Best of Panamanian Food: The Most Historical Restaurant

Panamá is good for one thing for sure…eating.

Although this country has diverse eateries representing several countries, I want to begin with a local and historical restaurant: Café Coca Cola.

Café Coca Cola is the oldest restaurant in Panamá. The building, which was built in the late 1800s, sits at what is considered the beginning of Casco Viejo (Old Town). One of its claims to fame is that it is the only restaurant that bears the name of the Coca Cola company. Aside from that, Café Coca Cola is known as the place where many famous people have dined, including Noriega and Castro.

Dwight and I ate here twice for breakfast. At first, I was disinterested for two reasons: (1) there is no website and photos on social media leave much to be desired, and (2) I’ve had cup after miserable cup of weak coffee while living here. But I was wrong.

I had pancakes, huevos, y tocino (pancake, eggs, and bacon), and Dwight had something similar, with toast instead of pancakes. And yes…I ordered coffee with milk.

The meal was decent. It wasn’t the best breakfast I’ve had since I’ve been here. I mean, it was eggs over easy, pancakes, and bacon. It was okay. The coffee, however, was good. Café Coca Cola serves Durán coffee, a company established in 1907. It was robust, freshly made, and absolutely delicious.

I don’t recommend drinking Panamanian coffee, but if you must, Café Durán is the way to go.

Back to Café Coca Cola.

I equate going to this restaurant with any other famous landmark. When you visit Washington, D.C., you must stop by Ben’s Chili Bowl; when you head to Harlem, you gotta go to Sylvia’s. Well, if you’re in Panamá, you have to eat at Café Coca Cola, if for nothing else than to say you’ve dined where Noriega and them did.

COST: $12 for two breakfast meals with one coffee.

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