Best Seafood Restaurants in Panama City: What's on Bruma's Menu

Bruma Seafood & Wine, located in Casco Antiguo, Panama City, serves sustainably sourced seafood from an open kitchen designed to bring diners into the cooking process. Signature dishes include Fish & Chips with Open Blue Cobia, a Maine-style lobster roll, shrimp tacos, and daily ceviche specials, paired with a wine list curated specifically around seafood flavors.

A Different Kind of Seafood Restaurant

What sets Bruma apart in Panama City's seafood scene isn't just the menu it's where the ingredients come from. Bruma sources all of its fish and seafood through single-line catching, spear-fishing, or sustainable sea farms, and builds the menu around respect for the ingredient rather than heavy sauces or excess plating. The open kitchen makes that philosophy visible: guests can watch whole fish and daily catches being prepared just steps away from their table.

Must-Try Dishes

Fish & Chips with Open Blue Cobia : a Bruma signature that reworks the classic with responsibly farmed cobia.

Maine-Style Lobster Roll : served on brioche, a favorite for guests who want something familiar done well.

Caribbean Seafood Curry : reviewers have called it one of the best meals they've had, full stop.

Mussels & Prawns Rice Bowl : described by one guest as "finger licking good."

Wedge Salad : a starter guests recommend specifically for its blue cheese dressing.

Cornbread and Clam Chowder : both come up repeatedly in reviews as standouts, not afterthoughts.

Daily Ceviche and Shrimp Tacos : change with the day's catch and consistently draw praise for freshness.

Fish of the Day : often swordfish, served with coconut rice.

Wine Pairings

Bruma's wine list is built specifically to complement seafood: whites for delicate appetizers and ceviche, reds for richer, more intense preparations like curry shrimp, and sparkling wines for celebratory occasions. The cocktail program is designed for a slower, leisurely pace rather than quick pre-dinner drinks.

What Guests Say

Bruma holds a 4.8 rating across 287 Google reviews. Guests often recommend pairing the Fish & Chips with the lobster mac and cheese side, and regularly describe the ceviche and the signature Bruma cocktail as standouts worth ordering together. The lemon pie is a frequently mentioned dessert pick, and the restaurant's gluten-free options come up often as a reason it works well for mixed groups.

Hours

Monday–Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Friday–Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bruma's seafood sustainably sourced? Yes. All fish and seafood served at Bruma is single-line caught, spear-fished, or sourced from sustainable sea farms.

What is Bruma's most popular dish? The Fish & Chips with Open Blue Cobia and the Maine-style lobster roll are among the most frequently mentioned dishes by guests.

Does Bruma have a wine list built for seafood? Yes, the wine program is curated specifically to pair with seafood, from light whites for ceviche to fuller reds for richer preparations.

Where is Bruma located? Bruma is located in Casco Antiguo (Casco Viejo), Panama City's historic UNESCO-listed district.

Is Bruma good for a special occasion? Yes the open-kitchen setting, sparkling wine pairings, and dessert menu make it a popular choice for celebrations.