4 Must-Try Afro-Caribbean Restaurants in Panama City, Panama
- Staff Writer
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
Discover the Black flavors, history, and culture behind Panama’s incredible food scene
If you're a Black traveler visiting Panama City, don't spend your entire trip eating the same tourist-menu dishes.
Panama is one of the most culturally diverse countries in Latin America, and some of the country's most exciting flavors come from its Afro-Panamanian and Afro-Caribbean heritage.
From the Caribbean coast of Colón to Bocas del Toro, Río Abajo, and Panama City's modern culinary scene, African and Caribbean influences are deeply woven into Panamanian food culture. Think coconut, plantains, spices, seafood, curry, jerk flavors, pepper, rice, and slow-cooked meats — all with a distinctly Panamanian personality.
And if you're looking for restaurants where those flavors are front and center, we've got three spots you need on your Panama City itinerary:
Whether you're traveling with friends, celebrating a birthday, planning a bachelor or bachelorette trip, or simply looking for an unforgettable dinner in Panama City, these restaurants deserve a spot on your food itinerary.
1. Cantina del Tigre
Panamanian creativity with serious Caribbean energy.
Located in San Francisco, Cantina del Tigre takes traditional Panamanian flavors and turns them into something unexpected.
Led by Chef Fulvio Miranda, the restaurant describes its concept as traditional Panamanian cuisine reimagined for today's diner. The restaurant has also earned major international recognition, including a place on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list.
This isn't your typical "traditional Panamanian restaurant."
It's playful. Creative. A little wild.
And that's exactly what makes it worth visiting.
One of the restaurant's best-known creations is its ceviche de mamón chino, made with rambutan — a tropical fruit that is transformed into a ceviche-style dish with a texture and presentation that playfully challenge what you expect from ceviche.
You'll also find dishes incorporating ingredients and flavors that reflect Panama's diverse culinary history, from seafood to pork, plantains, rice, and tropical produce.
YC Tip: Come hungry and order several dishes for the table. This is the kind of restaurant where sharing makes the experience better.
2. La Tapa del Coco
If you only have time for one Afro-Panamanian restaurant, start here.
If Cantina del Tigre represents the creative side of modern Panamanian cuisine, La Tapa del Coco represents something even more specific: the preservation and celebration of Afro-Panamanian culinary heritage.
Founded by Chef and entrepreneur Isaac Villaverde, La Tapa del Coco began its journey in 2013 with a mission to rescue, preserve, and celebrate Afro-Panamanian culinary and cultural heritage. Today, it has grown beyond a restaurant into a broader cultural and gastronomic movement.
And yes — the food goes crazy.
The menu draws inspiration from Panama's Caribbean traditions and uses ingredients such as coconut, plantain, yuca, curry, ginger, ají chombo, and Caribbean spices.
Some dishes to look for include:
One Pot Colonense
West Indian Oxtail
Jerk Chicken
Patties
Sous de Patita de Cerdo y Rabito
Fish soup
Clams in coconut curry
Ceviche de Mercao
The restaurant's current menu describes the food as modern interpretations of traditional Afro-Panamanian dishes, while maintaining the flavors and ingredients that connect the cuisine to Panama's Caribbean heritage.
And the recognition is real.
La Tapa del Coco was ranked No. 61 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, putting Afro-Panamanian cuisine firmly on the international culinary map.
YC Tip: Don't just order one entrée. Get several things for the table and share. The patties and oxtail are excellent starting points, but leave room to explore.
3. Koböre
Caribbean flavors meet Casco Viejo nightlife.
Now let's switch locations.
If you're spending time in Casco Viejo, make your way to Koböre at Casa Casco.
Koböre describes itself as an experience inspired by the Caribbean of Panama, with a particular connection to the province of Bocas del Toro. Its menu combines Caribbean flavors with seafood, meats, tropical ingredients, and international influences.
And the setting is part of the experience.
Think:
Tropical. Stylish. Relaxed. Casco Viejo.
It's a particularly good choice if your group wants dinner that can easily turn into a night out.
The menu currently features dishes such as:
Caribbean Coconut Cocktail
Cobia Coconut Ceviche
Tuna Tiradito
Sous & Fried Plantains
Caribbean-inspired seafood
Tropical cocktails
The Sous & Fried Plantains is especially interesting for anyone wanting to try a dish rooted directly in Afro-Panamanian culinary tradition. The current menu describes it as pickled pig's feet, deboned and chopped, marinated with lime, vinegar, ají chombo, cucumber, and onion, served with fried plantains.
That's not exactly your average tourist dinner.
And that's the point.
Why Koböre belongs on your Panama itinerary
If you're staying in Panama City and want to experience Afro-Caribbean flavors without leaving the city center, Koböre gives you a stylish way to do it.
Plus, you're already in Casco Viejo, meaning you can easily continue your night with cocktails, rooftops, music, and nightlife after dinner.
Octo Smokehouse
Where Bocas del Toro meets fire, smoke, and serious Caribbean flavor
If you're into bold Caribbean flavors, smoky meats, seafood, and food with a little attitude, put OCTO SmokeHouse on your Panama City food list.
Located in San Francisco, Octo Smokehouse is the urban evolution of Octo Bocas, bringing the flavors and spirit of Bocas del Toro into the city through a fire-driven kitchen built around smoke, slow cooking, and open flame. The concept is led by Chef Joseph Archbold and combines contemporary barbecue techniques with Afro-Caribbean-inspired sides, sauces, ferments, and traditional Caribbean flavors.
And trust us — this isn't your average barbecue joint.
Here, proteins are cooked low and slow, smoked over carefully selected woods, and finished over fire. The result is food that hits you with smoke first, then Caribbean spice, acidity, sweetness, and layers of flavor.
What should you order?
The smoked octopus is one of the restaurant's standout dishes, with diners consistently calling it a favorite. Other popular choices include the braised lamb wontons, mero fritters, grilled fish, and the Mayamei cacao mousse.
But the real magic is in the combination of techniques and ingredients.
Think Bocas. Colón. Caribbean. Smokehouse.
All on one plate.
Recent diners have highlighted the restaurant's Afro-Caribbean seasoning, smoked preparations using nance wood and coconut husk, and dishes that bring together seafood, coconut, spice, and tropical ingredients.
And if you're traveling with friends, the atmosphere makes Octo Smokehouse an easy choice for a relaxed dinner where you can order multiple dishes, share, drink, and take your time.
Why Black travelers should put Octo Smokehouse on the list
For Black travelers exploring Panama, restaurants like Octo Smokehouse are a great reminder that Caribbean culture isn't just something you find outside Panama City.
The restaurant draws heavily from the culinary traditions of Bocas del Toro and Panama's Caribbean heritage, while presenting those flavors through a modern culinary lens.
It's familiar enough to feel comforting, but creative enough to make you stop and ask:
"Wait…what IS in this sauce?"
That's exactly the kind of food experience we love.
YC Tip: Go with a group and share. Order the octopus, try the lamb wontons, add some seafood, and let the kitchen take you somewhere between Panama's Caribbean coast and a modern smokehouse.
Because sometimes the best way to understand Panama's culture is to eat your way through it. 🇵🇦🔥
Why Afro-Panamanian Food Should Be on Your Panama Itinerary
One of the biggest mistakes travelers make in Panama is thinking the country's food is simply rice, beans, chicken, and seafood.
There is so much more to the story.
Panama's location at the crossroads of the Americas brought together Indigenous, African, Caribbean, European, Asian, and Latin American influences.
For Black travelers in particular, the country's Afro-Panamanian history is an important part of understanding Panama itself.
The Caribbean coast, especially Colón and Bocas del Toro, has played a major role in shaping Panama's Black cultural identity and culinary traditions.
That history shows up on the plate.
Coconut.Plantains.Patties.Jerk seasoning.Curry.Seafood.Oxtail.Rice.Spices.
These aren't simply ingredients.
They're part of the story.
Make Your Panama Trip More Than a Vacation
At YC in Panama, we believe the best trips aren't just about checking attractions off a list.
They're about experiencing the city.
That means finding the restaurants worth talking about, getting the right transportation, discovering the nightlife, hitting the islands, booking a private yacht, and having someone local handle the details.
If you're traveling with a group, our Top Restaurants in Panama City for Groups guide is another great place to start.
And if you're looking for a home base for a larger group, check out Coco Villa — an 8-bedroom, 10-bed private villa in the heart of Panama City that can accommodate groups of up to 20 guests.
Need help putting the entire trip together?
YC in Panama can also arrange private transportation, excursions, nightlife, yacht charters, and private chef experiences so your group doesn't have to spend its vacation figuring everything out on its own.
Ready to Taste Panama?
Don't just come to Panama.
Eat it. Experience it. Live it.
And if you're a Black traveler looking to connect with the culture, food, nightlife, and Caribbean influence that make Panama unique, these three restaurants are a damn good place to start.
Welcome to Panama. 🇵🇦🌴
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