Panama City: Barandas Restaurant (February 2007)

Since opening nearly two decades ago, the Bristol Panama has been an icon of five-star hospitality, where the culture, gastronomy, and vitality of the Panamanian people is celebrated in every detail. This unique spirit is perfectly embodied in our award-winning Barandas Restaurant and Lounge, which offer a dining and entertainment experience that no other hotel in Panama City can equal. The hotel has an exquisite variety of Panamanian gourmet cuisine, where using quality products, an impressive presentation, and impeccable service combine to make a lasting impression. This award-winning gourmet restaurant pays homage to its Panamanian roots and celebrates the city’s cheerful, convivial spirit. Barandas combines fresh local ingredients and traditional recipes with gourmet influences, while keeping true to its Panamanian-style of cuisine. Its Panamanian-inspired gourmet cuisine, graceful ambiance, stunning presentation, elegant table settings, and attentive service combine to create an unforgettable dining experience prepared by Chef Cuquita Arias. Cuquita is nationally famous as the Martha Stewart of Panama, producing her own line of culinary magazines in addition to a weekly cooking show. At Las Barandas, Cuquita is the creator of the restaurant's gourmet Panamanian food and oversees the kitchen staff. This restaurant is a sleek and chic dining area with just a handful of tables, so book ahead. At Las Barandas, traditional recipes are updated to appeal to modern gourmet tastes, with dishes such as maize soup, plantain won tons, grouper in ginger, sea bass in tamarind, and chicken breast roasted with pumpkin seeds, all bursting with flavor yet not too over-the-top so as to appeal to more conservative tastes.