As you eat, your guide explains the ingredients, culinary traditions, and cultural influences that shaped Panamanian cuisine. The pace is relaxed, leaving plenty of time to ask questions, meet local vendors and experience Panama City through its food.
Itinerary:
10:00 AM – Meeting Point: San Felipe Neri Market
We begin at the historic San Felipe Neri Market, named after Saint Philip Neri. The restored building preserves the spirit of Panama City's traditional commerce from the mid-20th century.
Taste fresh local juices while learning about soursop, valued for its traditional medicinal uses, and borojó, known in Darién as the "fruit of love." Enjoy orange juice sweetened with raspadura, Panama's traditional unrefined sugarcane sweetener, followed by a tasting of handmade tamarind balls.
10:30 AM – The Heart of the Market
Explore the market's traditional food section and discover how every part of the animal has historically been used in Panamanian cooking.
Learn about Sao, Panama's famous pickled pig's feet, an Afro-Caribbean specialty introduced during the construction of the Panama Canal that became a beloved celebration dish.
11:00 AM – Breakfast/Lunch at the Fondas (traditional Panamanian eateries)
Enjoy the "dish of the day" like locals do.
Taste a generous selection including Bistec Picado, Bacalao con Arroz con Coco, Plátano en Tentación, and Guacho de Mariscos, showcasing Caribbean and traditional Panamanian flavors.
11:30 AM – To the Seafood Market (El Litoral)
Walk toward Panama City's Seafood Market, passing the historic Customs House where imported goods once entered the city.
See artisanal fishing boats and learn about local seafood including Corvina, Red Snapper, Tuna, and Sierra, staples of Panama's coastal cuisine.
12:00 PM – The Bridge to the Old Town
Visit a traditional ceviche stand near Casco Viejo.
Enjoy fresh Corvina or Octopus Ceviche served with a Panamá or Balboa beer, named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to see the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
12:20 PM – La Playita and the Urban Landscape
Cool off with a traditional shaved ice topped with condensed milk.
Admire the contrast between Casco Antiguo, founded in 1673 after pirate Henry Morgan destroyed Panamá Viejo, and the modern skyline along Punta Paitilla and the Cinta Costera.
12:40 PM – Ave. B, Sal Si Puedes and Santa Ana
Walk along Avenida B and the historic Sal Si Puedes alley, once the center of local and Asian commerce.
Continue through Santa Ana Plaza, the historic social and political heart of Panama City's old working-class neighborhood.
1:00 PM – Closing at Coca-Cola Café
Finish at the legendary Coca-Cola Café, opened in 1875 and the only café outside the United States historically authorized to use the Coca-Cola name. It welcomed politicians, intellectuals, and visitors including Che Guevara. End with traditional Hojaldres, corn tortillas, and freshly brewed Panamanian coffee before concluding your culinary journey through Panama City.
