4h Cooking Class in Panama City: 10 Recipes & Drinks

Cook traditional Panamanian food in a real home kitchen, then sit down and eat what you made.

A 4-hour hands-on cooking class in Panama City where you prepare 10 traditional Panamanian dishes—Carimanõlas, fish ceviche, arroz con pollo and more—guided step-by-step by a bilingual local instructor in her home kitchen. You cook, learn practical techniques, enjoy unlimited mojitos and other drinks throughout, then sit down as a small group to eat the full meal you prepared together. Vegetarian and non-pork options available. Includes a digital recipe book and Panama City food guide to take home.

The Experience

You'll work in a real Panamanian home kitchen, not a restaurant or a studio. The setup is small-group and relaxed—your host, Winnie, walks you through each dish as you cook, sharing the techniques and cultural details that make these recipes work. Most ingredients are ones you can find at home, so you're learning dishes you'll actually recreate. As you work, photos are taken so you leave with real memories of the day.

The menu spans appetizers, mains and desserts: you'll make Pico de Gallo, fish ceviche, Carimanõlas (fried yucca with beef), butter cassava, arroz con pollo, arroz con piña, and traditional sauces and drinks like mojitos, Chicha de Saril iced tea and Chicheme. Unlimited mojitos flow throughout the experience. Everything is provided—ingredients, utensils, aprons—so you bring nothing but yourself.

Once the cooking is done, the group sits down together to eat. Glasses are raised, conversation fills the kitchen, and you taste what you made. You leave with a digital recipe book, a curated food guide for exploring Panama City on your own, and the confidence of a 5-star money-back guarantee.

What’s included

• All ingredients, utensils and apron provided.
• hands-on instruction from a bilingual local guide.
• unlimited mojitos and traditional Panamanian drinks throughout.
• a full meal you prepare and eat together.
• digital recipe booklet to recreate dishes at home.
• curated Panama City food guide.
• candid photos from the class.
• 5-star money-back guarantee.

Good to know

Stroller friendly

Operated by Cook in Fiesta

Is this one for you?Book the shared group class if you want to meet other travelers while cooking and keep the price lower; choose the private option if you're traveling with people you know and prefer a more intimate kitchen experience. Either way, the 4 hours includes everything—ingredients, instruction, unlimited drinks and a full meal—so there's nothing else to arrange or pay for once you arrive.

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Top questions

What Panamanian dishes do I actually learn to cook?

You prepare 10 dishes: Pico de Gallo, fish ceviche, Carimanõlas, butter cassava, arroz con pollo, arroz con piña, Picante sauce, plus mojitos and two traditional drinks—Chicha de Saril iced tea and Chicheme. All recipes go into your digital book to take home.

Is this class vegetarian-friendly or do you accommodate food restrictions?

Yes. Vegetarian meals and non-alcohol beverage recipes are available upon request, and the class can accommodate any food restriction. None of the dishes contain pork.

How many people will be in the cooking class?

It's a small group, which keeps the experience personalized and means you get real attention from your instructor while still meeting other travelers.

What's included in the 4 hours?

The class includes all ingredients, utensils and an apron; hands-on cooking guided by a bilingual instructor; unlimited mojitos and other drinks; a full meal (appetizer, main dish, dessert); candid photos; a digital recipe booklet; and a Panama City food guide.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The class is designed for all levels. Your host guides you step-by-step through each dish in a relaxed, welcoming setting, so beginners and experienced cooks both learn something practical.

Can I book a private class instead of joining a group?

Yes. A private cooking class option is available at checkout if you prefer to cook with just your own group instead of mixing with other travelers.