Casco Viejo is an adorable colonial neighborhood in urban Panama. It has such a different vibe and feel than the rest of the metropolis and we loved every bit of it!
Seriously the colonial architecture is beautiful. I loved all of the pastel colored buildings, but I did notice that for every few gorgeous ones, there was a completely dilapidated one next door.
Where to Stay in Casco Viejo
We stayed at two different Airbnbs in Casco Viejo. Both were lovely but we were especially impressed with this one. It was super spacious for our family and in a great location.
We switched Airbnbs because we had an impromptu early cancellation at our Santa Catalina hotel (more on that here!) and the first Airbnb we loved was already booked. The second one was great too though. You really can’t go wrong in Casco Viejo.
Where to Eat in Casco Viejo
The restaurant options are endless in Casco Viejo and we had a great time eating and drinking our way through the city.
The best breakfast restaurants and coffeeshops in Casco Viejo
- American Trade Hotel – They have a formal brunch but we stuck to the coffee shop since we had the kiddos.
- Unido Casco Viejo – This place is AMAZING! We seriously went here like 5 times. Get a pour-over, an acai bowl, and a breakfast sandwich and you will be in heaven! We loved it so much I even ordered some coffee online for Grant for Christmas! They have other locations around the city. (We went to those too!)
- Super Gourmet – A local spot for traditional fare. Worth a breakfast stop.
- Casa Sucre – This is a cozy coffeeshop. It was a nice spot to spend a lazy, rainy morning.
- Mahalo – I loved the brunch here. The food is great and the outdoor patio is so cute. It’s inside Las Clementinas hotel.
- Sisu – Another great coffee shop with a trendy vibe and quality pour-overs.
The best restaurants in Casco Viejo
- Fonda Lo Que Hay – One hundred percent recommend. This was the perfect vibe for a trendy dinner that was still family-friendly. It has a famous chef and the food is quality, but it’s still casual. I loved this place!
- Pulpería – This was a proximity choice as it was by our Airbnb, but it was very good (even for takeout!). I think we ate here twice! Get the ceviche.
- Casablanca – This is one of many similar restaurants with a nice patio on the plaza.
- Nacion Sushi – We love this sushi chain. We go to the one anytime we’re in San Jose too!
- Benissimo Gelato & Caffe – Stop in for gelato on a hot day.
- American Bazaar at La Compania – La Compania is a Hyatt hotel in a historic building and it is stunning! We enjoyed casual American fare at the American Bazaar restaurant and it was delicious.
Where to Drink in Casco Viejo
We had a couple of day drinks with the boys in tow and two date nights in Casco Viejo. Find a spot that fits your vibe and enjoy.
- Pedro Mandinga’s Rum Bar – I loved this spot. It is so cute and the perfect place to try a traditional mojito. It felt like you were inside a vintage postcard.
- Casa Casco – This building has multiple restaurants and a nice rooftop bar.
- Tantalo Rooftop Bar – This one was highly recommended but a little too clubby for us. We liked Casa Casco better.
- La Rana Dorada – This is such a cute brewery. It’s casual and is great for beer flights and pizza.
- Exilio Bar at La Compania – La Compania does it again! The outside garden patio is beautiful. We sat at the bar inside on a date night and had delicious craft cocktails!
- Honorable mention: American Trade Hotel – Apparently the bar serves great margaritas and there’s an on-site jazz club. Perhaps this was dated information because it seemed to be closed when we were there.
Shopping in Casco Viejo
There are a variety of cute shops in Casco Viejo. We’re not big shoppers, but we bought some gifts for friends and tried on Panama hats.
I recommend to spend the majority of your time in Casco Viejo, but if you want to explore the city further check out our guide to Panama City with babies.
Charmed by Casco Viejo,
-Ray