THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 121

sophisticated Italian fare such as clams in white wine ($20). The tropical garden, decorated
with fairy lights, is buzzing in the evening. Daily 7am-midnight.
Churrería Manolo Vía Argentina 12 264 3965, churrerianmanolo.com ; map . Café spe-
cializing in sweet cigar-shaped churro pastries for just over a dollar, as well as serving cof-
fees, sandwiches and more substantial mains ($9-12). Daily 7am-1am.
Habibi's C Uruguay at C 48 264 3647; map . Buzzing corner terrace that's a well-estab-
lished gathering spot for groups heading off to party. Prices alas have been shooting up with
the place's popularity - $3.50 for a local beer. Stick to the tasty Middle Eastern dishes; meze
start at just $13 for one, up to $45 for six. Belly-dancing Fri & Sat. Daily noon-late.
Loving Hut C Manuel Espinosa Batista, Edif Cali 240 5621, lovinghut.com/pa ; map .
Part of a global veggie and vegan chain, this no-nonsense cafeteria dishes up delicious,
inexpensive food. You can “pick and mix” a healthy plateful for under $5. Mon-Sat
10.30am-8.30pm.
Machu Picchu C Eusebio A. Morales 18, at C “D” 264 8501; map . The original Peruvian
restaurant in Panama, decorated with pictures of its namesake and Andean weavings, and
specializing in seafood. The room is plain and the atmosphere low-key but the moderately
priced cuisine is decent and the pisco sours slip down a treat. Mon-Sat noon-10.30pm, Sun
noon-9pm.
Manolo's Vía Veneto at C “D”; map . A city institution with a popular corner terrace (or a/c
dining), which is a great spot for a drink while people-watching. There's a good variety of
light bites and more substantial mains on the menu but the food is no more than average and
prices are creeping up. Daily 6am-2am.
The Market C 48 and C Uruguay 264 9401, marketpanama.com ; map . The place to
come to tuck into a juicy Aberdeen Angus steak or a deli burger in a cheerily decorated ven-
ue with walls bedecked with wine bottles. Save space for some key lime pie or cheesecake.
There's weekend brunch too. Daily noon-2.30pm & 7-10.30pm.
Masala Av Justo Arosemena between C 44 Este and C 45 Este 225 0105; map . Cosy little
restaurant with Indian trimmings and wooden tables or comfortable floor cushions. Mains
are around $20 but the thali taster platters, which could easily feed two, offer good value.
Mon-Sat noon-3pm & 6-10pm.
Napoli C 57 Este at Vía España 263 8800; map . Generally considered to dish up the best
pizza in the city, this favourite of middle-class Panamanians is jammed with families at week-
ends. The thin-crust pizzas are excellent (10” from $7) and the pasta dishes fine, but the at-
mosphere is bland. Tues-Sun 11am-midnight.
Niko's Café C 51 Este at Vía España 223 0111, nikoscafe.com ; map . The unpromising
frontage masks another city institution. This no-frills cafeteria is the original of an expanding