Shopping in Panama
Panama City has always been a Shopping paradise with a wide range of prices. You can find just about anything that you can think of. People from the neighboring countries come to Panama especially during the Holidays to purchase gifts at super reasonable prices. There are Shopping Malls with stores where you can buy an entire outfit for $10,00 and of course there are also upscale malls where you can buy designer clothing and jewelry.
Colon Free Zone
Businessman from all over Latin America come to Panama to purchase goods and do business at the Colón Free Zone, which receives over 250,000 visitors a year and has over 1,700 companies established. The Free Zone is located in the Province of Colon and has been divided into two big areas: one located in the City of Colón, separated from the city itself by a wall; and the other fairly new, in the France Field area, designated for warehouses covering 130 acres and only 400 yards from the Colón commercial sector. Between the services rendered by the Free Zone we can mention importing, assembling, storing, re-packing and re-exporting products from all over the world: from all types of electric appliances to liquor, cigarettes, office and home furniture, pharmaceutical products, clothing, jewelry, toys, shoes, etc. This is the most important trading zone of Latin America. For more details visit their website.
The most popular places for Shopping in Panama City
Albrook Mall
Albrook Mall is the most important commercial center in Panama. The mall was built on 380,000 square meters of land and offers multiple services and commercial activities. The first stage of the construction has 100,000 square meters of commercial establishments on two levels. The mall has a very nice design with very spacious halls and is definitely the favorite of everyone in Panama. Here you can find just about anything! From clothing, hardware, electric appliances, medicine, groceries, toys, to hair saloons, movie theaters, bowling, video arcades, cigar shops, restaurants, pet stores, etc.
This is the first closed/air conditioned Shopping Center in Panama and offers a lot of comfort to the public, especially during very hot or very wet days.
Multiplaza
Multiplaza is a very modern and upscale mall that offers very exclusive shops like Cartier, Montblanc, Carolina Herrera, Salvatore Ferragamo, L’Occitanne and more. You will also find hair saloons, hardware stores, one of the best supermarkets in town (Ribasmith) which offers all kinds of imported goods, a Segafredo Coffee shop among all the restaurants and coffee shops, Movie Theater and much more! The mall is located in Punta Pacífica right next to the Punta Pacífica Hospital (this is the best hospital in the region, affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International).
Shopping Schedule
Most of the shops in the Malls open between 10.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. and are open in some cases until 9.00 p.m. from Monday to Sunday. During the Holidays the stores are open until midnight.
Other places to shop
There are several other places to shop, like Vía España in the Banking District. You can easily walk from shop to shop. There is also the Avenida Central (Central Avenue) which was converted into a shopping pedestrian avenue and where you can find oriental bazaars with beautiful tablecloths and oriental crafts, rugs and all kinds of souvenirs. This place gives you a feeling of what is the Real Panama.
Specialty foods
Centro Comercial Bal Harbor: Here you can find the best produce, also, vegetarian food, kosher food, Japanese food, Chinese food and more. Vía Italia, Punta Paitilla, a un costado de Plaza Paitilla, Panama City.
Grand Deli Gourmet: Wines, a wide variety of cheeses, spices, European style breads, imported meats, etc. Three locations in Panama City. Click here to visit their website.
Riba Smith: They have a virtual supermarket and deliver to your home. Click here to visit their website.
Liquors and wines
Bodega Mi Amiga: Cl 67 Y Vía Porras. Panama City. Tel: (507) 2261646
Felipe Motta: Their website offers a catalogue and price list: Click here to visit their website.
