Whether you want a traditional Nochebuena table or a New Year’s Eve gala, Panama’s restaurants and hotels put on their best menus for the holidays. Here is how to plan your Christmas and year-end dinners in Panama.
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) dinner
The traditional Panamanian Christmas dinner is served late on December 24: tamales, arroz con guandú, roast pork or ham, potato salad and ron ponche. Many restaurants offer special Christmas Eve set menus for those who would rather not cook.
New Year’s Eve gala dinners
For December 31, hotels and restaurants in the city and at the beaches offer gala dinners with live music, a midnight toast and fireworks — dinner-and-party packages are the most popular way to see in the new year.
Where to book
The best tables — in Casco Viejo, the city’s fine-dining rooms and the beach resorts of Coronado and Playa Blanca — fill up weeks ahead. Reserve early.
Get the dinner list first
We will publish the holiday dinners and gala menus, with dates and reservations, in our Year-End in Panama 2026 guide. Leave your details there to get it first. Restaurants: publish your Christmas or New Year menu and take reservations through the directory.
Planning something for Christmas & New Year Dinners in Panama?
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