Panama City wakes up early. By eight in the morning the coffee is already pouring, and by ten the tables are full of people who decided that today breakfast can wait a little and lunch can arrive a little late. That in-between meal is brunch, and this city does it properly. Here is where to find the best brunch spots in Panama City, what to order once you sit down, and the practical details nobody puts in a listicle: neighbourhoods, opening hours and what to expect.
What brunch actually looks like in Panama City
Brunch here is not a rigid institution with a fixed menu and a bottomless mimosa clock. It is simply the long, unhurried meal that happens between about 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and it leans on two things this country does very well: coffee and good bread. Panama grows some of the most celebrated coffee in the world, so a café that takes its espresso seriously is not a luxury here — it is the baseline you should expect.
The other thing worth knowing: in Panama City, brunch is not only a weekend affair. Plenty of the best places are open every single day from early morning, which means a Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. is often the most pleasant time to go — same kitchen, same coffee, half the queue.
Where to look: three neighbourhoods worth your morning
Casco Viejo — for the atmosphere
The old town is the postcard: colonial façades, narrow streets, church bells, rooftops. It is also where you want to be if brunch is part of a morning of walking around. The trick is to eat before you explore, not after — by noon the sun on those streets is serious business. Casco is small enough that everything is walkable, and cafés here tend to open a little later and close a little later than the rest of the city.
Our own Casco Viejo café sits on Avenida B, next to the Michelle Ferrer boutique, and opens every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. If breakfast in the old town is specifically what you are after, we wrote a longer guide: best breakfast in Panama.
Marbella and Avenida Balboa — for the city view
This is the banking and hotel district, which means two things: excellent coffee (there is real demand for it) and a crowd that is half local professionals, half visitors. It is the most convenient area if you are staying downtown and do not want to travel for breakfast. Our Balboa café is inside Balboa Boutiques Strip Mall, first floor, on Avenida Vasco Núñez de Balboa, open every day, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
San Francisco — for the neighbourhood feel
Less polished than Marbella, more lived-in than Casco. San Francisco is where people who actually live in Panama City have their weekend brunch. Quieter tables, easier parking, and the same standard of coffee. You will find us at PH Living 73, open every day, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
What to order at brunch in Panama City
If you want the local version rather than the international-hotel version, aim for this:
- A Spanish omelette (tortilla). Potato, egg, patience. Ours comes classic or truffled, and it works well as a shared plate.
- Sourdough toasts. With avocado, with cream cheese, with Iberian ham, with fresh jam. Simple things, done with bread that deserves them.
- A bocata. The Spanish sandwich — the bread matters as much as the filling, which tells you how good the bread has to be.
- Savoury pancakes with melted cheese, if you want the indulgent end of the menu.
- Huevos rotos. Broken eggs over potatoes. Not elegant. Extremely good.
- Specialty coffee. Ask what is being brewed today. In Panama, that question is always worth asking.
- And a slice of Basque cheesecake. More on that below — it is the reason most people find us in the first place.
The thing you should not skip: Basque cheesecake
Panama City has plenty of good coffee, but the dessert that has become a small local obsession is the tarta vasca — Basque burnt cheesecake. It is baked at very high heat, has no biscuit base, comes out dark and caramelised on top and stays almost liquid in the centre. If you have never had one, here is what it is and where it comes from. And if you are wondering how it differs from the New York cheesecake you already know, we broke it down ingredient by ingredient.
We bake it every day in five versions: classic, dulce de leche, Oreo, Lotus and pistachio. First time? Order the classic. It is the one everything else is built on.
Five practical tips for brunch in Panama City
- Go before 11:00 on weekends. After that, the good tables are gone all over the city.
- Weekdays are the secret. Same food, same coffee, no wait.
- Bring the dog. All three of our cafés are pet friendly — many places in Panama City are, but it is always worth checking first.
- Small groups just walk in. For a larger table, message us first on WhatsApp so we can have it ready.
- Take a cake with you. A whole small cake travels fine and is a better souvenir than anything you will find in a gift shop.
Where to find us in Panama City
- Casco Viejo — Avenida B, next to the Michelle Ferrer boutique, San Felipe. Every day, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Balboa — Balboa Boutiques Strip Mall, first floor, Avenida Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Every day, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- San Francisco — PH Living 73. Every day, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Everything we serve is on the menu. If you would rather read about brunch here in Spanish, we have a guide to weekend brunch in Panama and another on the best brunch in Panama. Still deciding where to eat in general? This one is for you.
Come for brunch, leave with cake
Order a small cake online, message us for a medium or large one, or simply walk in and have a slice with your coffee.
Frequently asked questions
What time is brunch in Panama City?
Roughly between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Most cafés in Panama City open early — ours open at 7:30 a.m. in Balboa and San Francisco and at 8:00 a.m. in Casco Viejo — so you can start whenever you like. On weekends, arriving before 11:00 a.m. usually means no wait.
Where is the best brunch in Casco Viejo?
Casco Viejo is compact and walkable, so choose by atmosphere. Our café is on Avenida B, next to the Michelle Ferrer boutique, open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The practical move is to have brunch before you explore the old town, not after.
Is brunch in Panama City only on weekends?
No. Many of the best spots, ours included, serve the same menu every day of the week from early morning. Weekday mornings are quieter and you will get a better table.
How much does brunch cost in Panama City?
It depends on the place and what you order. At La Vasquita a slice of Basque cheesecake starts at $8 and a whole small cake is $12; savoury plates, toasts and specialty coffee are on our menu, and you can check current prices at any of the three cafés.
Are brunch spots in Panama City dog friendly?
Many are, and all three La Vasquita cafés — Casco Viejo, Balboa and San Francisco — are pet friendly. It is still worth confirming with any other place before you go.
What should I order for brunch in Panama?
Go local: a Spanish omelette or huevos rotos, a sourdough toast with avocado or Iberian ham, a specialty coffee, and a slice of Basque cheesecake to finish. That is the Panama City brunch in one table.