Casco Viejo has long been one of Panama City’s most beloved neighborhoods…
Within just a few walkable blocks, you’ll find centuries of history, beautifully restored colonial buildings, lively plazas, excellent restaurants and bars, and views stretching out over the Pacific.
I lived there for a couple years around 2010, and back then it was much grittier—these days, it’s a polished, Instagram-worthy part of town… but it still has its challenges. Parking, for one, is nearly impossible, and the slow parade of cars coming in and out make it hard to get around before you manage to find a spot.
Casco retains a rustic, authentic charm, despite the picture-perfect streets that have been curated for social media. Last time I walked through this part of town, just a few months ago, we stopped to watch a couple dozen locals playing baseball on the beach.
Next door was a boutique full of pretty clothes… but they cost several hundred per item—a massively incongruous price range for the neighborhood.
Outside the boutique I bought my daughters snow cones from a vendor with a push cart who shaved the ice by hand. They cost 25 cents each.
It’s this kind of dichotomy that makes Casco so interesting right now… it’s both ahead of its time and stuck in the past.
It won’t be long before this ever-evolving neighborhood has changed once again, and I always look forward to visiting and noting all the differences since my last tour.
In the end, Casco Viejo is so much more than a pretty place to visit and take photos of. It’s the social heart of Panama City—and increasingly a favorite with expats looking for a neighborhood with character, culture, and plenty to do right outside their door.
In this video, we take a closer look at Casco Viejo, from its fascinating history and colorful architecture to its plazas, museums, churches, food, nightlife, and oceanfront walks…
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Kat Kalashian,
Editor LIOS Confidential
Video Transcript
The tiny finger of land that pokes out of Panama City southeastern corner and into the Pacific Ocean is San Felipe, or better known to most as Casco Viejo or simply Casco. This is Panama City Historic District, full of centuries old cathedrals, buildings with crumbling pastel facades, and narrow cobblestone streets. This is, by all accounts, the capitals most lovely neighborhood.
Casco is laid out in great format, like a classic European city. Every few blocks you’ll find a tree lined plaza or the spire of a cathedral, all of which casts an old world charm over the place at only four avenues wide. The neighborhood is small and compact. A tiny treasure trove of historical structures best explored on foot. But despite all the visual reminders of the past, it’s also constantly evolving.
Has a lot of boutiques and art galleries, charming cafes and rooftop bars, and a wide variety of dining options, from white tablecloth to street food on plastic tables. Casco Viejo, which is Spanish for old Quarter, was quite literally born from the ashes. Panama Viejo, which was the original Panama City, was founded on August 15th, 1519, but its existence was short lived.
It suffered a vicious pirate attack carried out by Henry Morgan just 152 years later, and was burned to the ground. Antonio Fernandez de Cordova, a Spanish nobleman, initiated the construction of a new city in 1672. It would be built on a peninsula with a defensive system wall for better protection against future attacks. On January 21st, 1673, Casco Viejo was founded.
After restoration efforts in the early 90s, Casco was granted Unesco World Heritage status in 1997. Today, many of the buildings you find in Casco Viejo are Panama City. First, they stand as testaments to the various phases of history that Panama passed through, with Spanish, colonial, French, Caribbean and even Art Deco influences. Casco is full of buildings full of historical significance.
Architecture buffs will enjoy the mixture of Spanish, French and American styles and exploring the plazas, cathedrals, government buildings and other monuments. It’s the best way to enjoy the ambiance. Here are just a few of Costco’s main sights.
Plaza Francia
Starting at the southeastern tip of the peninsula, Plaza Francia is where you find the French Embassy. The National Institute of Culture and the Anita Villa last year. In its center is an obelisk with a rooster, as well as the bust of several of the canal’s early engineers. Behind these are less bodas, 12 slabs of marble that outlined the canal’s history and pay homage to the 22,000 people that lost their lives during its construction from Plaza Francia.
You can access the Paseo Stephen, a walkway where you’ll get the best views in the city, including of the bridge of the Americas diameter causeway, the Bay of Panama, and the skyscrapers of Panama City.
You’ll often see couples strolling hand in hand or posing for photos here. It’s a good place to produce for knickknacks and handicrafts, or just take in a bit of ocean breeze.
Plaza de la Independencia
Independencia is the heart of. It was from here that Panama declared its independence from Spain in 1821, and its separation from Colombia in 1903.
Nowadays it offers shaded benches for people watching French architecture, bust of Panama’s founding fathers, and a race casino in its center.
Situated in Plaza de la Independencia, southeastern corner, in an interesting building that dates to 1874, is the Panama Canal Museum. It outlines the canal’s development and its transfer from French to American to Panamanian hands.
To the west is Iglesia de la Merced, noteworthy because it’s made from stones recovered from Panama Viejo and dates to 1680. It’s very popular for local weddings.
Casco Viejo is where Panama City residents go when they want a night on the town, its trendy eateries and bars with carefully curated ambiance and international menus are places to see and be seen. If you’re after fine dining and drinking, Casco has a huge range of options for you. It also has options for those interested in more humble, classically Panamanian dining experiences, including Fonda’s, which are roadside restaurants that serve no frills local dishes, food markets and sidewalk vendors.
Casco is the social heart of Panama City, drawing locals, experts and travelers from around the world. Whether you’re here for a leisurely brunch, a rooftop cocktail, live music, or just to wander around its cobblestone streets. There is always something happening. Immerse yourself in its history beautiful architecture, eclectic cafes and restaurants, and vibrant cultural scene all set along Panama City’s stunning Pacific waterfront.
