4-hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class And Markets Experience

A wonderful experience. Very well planned and administered. Lots of great unexpected recipes. Very knowledgeable, professional and fun.

My husband and I could not be happier with our cooking experience! Jorge is an excellent teacher, and having the opportunity to have him show us around both the San Felipe market and the Mercado de Mariscos was wonderful. Copies of the recipes for the dishes we made were in my inbox when we finished the class. Honestly, everything was absolutely delicious!

My husband and I learned a lot and had a great time. The food was amazing! Thank you for the experience!

This was a fun experience. There were only three of us in the class which made it more personalized and hands-on. Our chef, Jorge did a wonderful job as instructing and did a deep dive into each dish and its ingredients. We also enjoyed the market visit to the San Felipe Neri Public Market and Mercado De Mariscos. Of course the best part was tasting everything at the end!

Without a doubt, this cooking class was the highlight of our trip to Panama! The class was small, with just seven participants seated around the chef's kitchen, which was perfectly designed for a hands-on experience. We began with a short walk through the local fruit and vegetable market, followed by a visit to the fish market to pick out the fresh ingredients we would use in our cooking lesson. It was a fun way to learn about local ingredients before heading back to the kitchen. The class was truly interactive. We ground corn for the tamales, chopped vegetables and fresh fish for the ceviche, and grated yucca to make carimañolas. We prepared ceviche, tamales, carimañolas, and plantains, all served with our choice of sangria. The meal was delicious and very generous, and they even packed up our leftovers for us to enjoy later. Chef Jorge was fantastic. He explained each ingredient and cooking technique, answered every question with enthusiasm, and made everyone feel comfortable participating. His passion for Panamanian cuisine and his friendly teaching style made this an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend this class to anyone visiting Panama. It was an authentic, fun, and delicious experience that we'll always remember.

We arrived and was politely welcomed. The cooking class was held at the bar. The instructor Jorge was fun and knowledgeable. The cooking class included a walk down to the San Philipe Market and the Mercado Marisco Fish market. At the markets Jorge gave us info about the food and places we we saw making it a bit of a food tour as well. We made 3 items- Ceviche, Tamales and Carimaniolas all delicious all gluten free. We enjoyed delicious, juices and Sangria

class was actually private as only myself and 13 year old granddaughter who loves to cook booked. It was amazing and we both loved it! Did not expect to dine on our creations thought it would be just taste test. We were wrong and it was so much fun as a result! We had sent message that we were vegetarian which the school had not gotten but they were so flexible and accommodating , they just took a moment to regroup and carried on. Easy location to find and is a restaurant as well. 5 stars!

Noris, Chef Jorge and his sous chef were beyond friendly and helpful. The market trip was interesting and assisting with the preparation of our meal was fun.. Food was good - do not be shy about asking for a to-go bag -- it's a lot of food!!

I started with a nonchalant attitude since I rarely cook. However, it turned out to be quite an experience. The chef and the staff were excellent. The owners came over and chatted it up with us. We also enjoyed the neighborhood and market tour. This was organized by the best tour guide in Panama City, Noris

I will tell everybody about this experience. This was one of the best we’ve ever had here people were fantastic. Food was great. Cooking class was great. Would actually do this again.

What an excellent experience. Noris our tour guide and translator explained everything about traditional Panamanian cooking as she walked us to the 3 markets and the local Fonda restaurants. Jorge our chef was very pleasant and helpful as we prepared our meal. We enjoyed the delicious meal we prepared and learned a lot of cooking tips such as cooking with a low flame, the purpose of certain seasonings and you can’t rush a Panamanian meal. My favorites were the sweet plantain and the fried cassava. My husband like the tamales and plantain chips. I recommend this tour for everyone who is curious to learn about Panamanian cooking.

The manual transmission is a lot of fun. The team was friendly and helpful. It was hot, no rain or overcast well but worth it. I’m looking to buy one of these toys when I return to the states.

Great chef, excellent atmosphere and delicious food. Would repeat 10/10!

The class was great! The staff and his assistant, Norris, did an amazing job. We enjoyed everything about the course and really learned a lot. Just a heads-up, it is a little lengthy, so make sure you have some time set aside. Overall, it was well worth the time and a great learning experience.

This was one of our favorite experiences in Panama City! I highly recommend it! First, the food is amazing, we will definitely return to the restaurant. But this is so much more than just good food! We learned about how the food relates to the Panamanian culture and how families often prepare it together, making healthy and delicious dishes from scratch. Everyone participates in making the food, doing different parts of the dishes, as you learn techniques to make your food more flavorful than what you are likely preparing at home! The chef also provided information on different ways you can personalize the dishes to your specific tastes, with simple alternatives to have different takes on the recipes. It was really fun and informative, and we all ended up chatting together as we went through the afternoon. While some of the ingredients were simmering, we walked to the public market and the fish market, about 2.2 km in total. If you are able bodied, this is an easy loop on sidewalks. The chef showed us the different parts of the markets and provided lots of information on fresh ingredients that are available in both locations. This is where the locals shop for very reasonably priced food. The food is sourced nearby and vendors are from local farms and fisheries. Both markets were very clean and are checked several times a day to make sure everything is up to the appropriate standards. You are supporting the local economy when you shop and eat here, not the giant corporations. You are welcome to purchase items while you are there, but there is absolutely no pressure to do so from the chef or the vendors. You can ask the chef as many questions as you like and get tips on how to pick out produce or fish that will fit your cooking needs! Once we returned to the restaurant, we finished preparing the dishes with the fresh food the chef purchased. Again, everyone is able to participate and ask questions. At the end, we had a delicious meal with several different Panamanian dishes! The only downside is that you have to be careful or you will be too full to try everything! A special note: To those with food allergies or celiac, this food experience was safe for us! We had two people with celiac and one with a serious allergy in our experience (two groups of two people). When you register, there is a place where you can provide comments to the provider. Once we arrived, we let the chef know again and the recipes were adjusted to be safe for us. It's rare for us to be able to do any type of food experience and knowing that we were safe was greatly appreciated. Additionally, we did not lose any of the flavor of the food - it was not bland or boring - all the delicious flavors were there, just with slight modifications to keep everyone safe! Overall, I would highly recommend this experience! If you can't fit it into your schedule, definitely try the restaurant for lunch or dinner - absolutely delicious!

This was hands-down one of the best cooking classes I have ever taken, and I have already recommended it to multiple people visiting Panama City. The experience was very thoughtfully organized. We started by preparing parts of the meal first, and while the dishes were simmering and cooking, we went on the market tour. We walked through parts of the city, including Chinatown, before arriving at one of the large local food markets. That alone was such a cool experience because it felt authentic and gave us a chance to learn more about local ingredients and everyday Panamanian food culture. There is also a prepared foods section at the market where vendors sell dishes until they sell out, usually by midday. Everything looked incredible, so I would definitely recommend stopping by early one day if you want to try more authentic local food. Chef Jorge was absolutely fantastic. He explained everything clearly, made the class approachable for all skill levels, and checked in about dietary restrictions before cooking. He was very accommodating to anyone who did not eat fish, gluten, etc. We made everything on the menu ourselves, and afterward he sent all of the recipes so we could recreate the dishes at home. One detail I really appreciated afterward was how thoughtful the pre-arrival information was. He included helpful travel tips, cab phone numbers, and recommendations that were genuinely useful during our stay. Our class was very small, only four people, which made the experience feel personal and interactive. We were very well taken care of with fresh sangria, water, and delicious food throughout the class. The chicken tamales were especially memorable. Everyone was friendly, relaxed, and engaged, and we learned a lot not only about cooking techniques but also about Panamanian ingredients and food traditions. I would absolutely recommend this class to anyone visiting Panama City. It felt authentic, welcoming, organized, and genuinely special from beginning to end.

This tour was really fun but it's more enjoyable if you don't mind being in the kitchen. You get to learn about some traditional Panamanian dishes and assist in cooking them. The free drinks to the experience and walk to the markets, including the fish market make it more enjoyable. At the end you get to sit and enjoy the meals your prepared. They are quite filling so go with an open appetite !

What a well run and organized operation! The class moved along efficiently and we all were busy helping to prep the food and learning about different ingredients and techniques. It was so cool to walk to the fish, meat and produce market and see Jorge interact with the locals while teaching us how to maneuver. The food we prepared tasted even better because we knew the ingredients and effort put into each dish. I highly recommend this excursion. We were a family of parents and two teen boys. There was another group of four with us, and once we finished preparing the dishes, we sat all together in the dining room and got to chat amongst ourselves so we got to meet new people too!

This was an amazing class. In addition to making and tasting delicious food, we learned about Panamanian cuisine as well as the herbs and spices used here. Chef Jorge and the rest of the staff were wonderful. The class is scheduled for four hours and even though we ran over they made sure we still had the full experience instead of rushing to get us out the door.

Such a fun morning of prep, shopping, more prep and eating! I highly recommend this for visitors Chef Jorge patiently taught us and then guided us through a tour of the two major markets. The end result was an amazing meal and great memories!!

This was one of the absolute best experiences we have had! We learned so much about Panamanian food and how to prepare it, and the trip to the mercados for the fish, seasonings and vegetables was amazing! Highly recommend!!!

Jorge was absolutely amazing! I learned so much and thought the experience being able to walk to the market was a nice experience. We even met the owner of the restaurant and he's a cool guy as well. I would definitely recommend this. It'll be a highlight for sure.

Jorge was a great cooking teacher. He provided why certain foods/spices are used and showed the processes clearly. He also injected humor. The food was really good as well.

We loved this ! Atmosphere was great, learning the new cooking skills and about the Panamanian spices we will defiantly use at home . The chef was very entertaining and informative . The sangrias were VERY good !! Will definitely return for an addition cooking lesson excursion !

This was the highlight of our anniversary trip! What an amazing experience for us to cook together! The chef was awesome! We loved how we learned about the Panamanian culture and walked to the market to purchase food to cook. Definitely will do it again!

Do it!!! We did the 12:30 cooking class and really enjoyed our afternoon. We made different loc recipes. I liked that it was inside the restaurant where they are also making Panamanian food. The Chef that taught us was funny and helpful. We also walked to the meat market/fruit market. We bought some fruit there for us to take home. We also bought some beef tallow which was all natural for your skin!! And cacao chocolate. Then we went to the fish market and got to see how they sell the fish. The walk to the market was not very long so that was good. During the cooking class you get to chop and mix things as you go along. You also get unlimited alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks which was nice. We were very full after the class and were happy!!! Overall we were satisfied. Good afternoon spent.

Not 100% as advertised. Most of the cooking was done "before" we walked to the markets, which we had hoped would be the other way round. The markets are interesting, but you go through the meat and produce one quickly while you spend time waiting at the fish market. The food we made was good and we enjoyed the experience and company of the others who attended (by the way, the classes are small - max 8-10 people).

Must do cooking class. Fresh ingredients, delicious dishes and going to the markets added knowledge to this fun and tasty experience. We had hands on cooking and so much fun. Met some great people and our Chef, Jorge, was fun and kept the class moving with humor yet focus! The entire staff was great! My sisters and I enjoyed this class, it far exceeded our expectations. The ceviche was top notch as were all of the dishes and the trip to the markets was beneficial and fun. This is a must do in Panama location was central in Casco Viejo which is the perfect place to find yourself before or after this cooking class. We would take this class again!!

This was a hands on and great fun cooking class. Chef Jorge was fun -- he made sure that everyone was involved and participated. Chef Jorge shared his family recipes and insights into Panamanian culture. Helps the visitor to connect to the food and culture. Going to the local fish and vegetable market was instructive. The authentic Panamanian food we made and ate was delicious. We highly recommend this experience.

It was a highlight of my trip. I had never taken a cooking class before but after eating a fabulous lunch I had to learn how to make the tamales so unlike the Mexican kind. This was not just a demonstration but hands on. Chef was lots of fun!!!!

Fun class & delicious food. Jorge is an excellent instructor & we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon cooking & eating Panamanian classic dishes.

What a great time we had today with our cooking class. Learning to make incredible dishes and while making new friends, it was a fantastic experience for my husband myself.

It was wonderful . The chef was fun and entertaining. The food was delicious. Everyone got to participate. Everyone could see and be apart of. Like going to the markets also.

Excellent experience, way more than we expected. Jorge the Chef is very Knowledgeable, patient and pleasant. I recommend and would do it again!! Karin and Ania

This was an amazing opportunity to visit & learn about the fish & vegetable markets & to prepare several Panamanian dishes. Our chef was a wonderful teacher ;). Highly recommend this experience.

Had a fantastic time, the experience was enlightening and I enjoyed every visiting the restaurant and seeing the produce and meat market. Javier was so helpful and he showed us everything we need to know & let’s talk about how delicious my tamale was. It was amazing & highly recommend this class.

We had a terrific morning in this class. Jorge was an excellent instructor and gave much advice beyond the actual recipes such as best fish to select for ceviche, etc. The class was well organized with us getting the marines going and things all chopped before visiting the fish, meat and produce markets. We then returned and cooked up five wonderful dishes. The recipes were emailed to us after the class. It was excellent and so delicious! Can’t wait to make these recipes at home!

Chef Jorge was fun and knowledgeable. He showed us how to make 5 recipes which included appetizer, main dish and desert. We walked as a group to the market where he explained some local customs, produce, juices, and we got to sample things and had an opportunity to purchase items to bring home. The meal was delicious - special accommodations were made for my allergies & other dietary restrictions without a blink of an eye. Beverages were included in the meal and each person made their own selections (water, juice, beer, sangria just a few) I highly recommend - you’ll get your moneys worth no doubt.

A fun, entertaining 4 hours where we learned how to make delicious Panamanian food. Chef Jorge was efficient, instructive and friendly- a warm hearted guy. The class is hands on. The trip to the market places was really interesting. I highly recommend this class.

Although it ran longer than time stated,we enjoyed our experience. Ive actually found some of the ingredients locally and look forward to utilizing what I learned in this class

Amazing food and a great experience. We had a large family group (8 of us) and they went out of their way to make sure that we had a good time. Both of my kids (ages 11 and 9) had a great time chopping and cooking (and they even ate onions—in the ceviche). The owner came by several times during the class to check in on us to see if we needed anything else. Additionally, the market tour taught us exactly where to go to get the freshest ingredients for our meal (and anything we might want to cook on our own while visiting). Our chef/tour guide also seemed to know almost everyone at the market (and even along the route to and from the market). This tour has definitely been a highlight of our trip this far.

It’s fun and a must do! Jorge was great. It’s a small group and interactive. We went back a few days later for lunch.

Great experience! Jorge was awesome and we learned so much about the Panamanian food and culture. Definitely would recommend!

Great experience. I did the evening class which lasted about 5.5 hours. It was a 10/10. It was very interactive and Jorge was amazing as well as his staff. You get unlimited drinks and make 4 dishes. They cater to all dietary needs. Just be mindful that half way through the class you take a mile walk to the market and back. Most of our class took an uber back to the restaurant. I wasnt expecting it but completed the walk. Otherwise I would recommend.

This experience is 100% worth it! Chef Jorge and the other staff are super nice and we had an amazing time! The ingredients were all locally sourced in Panama and top notch. I recommend the morning class as your food is ready for a very nice lunch.

This was a super cool experience! We got to be quite involved with the cooking process, got recipes to try at home (very excited about the plantains) and went to the markets to pick out the freshest ingredients and learn about Panamanian food and culture. We went back to the Markets a few days later for lunch and to grab some cool and unique products. Highly recommend!

First class experience. Excellent chef, Jorge. Very gracious and friendly hosts. Restaurant small and well appointed. Cooking bar 1st class

Great fun. Learned some skills. The chef kept us on task with humor. The food was yummy. The highlight for me was the tour of the vegetable, fruit and fish markets. Met wonderful fellow travelers.

Excellent, excellent, excellent! The 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience was absolutely phenomenal — an unforgettable culinary adventure from start to finish. The chef, staff, and restaurant owner were incredibly gracious and welcoming. The chef’s knowledge and passion for Panamanian cuisine made the entire experience both fun and educational. And the food? Hands down, the best Panamanian dishes I’ve ever tasted — including the best tamale ever. We were lucky to share the class with a wonderful group of people we’d never met before — and we’ve already reconnected back in the U.S.! We savored every moment of the experience and would do it again (and again!) without hesitation.