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Panama City is unlike any other capital in Central America. The presence of the Canal — one of the most consequential pieces of infrastructure in human history — has made it a genuinely international city, home to shipping companies, banking operations, multinational headquarters, and the kind of mixed expatriate population that tends to bring social liberalisation in its wake. The skyline of glass towers along the Cinta Costera waterfront looks more like Dubai or Singapore than Tegucigalpa, and the city's self-image as a regional financial hub is reflected in its hotels, restaurants, and general cosmopolitan attitude. The gay scene is concentrated primarily in the San Francisco neighbourhood — the middle-class residential and commercial district east of the city centre — and in Bella Vista, its immediate neighbour.

Boy Bar Panama is the flagship venue: the most prominent gay bar in the city, well-established, with a strong local following and the name recognition that makes it the first stop for visiting LGBTQ+ tourists. Lips Bar offers a different atmosphere — more neighbourhood bar than destination venue — with a loyal clientele that values the relaxed environment over spectacle. For dancing, Studio 54 Panama is the club of choice, with weekend nights drawing DJs and a mixed-age crowd for Latin pop, electronic, and reggaeton sets. Casco Viejo functions almost as a separate destination within Panama City.

The colonial quarter — UNESCO World Heritage Site, now extensively restored — has a concentration of boutique hotels, rooftop bars, and internationally oriented restaurants that draw a cosmopolitan crowd. The atmosphere here is broadly inclusive; same-sex couples are visible and unremarked upon in the Casco Viejo restaurant and bar circuit.

Where to stay

For accommodation, The Bristol Panama in the Marbella district represents the luxury end of the Panama City hotel market: a property with an international five-star standard, used extensively by business travellers and providing the level of professional, discrimination-free service that luxury properties are expected to deliver to all guests.

Food & Drink

Panama City's food scene is underappreciated. The combination of indigenous, Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese (a large Chinese community arrived with the original Canal construction), and American influences has produced a distinctive cuisine. Ceviche is a constant; ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce) appears everywhere; the sancocho (a chicken and root vegetable soup considered the national dish) is excellent. The Mercado de Mariscos near the Cinta Costera is the best place in the city for fresh seafood, served at lunchtime from informal stalls and with a view over the bay.

The Panama Canal Miraflores Locks visitor centre is the recommended starting point for understanding the Canal — an interactive museum with a viewing platform where you can watch container ships transit the locks in real time. The scale is genuinely impressive. The Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry and located on the Amador Causeway, tells the story of how the formation of the Panama land bridge transformed global biodiversity — an unexpected and excellent museum in a spectacular waterside location.

Getting around

Getting around Panama City is relatively straightforward: the Metro (two lines) covers the main tourist and commercial areas, Uber operates reliably, and taxis are widely available. The city is relatively compact for a major Latin American capital. The US dollar is the local currency (Panama has used the USD since independence and has no local paper currency), eliminating any currency exchange concerns.