Panama: Gastronomy Hub

Panama offers foodie travelers exciting culinary experiences. Add Panama to your travel list and discover its culinary heritage.

© Visit Panama

The country’s biodiversity, marine ecosystem, indigenous traditions and foreign influences make up its culinary heritage. Many of the country’s chefs celebrate traditions while offering innovations. Chefs Charlie Collins (T’ACH) and Mario Castrellon (Maito) are among the pioneers of Panama’s “rainforest-to-table” movement, utilizing regional ingredients, sustainably sourced and foraged by local farmers, on fine-dining menus.

Learn more about Panama’s culinary traditions on a tour of Rio Caña. Part of the Ngäbe-Buglé region, here, travelers learn about Panamánian culinary traditions from locals. Learn how fresh-caught fish, root vegetables and endemic ingredients are used to make pastes and salads, integral to Panama’s gastronomy. Prepare dishes alongside the community’s cooks, who have preserved centuries-old techniques.

© Visit Panama

Panama City was recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Many of the city’s best restaurants are located in the Casco Antiguo neighborhood. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the food district offers travelers the best Panamánian cuisine from award-winning chefs. The San Francisco neighborhood is home to more than 180 restaurants with a melting pot of cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, Korean, Chinese, German, Vietnamese and Afro-Panamánian. The neighborhood is also known for its burgeoning beer scene.