Thursday, July 28, 2011

PANAMA CITY

(includes Taboga Island)

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
Los del Patio – Calle 3 (Casco Viejo); 011-507-6680-8875; losdelpatio.org; art gallery and coffeehouse.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
DiVino Enoteca – Calle 4 y Avenida A (Casco Viejo); 011-507-202-6867; enotecadivino.com; upscale wine bar with low light and black and white movies showing on back wall; Iberian hams hang behind bar; art, design, and food books in back.
Encima – Avenida B y Calle 8 (at Tantalo Hotel); 011-507-262-4030; tantalohotel.com; rooftop bar; try grape mojito.
Habana Panama – Calle Eloy Alfaro y Calle 12 Este (Casco Viejo); 011-507-212-0152; habanapanama.com; retro dance hall with plush, red interior (featuring photographs of Cuban music greats); steamy salsa dancing; among city’s hottest dance spots.
La Rana Dorada – Via Argentina y Calle Arturo Motta (El Cangrejo); 011-507-269-2989; goldenfroginn.com; Irish pub-style bar.
Tantalo – Avenida B y Calle 8; 011-507-262-4030; tantalohotel.com; scene-y, rooftop bar.
La Vecindad – Avenida A (Casco Viejo, between Calles 4 & 5); cascoviejo.com/la-becindad; owned by former gang member; known for reggaeton.



HOTELS
American Trade Hotel – Calle 10a Oeste (Casco Viejo); 011-507-211-2000; acehotel.com/panama; lovingly restored landmark building in UNESCO World Heritage district; 50 rooms; roof-top pool; jazz bar; farm-to-table restaurant.
Canal House – Calle 5A y Avenida A (Casco Viejo); 011-507-228-1907; canalhousepanama.com; colonial mansion on quiet corner.
B&B Hotel Cerrito – Via Pizarro y Via Congresso; 011-507-832-2565; cerritotropicalpanama.com; bed & breakfast, as well as vacation apartments; simple, clean.
Las Clementinas – Avenida B y Calle 11; 011-507-228-7613; lasclementinas.com; perfectly appointed suites, size of small apartments.
Los Cuatro Tulipanes – Avenida Central (Casco Viejo, between Calle 3ra & 4ta); 011-507-6070-4549 or 425-320-4718; www.loscuatrotulipanes.com; apartment-style accommodations.
Luna’s Castle Hostel – Calle 9na Este 3-28; 011-507-262-1540; lunacastlehostel.com; with unadulterated ocean view.
Manrey Hotel – Calle Uruguay y Avenida 5A Sur; 011-507-203-0000; manreypanama.com; modern, spare design, Bulgari bath products, and iPod docking stations; great poolside lounge on roof.
Tantalo Hotel – Avenida B y Calle 8; 011-507-262-4030; tantalohotel.com; young crowd; ask for room designed by Mariery Young.
Trump Ocean Club – Calle Punta Colon (Punta Pacifica); 011-507-215-8800; trumppanamahotel.com.
Waldorf Astoria – 47th Street & Uruguay Street; 011-507-294-8000 or 011-855-277-5298; waldorfastoriapanama.com; extravagantly opulent yet affordable.



RESTAURANTS
Las Clementinas – Avenida B y Calle 11 (Casco Viejo); 011-507-228-7613; lasclementinas.com; great brunch locale.
Diablo Rosso – Avenida A y Calle 7 (Casco Viejo); 011-507-228-4833 or 011-507-228-4837; diablorosso.com; café and gallery that sells retro-inspired accessories and clothes.
Ego y Narciso – Calle 3 (Plaza Bolivar); 011-507-262-4030; cascoviejo.com/ego-and-narciso; nouveau Italian-Spanish; on charming plaza.
Humo – Calle 70 East (San Francisco); 011-507-203-7313; humopanama.com; Panamanian barbecue.
Lung Fung – Calle 62C Oeste y Via Simon Bolivar (Los Angeles); 011-507-260-4011; dim sum.
Madrigal – Avenida A & Calle 5 Oeste (Casco Viegjo); 011-507-211-1956; facebook.com/pages/Andrés-Madrigal/113680718659908; Michelin starred chef.
Maito – Calle 50 (Coco de Mar, at end of street); 011-507-391-4657; maitopanama.com; perhaps best restaurant in city; worth special trip; excellent wine list; private organic garden.
Manolo Caracol – Avenida Central y Calle 3 (Casco Viejo); 011-507-228-4640; manolocaracol.net; like sexy, tropical Chez Panisse; Caribbean cuisine; stashed on side-street, across from ruined church; worth special trip.
La Mar – El Cangrejo; 011-507-209-3323; lamarcebicheria.com; Peruvian ceviche.
New York Bagel Café – Einstein Plaza, Calle F; 011-507-390-6051; also bacon, eggs, and coffee.
Segundo Muelle – Calle Crisantemos 16 y Calle 68; 011-507-391-9234; segundomuelle.com; international chain (other countries are Ecuador, Peru, and Spain); seafood dishes.
La Posta – Calle Uruguay y Calle 49; 011-507-269-1076; cppty.com; despite unpretentious atmosphere, reservations required, sometimes weeks in advance; Caribbean-Italian fare; try garlicky camarones en hamaca (shrimps in hammock).
La Rosa de los Vientos – Calle 8 Oeste (Casco Viejo); 011-507-211-2065; Italian restaurant with outdoor, waterfront seating at which can enjoy drinks.
Tantalo Kitchen – Avenida B y Calle 8; 011-507-262-4030; tantalohotel.com; innovative dishes like sea bass ceviche with sweet corn and Parmesan.



SERVICES
Calypso Queen – Amador Causeway (at Isla Naos); 011-507-314-1730; “slow” ferry from/to Taboga Island ($6).
Rapida – Amador Causeway (at Balboa Yacht Club); 011-507-228-5196; “fast” ferry from/to Taboga Island ($6).



SHOPPING
Breebaart Boutique – Calle Abel Bravo, Casa 5 (Obarrio); 011-507-264-5937; custom clothing and home linens in French Designer Helene Breebaart’s home (she is former Christian Dior representative).
Chocolatisimo – Calle 56 y Avenida Abel Bravo; 011-507-391-3255; mychocolatisimo.com; specialty chocolate and pastry shop.
Diablo Rosso – Avenida A y Calle 7 (Casco Viejo); 011-507-228-4833 or 011-507-228-4837; diablorosso.com; café and gallery that sells retro-inspired accessories and clothes.
Fish Market – Panamerican Highway y Calle 15 Este; ceviche in $1 paper cups; also, can purchase fresh lobster and take upstairs to restaurant, which will cook for you.
Los del Patio – Calle 3 (Casco Viejo); 011-507-6680-8875; losdelpatio.org; art gallery and coffeehouse.
SuperGourmet – Avenida A (between Calles 6 and 7); 011-507-212-3487; supergourmetcascoviejo.com; high-end deli and grocery.



SIGHTS & SITES
Biomuseo – Calle Miller; 011-507-; biomuseopanama.org; Frank Gehry-designed; open for tours now; formal opening in 2012.
Casco Viejo – city’s formerly dilapidated colonial quarter, now “gentrifying.”
Cinta Costeria – boardwalk park that follows waterfront.
Milaflores Locks Museum – Canalside; 011-507-276-8325; pancanal.com/eng/index.html; can watch ships pass through canal.
Parque Recreativo Omar – Avenida Belisario Porras; 140 acre expanse with impressive sculpture garden and National Library
Taboga Island – taboga.panamanow.com; nicknamed “Island of Flowers”; locals’ day-trip beach choice.

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