4h Cooking Class in Panama City: 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Panama City, Panama
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Learn to make local food yourself in this Panama City cooking class to take your appreciation of Panamanian cuisine to the next level. Follow your chef instructor as they take you through 10 recipes, eating and sipping on unlimited cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages as you work your way through the menu. This class can cater to vegetarians and people with other food restrictions.
- Try local Panamanian dishes to make ordering in the future easier
- Create and feast on a full menu of appetizers, a main, and desserts
- Meet like-minded fellow travelers in a social setting
- Choose from a small-group class or a private experience
Sample Menu
Starter
Mojitos
Classic mojitos served unlimited throughout the experience.
Starter
Pico de Gallo
Traditional tomato-based salsa commonly served in Panama.
Starter
Fish ceviche
Panamanian-style ceviche made with Pacific catch-of-the-day fish.
Starter
Carimanõlas
Fried yucca filled with ground beef, popular street and bar food.
Main
Butter Cassava with herbs
Cooked cassava with butter and herbs, a common local side dish.
Main
Arroz con pollo
Classic Panamanian rice and chicken dish with vegetables.
Dessert
Arroz con piña
Pineapple-based rice dessert served at celebrations.
Main
Picante sauce (Chombo Pepper)
Traditional Panamanian hot sauce served on the side.
Dessert
Chicha de Saril - Iced tea
Iced hibiscus drink traditionally served in Panama.
Dessert
Chicheme
Traditional corn-based drinkable dessert.
What's Included
- Hands-on cooking experience guided by a bilingual local instructor
- All ingredients, utensils, and apron provided — nothing to bring
- Full meal (appetizer, main dish, dessert) + unlimited drinks
- Recipe booklet in digital format to recreate dishes at home
- Small group for a personalized experience
- 5-Star Experience Guarantee - or your money back
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2C7M+2F, Panama City, Panamá Province, Panama
Please note that the exact meeting point address will be provided by our booking manager shortly after your reservation is confirmed, as our starting location may vary since we have two possible locations.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Ava_F
My two friends and I took a girls’ trip to Panama City and attended Chef Winnie’s cooking class on our first full day and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Chef Winnie welcomed us into her home and offered so much more than just a cooking class. She shared her experience as an expat in Panama, the culinary lessons she’s learned from her Panamanian friends, and meaningful historical context about the country and its cuisine.
She was incredibly warm and welcoming, and made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. She also created such a comfortable and intimate atmosphere that made the entire experience feel personal and special. It truly felt like we were spending time with a friend rather than attending a class.
It was also a refreshing change of scenery from being in the city—her home is beautiful, peaceful, and surrounded by lush greenery. The entire experience was thoughtful, immersive, and something we’ll remember long after our trip.
I would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Panama!
Reviews
4.9
based on 383 reviews
Shannon_C, Apr 2026
What a fun night!! I highly recommend this experience to anyone traveling to Panama City! It made for a truly memorable experience and is great for a solo traveler, couples or larger groups.
Our chef, Winnie, created a relaxed, environment in which to learn and
make new friends. She is a wonderfully skilled chef and instructor - encouraging questions and full, hands-on participation and made the lesson interesting for novices and seasoned cooks alike.
The menu was varied and included savory and sweet traditional
Panamanian dishes and beverages.
And the resulting meal was incredible!!
Winnie's guidance made me feel like I could really make these dishes on my own when I got home. And she sends everyone the recipes after the class so you can impress your friends back home.
One thing I would do is have a little snack before you go. I did, based on another review, and it's a good tip.
It's hard not to get hungry preparing all this amazing food. I would do this again in a heartbeat!!
Crystal_H, Mar 2026
Chef Winnie was great! We had a fun time learning new recipes and getting to try the food. Definitely some recipes I will be making at home again! I would highly recommend this class
Ava_F, Mar 2026
My two friends and I took a girls’ trip to Panama City and attended Chef Winnie’s cooking class on our first full day and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Chef Winnie welcomed us into her home and offered so much more than just a cooking class. She shared her experience as an expat in Panama, the culinary lessons she’s learned from her Panamanian friends, and meaningful historical context about the country and its cuisine.
She was incredibly warm and welcoming, and made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. She also created such a comfortable and intimate atmosphere that made the entire experience feel personal and special. It truly felt like we were spending time with a friend rather than attending a class.
It was also a refreshing change of scenery from being in the city—her home is beautiful, peaceful, and surrounded by lush greenery. The entire experience was thoughtful, immersive, and something we’ll remember long after our trip.
I would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Panama!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
This is beautiful to read, thank you. We’re so happy Winnie created such a warm, personal, and memorable experience for your girls’ trip. 🌿
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Dee_B, Mar 2026
Good experience, comfortable in tayna’s house. Very friendly, good food and drink. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the kind note, we’re glad the experience felt comfortable, friendly, and full of good food and drinks. 🍹
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Glenn_B, Feb 2026
This experience was very fun. We came away great recipes and eat some delicious food. Chef Winnie was a delight and helped us enjoy this delicious fun experience. We love cooking with locals wherever we travel and this experience didn't disappoint. We highly recommend this experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Fantastic to read you enjoyed cooking with locals and left with recipes to try at home. Winnie delights in sharing practical tips and warm hospitality, we’ll pass on your kind words to her — hope to cook with you again!
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
LeeAnn_W, Feb 2026
This experience is hosted in Chef Winnie’s Panama apartment. We were part of a group of 12 and it got loud at times and a bit chaotic so I would recommend a smaller group. We all learned some useful cooking tips while making the dishes and everyone was involved in preparing the meal. It was truly an authentic, local experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for the thoughtful and honest feedback — we truly appreciate it. We’re very glad you enjoyed the hands-on cooking and the authentic local feel of the experience. Your note about group size is also very valuable and helps us continue improving the classes. Thanks again for joining us and for sharing your perspective ✨
Abraços, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Steven_F, Jan 2026
We had a wonderful evening with Tanya, beginning with a personalized tour of the local Panamanian owned store RIBA Smith. As a foodie and amateur cook, my wife was particularly interested in the local ingredients and fresh produce. Tanya is a high energy, down to earth and patient instructor. We had a wonderful time but it was a later evening than expected probably due to a larger class of 10 people. We didn’t finish till almost 11 pm.
We can recommend without hesitation!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for joining Tanya’s class and for the helpful timing note — we appreciate your patience with the later finish when groups are larger. Glad the RIBA Smith stop and the fresh-ingredient focus made it worthwhile. ⏰
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Jim_L, Jan 2026
Chef Tanya was fantastic. Very thorough and patient. We had 10 people which was a lot and got a little noisy at time so I would recommend 6 to 8 per class. But, she handled everything very well and was going back-and-forth between all of us so everybody always had something to do. The food and drinks were terrific. I learned a lot about the dishes and doing intend on making some of them at home. We had a great time chatting with the other “students“. Highly recommend the experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for the thoughtful note — we appreciate the feedback about group size. Tanya’s experience managing larger groups is strong, and we’ve noted your suggestion that 6–8 feels cozier for hands-on work. Glad everyone stayed busy and walked away with recipes to try at home. 👩🏫
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Samantha_M, Dec 2025
This was a fabulous experience. Tanya is such a professional and knows how to create a great experience for any type of guests. She was so accommodating and scheduled a separate class for me and my kids because she worried the kids might not enjoy the larger group. In addition to being a chef, she is also a teacher so she really knows how to TEACH cooking. Her life experience is fascinating, and we learned as much about Panama’s history and culture as we did about cooking. I highly recommend this class.
Kelinde_R, Dec 2025
Chef Winnie was amazing and very personable. She gave us a lot of good tips for the kitchen and the food we made was very simple. We made a lot and she managed to keep us all organized and it was a good use of time.
Marcella_L, Nov 2025
This was a wonderful experience! Winnie was a perfect chef and host. She was also a great teacher learning some invaluable
kitchen tips! And tricks. My husband and I lused bed the experience.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thrilled Winnie delivered a memorable, instructive night — glad you found the kitchen tips useful and the experience worth it. 👩🍳
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Cheri_H, Nov 2025
Amazing experience! Chef Winnie was amazing! I am an experienced cook, and I LEARNED SO MUCH! Cannot I wait to go home and make these recipes for my family :-) we'll, I can wait to go home... O want to come back and learn more
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Amazing that even an experienced cook learned new tricks, Winnie’s deeper tips often surprise seasoned guests. Can’t wait to have you back for more recipes. 👩🍳
Cheers, Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Courtney_C, Nov 2025
Terrible experience..... we never made it to class.
The communication was poor, the directions to the house was not clear and the instructor scolded my Uber driver and me. This almost ruined the night... we went to another activity.....
Jennifer_R, Sep 2025
Wonderful experience! Chef Winnie was welcoming and her knowledge of cooking and food was amazing! The menu was authentic and the ingredients were fresh! I highly recommend it!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Chef Winnie’s warm welcome, authentic menu, and fresh ingredients are a combo we’re proud of, so happy you had a wonderful time and recommend the experience. We’ll pass your praise to her! 🌿
Cheers! Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Raeanne_S, Aug 2025
It was a lovely experience. Chef Winnie was such a sweetheart. She kept us on our feet with jokes and stories of what brought her to Panama as well as explaining in detail each dish that we are making and the history behind it.
If we return to Panama, I would love to take another class with her.
10/10 would recommend Chef Winnie if you’re looking for a beautiful, colorful and informative cooking class.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
With jokes, stories, and a deep love for food, Chef Winnie makes Panama’s flavors come alive 🎨 We’d love to welcome you back next time for another colorful culinary adventure!
Cheers! Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Courtney_W, Jul 2025
Chef Winnie was wonderful and has a great sense of humor. We enjoyed learning about the different Panamanian dishes and being able to cook them. She accommodated our group well which included a child. I would highly recommend to others.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much, Courtney, for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! Chef Winnie truly enjoys sharing the flavors and stories of Panamanian cuisine with our guests, and we’re glad she made your group (including your child) feel so welcome. We’re thrilled you had a memorable time cooking with us and appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another delicious adventure soon!
Ruth_C, Apr 2025
Fun evening at Chef Winnie’s home. She is a patient teacher, well versed in Panamanian cuisine. So much fun. Highly recommend
Jerrell_P, Mar 2025
I had a very good time. The food was very good. We really enjoyed ourselves. I really learned a lot .Thanks again.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We’re thrilled you enjoyed your time with Chef Winnie, especially the delicious food and friendly atmosphere. It’s always a pleasure to share Panamanian flavors with wonderful guests, we hope to welcome you back soon! 🏝️🥘
Cheers! Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Dayle_Q, Feb 2025
Our evening at Tanya's house was fabulous. We learned how to make 7 dishes over 4 hours. Tanya was welcoming, knowledgeable, and encouraging. If you like to cook and eat, this is for you
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for the kind words! Making seven dishes over four hours with Tanya sounds like a fabulous experience. If you love cooking and eating, you’re in the right place! 🍷🥟
Cheers! Maira from Cook in Fiesta
williamslc, Feb 2025
We had a great time learning to cook Panamanian dishes with Chef Winnie! She is very warm and welcoming and we learned a lot from her about the foods of Panama and about her experience of living in Panama. We had some great laughs and conversation and the food and drinks were delicious!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
So happy you had a wonderful time with Chef Winnie in Panama! Enjoying delicious food, drinks, and great conversation is exactly what we aim for. We hope to host you again soon! 🥑🍽️
Cheers! Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Devan_T, Feb 2025
This was a fun experience! It was a great introduction into Panamanian food and we got a chance to help cook the dishes. I highly recommend this experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for recommending this experience! We’re glad you found it fun and enjoyed hands-on Panamanian cooking. Come back anytime for more tasty adventures! 🏖️
Cheers! Maira from Cook in Fiesta
Monte_R, Jan 2025
Tanya was an amazing host and excellent teacher showing us the way of Panamanian ingredients and foods. She had me making and eating ceviche and I don’t like seafood. The meal was exquisite, the company was excellent, and the hospitality unmatched. One of the best experiences I’ve had in any country. I highly recommend this experience. She taught us how to make mojitos so the bottomless drinks didn’t hurt.
Dave_D, Jan 2025
Great, casual atmosphere to enjoy some great food and drinks with old friends and new. You will learn new recipes, sure. But you will also learn different/new techniques for cooking, new fruits/vegetables that aren't available outside this region, and some insight into the history of Panama.
JERRY_B, Dec 2024
Cooking class was done a cheaply as possible. The ingredients were very basic and had little if any taste. Civiche was very bland with very little shrimp. Rest of dishes were the same.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Jerry, we're sorry you feel this way, as this is not experience we want to have been producing for our cooking class students. Please feel free to contact us directly as we give refunds to anyone who didn't think the class was a five star experience. If we didn't bring food fun and culture and to your vacation, we don't deserve your money.
As for the ingredients, their price is irrelevant as what matters is the quality of each, to produce a tasty end result. For instance, Our ceviche is made with tilapia fish and we add a few shrimps for an extra flavor even though it is not the traditional recipe. Most culinary cultures don't depend on pricey ingredients, and becoming comfortable with this notion will help you enjoy cooking classes and food experiences around the world.
Furthermore, during the entire class we had the impression you were enjoying the experience... But maybe something changed the next day. We hope to see you again in one of our food tours in Panama.
Melody_R, Dec 2024
Winnie was a fantastic instructor! She was very kind and patient with our class. I really loved her sense of humor. We made several Panamain dishes. We also made three different drinks. Come hungry. We had a lot of food left over. She did offer for us to take it home, but we were leaving out the next day.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed learning how to prepare authentic Panamanian dishes and drinks with Winnie. It's always wonderful to see our guests embrace the recipes and flavors of Panama. Safe travels, and we hope you can try them again at home!
Lead_T, Dec 2024
One of the best. Far sur past what I thought. The chef was absolutely amazing. She was so informative. I learned so much. Can't wait to get home try the recipes out.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great time and learned so much. It's wonderful that you're excited to try the recipes at home! We hope the flavors of Panama continue to inspire your cooking long after your trip.
alyssa_l, Nov 2024
we would not recommend taking this course. the advertising greatly embelishes the experience and leaves out several details.
the course was advertised as a panamanian cooking class, so we were surprised to be greeted by a french woman, not an actual panamanian person. in our opinion, it felt exploitive to the natives culture.
the other couple arrives and we are informed that there is no running water. cleaning our hands (even in the bathroom) consisted of wipes and rubbing alcohol. three of us were girls with nails, and the food required us to use our hands, which is very unsanitary. that also meant no bathroom. she should have purchased jugs of water or cancelled.
the "eat as you cook" part of the title is very misleading. it was 3/4 hours of us prepping food with just the mojitos as the "eat" while we cook. she said if we were too hungry there were a couple packs of saltines to snack on. the "bottomless mojitos" was just a single bottle of rum to be split between four people, which went fast. there was also no water offered until the meal 3 1/2 hours into the class. the iced tea listed as a recipe was never provided.
portions were very very small. for 85$ each person, we thought we'd be cooking our own portion to maybe have leftovers too. not sharing a meal for 2 people between 4. every bit was eaten and we went out to get a second dinner upon returning to the hotel. of course we said we were very happy to avoid awkwardness, but we were overall disappointed. she also sat and waited for us to write a review, maybe expecting/pressuring a good review. we revisited the page listing and were surprised to see so many good reviews. we're unsure if this was an unusual experience or if the other reviews were pressured or fake
Response from Host, Dec 2024
hi Alyssa, I'm sorry to see such a negative review from you. First and foremost, we offer 100% refund to anyone who didn't think the class was five stars. Just reach out to us after the class and let us know what should have been better.
As you'll see from all the other reviews, 99% of customers have an incredible time, I don't want to keep anybody's money unless they think we did an excellent job...
We believe it it's only fair, as taking a tour while on vacation is an investment in time and money, and although not all tours and experiences turn out to be 5-stars, we want all our customers to love their experience with us.
I'm not sure what I can tell you about one of our chefs being from France, as there are people all over the world teaching how to make pizza, sushi and tacos, and they are not necessarily Italian, Japanese or Mexican, respectively. Our other chef Tanya is Panamanian, and both she and Winnie have been able to provide outstanding experiences to everyone who wants to learn about Panama and Panamanian food. Personally I think a French Chef's perspective is an added bonus.
As for the food, it is a shame you don't remember that you had three appetizers before you got to the main meal (pineapple with lime zest, Chicheme and yuca al mojo). And there were gallons of still water for everybody. You and the other three students finished a liter of rum to make 20 large mojitos, meaning five large Mojitos per person. We always have an extra bottle of rum as backup, but neither you or the other students ask for more rum, so we thought you were satisfied.
We hope to see you again, and that you take all these things into perspective when touring around the world.
Cheers!
Cristiano
Jeanine_B, Nov 2024
Winnie is so sweet! My friends and I were late due to traffic & she was very understanding. She is hilarious as well. She made everyone feel comfortable & I can’t wait to go back home and try out her recipes !
Winnie, thank you so much for being a part of an amazing birthday trip!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for the wonderful review! It’s great to hear that Chef Winnie made your birthday trip even more special. Her warmth and humor always help make the experience memorable. Enjoy trying out the recipes back home!
Carlie_P, Oct 2024
I absolutely loved this class! We took a Uber there. It was so much fun to learn about the dishes, prep them, cook and eat together.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
So glad you had a blast! Cooking, eating, and learning together is always a hit. Hope to see you again! 😊
macy_e, Sep 2024
I had the best time at this cooking class! I am 19 years old and was traveling alone in Panama and signed up for the class on my last day in town on a whim. It was the best decision ever! Tanya is an excellent cook as well as person. I learned so much from her, not just the recipes we made but also about using food as a natural medicine. I had so much fun getting to be hands on in the kitchen and sharing travel stories with Tanya, all while getting to eat a delicious Panamanian meal. I 100% recommend you try out this class if you happen to be in Panama!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
hi Macy, So happy to hear you had the best time with Tanya! We're thrilled you enjoyed the hands-on cooking and conversation. Thanks for the recommendation!
From $95.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
4h Cooking Class in Panama City: 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks
383
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$95.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Sporting Events
- Shore Excursions
- Extreme Sports
- Full-day Tours
- 4WD Tours
- Bus Tours
- Tickets & Passes
- Day Trips
- Outdoor Activities
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Private Sightseeing Tours
- Panama City
- Sporting Events - Gamboa
- Shore Excursions - Gamboa
- Extreme Sports - Gamboa
- Full-day Tours - Gamboa
- 4WD Tours - Gamboa
- Bus Tours - Gamboa
- Sporting Events - Colon
- Shore Excursions - Colon
- Extreme Sports - Colon
- Full-day Tours - Colon
- 4WD Tours - Colon
- Bus Tours - Colon
- Sporting Events - San Blas Islands
- Extreme Sports - San Blas Islands
- Full-day Tours - San Blas Islands
- 4WD Tours - San Blas Islands
- Bus Tours - San Blas Islands
Attractions in Panama City, Panama
- Ancon Hill (Cerro Ancon) Tours & Tickets
- Soberanía National Park Tours & Tickets
- Metropolitan Cathedral Tours & Tickets
- Panama Canal Tours & Tickets
- Plaza de Francia Tours & Tickets
- Piedra Pintada Tours & Tickets
- Presidential Palace (Palacio de las Garzas) Tours & Tickets
- Bridge of the Americas (Puente de las Americas) Tours & Tickets
- Biomuseo Tours & Tickets
- Embera Village Tours & Tickets
- Contadora Island (Isla Contadora) Tours & Tickets
- Metropolitan National Park (Parque Natural Metropolitano) Tours & Tickets
- Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal) Tours & Tickets
- Chorro el Macho Waterfall Tours & Tickets
- Miraflores Locks Tours & Tickets
- Punta Culebra Nature Center Tours & Tickets
- Fuerte Amador Cruise Port Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Panama City, Panama