Relic Bar hides inside Luna's Castle on Calle 9, and locals treat its courtyard as one of the friendliest rooms in the Old Quarter. The entrance through the colonial mansion is part of the appeal.
The setting is the whole point. Walking off the street into a planted courtyard inside an old hostel feels like finding a secret, and that surprise is why the room keeps its following.
Who would love it: travelers and locals who want a relaxed garden and easy prices. Who would skip it: anyone after a refined cocktail program, because this is a courtyard hang, not a craft bar.
The space runs across three settings. A tropical courtyard sits at the center with ferns and palm trees, a terrace above also hosts yoga, and an indoor basement with old calicanto walls reads like a tunnel.
Strings of light bulbs cross the open ceiling above the tables, and umbrellas shade the seating by day. The mix of rooms means the bar works for a quiet drink or a busy night depending on where you sit.
Order a beer, a sangria or a simple house cocktail and settle in. The menu stays uncomplicated on purpose, and that keeps the focus on the courtyard rather than the glass. Prices sit at the low end for Casco Viejo, which is rare in the district.
Those prices are why the courtyard fills with a mixed backpacker and local crowd. The food is straightforward and built for sharing across a long table.
Sundays open in the afternoon and stay mellow, while Thursday through Saturday the courtyard runs until three in the morning. Midweek is quieter and good for conversation.
Casco Viejo guides describe Relic as a longtime favorite of both locals and visitors, and its Instagram keeps a steady following for the courtyard nights. The draw is the setting and the price, not a cocktail list.
It suits travelers meeting new people, a budget night out, or a relaxed start before a bigger evening. It is less suited to anyone set on a serious craft cocktail.
The entrance is half the experience. Walking through the old hostel and into a planted courtyard sets the tone before the first drink, and that surprise is what guests remember.
The three settings give the bar range. The courtyard suits a relaxed group, the terrace works for a quieter drink, and the calicanto basement becomes the late night room when the courtyard fills.
The menu stays simple by design. Beer, sangria and easy house cocktails keep the focus on the setting, and the low prices are rare for Casco Viejo.
The crowd is the draw as much as the room. A mix of backpackers and locals fills the tables, and the courtyard is one of the easier places in the Old Quarter to meet people.
Timing shapes the night. Sundays open in the afternoon and stay mellow, while the courtyard runs late from Thursday through Saturday and gets loud as the night goes on.
It works best as a relaxed anchor. Local guides describe Relic as a longtime favorite, and it pairs well with a cocktail room and a rum bar for a fuller evening.
It is the easygoing chapter of a Casco Viejo crawl. Pair it with a cocktail room and a rum bar for a fuller night.
For more in the district, see our guide to the best bars in Panama City and where it sits among the best cocktail bars in Latin America. Nearby picks include The Strangers Club in Panama City, Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar in Panama City.
Sources: Relic Bar on Instagram · Panama Casco Viejo profile · Luna's Castle on Wanderlog · Casco Viejo 360. Editorially curated by Marcus Webb.
