A Taste of Panama: Our 2025 Food & Drink Tour Review
To be honest, when you land in a new city, you kind of have this feeling of wanting to find its true pulse. You can, for instance, walk around and see the sights, which is pretty great in its own way. Still, I have often found that the real story of a place is actually told through its food. So, when I had the chance to check out the 2025 ‘Local to the Not so Local Food and Drink Tour: Panama City’, I obviously jumped at it. Frankly, this wasn’t just a simple tasting menu spread across town. It felt, in some respects, like a moving story, a really friendly introduction to Panama’s very soul, you know. I mean, we were there to eat, of course, but it turned into something a little more than that. This is basically my experience, a full rundown of the bites, the sips, and the pretty amazing atmosphere that came with it.
The whole thing is apparently meant to give you a feel for both the classic tastes and the newer things happening in Panamanian cooking. And let me tell you, it seriously delivers on that idea. You know, you go in expecting a few good snacks and what you get is a kind of delicious lesson in history and culture. As a matter of fact, every single stop felt like it had a purpose. It wasn’t just, like, “here’s a thing to eat.” It was more or less, “here’s why this food matters to us,” and at the end of the day, that makes a world of difference. It’s almost a perfect plan for your first full day in the city, really giving you your bearings in the tastiest way possible.
First Bites in Casco Viejo: Setting the Scene
So, our adventure kicked off in Casco Viejo, which is, you know, the city’s historic neighborhood. The architecture is just absolutely stunning, with old colonial buildings painted in all sorts of pretty colors. We met our guide, a really warm person named Elena, right on a shady plaza that just felt very European in a way. The group was actually quite small, maybe eight of us total, which was definitely a good thing. It almost instantly felt less like a formal tour and more like a bunch of friends just walking around together. First, we ambled down a cobblestone street to a little family-run place that Elena said has been there for, like, forever.
The air inside was, I mean, filled with the incredible smell of herbs and slow-cooked broth. Our first taste of Panama was a small bowl of sancocho de gallina, a chicken soup that is basically the country’s comfort food. The soup was seriously rich, a little hearty, with pieces of chicken, corn on the cob, and a root vegetable called ñame. Elena explained that, sort of, every family has its own recipe for sancocho, and it’s what they eat on a Sunday or when someone is feeling a bit under the weather. It was, you know, the perfect welcome—a warm and genuine hug in a bowl, pretty much. Honestly, sitting there, sipping that soup, you could already tell this tour was going to be special.
A Sip of Something Special: From Geisha Coffee to Local Brews
Naturally, a food tour in this part of the world has to include coffee, and I mean, not just any coffee. Our next stop was a seriously cool, modern-looking coffee shop that was kind of hidden away. There, we were introduced to Panama’s most famous export: Geisha coffee. Now, I like my coffee, but this was on another level, to be honest. The barista, a very passionate young guy, took his time explaining the whole process, from the beans grown in the highlands of Boquete to the pour-over method he was using. He was, actually, a real artist.
The coffee itself was seemingly delicate, almost like tea. It had these incredibly clear notes of jasmine and citrus, with literally no bitterness at all. You know, it was the kind of coffee you just sit with and think about. It’s pretty clear why it’s one of the most prized coffees in the world, anyway.
Then, later in the afternoon, we sort of switched gears completely. Elena led us to a microbrewery that was apparently one of the first in the city. It was a really laid-back spot, and we got a flight of their local beers. We tried a light, crisp lager which was very refreshing in the heat, and a more complex IPA with a bit of a tropical fruit note. It was a good contrast, you know, from the coffee. It showed that Panama’s drink scene is really diverse, with a lot of new energy alongside the old traditions. I mean, it’s pretty much a reflection of the city itself.
The Heart of the Meal: Unexpected Flavors and Main Courses
Right, so after the drinks, it was time to get back to the main event: the food. What I really liked about this part of the tour is that it wasn’t just one big sit-down meal. Instead, we did this kind of progressive dining thing, stopping at a few different spots for various main-course-style bites. Our first main stop was at a cevichería, a spot right near the water with an amazing view of the modern skyline. We, of course, had their classic sea bass ceviche. It was so incredibly fresh, you know, with the fish “cooked” in lime juice and mixed with onions and cilantro. It was served with some salted crackers, and the whole thing was just a burst of bright, tangy flavor—arguably, perfect for a warm day.
Then came the stop that, for me, was a total standout. Elena took us to this little spot tucked away on a side street that specialized in Afro-Antillean cooking. This food, you know, comes from the culture of the West Indian workers who came to Panama to build the canal. The place was just filled with amazing smells, like coconut and spices. Here we tried ropa vieja, which translates to “old clothes.” It’s basically shredded beef stewed in a rich tomato sauce with peppers and spices, served over a bed of coconut rice. It was unbelievably tender and so, so flavorful. You could taste the history in that dish, a little bit of the Caribbean, a little of Latin America, all mixed together. At the end of the day, it was a really profound plate of food.
Sweet Endings and Local Markets: The Final Stops
You can’t have a meal without something sweet to finish it, right? Our final food stop was for dessert, and it was pretty much a nod to street-food culture. We went to a small cart where a woman was frying up fresh hojaldras. These are basically circles of fried dough, a little bit salty and a little bit sweet, kind of like a Panamanian version of a funnel cake or a beignet. They were served hot, dusted with powdered sugar, and were just absolutely addictive. They were simple, but you know, sometimes the simplest things are the best.
The tour didn’t end there, though. The very last stop was a walk through the Mercado de Mariscos, the local seafood market. By this point, the main action of the market was over, but it was still an amazing sight to see. The air was thick with the smell of the sea, and a few vendors were still cleaning up, shouting to each other in Spanish. Elena pointed out all the different kinds of fish and seafood that are common in Panama. It was, in a way, the perfect closing chapter. We had tasted the finished dishes, and now we were seeing where it all began. It kind of brought the whole experience full circle, you know.
More Than Just Food: The Guide and the Stories
I really have to say, while the food and drinks were honestly incredible, what made this tour truly exceptional was our guide, Elena. She was, as a matter of fact, the connecting thread through the entire afternoon. She wasn’t just reciting facts from a script; she was basically sharing her city with us. She had a personal story for almost every dish, often talking about her grandmother’s cooking or a celebration she’d attended where that food was served. You could just tell she had a genuine love for her culture and its food, which was really infectious.
She also gave us so much context, you know, pointing out architectural details as we walked and explaining how different historical events influenced the food we were eating. It made every bite feel more significant. You weren’t just eating ceviche; you were tasting the influence of the Pacific Ocean on the city’s identity, sort of. You weren’t just drinking coffee; you were getting a little taste of the country’s prized agricultural artistry. Honestly, at the end of the day, that’s what separates a good tour from a great one. It’s the human element, the stories that turn a meal into a memory. You leave feeling not just full, but also a little bit more connected to the place you’re visiting.
Read our full review: 2025 Local to the Not so Local Food and Drink Tour: Panama City Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book the Panama City Food & Drink Tour)
