Cantina del Tigre Panama City

Cantina del Tigre sits on Plaza Centenario, C. 68 Este. It is a twenty-minute walk from the Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá, holding the no. 39 spot on the 2024 Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list.

The menu leans into South American and Mexican fusion, but the kitchen ignores the tired tropes of the old town's tourist traps. While the room runs smart and elegant, it lacks the stifling formalities found in the nearby Casco Viejo dining scene. Most places this close to the landmark circuit treat visitors as a revolving door, but here, the cooking remains consistent enough to keep locals in the seats. It is a necessary departure from the area's more performative options, offering a focus on ingredient-driven plates that finally prioritizes substance over the traditional plaza setting.