El Cangrejo
Panama City, Panama
A lively, diverse district of restaurants, hostels and a genuine local buzz, with the city's best international food. The everyday, cosmopolitan city.
Places in El Cangrejo
- El Cangrejo international eats The diverse district's restaurants reflect Panama's melting pot — Lebanese, Chinese, Colombian, Venezuelan — at honest prices. Vibrant and authentic.
- La Rana Dorada / craft-beer bars A popular brewery pouring Panamanian craft beers with pizza and bar food. Relaxed and dependable.
Practical notes for Panama City
- Best time to visit
- Mid-December to April (the dry season) for the best weather. The rainy season (May–November) brings afternoon downpours but is greener and quieter. It is hot and humid year-round; evenings and the sea breeze bring relief.
- Getting around
- Taxis and Uber are the easy, cheap way around; the Metro (Latin America's first in Central America) covers key routes. Casco Viejo is walkable; the canal, causeway and rainforest are short drives. Traffic can be heavy — allow time.
- Currency
- US Dollar ($) / Balboa
- Language
- Spanish. English is common in business districts.
- Timezone
- EST (UTC-5)
- Current trends
- A rising food scene led by chef-driven Casco Viejo restaurants and Panama's world-famous geisha coffee; a strong rum-and-craft-cocktail culture; boutique hotels in restored colonial buildings; and rooftop bars multiplying across the old town and skyline.
Other neighborhoods in Panama City
- Casco Viejo (San Felipe) — The UNESCO-listed colonial quarter of restored plazas, churches, boutique hotels, rooftop bars and the city's best dining — atmospheric and walkable. The heart of any visit.
- Marbella & Bella Vista (the skyline) — The modern banking-and-business district of glass towers, malls, restaurants and nightlife along the bay. The city's gleaming contemporary face.
- Amador Causeway — A palm-lined causeway of reclaimed land linking islands in the bay, with the Biomuseo, marinas, restaurants and skyline views. A breezy waterfront escape.
- The Canal & Ancón — The area around the Miraflores Locks and the leafy former Canal Zone of Ancón hill, with rainforest at the city's edge. History and nature combined.
Read the full Panama City guide