Lazotea sits on top of Hotel Casa Panama at the western edge of Casco Viejo, and it trades on one of the widest views in the old quarter. From the terrace the ocean opens on one side and the modern skyline rises on the other.
The rooftop shares its building with Santa Rita restaurant on the ground floor, so the kitchen reaches the bar quickly. That makes Lazotea a place to settle in for an evening rather than a single round.
Who would love it: anyone who wants a long sunset seat with food and a skyline. Who would skip it: drinkers chasing a dark cocktail den, because the appeal here is the open air and the panorama, not a low lit room.
The space is a wide open deck with railings on every side, set above the rooflines of the historic district. The Rooftop Guide singles out the ocean and city views as the reason to climb up, and the layout keeps most tables in sight of the water.
The bar runs a broad menu of cocktails, wine, and beer alongside the Latin American plates from the kitchen below. The cocktails lean toward easy crowd pleasers built for the heat rather than spec driven complexity.
Order a rum based highball or a classic daiquiri to match the climate, and pair it with shared plates from the Santa Rita menu. Expect mid range Casco Viejo prices, with most cocktails landing in the ten to fourteen dollar range, fair for a rooftop with this outlook.
The view is the headline, so timing matters more than at a street level bar. Arrive about an hour before sunset to claim a railing seat, then watch the skyline lights come up across the bay.
The hours run late by old quarter standards. Lazotea stays open past one in the morning midweek and pushes to three on Friday and Saturday, which makes it a viable last stop as well as an opening act.
Regulars on Tripadvisor and OpenTable return to the views and the relaxed service, while the common note is that the rooftop fills on weekend nights and the wait for a prime table climbs. A reservation through OpenTable smooths the busiest evenings.
It suits a sunset date, a group warming up before a longer night, or a traveller who wants the postcard view with a drink in hand. It is less suited to anyone after a quiet, intimate corner.
The position on Avenida Eloy Alfaro, right before the ramp into the old quarter, makes it an easy first stop on a rooftop route. From here the cocktail rooms and rum bars of Casco Viejo are a short walk inland.
The food side lifts Lazotea above a view only rooftop. Santa Rita sends up Latin American plates from the floor below, so a table can turn a single drink into a full evening without moving from the railing.
The crowd is a mix of travellers chasing the panorama and locals out for a relaxed night. Service can slow once the deck is full, a point several OpenTable reviewers raise, so patience helps on a packed Saturday.
For a first visit, aim for a weekday sunset when the railing seats are open and the kitchen moves quickly. That window gives the best of the view without the weekend wait, and the late hours mean there is no rush to leave once the lights come up.
For more in the district, see our guide to the best bars in Panama City and the wider list of best rooftop bars. Nearby picks include Tantalo Roofbar in Panama City and The Strangers Club in Panama City.
Sources: The Rooftop Guide · OpenTable · Panama Casco Viejo. Editorially curated by Marcus Webb.
