Best Restaurants for Groups in Panama City

Panama City's dedicated Jamaican kitchen — jerk chicken, slow-braised oxtail, rice and peas, and fried plantains, all made from scratch with island technique and serious spice.

Panama's go-to for Lebanese cooking — generous mezze, charcoal-grilled meats and late-night hookah in a warm, bustling Obarrio room.

Panama City's most spectacular rooftop table — perched six floors above Casco Viejo's cobblestones with panoramic skyline views. Fire-kissed steaks, black-ink seafood rice, and flaming cocktails served to a DJ soundtrack. Rated 4.8 on TripAdvisor with 500+ reviews.

Garden restaurant inside the Las Clementinas hotel in Casco Viejo. Brunch bowls, tropical juices, seating under the trees. Covered by both Vogue and Condé Nast Traveler.

Bella Vista spot doing Asian-leaning small plates — miso-glazed proteins, rich broths. Dim room, good for a date or a group splitting dishes.

The Panama outpost of a celebrated Peruvian seafood house — bright ceviches, tiraditos and arroces in a breezy, contemporary room.

A cherished corner of Spain in Casco Viejo — authentic tapas, acorn-fed jamón, and the warmth of a room full of regulars.

Panama's most iconic dim sum hall since 1973 — carts of dumplings and Cantonese classics, busiest and best on Sunday mornings.

Chef Archbold's love letter to Bocas del Toro — jerk-spiced, fire-driven, Afro-Caribbean soul in a San Francisco dining room. The ribs and oxtail are revelatory.

Ranked #12 of 1,234 restaurants in Panama City with 1,715 reviews. La Pulpería packs Casco's most coveted corner table with ceviches, crispy seafood bites, natural wine and expertly mixed cocktails — lively, consistent, and utterly reliable.

Panama's only dedicated Afro-Panamanian restaurant — rated 4.9★ with 1,045 reviews, ranked #22 in Panama City, and featured on Latin America's 50 Best. The One Pot Colonense and coconut-braised dishes carry centuries of Afro-Caribbean heritage onto the plate.

5.0★ on TripAdvisor. Basque for 'spices.' Spanish pintxos, fire-roasted seafood, ingredients sourced from Europe and locally.

Sharing plates made for the table — a Latin America's 50 Best pick best enjoyed with a group.

Soul food and serious flavour in San Francisco — live jazz and reggae bands, DJ nights, Tuesday impromptu sessions, and the kind of neighbourhood bodega energy that keeps locals coming back.

In the shadow of the Metropolitan Cathedral — a Casco Viejo dining room that pairs the old city's colonial grandeur with a thoughtful, contemporary Panamanian menu.

Panama's original craft brewery — award-winning beers and an easy pub menu in Casco Viejo.

A thatched-roof Causeway landmark with skyline views — Panamanian seafood in a festive, open-air setting.

Breezy terrace at the Amador Causeway entrance — grilled seafood and bay views at sunset.

Chef Felipe Milanés's Casco Viejo original — a creative tapas and sharing-plate concept built for long tables and longer evenings. Bold Spanish-Panamanian flavours, a lively room and a crowd that keeps coming back.

Panama City's most beloved traditional Panamanian kitchen since 1983. Sancocho, arroz con pollo, ropa vieja, chicharrón — the classics, done right, at prices locals actually pay. A genuine institution.

Panama City's favourite homegrown sushi brand — creative rolls, bao buns and fusion small plates with a local twist. Consistently packed, excellent value, and a favourite with both locals and expats.

Panama City's only modern izakaya, 4.9★ from 96 reviews. Rooftop in Ancón, Japanese small plates and cocktails, PAB 20–40, reservations by WhatsApp.

Panama City's most loved pizza — artisan Neapolitan pies baked in a wood-fired oven since 2015. Leopard-spotted crusts, quality toppings and a loyal following that has grown to 10+ locations across Panama. The Via Argentina original remains the one to beat.

Altos del Golf's serious steakhouse — an elegant dark dining room with a sculptural branch chandelier, marble tables and a kitchen built around premium Wagyu. Cuts are sourced carefully and the room earns every bit of its reputation.

A moody, high-energy cocktail lounge with a well-stocked back bar, house special cocktails and live music on Wednesdays and Fridays. Hookah adds to the late-night atmosphere — doors stay open until 3am most nights, 4am on weekends.

An all-day neighborhood grill at Bliss Plaza with a loyal local following. Come for the hearty rib soup and margaritas, stay for karaoke on Friday nights and one of the best casual outdoor terraces in the city. Breakfast is a local institution.