Up in the highlands of Panama’s Chiriqui province sits a beautiful little gem of a mountain town called Boquete. The history of this town goes back as far as 600 BC as experts have determined by the presence of prehistoric petroglyphs that have been discovered in the region. For a long time, Boquete served as a refuge for the indigenous tribes of Panama until it was colonized in the 19th century. Today, Boquete is a popular destination for expats and travellers alike. The town has a vibrant music and arts scene, wonderful hiking trails that wind through the mountains around Boquete, access to Panama’s largest volcano, and a wide range of restaurants offering delicious food. I have been living in the Chiriqui province just outside of Boquete for several months now, and have been fortunate enough to have had the chance to sample many of the restaurants in Boquete. One major thing that impressed me about this town’s food was the breakfast. For local Panamanians, breakfast food is typically pretty similar to what they eat for the other meals of the day, and so it can be quite difficult to find what Westerners would consider breakfast food. Of course, if travelling in a foreign country, you should make an attempt to eat the way that the locals eat, but sometimes you just need a bite to eat that reminds you of home. For me, breakfast brings me back to my little hometown in New Jersey, and Boquete has plenty to offer in the way of breakfast food. Here are the 10 best breakfast spots in Boquete, Panama:
1. Sugar & Spice Bakery - Located right on Boquete’s Calle Principal, Sugar & Spice is a popular meeting spot for Boquete’s expat community, and with good reason. They offer a large variety of creative sandwich options that are all served on delicious bread that is baked in-house. My personal favorite breakfast item is the breakfast burrito, which I like to enjoy with a cup of their locally-grown coffee and a glass of the fruit-infused water that is free for all customers at Sugar & Spice. Eating at Sugar & Spice is a good call any time of the day, but if you’re looking for a nice breakfast to start your day off right, Sugar & Spice is a great place to do just that. Customers can enjoy a breakfast at Sugar & Spice and go home with an entire loaf of one of their many varieties of freshly baked bread from their bakery.
2. Buckle Tip Coffee Studio - If you are taking the bus to Boquete, Buckle Tip is one of the first businesses you will encounter when you get into town. Located right in Boquete’s central plaza, Buckle Tip is a tribute to the long history of coffee production in Boquete. Arturo, the owner of the business, is very knowledgeable about the history of coffee in Boquete and is always willing to share his knowledge with customers. Apart from their delicious coffee, Buckle Tip also has a menu of delicious food items including avocado toast topped with locally-produced white cheese and strawberry toast that is out-of-this-world. And to finish your meal, they also have all kinds of delicious pastries on display that will pair great with your coffee.
3. Morton’s Bakehouse - Proclaimed the home of “The Rye Guy”, Morton’s Bakehouse does indeed make a killer loaf of Jewish rye bread. But it doesn’t stop there, Morton’s also offers an incredible range of pastries and some awesome breakfast items as well. If you’re anything like me, every once in a while you get a craving that only a bagel will satisfy. Morton’s is a perfect place to scratch that itch. They serve bagels and lox that will make you feel like you’re sitting in a Jewish deli in the heart of New York City. They also have an egg salad sandwich on a mini baguette that I highly recommend for those of us seeking the comfort of a Western breakfast. Finish your meal off with a slice of their beautiful babka, which is a braided sweet bread with icing drizzled over the top.
4. Punto de Encuentro Cafe - For those of you who don’t speak Spanish, this translates to “meeting point”. Señora Olga, the business’s owner does a great job of cultivating a welcoming environment for locals and foreigners alike. Punto de Encuentro offers a wide selection of Panamanian food as well as Western breakfast options. If you feel like eating like a local, they offer hojaldras (which are pieces of fried bread), traditional Panamanian corn tortillas, and bistec de carne (which is thin cut steak cooked with onions). If you are craving some Western food, they offer delicious fluffy pancakes, lovely omelettes, and even Kentish eggs. Punto de Encuentro also has outdoor seating available in a pretty garden where you can enjoy the sounds of nature while you eat Señora Olga’s food.
5. El Parador - While this spot is a bit farther from the main strip of Boquete, it is well worth going to, not only for the food, but for the views. The drive up to El Parador leads you through the beautiful hills of Boquete and you will be glad you decided to go to El Parador even before you arrive. They offer accomodation at an affordable rate, but are always happy to welcome guests who just want to grab a bite to eat. For breakfast they offer pancakes, French toast, omelettes, and ham and cheese sandwiches, all served with fresh fruit that comes from the local area. If you’re going to El Parador, you can’t leave without trying their delicious banana bread, it pairs great with a cup of their locally-grown coffee. And enjoying these wonderful foods while looking out over the beautiful Boquete valley makes for an overall pleasurable sensory experience.
6. Café Central - Offering the first drive-thru coffee in Boquete, Café Central is a great place to grab a coffee on the go. However, if you have the time, I would recommend having a sit-down breakfast. They have a nice balcony area where you can enjoy a cup of their local coffee in the open air. They also offer some delicious breakfast sandwiches and pastries to start your day off. The cafe is part of the Hotel Central Boquete, which is a nice place to stay while travelling through Boquete if you don’t want to stay in a hostel.
7. Malu Cafe & Bakery - Malu is a hidden gem of Boquete’s culinary culture. It sits a little bit further from Boquete’s central plaza down the road toward the city of David, but for the culinary adventurer, it is not a place to be overlooked. For breakfast, they serve a combination of traditional Panamanian breakfasts and Western breakfasts. My top recommendation at Malu would have to be the Omelette Malu, made with caramelized onions, mozzarella cheese, and served with brioche bread that is made in-house. They also have a phenomenal lunch menu at Malu which includes an Asian pulled pork sandwich that is to-die-for, and they have daily specials that make going to Malu a new experience every time. I could eat all three meals in a day at Malu and be happy and satisfied.
8. Boquete Sandwich Shop - When talking about the best breakfast places in Boquete, it is hard not to mention Boquete Sandwich Shop, which offers an extensive menu of breakfast items that are served all day. I am always reminded of home when I eat one of their classic bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches while drinking a cup of black coffee. They also have many other classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict, huevos rancheros, 2 birds in a nest, and more. And to pair with your breakfast, try one of their creative and interesting options from their drink menu.
9. La Ceiba Bakery - Just a short walk from Boquete’s central plaza, La Ceiba offers a warm and friendly environment with great breakfast. They offer wonderful flexibility on their menu, as they allow you to order by the portion so you can create the perfect breakfast plate for you. You might order one pancake, one piece of French toast, 2 eggs, and 2 portions of bacon, or even more if you’re really hungry! The food at La Ceiba is not only delicious, but it is also very affordable and among the best bang-for-your-buck spots in Boquete.
10. Kotowa Coffee House - While I typically like to recommend local businesses over franchises, Kotowa Coffee House in Boquete is a lovely spot to have breakfast. There are Kotowa Coffee Houses all of Panama, but the one in Boquete is by far the nicest that I have been to. They have a nice little courtyard with a fountain where you can enjoy one of their fancy coffee drinks and a bite to eat off their food menu. Kotowa has a nice selection of sandwiches and pastries that are always fresh. This is a favorite spot among the youth of Boquete, since it is located quite close to the Boquete school.
Whether you’re just passing through Boquete for a day or two or you’re planning to stay longer, I highly recommend seeing what Boquete has to offer in terms of restaurants and street food. This mountain town is filled with culture of all kinds, and there is certainly no shortage of interesting food to try.
And if you’re heading to Bocas del Toro after your stay in Boquete, check out our article Traveller’s Guide: Boquete to Bocas del Toro!