In Casco Antiguo, it is very rare when a plaza front commercial space is for sale. If you are an investor looking for prime income property, this could be it. P.H. Montefiori was the first building on Plaza Herrera to be restored (2008), followed by P.H. Casa de la Merced in 2010.

What’s in a name? When you hear the word “Beluga,” do you think of a whale? Or maybe caviar comes to mind? Well, the next time you hear “Beluga,” think “restaurant.”

Some might not believe it, but when you compile numbers... it is incredible to see. Casco Viejo is truly leading Panama as an example of social revitalization fueled by an economy that is gathering its own momentum. Its image is one of the favorite subjects of international reporters who find in Casco Viejo`s historic architecture and mixed community a wonderful story to tell... the story of true Panama and why people should come to explore it.

I don`t know why I didn`t realize this before, but a big percentage of Casco`s entrepreneurs are in their thirties or early fourties. From internet businesses to restaurants and bars, Casco Viejo isn`t "viejo" (old) at all! Which is interesting, because it means the Casco offers an opportunity to make business happen.

Most of Casco Viejo´s government buildings where designed by Italians. Today, the Italian influence is everywhere, from our President to restaurants and even hospitals. La Dolce Vita and Panama´s Caribbean style have proved to be a great combination! La maggior parte degli edifici publici del Casco Viejo furono disegnati da italiani. Oggi, l'influenza italiana è ovunque, dal nostro Presidente a ristoranti e persino ospedali. La Dolce Vita e lo stile dei Caraibi -Panama hanno dimostrato di essere una bella combinazione!

El Casqueño second edition is out! beautiful and thoughtful, it is a fair window into Casco Viejo´s everyday life and most important issues. Also, The Visitor dedicated a special edition to the old neighborhood... check it out!

Buscando casa en Casco Viejo para su familia? Casa Vidal es una casa completa, en lo mejor de San Felipe. Tres recámaras, con vista al mar y piscina.

Looking to move to Casco Viejo but need a three bedroom for your family? here I review Casa Vidal, a three bedroom fully restored townhouse in the best of San Felipe, Casco Viejo.

If you are the type of sports fanatic that knows every statistic, name in the field and really, really enjoy watching sports (American Football, soccer, basketball)... then you should join this Casco Viejo crowd.

180 Degree contrast from my ultra mellow Sunday, in came this week with dozen of important events!

Last night we had a great time at Bohemios. Located next to VIP Juice at Avenida A, between 4th and 5th street, this restaurant is just fun. Owned and run by Casco Viejo locals, the ambiance is totally relaxed. Plus, you can sign your name at the wall while having very good fish tacos or fried fish sticks and crispy french fries. My favorite: the samosas... I loved the mango sauce!

What to do, where to go in Panama? What to do and where to go in Casco Viejo? Check out April

Thursday night was full of romantic music and art. Friday promises to be exciting and - yes- a bit chaotic!

Mediterranean food with a Lebanese touch. I hope eventually they´ll decide more for Lebanese, as I´m a big fan. Check out Casco Antiguo´s new restaurant: Antar!

Social change can be tackled different ways, but probably the most sustainable one is when people from all layers of a community come together for a common goal. Slowly, Casco Viejo is becoming a model on how to fight extreme poverty through community activism.

2009 was an "interesting" year for business and the market in general. How did the financial crisis affected Casco Viejo? How was 2009 in terms of Real Estate, investment, community? How is 2010 looking like?

Some say Panama is Hong Kong meeting Costa Rica. Panama´s depth is there for the curious soul, but is also a place with a guilt free laid back culture that allows you to disconnect from the world if that is your choice. White beaches or history? why choose?

Casco Viejo´s community went "chic" last night. Sushi and a fashion show! New restaurant coming...

Real Estate in Casco Viejo is truly exciting. To see these buildings come back to their best years and revitalizing a neighborhood is the best part of the job. Check out the latest update for the hottest real estate spot in Casco Antiguo.

Panama, Casco Antiguo
Casco Viejo, Panama
Real Estate at Panama´s Historic City



One BIG correction: the vintage poster show didn´t take place at Teatro Amador, but at the house behind the Canal Museum, diagonal to the Canal House boutique hotel.  It was quite interesting, and a good place to get inspired for the rest of the night! Here are random photos of our night out: vintage porn posters, people in costumes having fun, a new restaurant at Calle 9 (Puerta de Tierra... see my blog on Welcome new businesses!).  Last night we saw people dressed in all sorts of things; from the ecological ameba (how on earth did they think about that one) to the classic sexy witch & vampire combo to my favorite couple of naughty nuns...

From a zebra to naughty nuns, Casco Viejo´s Halloween was a lot of fun! glimpses of last night long party here!

Are you asking yourself how life (and nightlife) really is in Casco Viejo? find out first hand!

Two new restaurants have opened in Casco Viejo, Panama: Antigua at Plaza Catedral and Aromas Café at 11th street. Another one, Venezuelan owned and operated will soft open today.

New lunch specials at $8.95, designed for our clients in Casco Antiguo...

Plaza Bolivar so far is Casco´s most lively plaza. Check out a photo here with the location of the current restaurants.

Aristologa, the well known Panamanian culinary reviewer featured Ciao Pescao at today´s La Prensa

Mayal´s makes its debut at A Avenue and 8th Street

For this weekend in Casco Antiguo there are a lot of activities for you and your family...

Events for this week in CEDROCK'S Restaurant Show Bar...

Efervescencia is a word in Spanish for "bubbling". This word could very well define 2009 Casco Antiguo as businesses continue to open doors. Check out Casco´s new kid on the block...

Tomorrow at 6 p.m. come and enjoy the flavor of good wine, with Sauvignon Blanc. Wine Tasting at Indigo...

A recycling company will join the Mercado de Pulgas this Sunday. Check it out!

Last night (just after the rain) we decided to take our friend who was visiting from Miami to the Miraflores Locks, a few minutes away from Casco Viejo. We saw 3 Panamax crossing almost at the same time. The world´s commerce in front of us, while having a drink.

Frit Arts is opening at Central Avenue and 4th street to restore the good name of fried cuisine!

Recently, they celebrated the 150th anniversary of the chinese colony in Panama, basically 50 years more (aprox) than the republic itself. They are everywhere and in everything, a big motor of the economy. But probably the best part of the relationship between Panamanians and Chinese is Dim Sum

Many look around and spend hours searching the web for this information. While most of it is in my own website (and you can see photos, etc) I see how having a chart can be really useful.

Very good "baby blue salad" (salad with pears, blue cheese, raisins and nuts) and friendly ambiance. A place where you can choose to "grab n´run" or to stay and relax.

So many things that you end up taking for granted when you live in Casco Viejo. But when you think about them, you realize how special it is to live here. Good stuff for free in every corner!

Looking for rent an apartment or a commercial space in Casco Viejo? Here are the options available right now!

Obama is lifting finally parts of the Cuban embargo. While you are thinking on traveling to Cuba, read this first....

With the moving of the regional headquarters of some important companies, the availability of rental apartments might be a bit short these days. Also, the process of the contract, signing and taking over the apartment might be stressful... and even worst, hooking up the utilities (phone, electricity and water in some cases) a true nightmare. So, how to go about renting in Casco Viejo?

I´m sure that, if it wasn´t because of my little cellphone camera, people would say I make all this stuff up. But it is not true! my cellphone says so.

I keep updating this, but businesses are opening very fast. More to come soon in Cuatro Casas!

With the US and specific places like New York going out of jobs for all ages, but specially the younger crowd, Panama, somehow is now attracting a completely different profile almost by accident: young, professional and entrepreneurial.

Pum!Pum! Pum! ... to the left.... cha chaaanann to the righttttt cha chaaannn down! up! around! A classic summer day in Casco Viejo!

Yesterday was a full day! showings in the morning, wine tasting early afternoon, dinner with friends... everything at walking distance, no traffic, and great food. The morning started at

Although Havana Cafe opened right for the jazz fest, there was so much going on I couldn´t get to it. Also, I wanted to try it out first! So finally I got to go with a group of friends. My first impression was excellent:

With a golden summer sun shinning over its beautiful colonial buildings and brick streets, Casco Antiguo welcomes 2009 with a bag of good news:

Clara and Jennifer are one of our favorite Casconians outside Casco. They are so nice and cook so well that we almost forgive them not being in Casco Viejo. But not for long! I hope... After a long absence

I had the most interesting talk with a client today. He is a passionate guy from Catalunya (Spain), someone who not only loves food but understands it to its roots. He mentioned he had a blog, so of course I ran to check it out. I was incredibly surprised to see my favorite Casco Antiguo spots in them!

Planning your vacations to Panama and don’t have much time? If you like nature, history, big machinery, culture and architecture, then there are only 2 destinations within Panama City that can offer all this in a compact, yet authentic experience: the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo.

Last night, a group of friends organized a tapas night at Canal House in Casco Viejo with Argimiro, a Panamanian young chef who studied in Spain and even did his professional practice at the famous El Bulli Restaurant (Ferrán Adriá, 2 and 3 Michelin stars!). When Argimiro returned to Panama, he fell in love with Casco Viejo and I have to say we fell in love with his food, so anytime he organizes a party or just a tapas night we are more than thrilled. And last night we had a treat.

High season has officially arrived: breeze days, more sun than rain and cruise ship passengers walking around Casco Antiguo. But if you are not into "window shopping" Panama by bus and would like a more local (and budget) trip, here are some interesting options!

Panama is a very romantic place if you put it together right. How to organize a romantic and interesting getaway? This combination of history, ethnic experience, beach and mountain is my personal favorite!

"A Cultural Cornerstone" is today´s New York Times travel article about Casco Viejo, Panama, featuring our favorite hotel Canal House Panama as editor´s pick and businesses like Karavan Gallery and Indigo Restaurant. I love it when people visit, but the best for me is to live here...

Movie and Tapas are being announced at Manolo Caracol. Here are the next 3 movies:

I suddenly realized Casco Viejo might be in the middle of the most important Presidential Campaign of our times: John McCain vs Barak Obama. How?

A new client recently asked me “Is Casco Viejo gay friendly?” For a moment I had to think about the question. You see, growing up as a ballet dancer I never even gave a thought to it.

A few days ago I got an email from a journalist at The Guardian, as they´ve found somehow my postings on La Casona in Casco Viejo. It was quite exciting, this is my first collaboration with international press! Here is the article:

Travel like a local with The Guardian. Surfing the web as I usually do, I found this article on Panama´s nightlife at The Guardian, featuring Casco Viejo. And not only Casco Viejo, but my favorite spots: Baños Publicos and La Casona! Check it out here!

The Fish Market rocks. It is at the very entrance of Casco Viejo, just off Avenida Balboa. A white and light blue building with the Japanese flag and the Panamanian flag on the top of the building (the new fish market installations where a donation of the Japanese government). As you approach, the characteristic smell of fresh fish will hit you: don´t get discouraged.

A new business has opened in Casco Antiguo! It is called "Indigo", an oriental-mediterranean fusion restaurant ...

Looking to open a business in Casco Viejo, Panama? Or maybe to rent an apartment? There is always limited product, but from time to time things will come to market (and get rented right away). I actually had to pull out 2 units while writing this issue!

There are advantages to living in Casco Viejo when a major event is being held there...

All over Panama City, the one thing that is rarely missing on the streets where there is parking is a bien cuidao...

Most buildings are transformed in Casco Antiguo after two or more years...

The advantage of living in Casco Viejo is the variety of small shops within a couple of blocks of my home in Casco Viejo.

Casco Viejo, the jewel of Panama is also a UNESCO Heritage Trust site.

Almost a month ago we launched an Urban Composting Contest aimed to provide the comunity of Casco Antiguo with a system to not only recycle their organic trash but also to be able to grow food that would balance their diet and ultimately even sell to restaurants. The results so far are interesting...

The Canal House Panama is at Yahoo´s cover story! don´t miss the article, has a good review on what to do and where to go in Panama

With all the world’s climate issues, we would like to take this opportunity to get everyone thinking about a more sustainable Casco, an example to the rest of Panama City. The seeds are already getting planted... join us! there is a fun contest here, where you can really make the difference.

All I actually knew about the pedestrian mall on Avenida Central was "Don´t take anything valuable there!". So I avoided going. I´m ashamed, embarrassed, and am making amends. The day I visited...

Where to eat, where to stay and what to do in Casco Viejo, Panama. Restaurants, bars, theatres and more

Panama, Santa Ana: Wonderful suprise when I opened this week´s Mosaico: an article featuring Salsipuedes! One of my favorite streets in Santa Ana, where you can find anything from books, panamanian folkloric dresses and jewelry to vodoo dolls... no kidding!!! you can even get a haircut while someone reads your future. So here it is.. Salsipuedes, or "get out if you can"....

This is one of the things I enjoy most of living in Casco Viejo: there is always an interesting cultural event going on. Last sunday it was Drum Fest... a loud but very enjoyable (somehow) event where hearts pumped at the drums of all sorts of musicians. Preparing for Jazz Fest?

One of the things I enjoy the most of living here is the fact that "going out" is as easy as walking to my favorite restaurant or bar. Somehow I realized there is no guide with all the contacts of Restaurants, Bars and other businesses in the Casco, so here it goes!

For such a small country, Panama is suddenly surrounded by heavy players. On one hand, the Panama Canal expansion project will cost over $5 billion dollars, and on the other hand, big guys such as Hewlett - Packard, Caterpillar, the Swiss Sanofi- Aventis, Procter & Gamble and Sinope from China have either expressed their interest of moving headquarters here or are actually doing so. But where does Casco Viejo fit in all this?