Palms

One of Panama City's hippest restaurants, Palms is an avant-garde and tropical-chic homage to great style and innovative cuisine. The menu is divided into "collections," as in the appetizer "collection" and the dessert "collection," displayed on a kitschy menu. But this isn't a flash-in-the-pan eatery that puts looking cool over delivering the goods: The kitchen turns out consistently delicious and well-conceived dishes that expertly blend Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American flavors and ingredients.

Their simple crème brûleé and chocolate pecan tart with coffee sauce satisfies your sweet tooth without being overwhelming. The dining area is polished and sophisticated, with a rear atrium full of leafy vegetation and separated from the dining area by a floor-to-ceiling glass wall. The atmosphere is relaxed, but it's a good idea to dress smartly for Palms. After dinner, head up to their ultra-modern, all-white bar/lounge, Urbano, on the second floor, which features DJ music and a full cocktail bar.