4 Best Restaurants in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama

As one of Boca’s first restaurants catering to tourists, this waterfront bar and grill has been offering fresh ingredients with a view since 1997. Perched over the water, the back deck is one of the most pleasant places in town to have a meal since it overlooks the sea and nearby Isla Carenero. Start with the bean dip blended with cream, and move on to tasty dishes like the Greek wrap dribbled in homemade tzatziki or the fresh catch of the day. The menu ranges from filet mignon to the more daring jambalaya, enchiladas, and ginger-orange shrimp. Salads, burgers, and sandwiches made with imported meats and cheeses makes it a popular lunch spot. Save room for the Bocas Brownie made with organic Cerutti chocolate. Breakfast is served daily and there’s Happy Hour from 5 to 7.

"Dive," "hole in the wall," "joint,". . . Bocas's expat community has various terms of endearment for this Mexican restaurant a block west of the central park. All agree that the fresh margaritas and Mexican food here are top-notch. The homemade salsas crafted with roasted onion, tomato, and pepper dress up the enchiladas, burritos, and taco salads. Dine inside the small restaurant itself—Mexican music videos are usually playing—or outdoors on the more spacious covered patio.

Perched over the sea near the center of Old Bank, this rustic, open-air restaurant is known for serving authentic bocatoreña food. House specialties include Caribbean chicken (in a mildly spicy sauce), fresh lobster, shrimp, and conch, listed as "snail" on the menu. They are served with a hearty mix of coconut rice, red beans, and a simple cabbage salad. The ambience—a thatch roof with tables and chairs made from tree trunks—is equally authentic.