Where to Eat in Panama City With Kids

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The Best Restaurants in Casco Viejo

Figuring out where to eat in Panama City with kids sounds harder than it turned out to be. Almost every place we loved sits inside Casco Viejo, close enough that you can walk between them, and the couple that aren’t are worth the short ride. These are the restaurants we went back to, the ones the girls asked for again, and the one that is worth booking ahead.

If you are looking for the best restaurants in Casco Viejo Panama, we have you covered.  From breakfast, lunch and dinner, to views, date night and even vegan food, here are recommendations and food to get you excited for Panama!

Our Favorite Breakfast Spots in Casco Viejo

Café Unido Casco Viejo

The kids, as well as mom and dad, were big fans of Café Unido.  I think we ate maybe 3 or 4 breakfasts there! They have good coffee (and geisha coffee), the best breakfast food we found in Casco Viejo, and a modern clean atmosphere with indoor balcony seating which the kids thought was fun.

Let’s talk about the Geisha coffee… So apparently it is the most expensive coffee in the world (as we read and were told), it could cost you upwards of $100 for a cup of the stuff in New York, but here, it is about $10.  That being said, Dawson (our avid coffee drinker), said it was interesting and different but not incredible.  That being said, totally worth trying at $10 a cup while you are here, to say you have tried it, if nothing else.

The breakfast is delicious.  Viona and I were diggin’ the waffles and got those every morning, never disappointing.  We tried a few egg dishes as well, all were really good and kept us coming back.

And the hot chocolate, YAAASSS.  So good!  We get hot chocolate for breakfast everywhere we travel, and this was some of the best!  In short, if you are looking for reliably good breakfast, good coffee, a nice environment and reasonable prices in Casco Viejo, this is our top pick!

www.cafeunido.com
C. 9a Oeste, Panamá, Panama

Mahalo Cocina y Jardin

While Mahalo Kitchen and Garden is open for more than just breakfast, it definitely had all the brunch vibes.  We opted for indoor seating because it was HOT that day but the garden seating is lovely (weather permitting).  This is also the sister restaurant to the Mahalo Snack Shack which you will read about further down in our lunch/dinner picks.

The menu selection is what piqued my interest in a visit and the breakfast was good.  Not “eat there everyday” good, but “worth a visit” good.

They also had a really nice fresh juice and smoothie selection, which I really appreciate as a non coffee drinker.

The prices here were higher than Unido, but it felt fair for a weekend brunch, and still less expensive than an equivalent restaurant in the US.

www.mahalopanama.com
Las Clementinas Hotel, C. 11 Este, Panamá, Panama

Our Top Lunch and Dinner Picks

Mahalo Snack Shack

This was our favorite dinner spot (conveniently located a block from our hotel) and we ended up eating here three times.  The atmosphere is hip and super casual which we appreciate with little ones in tow.

The food was really good.  They had quite a few Asian inspired dishes, which we are often partial to, as well as good specials that changed nightly.

They also had a very nice fresh juice and smoothie menu like their sister location.  Kaida had no problem helping mommy drink all of those delicious refreshing fruit smoothies on hot hot days.

This bananas foster dessert was also exceptional, but I was incredibly full and saddened to say I only ate half…

If eating here 3 times didn’t already say enough for this place, I can comfortably say this is one of the best restaurants in Casco Viejo Panama for a laid back meal!

www.mahalopanama.com
Av. A, Panamá, Panama

The Vegan Shack

I will be the first to say I am not vegan, however, I don’t mind incorporating some vegan meals into my life (trying to make healthier choices).  We were lucky enough to be visiting during the very soft opening of this place, like I am pretty sure it was her second day open.  It was such a great find!  She had previously been open in a different part of the country and this was her big move into the city! The owner was incredibly sweet and you can tell that she puts everything into her passion of food.  If you are vegan, this is definitely one of the best restaurants in Casco Viejo Panama.

We had a salad and the bowl pictured above with fried plantains and tropical fruit salsa.  It was awesome!  I wish I had the recipe because I would definitely incorporate that into a weekly dinner/lunch at home if I could.

Also on offer were smoothies like the one Kaida is slurping above.  Tasted just like a peanut butter mood from Jamba Juice!  Lastly she served me this dessert (below), a chocolate torte with strawberry compote.  I didn’t share a single bite with either of the kids and I was practically licking the plate when the owner told me it was not only vegan but gluten free and sugar free.  WHAT??!?!  You are a liar!!!  Ok, I didn’t actually call her a liar, but I was floored to hear those words come out of her mouth after tasting something so good!

Do yourself and your body a favor, and eat a healthy and delicious meal at the Vegan Shack while you are in Casco Viejo.

instagram.com
C. 4a Oeste, Panamá, Panama

Tacos La Neta: Head Here for the Views

The views from Tacos La Neta are undeniably fantastic.  All of the seating for this restaurant is on the rooftop with sweeping views of both Casco Viejo and downtown Panama city.  There is also a pool in the middle of the restaurant…not sure what that’s all about and we did not partake in a swim.  There is a hotel or hostel in the same building so I am not sure who gets use of the pool but it looked like it was a free for all.

The tacos were really good.  Not “the best I ever had” good, but we live in California where good tacos are in abundance.  We are not embarrassed to say we are a bit snobbish about our tacos.

They even made a plain cheese quesadilla for picky Kaida, who ended up only eating the cheese because she only like flour tortillas, but it was nice of them to accommodate her.

Over all for the quality of the food at a good price with fantastic views (and a full bar), I can say it is definitely worth a meal while visiting.

www.tacoslaneta.com
C. 12 Este, Panamá, Panama

Santa Rita: A Good Steak or Date Night

This higher end establishment is the love child of an Argentinian and Spanish couple.  This is a great fine dining pick for the Casco Viejo area of the city.  The service was top notch and the quality of the food matched.  The menu is pretty extensive so you are bound to find something to suit everyone’s taste.  With Spanish tapas and Argentinean cuisine driving the menu, it was pretty meat heavy.  Maybe not a top pick for vegetarians.

The Argentinean steak was perfectly cooked with incredible flavor.  I have not yet been to Argentina, so I can’t speak to certainties, but the beef was imported from Argentina so I am thinking it is possibly comparable to eating it there.

The food was all very rich and decadent.  I definitely over ordered but there were so many delicious items on the menu, it was hard to narrow it down!

The Tres Leches cake is a must try if you go!  I was a little upset that I was so full by the time dessert arrived and I tried the tres leches.  I maybe ate half and wanted to shed a tear for what remained in the glass.

This is also the perfect date night spot if you are looking for a more romantic dinner.  All of our dinners while traveling are romantic with our two littles in tow…said no one ever! HA!

https://santaritapanama.com/
Av. Eloy Alfaro, Panamá, Panama

Maito: Top 50 Restaurants in Latin America

Maito is one of the top culinary experiences in Panama City and is ranked in the top 50 restaurants in all of Latin America.  They have both indoor and patio seating (pictured above).  A reservation is strongly recommended, especially for dinner and weekends.  We opted to go on a Monday for lunch and it was only about half full, so a good time to go to avoid the crowds.  Their menu is Panamanian with Chinese flair.  The food was hands down the best we had in Panama City.  This is pretty much as high end as you are going to get here and even then the prices were more reasonable to a comparable restaurant in the US.

We started with the ceviche which was diced much finer than typical ceviche but it was packed with flavor.  Then we moved on to the main courses.  The crispy duck confit noodles were the star of the show and I highly recommend you try it if you find it on the menu.  I have no idea how the cook the duck so perfectly, but it was everything and complimented the noodle sauce so well.

Don’t worry, if you are heading there with kids, they have chicken fingers and french fries on offer!  Side note, I have no idea why but the breading on chicken fingers throughout the Central and South American countries we have visited are far superior to any chicken finger breading I have had in the US.  What is the deal?!  Seems simple enough, why can’t we figure it out in the US??

The kids also enjoyed a refreshing mocktail whipped up by the bartender, which I ordered for myself, but it was soon confiscated by the kids.

For dessert, do the donuts!!!  They were not only delicious but a fun culinary adventure of sweet, savory and a bit spicy.  Below the donut is a curry paste.  This is the first time I had a curry donut pairing and hopefully it will not be my last!  Don’t worry if your kids aren’t up for the same adventure.  They had plain chocolate ice cream for Kaida!

I did not make a reservation here until we were in Panama so if you can’t make up your mind ahead of time but decide to go, there is a good chance you can get in for lunch.  I made a reso on there website three days in advance.  If it is in the budget, do it!  It is about a 15-20 minute Uber ride from Casco Viejo, and cost us about $12 round trip to get there.

www.maitopanama.com
C. 50, Panamá, Panama

A Few Runner-ups

CasaCasco: For Cocktails

The girls think they are going clubbing…

The rooftop bar of CasaCasco has incredible views!  We did not have reservations but somehow managed a table at sunset.  The drinks were really good.  I would definitely go back for the drinks!  We also ate dinner here but the food was lacking.  I didn’t even bother putting up pictures because I am not recommending the food.  Fine for small bites to help absorb the alcohol but I would not head here if you are looking for a good dinner.

www.casacasco.com
Calle 10 y #8-15, 15306, Av. A, Panamá, Panama

Mercado De Marisco

A visit to the restaurants at the fish market is a fairly typical tourist experience.  There are some pretty measly reviews online.  I wasn’t even sure I wanted to eat there, but I think it’s more about the experience than the quality of the food.  A lot of locals eat here and it is affordable.  Keep in mind that fish in the ocean off Panama are not sushi grade and people in Panama do not recommend eating raw local fish.  Expect to find lots of ceviche and a fried fish at these restaurants.  I have no idea which of the restaurants offers the best fair.  My guess is that they are all pretty much the same, so take a guess and grab a seat for some local Panamanian dishes!

Ciclovía Cinta Costera, Panamá, Panama

Benissimo Gelato & Cafè

Benissimo is a homey coffee and pastry shop with homemade ice cream.   We grabbed ice cream at a few places around Casco Viejo and I think this was the best quality.  We didn’t get here for coffee but it seems to have a lot of great reviews.

benissimopanama.com
XF28+HC7, Calle 4a Este, Panamá, Panama

Hacienda Colombiana

If you plan on visiting the Causeway Amador Islands, this little Columbian Restaurant on the main road exceeded my expectations.  Unfortunately we visited on a day that most places were closed, or I think we were just there too early in the day (I am pretty sure things don’t get going until after 4pm).  Anyways, this was one of the few places open for lunch that day so we gave it whirl.  The prices were awesome and the portions huge and food was really good.  Having not researched it or read any reviews, I am pleased with how the experience turned out!

hacienda-colombiana-amador.negocio.site
Brisas de Amador, Isla Perico, Calz. de Amador, Panamá, Panama

Eating Out in Casco Viejo With Kids

A few things we worked out while we were there, so you don’t have to.

Almost everything on this list sits inside Casco Viejo, close enough that you can decide at six o’clock and still walk there. That mattered more than any single meal, because it meant we never had to talk two tired kids into a car first.

The grown up kitchens turned out to be the easy ones. Maito keeps chicken fingers and fries on hand, and the bartender whipped up mocktails for the girls. Tacos La Neta made Kaida a plain cheese quesadilla when nothing on the menu was going to work. If a place looks too fancy for your crew, ask anyway.

Maito is the one to book. I didn’t reserve until we were already in Panama and it still worked out, but I wouldn’t count on that twice.

If you only splurge on one meal a day here, make it breakfast. Geisha coffee is about ten dollars a cup at Café Unido and can run upwards of a hundred in New York, which is the kind of math that only works while you’re standing in Panama.

And leave room for ice cream at Benissimo. We tried a few places around Casco Viejo and that was the one worth going back for.

Planning the Rest of Your Panama City Trip

The rest of our Panama City guides pick up where this one stops: our full Panama City family itinerary, all the things to do in Panama City with kids, where to stay in Panama City with a family, and the Panama City travel tips we actually used. Everything starts from our Panama City with kids hub.

Before you go, you can build your kids a free Panama City Trip Kit: a printable passport, a countdown to the trip and a scavenger hunt matched to their ages.