Panamá City Nightlife

Great, crowded, sweaty, unintimidating place to salsa and mix with a diverse crowd. The big salsa band was great. buy drinks or a bottle of rum. crowded bar area but effective bartenders.

update from late 2008: i've heard from a friend that this is no longer called la bodequita, but i think the vibe is the same.

Dress Code: Casual, no evident dress code.

I spent several pleasant hours sitting in this pleasant bar reading and people watching. The atmosphere is causal without being stuffy and appropriate for people who want to enjoy a beer without rowdies or pickup action. The dark beer (Cerveza Negra) was particularly good. There is seating inside, on an enclosed patio, and on the street. All three are pleasant. "Bar food" is available. I did not sample it, but it looked good.

Dress Code: none posted

This club is more posh than the ones I'm used to frequenting. Most all the girls were in dresses and heels...and there was a proper line outside.
Cover was around $15 and drinks were anywhere from $4-6. But you can order bottles and get your own table and they had a lot of VIP areas.

I did like the dancers they had up on platforms and twice we were there, they had some live music. But mostly it's a very modern disco with fog, strobe lights and loud music. Which ranges from house/techno to reggaetone to salsa to hip-hop. It was pretty crowded the times I was there...and I had a lot of fun. Definitely THE place to go in Panama City.

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An excellent place for a late afternoon stroll is the Calzada de Amador, in English Amador Causeway - which is nothing else than a long artificial road links four island in the bay of Panama. it's popular with people jogging or riding their bikes - and with the sea-breeze coming in it's really pleasant and refreshing.

We went there for a stroll, waiting for the sun to set - and for the right time to have a pre-diner cocktail. We found the place so beautiful and peaceful that we had no desire to get back to the hustle and bustle of the city, and eventually decided to stop for dinner at one of the many restaurants.

Dress Code: Dress as you wish...

After a long search we finally found a great spot for some serious cocktails in town... which sounded a lot more fun than hanging out at the many casinos. We really liked the Martini bar in the Radisson Decapolis Hotel... blue lights and a decadent atmosphere. The mojitos were quite good, too.

Dress Code: There's no strict dress code, but smart casual is preferred.

There is no shortage of Casinos in Panama City. Near the Bancaria Area, there are at least six, At Hotels El Panama, Continental, Veneto, Marriott, also the Bingo 90 and Fiesta at Multicentro Mall on Ave. Balboa. One of the cleanest and with the best service I have found is the Royal Casino attached to the Marriott in the Bancaria in Panama City. They have a cheap prix fixe lunch for just $2.99 weekdays, it has sancocho chicken soup, chicken with rice and some meat dish, dessert and coffee, tea or a soft drink. They also have dinners and weekend brunch there from $3.99. They have an ample supply of slots and live table games. Something I dare you to find in the States anymore, $2 Blackjack tables! Gai Pow and Texas Hold´em poker and Caribbean 21, as well as craps and roulette. The staff is usually friendly and if you order a drink at the machines or tables you don´t have to wait forever to get your order! It is not as big as some other Casinos in the area, the Veneto or the Fiesta at Hotel El Panama or Multicentro, but it is friendlier and offers much better service.

Dress Code: I would not dress like a slob, but I have gone in with shorts and sandals and they haven´t bothered me.

Habana's is a block off of Via Espana near the crown casino. The front of it is a porch with lots of people always hanging out. Inside there is a little shop that sells all types of Cuban cigars, Cuban coffee, and other products de Cuba. Inside there is a small bar to the left, and a larger bar with a lounge, big screen, and pool table to the right. At first, sitting at a table drinking your cocktail and smoking your fine Cuban, you will notice a large, large number of scantily clothed women. Yes, these women are prostitutes, and yes, it is legal. The prostitution is the large draw of this place, though I just went there for the good cigars.

Dress Code: None

This is a nice lounge/bar with, you guessed it, all your favorite '90s hits, and some you've forgotten you know the words to. Sure the locals (which comprise most of this bar) don't speak English well or at all, but you call all enjoy singing your favorite songs of the 1990s together. Wonderful time, stiff drinks.

Dress Code: '90s style