13 Best Nightlife in Downtown Panama City, Panama City

One of Panama's hottest dance clubs, Altabar has DJs from Wednesday to Saturday and a sleek decor of white sofas and a black tile floor. There's a mezzanine for those who prefer to watch the bodies moving to the techno beat from a safe distance.

This pool bar and grill on the 13th floor of the Trump Hotel is a popular weekend spot, thanks to its impressive view of the sea and the skycrapers of Costa del Este. An elevator at the back of the building offers access to the bar for nonguests.

The pool bar on the roof of the Manrey Hotel is a popular weekend spot. DJs pump the crowd up and the danger of somebody falling into the pool increases with every martini served. The glowing-blue lap pool is surrounded by canopy couches, arm chairs, and tables, beyond which twinkle the city lights, making it a splendid spot for a drink any night.

The Hotel El Panamá is home to a large Crown Casino that is popular with Panamanians. It includes a bar that regularly hosts live music and DJs, and also offers decent lunch specials during the day.

El Pavo Real Panamá is an attractive, British-inspired pub on a quiet stretch of Vía Argentina. It has a long bar, indoor and outdoor seating, two pool tables, and serves bar food including fish-and-chips. They often have live music, mostly rock, on weekends, but you can always get a quiet drink on the front terrace.

Habibi's is mainly a restaurant, and there are better dining options nearby, but its covered terrace is a good spot for a late-night drink on weekends, since it sits at the center of the Calle Uruguay action, and they serve till well past midnight.

The second floor of this massive hotel has two bars that are sometimes extremely crowded: Bling, a dance club, and Stage Bar, which hosts live bands. On the 62nd floor is Bits, a bar with indoor and outdoor seating.

Istmo Brew Pub, next to Sevilla Suites hotel, serves several overpriced home brews, as well as the city's best selection of imported beers. It's a popular spot, with seating out front, inside, and on a back patio. There are pool tables and music. Sample the beers before ordering a house brew.

Manolo's is a café and restaurant on busy Vía Veneto with a wraparound terrace cooled by ceiling fans. There are better places to eat, but the terrace is a great place for people watching, a quiet drink, or a late-night snack, like an emparedado (sandwich).

This large lounge, located in the Radisson Decapolis hotel, was once one of the city's hottest lounges, but it's now a nice spot for a quiet drink.

The Panama Marriott has a two-story Royal Casino next door that is quite popular with locals. It has live music most nights, and sometimes hosts concerts by the country's most popular groups.

The Wine Bar, located on the ground floor of the Las Vegas Hotel Suites, has live Latin music nightly, mostly mellow duos or a guitarist. They have a decent selection of wines by the glass and serve good pizza and other snacks till late.

The Veneto Hotel and Casino has one of the city's biggest and most popular casinos, which includes craps and poker, and a sea of slot machines. Expect live music, Panamanians and foreigners who simply come to party, and lots of Colombian prostitutes.