On my last trip to Panama I decided to head to Las Bovedas, a restaurant that I had been hearing about for quite some time, as it is considered to be one of the landmark restaurants in Casco Viejo. Las Bovedas fits right into the ambiance of Casco Viejo, Panama City’s traditional sector of pastel homes and jazz clubs.

The restaurant is built into a seawall that used to serve as a dungeon, although the narrow walls and curved vaulted ceilings, and the low intimate lighting, and warmly finished wood surfaces combine to make it feel more like a castle.

The menu is written on an oversized chalk board, and not all items are listed, so Read more

Something about us Gringos… or maybe all men really, is the majority of us from time to time crave a good chunk of meat. You know what I’m talking about; it ain’t no grilled chicken. No sir, I mean beef and I have found it at Café Casuale in Casco Viejo.

The menu is varied, but a fair amount of it is dedicated to high quality beef. At the recommendation of a friend I ordered the Cowboy Prime Rib, which is the joint’s most popular dish, with good reason. Despite being a bit pricey ($42), the cut is downright impressive. It is enormous and full of flavor and texture, very tender.

The Imported New York Strip ($25) Read more