Fast food and home catering Panama

Timetable

Cafés open around 9-10am and close around 7pm, or even later in tourist areas. Happy hours are common.

Budget & Tips

Coffee is not cheap, especially in the tourist areas: between US$2 and US$4 a cup; around US$3-4 for a natural fruit juice or milkshake(batido); between US$1.50 and US$4 for a cold beer on the terrace.

Age restrictions

Alcohol consumption is permitted from the age of 18. You may be asked to show proof of identity to gain access to an establishment selling alcohol. A photocopy of your passport to prove your age will do if necessary.

What's very local

Although the country produces one of the world's most famous coffees, it's usually served American-style, i.e. drowned in water. If you want a full-bodied coffee, turn to espressos in restaurants and specialized cafés. The same goes for tea, which is hard to find outside a few establishments in the capital. Hibiscus flower infusion(flor de Jamaica), on the other hand, is very common.

Among the local curiosities, you can try duros and raspao: duros are a kind of homemade ice cream made with water or condensed milk, usually sold by individuals in the countryside on their doorstep and served in a cup or small plastic bag. Raspao is a cone of ice cream mixed with tropical syrups and topped with condensed milk or sugarcane honey. You'll no doubt see the raspaderos, street vendors, grating their huge block of ice onto a cart. A Panamanian tradition to refresh and energize! To avoid artificial sugar, treat yourself to coconut water(agua de pipa) or sugarcane juice(jugo de caña).

Kids

Children are welcome in most cafés and bars if accompanied by a parent.

Smokers

Smoking is prohibited in bars and cafés, even on the terrace or by the beach.

Tourist traps

There are no real tourist attractions here. To avoid disappointment when ordering fruit juice, always ask if it's natural(jugo natural) and not artificial(jugo artificial).