Enjoy the Nightlife

Nightlife in panama doesn’t start until at least 10 at night, so most clubs are empty until about 11. However, there are still several bars in Panama to visit if you are looking to catch a little buzz before you hit the town. Most of the Bars in Panama have some type of menu as well, so if you want to have a drink and a decent bite to eat, fear not-it can be done.

Habibis is a great bar in Panama to visit on the weekends, or for that matter any night of the week. Location is an obvious factor, considering that it is in the heart of the Calle Uruguay district in Bella Vista . For Bars in Panama, Calle Uruguay is definitely the more upscale, hip and trendy area, but Habibis is the exception in that everyone goes there to start the night off, but may not necessarily be going to the bars on Calle Uruguay. But more on Habibis´: This place honestly has it all. The menu is exceptional, and weather you are coming to enjoy a 5 course meal, or just want some appetizers while you sip a drink, Habibi’s has something for everyone. The patio is huge, and a perfect place to watch all of the people go into (or stumble out of) the bars . They have a full service bar, two large indoor dining rooms, and a handful of flat screen TVs indoors and outdoors. Did i mention the hookahs? Yup, they have those too. And they stay open past midnight on the weekends, so it is not necessarily just a pregame spot. Habibis is located across from People lounge and next to the Londoner.

Another good pregame spot in the same Calle Uruguay area is Sahara. A great patio option for the pregame, Sahara keeps a crowd well into the wee hours. Sahara has more of a rock bar feel, so patrons often start the night there and work their way across the street to Unplugged or head over to El Pavo Real. Sahara has billiards and on the weekends a dj that plays distinctly non Panamanian music like The Police, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, or the Strokes. Not a bad play list for the middle of Central America. Drinks are cheap, but they start charging a cover around 9pm on the weekends.

The Casco Viejo area is great for bars in Panama, and the another great place to start the evening. Parking can be a challenge, so taking a taxi may be the best option for getting there. See our taxi guide, the fare should be no more than $1.50 , and tell the driver to take you to Norriega's old house (la casa vieja de Norriega). If you can time it right, the sunset is spectacular. Any number of places near there are a great option, but make sure not to miss Las Bovedas. A Brazillian themed patio bar where Panama’s sophisticated go to start their evening off. Good looking menu too. Don’t go expecting a bargain, beers start at $3.00, but remember you are paying for atmosphere, so stop bitching.

And by that time, it should be about 11 and you can really “go out”. Enjoy