8 Best Restaurants in Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama

Wooden tables, plastic chairs, and a tin roof hardly do justice to the spectacular six-course, prix-fixe dinner served here. A great deal of effort (and love) goes into each dish, prepared by Spanish chef Monica, who abandoned her law profession to be with German engineer "Ossi" (who serves as the restaurant's charming waiter). Together they have managed to break the barriers of Bocas's typical fare with a tasting menu that includes tuna carpaccio, spinach salad, and pork tenderloin with roasted potatoes and blue cheese sauce. Adding to the experience is the sound of crashing waves near the open-air restaurant. The menu changes daily, and special vegetarian courses can be provided upon request. Since the restaurant is surrounded by lush vegetation, mosquito coils are lit beside each table to keep the bugs away.

As one of Boca’s first restaurants catering to tourists, this waterfront bar and grill has been offering fresh ingredients with a view since 1997. Perched over the water, the back deck is one of the most pleasant places in town to have a meal since it overlooks the sea and nearby Isla Carenero. Start with the bean dip blended with cream, and move on to tasty dishes like the Greek wrap dribbled in homemade tzatziki or the fresh catch of the day. The menu ranges from filet mignon to the more daring jambalaya, enchiladas, and ginger-orange shrimp. Salads, burgers, and sandwiches made with imported meats and cheeses makes it a popular lunch spot. Save room for the Bocas Brownie made with organic Cerutti chocolate. Breakfast is served daily and there’s Happy Hour from 5 to 7.

"Dive," "hole in the wall," "joint,". . . Bocas's expat community has various terms of endearment for this Mexican restaurant a block west of the central park. All agree that the fresh margaritas and Mexican food here are top-notch. The homemade salsas crafted with roasted onion, tomato, and pepper dress up the enchiladas, burritos, and taco salads. Dine inside the small restaurant itself—Mexican music videos are usually playing—or outdoors on the more spacious covered patio.

You can get authentic Indian cuisine in Bocas del Toro at this cozy café atop a gift shop. Owner Sunanda Mehra is a Canadian of Punjabi descent who raided her aunt's cookbook before running off to Panama. You can savor such improbable delicacies as her butter chicken, shrimp masala, mattar paneer, or any of a half-dozen vegetable dishes. Choose your level of heat on the curry dishes, slowly cooked with a blend of colorful spices. You can also request to have any dish wrapped in a flour tortilla. Be sure to try a refreshing fruit lassi, prepared the traditional way with homemade yogurt, rosewater, sugar, and cardamom.

Is there any better name than "Raw" for a sushi restaurant? The Canadian owner prefers to refer to her restaurant's cuisine as Japanese fusion, and the menu here expands beyond classic sushi to include shrimp tempura and salad rolls. This lively place has become a favorite among Bocas's large expat community, but all are welcome, resident and visitor alike. Dine inside if your group counts more than two. The tables overlook the water. Smaller tables line a long pier jutting out into the bay. Raw does a brisk business each evening during its 4–6 pm happy hour.

Perched over the sea near the center of Old Bank, this rustic, open-air restaurant is known for serving authentic bocatoreña food. House specialties include Caribbean chicken (in a mildly spicy sauce), fresh lobster, shrimp, and conch, listed as "snail" on the menu. They are served with a hearty mix of coconut rice, red beans, and a simple cabbage salad. The ambience—a thatch roof with tables and chairs made from tree trunks—is equally authentic.