If you ask long-term residents of Panama where they shop when they want the highest quality groceries, fresh produce, imported foods, and an enjoyable shopping experience, one name comes up again and again: Riba Smith. More than simply a supermarket, Riba Smith has built a reputation as one of the country's premier grocery chains, offering an impressive selection of local and international products in clean, spacious, and well-organized stores.
Whether you are a tourist staying in Panama City, an expat settling into your new home, or a backpacker looking to stock up before heading into the mountains or the islands, visiting a Riba Smith store offers an interesting glimpse into modern Panamanian life. It is one of those places where shopping becomes more than just filling a basket. It becomes an opportunity to discover the incredible variety of food available in one of Latin America's most internationally connected countries.
Walking through the front doors, the first thing many visitors notice is how bright, spacious, and organized everything feels. Wide aisles make browsing comfortable, products are neatly displayed, and the stores have an atmosphere that feels calm even during busy shopping hours. Compared with the crowded supermarkets many travellers are used to back home, Riba Smith often feels surprisingly relaxed.
One of the biggest attractions is the produce department. Panama is blessed with a tropical climate that allows an astonishing variety of fruits and vegetables to be grown throughout the year, and Riba Smith showcases this abundance beautifully. Colourful displays of pineapples, papayas, bananas, mangoes, avocados, melons, dragon fruit, citrus fruits, coconuts, and passion fruit fill the shelves. Depending on the season, shoppers may also discover lesser-known tropical fruits that many visitors have never tasted before.
Vegetables are equally impressive. Much of the country's finest produce comes from the fertile volcanic soils around Boquete, Volcán, and Cerro Punta in Chiriquí Province. Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, herbs, peppers, onions, potatoes, strawberries, and leafy greens are displayed with care, reflecting Panama's strong agricultural tradition.
For travellers who have been eating simple meals while backpacking, the produce section alone can feel like paradise. Fresh ingredients make it easy to prepare healthy meals or enjoy tropical fruit that often tastes far sweeter than imported versions sold overseas.
One of Riba Smith's greatest strengths is its bakery. The aroma of freshly baked bread welcomes shoppers long before they reach the bakery counter. Warm rolls, crusty baguettes, soft sandwich loaves, croissants, pastries, cakes, cookies, and desserts tempt visitors throughout the day. Many locals stop specifically to pick up fresh bread for breakfast or dinner, while travellers often leave with enough pastries to enjoy on tomorrow's bus journey.
The deli section is equally impressive. Prepared salads, cheeses, sliced meats, roasted chicken, sandwiches, and ready-to-eat meals offer convenient options for busy shoppers. If you are planning a picnic beside the Panama Canal, at a Pacific beach, or during a mountain hike, the deli makes assembling a delicious lunch remarkably easy.
Seafood lovers quickly discover another highlight. With coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Panama enjoys access to exceptionally fresh seafood. Depending on the season, Riba Smith stocks snapper, corvina, tuna, mahi mahi, shrimp, octopus, and other local catches. Many residents consider the seafood counters among the best in the country.
The meat department also reflects the supermarket's emphasis on quality. Fresh cuts of beef, pork, chicken, and specialty meats are carefully displayed, while knowledgeable staff can often assist with specific requests. Whether preparing a barbecue, a family dinner, or stocking up for a holiday, shoppers usually find an excellent selection.
Coffee enthusiasts often spend far longer than expected exploring the coffee aisle. Panama produces some of the world's finest coffee, including the legendary Geisha variety that regularly commands record-breaking prices at international auctions. While award-winning Geisha is available for those wishing to indulge, there is also an excellent selection of more affordable Panamanian coffees from Boquete, Volcán, Renacimiento, and other highland regions. For many visitors, taking home locally roasted coffee becomes one of the best souvenirs from their trip.
Perhaps what truly distinguishes Riba Smith from many other supermarkets is its enormous range of imported products. Panama has long served as an international crossroads thanks to the Panama Canal, and that global connection is reflected throughout the store. Shelves are filled with foods imported from the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. Familiar breakfast cereals, chocolates, cheeses, sauces, olive oils, spices, snacks, frozen foods, pasta, international beverages, and specialty ingredients allow expatriates and visitors to find many of the brands they enjoy back home.
For newcomers moving to Panama, this can be reassuring. While adapting to local cuisine is part of the adventure, it is comforting to know that many favourite products remain available. The trade-off, of course, is price. Imported goods generally cost more than locally produced alternatives due to shipping, import duties, and transportation costs. Many long-term residents eventually discover that balancing local and imported products provides the best value.
International visitors are often impressed by the wine and beverage selection. Wines from Europe, South America, North America, Australia, and New Zealand line the shelves alongside craft beers, premium spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages from around the world. It is one of the broadest selections found in Panama, reflecting the country's diverse international community.
Health-conscious shoppers will also appreciate the growing range of organic foods, gluten-free products, plant-based milks, vegetarian ingredients, vegan alternatives, and specialty dietary products. As Panama has become increasingly cosmopolitan, supermarkets like Riba Smith have expanded their offerings to meet changing tastes and lifestyles.
Cleanliness and customer service are another reason the supermarket enjoys such a loyal following. Stores are generally well maintained, products are attractively displayed, and employees are known for being courteous and helpful. Shopping carts glide smoothly through wide aisles, checkout lines move efficiently, and the overall experience feels polished from beginning to end.
For tourists staying in Panama City, Riba Smith is also a wonderful place to experience everyday Panamanian life. While famous attractions like the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo reveal the country's history and landmarks, supermarkets reveal how people actually live. Families shop together for weekend meals, office workers stop in for lunch, children excitedly choose desserts, and locals browse the produce with the same familiarity seen in neighbourhood markets around the world.
Many travellers enjoy walking slowly through the aisles simply to discover products unique to Panama. Locally produced coffee, tropical fruit preserves, spicy sauces, fresh tortillas, Panamanian chocolates, regional snacks, and traditional ingredients provide a delicious introduction to the country's culinary culture.
Although Riba Smith is often considered a premium supermarket, many everyday items remain competitively priced, particularly locally grown fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, chicken, and other Panamanian staples. The higher prices are generally found in imported specialty goods rather than basic groceries.
If you are planning a beach picnic, a mountain road trip, a sailing adventure through the San Blas Islands, or a backpacking journey across Panama, Riba Smith is an excellent place to gather supplies. Fresh fruit, sandwiches, snacks, bottled water, coffee, bakery items, and ready-made meals make travelling both convenient and enjoyable.
In many ways, Riba Smith perfectly reflects modern Panama itself. It blends local traditions with international influences, offering fresh produce from the fertile highlands alongside products imported from every corner of the globe. It is sophisticated without feeling intimidating, modern without losing sight of Panama's agricultural roots, and practical while still offering little luxuries that make everyday life more enjoyable.
For first-time visitors, a trip to Riba Smith is about much more than buying groceries. It is a chance to discover the flavours of Panama, explore one of the country's best supermarkets, and see how a nation that connects two oceans has also become a meeting place for cuisines from around the world. Whether you leave with a bag full of tropical fruit, a loaf of warm bread, locally roasted coffee, or ingredients for a home-cooked meal, you will quickly understand why so many Panamanians consider Riba Smith one of the country's finest places to shop.