Visitors are always impressed by the amount of restaurants in Boquete. Boquete could maybe have the highest amount of restaurants per capita in Panama. Panama is a very cosmopolitan country and you generally encounter a more international cuisine in places like Boquete, Bocas del Toro and Panama City where the foreign influence can be felt in its restaurants.

Amazing enough Boquete is home to several prestigious and internationally renowned chefs and there are plenty of gorgeous restaurants in Boquete. We have put together this list of restaurants in Boquete and written some reviews so that you can start imagining the feasts that you'll be able to enjoy in Boquete's restaurants.

The Panamonte Restaurant

The Panamonte Inn Restaurant is simply the best place to eat in Boquete and one of the best in Central America. Several publications have even said that it is the best in Panama (Capital Chef, Washington D.C.). People come to the Panamonte to indulge themselves with the inventive and consistently superb creations of award-winning chef Charlie Collins (who has catered some of the most important events in recent Panamanian history), whose gourmet cuisine combines indigenous dishes with a vast international culinary experience (mainly Scandinavian and New American cooking styles). Only the freshest and highest quality produce is used, such as the local Black Angus beef and trout caught from the Caldera River. Collins created the menu and oversees the dining room which features fresh fish including trout, salmon, and corvina (sea bass), as well as New York steaks, rib-eyes, fillet of beef, plus grilled pork chops, and Mignon de Cerdo (Grilled Pork Mignon). There is a delicious shrimp and plantain appetizer and a lemon meringue pie that is famous. In the Panamonte you'll find Boquete's finest wine list with French, California, and Chilean varietals well represented. The service is top notch: extremely attentive and delicately courteous. You can either enjoy your meal in the 1940-style formal dining area with its floral motif or in the bar/lounge with its two roaring stone fireplaces and overstuffed couches and wicker chairs that add the right degree of casual comfort. The bar menu is more casual like burgers, empanadas, and chicken brochettes.
TELEPHONE: 720-1324
EMAIL: reservation@panamonte.com
VISIT THE PANAMONTE RESTAURANTS'S WEBSITE...

Las Ruinas Boquete

New England Culinary School graduate and cookbook author Executive Chef Craig Jacobs has brought his extensive experience with restaurants in New York, New Orleans & Florida (including his work as Sous Chef at Ritz-Carlton Hotels) to Boquete by opening Restaurante Las Ruinas, across from Las Brisas Boquetena subdivision, and just past Papa Ricco's on the road to David. The location (previously a Colombian restaurant), is greatly improved by Craig's facelift of the facility, which includes enclosing the big Tiki Hut dining room in glass, to protect diners against the rain and wind, a freshening up of the swimming pool and soon a new covered area will provide staging for live music! New Rock walls are abundant and strikingly beautiful.hence the name "Las Ruinas"! Come for lunch and spend the afternoon by the pool in the comfortable lounge chairs, made more comfortable with one of Craig's special Margaritas, Fresh Fruit Daiquiris or Pina Coladas! Dinner is a real treat and the portions are Huge! Craig comes from a food family..his father has won several awards, including the Julia Childs and James Beard awards, for his work. Together, they've written several cookbooks including a 3 piece series called "Spirit of the Earth, Spirit of the West and Spirit of the Harvest" and even one about Cuban cooking called "Eating Cuba". Daily, Craig serves up tender Fire Roasted baby back ribs, pork loin and chicken which come with a Great Barbecue sauce or homemade Chimichuri Sauce (you'll be asking for refills of this delicious condiment). His Las Ruinas Hamburger is big and the Best in Panama! Every Monday Craig visits Port Pedregal to select the freshest seafood right off the boat..ask him what's fresh and you may get the mouthwatering lobster or tuna and his outstanding Fish & Chips are always available and by far the best in Panama! Restaurante Las Ruinas only serves the freshest produce and fruits from the area. The full bar offers excellent Margaritas, Daiquiris and Pina Coladas, which are made with 100% natural ingredients. Or, try one of his fresh fruit smoothies...you'll come back for more. Chef Craig caters to your groups and special celebrations with flair and individuality! Why not let him create a memorable occasion for your next special occasion? Craig has lived in Panama for 4 years and operates Las Ruinas with his lovely wife. They have 2 beautiful children, and are on site to greet you daily. They are here to stay! Don't delay..stop in soon and say hi! Tell him you read about him on Chiriqui Chatter. This is definitely worth the drive! Finally..a casual dining experience with food you can count on to be consistently the BEST!
TELEPHONE: 6-677-4289
EMAIL: lasruinasboquete@gmail.com
VISIT LAS RUINAS BOQUETE'S WEBSITE...

The Rock

We live by the motto "Food Without Pretenses": Back-to- basics, delicious food, artisan beer and selected wines in a relaxed atmosphere. At THE ROCK we believe the simplest recipe can be an enjoyment of excellent food with attention to detail, passion and dedicated attitude. Our vision is founded on enjoying food as a fundamental quality of life, at times provocative but always aimed at preserving the purity of the original flavor. Because of the climate and dedication of its producers, our home town Boquete with its surrounding and higher areas of Chiriquí offers an incredible collection of fresh food products. With the use of these top quality products and contemporary technical knowledge of our team to prepare and serve them, your menu choice will be remarkable. Cultivating these values to stimulate your senses every day is fundamental to us to provide you with an incomparable experience at THE ROCK.
TELEPHONE: 720-2516
EMAIL: reservations@therockboquete.com
VISIT THE ROCK'S WEBSITE...

Big Daddy's Grill

Conveniently located on Boquete's Main Street, across from Explora Ya and 1 block up from Habla Ya...
Fairly priced, Big Daddy's Grill serves the Freshest Fish, Chicken and Burgers, Home Made Veggie Burgers, Large Organic Salads... and More!
They claim to make the Best Margarita in Boquete, using top shelf ingredients and home made sour mix. Service is personalized and fast. Dine on the Terrace for a street view, in doors, or outside on the quiet, back yard deck.
TELEPHONE: 6683 - 3354
EMAIL: ebslagle@hotmail.com

Baru Restaurant & Bar

Baru Restaurant is the local version of a pub for many of the new residents of Boquete. At any time of the day you'll encounter members from the ex-pat community enjoying a meal, swapping real estate stories, having a beer or just hanging out. In the evenings, you can sometimes find younger customers playing some pool or having a go at the fusball table or a game of darts. It makes a good spot to just have a beer and many young tourists pass by as it is conveniently located in the center of town. A good place to have a nice American style breakfast, a plate of well prepared patacones, a decent hamburger with chips or onion rings, and the meal of the day at lunch time can normally be considered a typical Panamanian dish. The quality of the food is not entirely constant but the special dish of the evening tends to be fairly pleasant. Several of the staff are Kunas from San Blas. A stand of molas, Christmas lights and torches decorates the grounds and give it a peculiar appearance in the evenings.
TELEPHONE: 720-2714

Boquete Bistro Restaurant

On one the corners of Boquete's main street you'll find a high-ceilinged, blue-orange and old wooden establishment home to a lovely bistro with big windows to the street that will give you a feel of the town's peaceful rhythm. This delightful bistro is owned by Loretta, who before had a successful restaurant in Aspen, Colorado. Not surprisingly the Bistro Boquete has a stellar menu of exceptional quality. Waiting for you, you'll find baskets of bread and herbed olive oil, and servers always passing by with a friendly smile and serving you water or wine. Expect well-prepared American dishes and bar appetizers such as barbecue wings, artichoke dip, and quesadillas; plus huge salads and burgers, and main courses such as filet mignon and grilled fish. It is not cheap but not too pricey either. It is also a good place for sandwiches, such as pastrami and Swiss, tuna melt and BLT. You'll quickly notice that it is a popular spot for tourists as almost everybody will be speaking English and it has a very welcoming bar with a decent assortment of wines and liquors. Its relaxed atmosphere invites you to linger long after your meal.
TELEPHONE: 720-1017

Restaurante Machu Picchu

You may struggle to find a restaurant with typical Panamanian food but surprisingly Boquete has 2 Peruvian sea food restaurants and the newest one is Machu Picchu. The Peruvian chef, Aristóteles, first achieved fame in Panama City with a restaurant under the same name. There are more than 50 entrees and a bit more than 25 appetizers. Make sure to try the heavenly rich red Chupe de Camarones (Shrimp) and do not miss the exquisite fried Calamari. For a main course, the sea bass with black butter and capers is just gorgeous as are the creamy jumbo prawns gratin. If you do not favor sea food, they serve meat and chicken dishes too. During weekdays try to make the most out of the fixed price lunch for $5.50. It is decorated with Peruvian art and traditional details. The light yellow and blue tones give it a relaxing and warm environment. Expect superb attention as the staff is amongst the best trained in Boquete and the chef often visits each table to chat with diners.
TELEPHONE: 264-9308

Taquería Antojitos Mexicanos

On Central Avenue across the Boquete Country Inn you'll find the best authentic Mexican food in Chiriqui. Taquería Antojitos Mexicanos will make you feel as if you were in a Mexican cantina with vivid colors and a Latin feel. If you're looking for a genuine Mexican dish, Maritrini, the owner and chef from Guadalajara, Jalisco, will take you on a culinary journey to the land of tacos and burritos. The mole, fajits, chili, chile rellenos con queso and chimichangas are definitely first rate. It is all prepared from scratch and fresh after you order, so if you encounter a crowd after entering, be sure to have a beer or a nice glass of wine. we guarantee that you'll not be disappointed and the food will be worth waiting for. The Taquería is a low budget option with exceptional food offerings. You'll not want to miss this place!

Palo Alto Restaurant

Another first class gourmet and upscale restaurant in Boquete is the Palo Alto Restaurante. It offers a varied international menu based on a fusion cuisine which includes Mediterranean, Chinese, Greek, Thai and Italian. In Palo Alto you'll encounter a refined and peaceful atmosphere just beside the scenic Caldera River. As it is a bit out of town it does not tend to get crowded and this can play in your favor giving you an added touch of intimacy although at times it can translate into a slower service. The dining area's high ceiling provides a fresh and airy environment that is complemented by brick floors, glass walls and local art. Some of the dishes that will tempt your senses are spaghettini with roasted vegetables, barbecue baby back ribs, Greek ladopsomo (pita bread with feta) or Red Snapper in a Thai Pepper sauce. The also have fantastic salads, fresh trout for lunch delicious sandwiches and burgers (try the Swiss burger with mushrooms and sautéed onions).
TELEPHONE: 720-1076

Pizzería a Mi Modo

Pizzeria A Mi Modo is definitely the best pizza restaurant in Boquete and it naturally benefits from being established in Panama's breadbasket: a wide selection of fresh and high quality ingredients is available to choose as toppings, giving you an opportunity to have your dream pizza just as you want it, or as they say "A MI MODO". Its blue and white checkered painted walls and relaxing music give it a casual and informal atmosphere, making it the perfect place to hang out with a group of friends. Carlitos and Blanca, the owners, have truly mastered the art of producing the finest pizzas in town. At very affordable prices you as well may want to indulge yourself with generous portions of lasagna and spaghetti. Pizzeria A Mi Modo offers a friendly and family oriented environment (you may even have Naomi, the owners 4 year old, visit and play at your table) and if you decide to go and eat at the pizza restaurant for a second time it is very probable that your name will be remembered.
TELEPHONE: 6-523-1628

Nelvis Café

A typical Panamanian cafeteria frequented by locals and tourists seeking to have a taste of what Panamanians normally eat on a day to day base. The menu usually offers several preparations of rice and beans, meat, chicken, fish, basic salads and a choice of soup. Plantains are mandatory. Very positive comments are often heard about their fried chicken and the price makes it seem that it is almost cheaper eating out than to be buying groceries. Nelvis Café serves breakfast and lunch and it is one of the cafeterias in town frequented by the locals who do not have a chance to go home during meal times, but who want to feel they are eating a home made meal.
TELEPHONE: 6-578-6528

Delicias del Perú

Another Peruvian restaurant that pays tribute to its homeland, Delicias del Perú specializes in the sea food, although it does have several meat dishes. The environment at this restaurant is very nice and has several eating areas: a couple of private rooms, the open dining area, a medium sized balcony with forest and river views and an intimate wine cellar area on the lower floor. It is famous for its different ceviche preparations and we also highly recommend the calamari and squid for an appetizer. For your main course you should try any of the corvina (sea bass) preparations: stuffed with shrimp or accompanied by langostinos, with asparagus and cream sauce, corvina negra topped with capers or corvina esmeralda with bechamel sauce, spinach and shrimps Or if you would prefer other types of meat try their fillete stroganoff, or ají de gallina, also a typical Peruvian dish. The staff is very polite and attentive and you should not have to wait too much for your meal even if the restaurant is full.
TELEPHONE: 720-1966

Punto de Encuentro: Olga's

The perfect place to have the perfect breakfast in Boquete is also known as Olga's. Their dishes are nicely presented and deliciously prepared. Their menu includes scrambled, pouched or fried eggs, French toast, fruit salad, oatmeal, waffles, cheese and ham sandwiches and pancakes. They also prepare gorgeous omelets with potatoes filled with onion, tomato, peppers, mozzarella cheese and ham. As its names suggests, it is regarded as a meeting place and Punto de Encuentro has a good amount of steady and frequent customers. Its terraza overlooking the garden areas also make it a nice place to start the day.

Other places to eat in Boquete are Dehli Baru, Roxana's, Papa Ricco's, Central Park, Genesis, Restaurante Lourdes, Il Panista, Al Zarana, Ana Sweets, Java Juice, La Casona Mexicana, Pizzería Il Salvatore, Pizzería La Volcanica, El Sabrosón...