One of the perks of Panama City is its international culinary scene. As the most cosmopolitan city of Latin American, it is constantly adopting and experimenting with new gastronomic concepts – breakfast and brunch being two among its latest trends. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly environment or for a cosy venue to roll into after a night out, Panama has got you covered. So what are the best breakfast and brunch spots in Panama City? Here is a list of our favourite finds.
Located in Casco Viejo, Mahalo is cafe, a restaurant and a yoga venue that offers a unique wellness experience in Panama City. Featuring cold pressed juices, healthy dishes, live music and board games, customers describe it as Casco’s cosiest living room and a dog-friendly meeting place for friends to enjoy a nutritious breakfast or a Sunday brunch. With evergreen classics like avocado toasts, salmon bagels and poached eggs, Mahalo also offers other healthy breakfast options such as the Power Bowl, a blend of avocado, greek yogurt, berries and chia seeds, as well as freshly-squeezed juices and delicious watermelon mimosas.
Boutique Hotel Restaurant, Hotel Restaurant, European, Contemporary
American Trade Hotel & Hall, Panama | Courtesy of American Trade Hotel
They call it Sunday Classic – and that’s exactly what it is. The American Trade Hotel brings together the typical Sunday brunch and classical music in its Dining Room, an elegant location with high ceilings and sophisticated tile floors. So if you are up for some delicious scrambled eggs to the sounds of Bach and Beethoven, the American Trade Hotel is the place to be. Don’t forget to try their famous mimosas, a mix of orange juice and sparkling wine.
Vitali’s motto is “Healthy, Fresh, Clean”. Committed to bringing fresh and natural ingredients to Panama City, this smoothie and juice bar is particularly renowned for serving a delicious vegan and vegetarian-friendly breakfast and brunch.
Ochoymedio is a brasserie-type gastronomic garden located right at the heart of the colonial Casco Antiguo neighbourhood in Panama City. Best known for offering a fine dining experience in a tropical courtyard, the restaurant also features a coveted Sunday brunch filled with unusual flavours, hand-made bread, natural jams and luxurious cocktails. A real must for all those visiting Panama, the brunch runs from 11am to 4pm.
One of the best chinese restaurants in Panama City, Lung Fung is open on Sundays with its traditional Chinese breakfast. If you like Chinese cuisine at a reasonable price you will find the idyllic breakfast place located at the entrance of the Los Angeles neighborhood in the Avenida de los Periodistas. A selection of gyozas, wan-tun, and rolls will delight all those curious foodies who want to discover an unusual breakfast menu.
Ambrosia is a bakery and coffee shop that specialises in hyper creative cupcakes, biscuits and decorated cakes, and that also offers a delicious selection of breakfast sandwiches. If you are not in the mood for counting calories, having breakfast or brunch at Ambrosia will feel like the ultimate treat!
Mika Bazar & Café is a little gem located in the green area of Clayton. It’s a shop, a deli, a bakery, a coffee house and has a breakfast menu that rocks! From the delicious poached eggs to the croissants and the fruit salads, the choice is yours. Crowded with families at weekends, it is also the perfect location if you plan to have a solo breakfast during week days and do some work on your laptop.
Located in Via Argentina, close to the statue of Einstein’s head, the New York Bagel Café offers the best bagels in town. With a US feel to it, the large dining room is made up of numerous metal tables where you will find hipster-looking youngsters munching on some sandwich and sipping coffee on tap. Ideal for those of you looking for a savoury breakfast.
“Eat. Bake. Share.” This is the motto of Local, which its owners define as being a “creative bakery”. Open all day from Tuesday to Sunday, it is a welcoming place with good music and a cosy atmosphere, where customers come to enjoy a good coffee, some pastries or scrambled eggs.
El Trapiche is one of the most traditional and popular restaurants of Panama City. With a branch in Via Argentina and another at Albrook Mall, the restaurants offers authentic Panamanian cuisine as well as its renowned typical breakfast made up of eggs, beans, pastries and the famous “desayuno Centenario”, a fried pastry with fresh cheese and eggs.
