Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar
Pedro Mandinga is Panama's first and only craft rum distillery, operating out of a storefront on Avenida B between Calle 8 and Calle 9 in Casco Viejo. The small-batch rum is made on-site using sugarcane from the Azuero Peninsula, and you can see the copper still through a glass partition while you drink. The bar serves flights of their house rums, rum cocktails, and a short food menu designed to pair with the spirits. A tasting flight of four rums costs USD 15-18. Individual cocktails run USD 10-14. The space is narrow and storefront-style, with seating at the bar, a few tables, and a counter facing the street. It's a relaxed, educational experience rather than a nightlife destination, though it fits naturally into a Casco Viejo bar crawl.
What to Expect
A relaxed tasting-room experience with a focus on craft rum education. The staff are knowledgeable and enjoy walking visitors through the production process. The crowd is a mix of tourists, rum enthusiasts, and Casco Viejo locals stopping in for a drink. It's casual, friendly, and low-pressure.
Part tasting room, part neighborhood bar. Bright, open to the street, and welcoming. Not a late-night venue.
Background Latin and tropical music. Ambient volume.
Casual. This is a daytime-friendly venue. Anything comfortable works.
Rum enthusiasts wanting to taste locally made spirits. Good first stop on a Casco Viejo bar crawl. Works for afternoon drinks or a pre-dinner tasting.
Credit cards and cash (USD) accepted
Price Range
Rum flights USD 15-18, cocktails USD 10-14, food USD 8-15
All prices in USD (Panama's currency)
Hours
Tue-Sat 12 PM to 10 PM. Later hours on Fri-Sat during peak season.
Insider Tip
Start with the tasting flight to understand what they make before ordering cocktails. Ask the bartender to explain the distilling process. Buy a bottle to take home; prices at the source are better than at the airport duty-free.
Full Review
The storefront opens directly onto Avenida B, one of Casco Viejo's main pedestrian streets. The space is long and narrow, with the bar running along one wall and the distilling equipment visible through glass at the back. The copper pot still is small-batch by design, producing limited runs that sell out regularly.
The tasting flight is the way to go for a first visit. Four rums, from a clear Seco-style spirit to an aged expression, give you the full range. The staff explain each one and connect it back to the sugarcane source and the distilling process. It's educational without being lecture-like.
Cocktails use the house rums and lean tropical. A mojito made with their own rum and fresh local mint is straightforward and good. The daiquiri is properly balanced. Nothing on the menu tries too hard. The food is simple: empanadas, ceviche, and small plates designed to accompany drinks rather than serve as a meal.
The atmosphere is friendly and daytime-appropriate. Families come through in the afternoon. Couples stop in before dinner. Bar crawlers hit it as a first or second stop. It doesn't try to be a nightlife venue and is better for it.
Buy a bottle if you like what you taste. The white rum and the aged expressions are both well-made. Prices at the distillery are lower than anywhere else you'll find them.
The Neighborhood
Pedro Mandinga sits on Avenida B, Casco Viejo's main commercial spine. Tantalo is one block away. Bajareque Coffee House is across the street. The surrounding blocks have restaurants, galleries, and shops that make for easy pre-dinner wandering.
Getting There
Uber to Casco Viejo from any part of Panama City takes 10-20 minutes depending on traffic. The bar is on Avenida B, which is pedestrian-heavy and easy to find. Look for the signage and the visible distilling equipment through the front window.
Address
Avenida B between Calle 8 and Calle 9, Casco Viejo
Other Venues in Casco Viejo
Tantalo Kitchen + Rooftop Bar
Multi-level venue in a restored colonial building with a ground-floor restaurant, mezzanine bar, and rooftop terrace overlooking the Pacific and the city skyline. DJs play on weekends.
Casa Casco
Restored mansion housing multiple bars, a restaurant, a rum bar, a gin bar, and a rooftop terrace. Each floor has a different atmosphere, from intimate cocktail lounge to open-air party deck.
Lazotea
Rooftop cocktail bar perched above the old town with 360-degree views of the skyline, the bay, and the Bridge of the Americas. Known for craft cocktails and a laid-back sunset crowd.
Relic Bar
Atmospheric bar in a converted colonial space with exposed stone walls, low lighting, and a cocktail menu focused on rum and whiskey. Quieter than the rooftop spots and good for conversation.
Strangers Club
Speakeasy-style bar hidden behind an unmarked door. Craft cocktails served in a dimly lit, intimate space with a dress code and a reservations-recommended policy. One of the district's most talked-about bars.