Bocas del toro’s restaurants are a gourmet connoisseur’s delight with their scrumptious sea-food choices, washed down by fine white wine and accompanied by a range of other international flavors and local comfort food. Here is a guide to eating out in Bocas del toro

Guari Gurai

The strange sounding Guari Guari is a popular tourist restaurant in town, serving the most delectable fare in the whole of the Panama region. Visitors can enjoy a 6-course meal in an idyllic spot a few kilometers outside the main town center. The eatery is actually a charming hut-like customized structure with wooden furnishings and is located opposite a scenic beach. Reservations are necessary.

La Casbah

La Casbah, on Avenue H, serves the best steaks in town with the house special being the steak with blue cheese dressing. The restaurant also has some interesting pasta combinations and a nice mix of vegetarian entrees. The cuisine is a fusion of mainly Mediterranean and local fare with plenty of sea-food items served in generous portions. There are also some decent meat dishes and the owner, an ever-friendly Englishman, will make several recommendations about choices that are hot off the grill.

Kannibal

The gory sounding Kannibal is actually quite a pleasant restaurant located at Calle1, which serves seafood for reasonable prices. There’s nothing fanciful about this place-- it’s rustic, functional and unadorned but is probably the best kept secret of Bocas. The fresh catches of the day are tossed into live grills and the chef works a skillful combination of Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. Try the chili octopus and spaghetti with lobster meat. Other house favorites are Kannibal’s fresh and wholesome salads. Don’t miss out on having a conversation with the owner, Kinga, who has an extremely interesting and multi-faceted personality.

Buena Vista Bar and Grill

Buena Vista Bar and Grill is a nice destination to enjoy a combination of wake surfing and biting into delicious chicken burgers. Visitors can enjoy a hearty dinner on an elevated deck in the backdrop of the beach and the sunset. Some listings on the menu worth trying are--jumbo shrimps, filets, juicy lobsters, calamaris and an array of home-made brownies and choicest margaritas.

9 Restaurant and Lounge

This restaurant is located on a waterfront strip at the rear end of the tropical market. An expensive dining option, 9 is known for its delicious seafood served in large portions. Try the tuna in seaweed accompanied by wasabi and lightly diced rice. The cheese salads are also worth sampling. The chic, fine-dining ambiance coupled with great service completes the gourmet experience.

Bocas del toro is a haven for Caribbean and Mediterranean seafood lovers and offers them scores of choices ranging from budget eateries to swanky, upscale gourmet destinations.