4h Cooking Class in Panama City: 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Immerse yourself in the beautiful culture of Panama with this boozy, 10-recipe cooking experience!
In this fun Panama City activity, you’ll prepare delicious recipes with our friendly and entertaining cook, Winnie.
This interactive cooking and dining experience is a delightful way to:
+ Learn Panamanian cooking techniques of dishes like Carimanõlas and Butter Cassava
+ Savor fresh wholesome ingredients
+ Engage in spirited conversation
Enjoy social interaction while indulging in incredible drinks, appetizers, main dishes and desserts.
While preparing this delicious meal, take pics of your dishes, group and new friends! Post to social for many oohs-and-aahs and to rack up those likes!
Many of our past guests tell us that this was their best dinner and activity in Panama!
We look forward to cooking and dining with you!
*Vegetarian meals and non-alcohol beverage recipes are available upon request. We can accommodate any food restriction request.
** None of our dishes contain pork!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The best way to understand a culture isn’t through restaurants. It’s inside a real Panamanian home kitchen, cooking and talking alongside someone who grew up with these recipes. And that’s what you’ll do here. You’ll join a small group and prepare traditional dishes such as Pico de Gallo and Fish Ceviche, guided step by step in a relaxed, welcoming setting. As you cook, your local host shares practical techniques and cultural details that rarely appear in cookbooks but make all the difference when recreating these dishes at home. Most ingredients are easy to find worldwide, so you’ll be able to easily recreate these dishes. Along the way, candid photos are taken so you leave with real memories. Afterward, you’ll receive our digital recipe book and a curated Panama City Food Guide to keep exploring local flavors. When everything is ready, the group sits down to enjoy the meal they prepared together. A homemade mojito is served, glasses are raised, and the kitchen turns into a shared table filled with conversation and laughter. You leave with practical skills you’ll actually use, genuine memories, and the confidence of our 5-star money-back guarantee for total peace of mind.
Sample Menu
starter
Mojitos
Classic mojitos served unlimited throughout the experience.
starter
Pico de Gallo
Traditional tomato-based salsa commonly served in Panama.
starter
Fish ceviche
Panamanian-style ceviche made with Pacific catch-of-the-day fish.
starter
Carimanõlas
Fried yucca filled with ground beef, popular street and bar food.
main
Butter Cassava with herbs
Cooked cassava with butter and herbs, a common local side dish.
main
Arroz con pollo
Classic Panamanian rice and chicken dish with vegetables.
dessert
Arroz con piña
Pineapple-based rice dessert served at celebrations.
main
Picante sauce (Chombo Pepper)
Traditional Panamanian hot sauce served on the side.
dessert
Chicha de Saril - Iced tea
Iced hibiscus drink traditionally served in Panama.
dessert
Chicheme
Traditional corn-based drinkable dessert.
What‘s Included
Recipe booklet in digital format to recreate dishes at home
Small group for a personalized experience
5-Star Experience Guarantee - or your money back
All ingredients, utensils, and apron provided — nothing to bring
Hands-on cooking experience guided by a bilingual local instructor
Full meal (appetizer, main dish, dessert) + unlimited drinks
Options
Shared class + market tour
Market tour + cooking class: Discover lots of Central American food items, fruits and drinks to try while in Panama or to bring back home as gifts
Duration: 4 hours: slightly over 4hours as the market tour takes 1hrs and the class 3hrs
Shared Group Cooking class
Private cooking class
Min. of 2 participants require
Reviews
388 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Cooking!
Odjian M,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Food was amazing! I definitely recommend!
I love it
Roving03931364232,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unique experience . The chief didactic , cordial .
Wonderful experience
846ricb,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a wonderful experience. Chef Winnie was exceptional, taught us to make wonderful dishes and they all tasted great. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to learn how to cook Panamanian meals.
Great course
Claire D,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great cooking class with Winnie, we made several dishes, it was very good. Thank you, Winnie.
Chef Winnie was sweet and a knowledgeable chef!
Voyage64564291284,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Chef Winnie was very welcoming and a great teacher. She shows you how to do something and then has you finish the process. All the recipes she showed us were delicious. We will definitely be making them at home.
A must do!
Trek788813,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a beautiful experience! We prepared 10 dishes. Everything was extremely delicious and easy tobmake!
Great Fun and Fantastic Meal!!!
Shannon C,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What a fun night!! I highly recommend this experience to anyone traveling to Panama City! It made for a truly memorable experience and is great for a solo traveler, couples or larger groups. Our chef, Winnie, created a relaxed, environment in which to learn and make new friends. She is a wonderfully skilled chef and instructor - encouraging questions and full, hands-on participation and made the lesson interesting for novices and seasoned cooks alike. The menu was varied and included savory and sweet traditional Panamanian dishes and beverages. And the resulting meal was incredible!! Winnie's guidance made me feel like I could really make these dishes on my own when I got home. And she sends everyone the recipes after the class so you can impress your friends back home. One thing I would do is have a little snack before you go. I did, based on another review, and it's a good tip. It's hard not to get hungry preparing all this amazing food. I would do this again in a heartbeat!!
Cozy, hospitable, accommodating, and delicious!
Bobby W,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Chef Winnie was so friendly and informative. We loved our experience and would recommend it for other couples or families!
Good food
amirp611,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00I enjoyed that not only I was able to eat the food I learned how to make so now I can enjoy more of this delicious food.
Great Food & Good Times
Crystal H,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Chef Winnie was great! We had a fun time learning new recipes and getting to try the food. Definitely some recipes I will be making at home again! I would highly recommend this class
From US$95.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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