Where to Have Dinner in Casco Viejo

Updated July 2026Compiled by the EatsPanama editors from 81 qualifying places we cover in Panama City.

Casco Viejo is the old walled quarter, and after dark it is the densest dining neighborhood in Panama City - you can walk between most of these in under ten minutes. We track 81 restaurants here that serve dinner past 9 PM. These 12 cover the range, from Panamanian kitchens to the Italian and seafood rooms that have moved in around them.

Smash burger with fries at Beauty and the Butcher, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Above: Beauty and the Butcher, number one on this list.

1.Beauty and the Butcher

$$Casco ViejoBurgersHours checked Jul 2026

Beauty and the Butcher - Casco Viejo is a Burgers restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Juicy smash burgers and a well-liked crispy chicken sandwich, both with house sauces.
Lively, music-filled, club-like room that opens onto a back garden with games.
Vegan and vegetarian burger options.

Best time: Late night on Friday or Saturday (open until 2am)

On the menuDoble Doble$9

Message on WhatsApp Full details, hours and map →

2.Afrodisíaco Italian Modern Kitchen

Casco ViejoItalianHours checked Jul 2026

Eggplant parmesan at Afrodisíaco, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Afrodisíaco Italian Modern Kitchen is an Italian restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Service is repeatedly described as attentive, knowledgeable and genuinely welcoming.
Intimate, carefully styled room with soft lighting that feels curated rather than stuffy.
Handmade pastas and consistency keep a largely local clientele coming back.

Best time: Evening dinner service

Full details, hours and map →

3.Aya la Vida Restaurante

$$Casco ViejoPanamanianHours checked Jul 2026

Whole grilled fish plated on a banana leaf with lime at Aya la Vida, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Aya la Vida Restaurante is a Panamanian restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Creative modern reinterpretations of traditional Panamanian dishes.
Signature seafood - corvina ceviche, octopus and San Blas lobster mac & cheese - comes up most.
Live music Thursday to Saturday evenings, plus a Sunday family brunch.

Best time: Thursday to Saturday evenings for live music; Sunday for the family brunch.

On the menuCeviche de Corvina al estilo Aya la Vida$17.50

Message on WhatsApp Full details, hours and map →

4.Bruma Seafood & Wine

$$Casco ViejoSeafoodHours checked Jul 2026

Interior dining room and bar with rattan stools and pendant lighting at Bruma Seafood & Wine, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Bruma Seafood & Wine is a Seafood restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Fresh, sustainably sourced local seafood (tuna, snapper, corvina, shrimp, San Blas lobster) is the consistent highlight.
Frequently described by diners as some of the best food in Casco Viejo, with strong service.
Cocktails and the curated wine list draw repeat praise alongside the food.

Best time: Daily happy hour, 3pm to 6pm (evening for the full seafood menu)

On the menuSpicy shrimp tacos$12

Message on WhatsApp Full details, hours and map →

5.CasaCasco

$$$Casco ViejoJapaneseHours checked Jul 2026

Rooftop sushi rolls plated at Casa Casco, Casco Viejo, Panama City

CasaCasco is a Japanese multi-level venue with rooftop in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

360-degree rooftop views spanning Old Town, the modern skyline, and the sea
A multi-floor format combining dining, gastrobar, nightclub, and rooftop under one roof
Broad shared-plates, sushi, and cocktail offering that suits groups and late nights

Best time: Sunset onward for the views; late-night Thursday-Saturday for the full bar and club atmosphere

On the menuCasacasco Maki$15

Message on WhatsApp Full details, hours and map →

6.Coliseum Roma Panamá

Casco ViejoItalianHours checked Jul 2026

Wood-fired pizza at Coliseum Roma, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Coliseum Roma Panamá is an Italian restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Novelty star-shaped focaccia pasta presentation.
Customizable pasta-and-sauce combinations.
Wednesday unlimited-pizza night.

Best time: Wednesday for the all-you-can-eat pizza night

Full details, hours and map →

7.En La Fonda

$$Casco ViejoPanamanianHours checked Jul 2026

Fried fish in escabeche with patacones, salad and rice on the signature fish-shaped platter at En La Fonda, Casco Viejo, Panama City

En La Fonda, Panamá is a panamanian restaurant with a live dinner-show format in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Live entertainment - traditional music, dancing and audience interaction, with a DJ/karaoke later.
Large, abundant portions and shared platters.
Authentic, traditional Panamanian dishes with regional decor.

Best time: Evening, for the full live-show sequence of music, dance and later karaoke.

On the menuSurtido Panameno$25

Full details, hours and map →

8.Enkai peruvian japanese cuisine

$$Casco ViejoNikkeiHours checked Jul 2026

Seared salmon nigiri on a dark board at Enkai, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Enkai peruvian japanese cuisine is a Nikkei restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Food reads as fresh and precisely executed, with strong value for the quality.
Calm, quiet room and attentive service noted across write-ups.
Warm, modern, unpretentious setting mixing Japanese minimalism with Peruvian warmth.

Best time: Dinner, though it can fill up even on weeknights, so reserving ahead helps

On the menuCeviche tropical$15

Message on WhatsApp Full details, hours and map →

9.La Divina Comida Restaurante y Rooftop

$$$Casco ViejoPanamanianHours checked Jul 2026

Shredded beef over rice with patacones and the red tufted banquette behind at La Divina Comida, Casco Viejo, Panama City

La Divina Comida Restaurante y Rooftop is a Panamanian restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

Authentic homestyle Panamanian cooking (arroz con pollo, arroz con coco, sancocho)
Pleasant plaza-facing open-air setting, often with live music
Warm, personal service; framed as a hidden gem on the square

Best time: Evenings for the live-music ambiance; late morning for a quieter plaza-side lunch

On the menuPulpo Caribeño$25

Full details, hours and map →

10.La Rana Dorada Casco

$$Casco ViejoBarHours checked Jul 2026

Colonial corner facade of the La Rana Dorada Casco Antiguo brewpub with yellow shutters on a cobblestone street, Panama City

La Rana Dorada Casco is a Bar brewpub in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

A pioneer of Panama's craft-beer scene with a solid range of house brews.
Sourdough pizzas are a standout and pair well with the beer.
Lively, social pub atmosphere - a default meet-up spot in Casco.

Best time: Evenings, when it fills up as a social pub and pre-night-out spot

On the menuHouse-brewed craft beers$2.20

Full details, hours and map →

11.Mahalo Cocina y Jardin

$$Casco ViejoHealthyHours checked Jul 2026

Lush garden patio with tables under an umbrella and string lights at Mahalo Cocina y Jardin, Casco Viejo, Panama City

Mahalo Cocina y Jardin is a Healthy restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

The garden setting and weekend brunch are the most-mentioned draws.
The vegan and gluten-free range gets specific praise.
Reviewers keep coming back to the local-ingredient focus and the courtyard.

Best time: Sundays and weekend brunch get busy, so reserve ahead. Weekday mornings are the calm window.

On the menuEggs Benedict$13

Full details, hours and map →

12.Nación Sushi

$$Casco ViejoJapaneseHours checked Jul 2026

Pink two-story colonial facade of Nación Sushi Casco Viejo, Panama City

Nación Sushi is a Japanese restaurant in the Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City.

What diners single out

One of the larger sushi and roll selections in Casco Viejo, with generous, protein-heavy portions.
Fusion kitchen that runs well past sushi into Southeast Asian noodles, curries and tempura.
Relaxed, warm room with music, set inside the Casa Casco dining complex.

Best time: Dinner

On the menuCosmic Roll$15.50

Full details, hours and map →

How this list was chosen

Every place on this list is open, and its hours were checked against the venue's own listing in July 2026.
Selected from every Casco Viejo restaurant we cover that serves dinner past 9 PM. Restaurants cannot pay to appear here.
What each kitchen is known for is summarized from public diner feedback. We do not publish star ratings or review counts.
One location per operator.

We have not eaten at every place on this list, and we do not pretend otherwise. What each kitchen is known for is distilled from public diner feedback; the hours, address and menu details come from the venue's own sources.

Quick answers

Is Casco Viejo walkable at night?

The restored core is compact and busy in the evening, and most of the restaurants on this list sit within a ten-minute walk of each other. The edges of the quarter get quiet quickly, so it is worth knowing which street you are heading to before you set off.

Do you need a reservation in Casco Viejo?

For the smaller rooms on weekends, yes. Where a venue takes bookings by WhatsApp we link it directly on its profile page, which is the fastest route in Panama.

How many restaurants are there in Casco Viejo?

We currently track 150 open restaurants, cafes and bars in Casco Viejo, of which 81 serve dinner past 9 PM. The full list is on the Casco Viejo neighborhood page.

The full list