Our trip hub for the Big 5-0 in Panama. Kicking off with where to eat (budget-friendly, genuinely good, authentic Panamanian food near Casco Viejo). We'll keep adding to this as the trip comes together.
Home base: Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo (San Felipe / Old Town)
$ easy on the wallet$$ mid-range, still reasonable
Budget Favorites
Where locals actually eat. Big plates, small prices.
Mercado de Mariscos (Fish Market)
$
📍 Avenida Balboa — 8-min walk / short ride from Casco Viejo
Get this: Ceviche de corvina (sea bass) by the cup, shrimp cocktail, patacones, fried corvina plates.
The cheapest, freshest seafood in the city. A cup of ceviche runs about a dollar or two.
"Cevicheria la Bendicion in the green building is where the locals go — pay attention to who has the most customers."
🕐 Daily 6am–5pm (closed 3rd Mon for cleaning). Go before 1pm or after 2pm.🗺 Map
Café Coca Cola
$
📍 Santa Ana — on the edge of Casco Viejo, short walk
Get this: Sancocho (chicken soup, the national dish), ropa vieja, grilled fish with rice & salad, sea bass in garlic sauce.
The oldest diner in Panama, open since 1906. Honest home-style cooking, huge portions, cheap.
"Good, tasty, authentic Panamanian, large portions at reasonable prices — great value."
📍 San Felipe — inside Casco Viejo, walkable from the Sofitel
Get this: Daily home-cooked plates — stewed chicken or beef, rice & beans, plantains, fresh chicha (fruit juice).
A back hall packed with 15+ local fonda stalls. The most authentic cheap meal you'll find inside Casco.
"A full plate of home-cooked food plus a chicha, usually maxing out at five or six dollars."
📍 Vía Argentina (El Cangrejo) — short ride from Casco Viejo
Get this: Sancocho, arroz con pollo, ropa vieja, the sampler platter (chicharrón, yuca, patacones, tortilla).
The local answer to "where's the best traditional food?" since 1983. Big portions, lively, low prices.
"The best Panamanian sancocho I've tasted so far. Authentic local fare, cheap prices, lively atmosphere."
🕐 Open daily (lunch & dinner) — most plates $5–$10🗺 Map
A Step Up (Still Reasonable)
For one nicer sit-down meal with the Jones family — modern takes on Panamanian classics.
En La Fonda
$$
📍 Av. Eloy Alfaro — start of Casco Viejo, easy walk
Get this: Ceviche, carimañola, chorizo, fish a lo chombo, plus Seco Herrerano cocktails.
Authentic Creole cooking with live music and staff in traditional dress — fun for a group, fair prices.
"Excellent ceviche, generous portions, outstanding service — a great place to eat and vibe."
📍 Casco Viejo — Edificio El Colegio, C. José de la Obaldía
Get this: Beef guacho, grilled octopus, tuna-yuca tartare, the "sexy clams," daily seafood, smoky flan.
A chef's modern spin on the humble fonda — ranked among Latin America's 50 Best. Worth a reservation.
"Bold, creative Panamanian flavors. Everything was tasty." (4.6★) Book ahead; it fills up.
🕐 Sun brunch 11am–5pm; reservations recommended🗺 Map
Quick budget tips
Order the menú del día. Many fondas post a daily fixed plate — soup + main + juice for a few dollars.
Cash is king at fondas & the market. Small bills (USD is the currency here — they use the dollar).
Try chicha: fresh fruit juice (maracuyá, tamarindo) — cheap and everywhere.
Patacones & carimañolas are the budget sides to share — fried green plantain and yuca rolls.
Walk for budget, ride for variety. The market, Café Coca Cola, and San Felipe fondas are all walkable; El Trapiche is a quick rideshare.