The food, however, is unforgettable.
These hidden spots are where many travelers discover flavors that become lasting memories of their visit to Panama.
The Seafood Market Experience
One local favorite that combines authenticity with accessibility is the famous Seafood Market.
Located near Casco Viejo, this bustling market offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy fresh ceviche prepared daily using fish and seafood brought directly from local fishermen.
For many guests, this becomes their first introduction to Panama’s seafood culture.
The experience is vibrant and authentic. Vendors prepare food right in front of you while boats unload fresh catches nearby.
It’s a place where visitors can experience local life while enjoying some of the freshest seafood in the city.
Hidden Cafés and Local Bakeries
Food discovery isn’t limited to lunch and dinner.
Some of Panama City’s best-kept secrets are its independent cafés and neighborhood bakeries.
Many serve traditional Panamanian pastries, fresh bread, empanadas, and locally grown coffee sourced from regions such as Boquete and Volcán.
These cafés often become perfect stops during a day of exploration.
Guests frequently tell us that some of their favorite moments involve simply sitting with a cup of Panamanian coffee while watching local life unfold around them.
Sometimes the simplest experiences become the most memorable.
Street Food Worth Discovering
No culinary exploration of Panama City would be complete without sampling local street food.
Throughout the city, visitors can find vendors selling freshly made empanadas, carimañolas, hojaldres, tamales, and other traditional snacks.
These foods offer an affordable and authentic way to experience local flavors.
Many recipes have been passed down through families for generations, preserving culinary traditions that continue to play an important role in everyday Panamanian life.
While tourists often focus on restaurants, street food frequently provides a deeper connection to local culture.
Why Local Recommendations Matter
One challenge many travelers face is simply knowing where to go.
The best places are not always the ones with the largest signs or the biggest marketing budgets.
Some of the most beloved local restaurants are hidden on side streets, inside modest buildings, or tucked away in residential neighborhoods.
This is where local knowledge becomes invaluable.
Our guides spend every day exploring the city, discovering new restaurants, revisiting old favorites, and sharing recommendations with guests from around the world.
Over the years, countless visitors have told us that some of their favorite meals in Panama came from places they would never have found without a local recommendation.
Food as Part of the Travel Experience
Food tells a story.
Every dish reflects history, geography, culture, and community.
A bowl of sancocho speaks of family traditions.
Fresh ceviche reflects Panama’s connection to the sea.
A cup of locally grown coffee reveals the country’s agricultural heritage.
These experiences help visitors understand Panama on a deeper level.
The city becomes more than a collection of landmarks.
It becomes a place filled with flavors, memories, and personal discoveries.
The Best Meals Are Often Unexpected
Many travelers arrive with a list of famous attractions they hope to visit.
But some of their strongest memories come from places they never planned to see.
A small seafood restaurant.
A hidden café.
A local bakery.
A family-owned lunch spot filled with residents.
These are the places that often leave the biggest impression.
At Tomi Tours, we believe that discovering a destination should engage all the senses.
Not just what you see, but also what you hear, smell, and taste.
Because sometimes the best way to experience a city isn’t through its monuments.
It’s through the food shared around its tables.
And some of Panama City’s most authentic flavors are still waiting to be discovered.
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