Page 86 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

84 Panama City ENTERTAINMENT
1 SPECTATOR SPORTS
Catching a baseball game at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew (about 8km northeast of the
city centre on Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro, off the Corredor Norte) is a real treat and worth the taxi fare.
Horse racing has a rich tradition in Panama; you can see races at the Hipódromo Presidente
Remón (races Thurs 5.30pm, Sat & Sun 2pm; T217 6060, Whipodromo.com), 10km east of the
centre on the way to Tocumen International Airport. Panama’s resurgence as a global boxing
powerhouse has encouraged an increased number of bouts in the capital, above all in the slick
new Arena Roberto Durán, named after Panama’s former megastar. Check the press for details.

S6is C Uruguay between C 48 and C 49 T264 5237, (from $10) for DJs or live music. Thurs–Sat 9pm–late.
Wfacebook.com/BarS6isPanama; map pp.62–63. A
mainstay of the party scene, popular with various age CaSinO
groups, this small cocktail lounge with DJ can get packed at Hotel Veneto Casino Vía Veneto at C Eusebio A. Morales
weekends. It’s pronounced “seis”. Thurs–Sat 8pm–late. T340 8686, Wvenetopanama.com; map pp.62–63. Dull
The Wine Bar Vía Veneto, Plaza Downtown Cangrejo, El by day, but a festive atmosphere by night, especially at
Cangrejo T387 4455, Welwinebar.com; map pp.62–63. weekends, drawing a mixed crowd of casual and smart dressers
A long-standing favourite that provides a convivial setting who come to socialize, eat, listen to live music and watch sports
amid faux vines, bottles galore and murals of rustic scenes. on the myriad screens as much as to gamble. Daily 24hr.
Choose from more than two hundred bottles, or just enjoy a
glass while chilling out to mellow live music (Mon–Fri after OTHER AREAS
9pm, Sat & Sun after 7.30pm). Wood-fired pizzas and other BaRS
comfort food available. Daily 5pm–midnight. Balboa Yacht Club Amador Causeway T314 0168,
Wbalboayachtclub.com.pa; map p.69. With a pleasant,
CLUBS family-friendly waterside location this is the perfect spot
AltaBar C 47 at C Uruguay T390 2582, Waltabar for a sundowner, watching the ships exit the Canal and the
panama.com; map pp.62–63. This club, a current hot spot yachts bobbing at their moorings. The beer’s cheap and the
just off C Uruguay, also has an upstairs terrace bar- pub grub is decent enough: wings, scampi, tacos and the
restaurant with sports screens and bar. The dancefloor like ($10–17). Live music Fri & Sat. Daily 11am–late.
(Wed–Sat), bar and stage are downstairs behind ornate Kayuco Isla Flamenco, Amador Causeway T314 1998;
black-and-gold doors, surrounded by fluorescent white map p.69. With outdoor tables overlooking the marina, this
seating. Big-name DJs tend to hold sway, but there are is by far the liveliest place in the area to enjoy sundowners
occasional live acts. Thurs is usually ladies’ night, with accompanied by sizzling grilled seafood (snacks $5; mixed
themed nights, karaoke and other events at other times. grill for two for around $12). Daily noon–late.
Entry $10–15. Tues–Fri 6pm–late, Sat 8pm–late.
Bling Hard Rock Hotel, Av Balboa, by Multicentro CLUB
T380 1111, Whrhpanamamegapolis.com/unforget table XS Club (formerly Icon Club) Av Juan Pablo II at Tumba
-nightlife.htm; map pp.62–63. A Vegas-style laser-light Muerto, La Locería T6230 0378, Wbit.ly/2qizxC; map
disco with VIP tables, hot DJs and dancers. The usual pp.62–63. The city’s biggest gay club, featuring laser lights,
features apply: two-for-one drinks, ladies’ nights (women foam parties, dancing boys and drag acts. Cover charge for
usually have free entry before 11pm) and cover charges events (up to $20). Thurs–Sun 9pm–3am.
EntERtainmEnt
While there’s no shortage of places to go drinking, dancing or clubbing in Panama City, other more high-brow
entertainment is harder to come by: classical concerts (see Wconciertospanama.org) and theatrical presentations
(see Wbit.ly/2qryLDn) are sporadic and opera is extremely rare (Woperapanama.com). Check La Prensa (Wprensa.com),
The Visitor/El Visitante (Wthevisitorpanama.com), Wthepanamadigest.com and Wquehaypahoypanama.com for events
listings. Cinema, on the other hand, is becoming increasingly popular, with multiplexes including 3-D, IMAX and VIP
screens proliferating in the city’s malls. Screenings predominantly consist of the latest Hollywood offerings, generally in
English with subtitles (subtitulada), though sometimes dubbed (doblada); check out Wcinespanama.com. There are also
several bowling alleys, including one in Albrook Mall.

Ateneo Ciudad de Saber, Edif. 182, Clayton, Ancón Seven-hundred-seat auditorium with a small stage and
T306 3700, Wciudaddelsaber.org/es/servicios/ateneo. cinema screen for theatrical, musical and movie presentations.

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