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Panama City Nightlife

Panama City nightlife is as sophisticated as it is sultry, which means that you are going to have to don your best threads and pay to play. Hip areas in the capital include the famous Calle Uruguay in Bella Vista, the downtown precincts and the Causeway, and more bars and clubs are opening in the Casco Viejo all the time.

Many establishments are open throughout the night, especially during weekends. Good websites to check out listings for nightlife and events are panamainfo.com and www.buscapanama.net.

Bars in Panama City

Istmo Brewpub

This English-style pub is laid-back. There’s a good mix of people here: locals, tourists and ex-pats, none of whom seem to mind the presence of each other, and it’s always good for a cold beer and a sandwich. There’s outdoor seating, too.

Avenida Eusebio A. Morales and Via Veneto, El Cangrejo, Panama City
Tel: (507) 265 5077.

Pure Lounge and Terrace

It’s very elegant and stylish; make sure you get your best frock out for this one. A great place for posing with delicious cocktails, you can choose the leafy patio to chill out on or you could snuggle down into an improbably white sofa to listen to the DJs, who tend to be international and well-known.

Calle Uruguay and Calle 48
Tel: (507) 269 3454.

Radisson Decapolis Martini Bar

A bar to head for when you’re feeling well and truly decadent. Located in Panama City’s Radisson Hotel, this lounge bar is very stylish and modern. It offers a huge range of martinis, drinks served by the pool, and you can even order sushi at the bar.

Radisson Hotel, Avenida Balboa, Multicentro, Panama City
Tel: (507) 215 5000.
www.radisson.com/panama-city-hotel-pa-0833-0293/panpcit/dinings

Clubs in Panama City

Bar Platea

One of the Casco Viejo’s most well-known venues, Platea is most popular as a live music joint on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – definitely one to go for if you’re into jazz, though they host some excellent salsa bands, too. It appeals to the 20 to 50 crowd, so there’s a good mix to be found here.

In front of Old Club Union, Casco Viejo, Panama City
Tel: (507) 228 4011.

Club Velvet

You have to hand it to them: Club Velvet are not slow to book the DJs. This mostly offers electronic and trance music and can be found in the Marbella district of Panama City. They also host reggaeton nights – reggaeton, if you don’t know, is reggae on speed, to which people bump and grind like Energiser bunnies. All good fun. Dress up to fit in; Thursday to Sunday only.

Plaza New York, Calle 50E Este, Marbella District, Panama City

Las Tinajas

If you’re looking for a bit of culture wrapped up in good nightlife, Las Tinajas is probably the best option. From Tuesday to Saturdays, it hosts dinnertime shows with live music and dancing. You can see folkloric dance here, along with national favourites like Cumbias, Saracundes and Tamboritos.

Calle 51, Bella Vista, Panama City
Tel: (507) 263 7890.
www.tinajaspanama.com

Liquid

Liquid’s where you go for a decent boogie – it has a good size dance floor on which you can do your thang, modern electronica beats on the decks and some decent DJs spinning them. It’s a popular spot for late night dance parties, and sometimes hosts big names swinging through Panama.

Calle 50 and Calle Jose de la Cruz, Panama City
Tel: (507) 265 3210.

Next

Mostly electronic house music to be had on offer at this full-scale dance venue, but on Thursdays the crossover night comes into effect and there’s a bit more variety in music. Great bar and lounge, and there’s usually drinks offers up until midnight to help draw the crowds.

Ave Balbao, Panama City
Tel: (507) 265 8746.

Live Music in Panama City

The Wine Bar

A more sedate option for live music, the Wine Bar has become very popular with tourists and locals, and is a lovely place to chill out with a glass of wine and some good quality salami . Listen to the usually chilled out live music – a guitar soloist or a trio band playing Latin music.

Ave. Eusebio A. Morales, next to the Las Vegas Suites, Panama City
Tel: (507) 225 0914.

Classical Music in Panama City

Balboa Theatre

Shiny, modern and interesting, the Balboa Theatre is currently the headquarters of the National Symphony Orchestra, who you can hear rehearse for free. You can catch jazz concerts and folkloric groups here as well.

Arnulfo Arias Madrid Avenue, Building 727-C, Balboa, Panama City
Tel: (507) 228 0327.

Teatro Anita Villalaz

This theatre is on the site of what was once the Supreme Court of Justice, and the building is immensely pretty: all white and Romanesque. It’s a good place to catch folkloric plays, workshops and music concerts. It’s also right by the famous restaurant Las Bovedas (The Vaults) in the Plaza de Francia, which has great skyline views.

The Vaults, Plaza de Francia, Casco Viejo, Panama City
Tel: (507) 211 4020.
www.teatrodepanama.com

Music and Dance in Panama City

Teatro National

Panama’s National Theatre has had several facelifts over the last 100 years, but it has always retained its original beauty and elegance. It was commissioned in 1904 and has been the pride of the city ever since. There’s definitely an Italian theme to the theatre, and it’s a great place to catch ballets, operas and classical concerts.

Calle 3 and Ave B Catedral, Casco Viejo, Panama City
Tel: (507) 262 3525.
www.teatrodepanama.com

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