Panama's Rooftop Revolution: Why This Hospitality Entrepreneur Says Nightlife is "Necessary" and a Developer Compares Panama to Miami 20 Years Ago
Episode Summary: In Episode 5 of Pana'Gringo, Do Panama's Austin Hess welcomes Luis Picardi, a hospitality entrepreneur behind some of Panama City's hottest nightlife venues, and Victoria Levitam, a real estate developer with 21 years of experience who led the Ocean Reef Islands project for over a decade.
Key Takeaways from Episode 5
Luis Picardi: The Philosophy Behind Panama's Nightlife Scene
Luis Picardi grew up between Florida (South Kendall/Miami area) and Panama, moving to Panama in 2000 at age 10. His family roots extend to Penonomé in Panama's interior. This dual perspective—American and Panamanian—shapes his approach to hospitality.
His hospitality portfolio includes:
- Furia Restaurant
- Piano Bar
- Cielo Rooftop
- Cello (rooftop venue at Alboa)
- Point (one of Panama's best skyline views)
- Brand Experience Center (new venue in Casco Viejo with 300m² restaurant + 300m² rooftop)
Upcoming rooftop projects:
- Morgan & Morgan building in Costa del Este
- Oceania development
The rooftop strategy: Picardi's group is deliberately migrating from traditional nightclubs to rooftop venues, recognizing that Panama's skyline, ocean views, and year-round warm weather create perfect conditions for elevated dining and entertainment experiences.
"Nightlife is Necessary": The Social Function of Hospitality
Picardi offers a philosophical perspective on nightlife that extends beyond clubs:
"Nightlife is not just nightclubs. Nightlife is having a drink after 5:00 PM. Nightlife is being able to take your convertible and drive through the causeway and see the beautiful skyline of Panama."
He traces this back 2,000 years—humans have always gathered in places to share stories and meet new people. Panama's hospitality scene serves this essential social function while showcasing the country's unique assets.
Panama's Gastronomic Scene: Better Italian Food Than Italy?
Austin Hess makes a bold claim: after spending 16 days in Italy, he believes Panama's Italian food is better. The reason? Italian restaurateurs in Panama ship containers of authentic ingredients while combining them with local produce quality and international culinary talent.
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The diversity of Panama's restaurant scene:
- Authentic Italian (Ringo and other groups)
- Greek cuisine
- German restaurants
- Extensive Chinese restaurant scene
- Japanese izakayas and robatayakis
- Fusion concepts blending Panamanian ingredients with global techniques
Major hospitality groups mentioned:
- Grupo Ringo
- Marw
- Felipe Milan
- CM Foods
- Picardi's group (partnered with Gablos Alba/Chumboling)
The Youth Awards and Panama's Music Scene
Panama recently hosted the Youth Awards, described as a massive success through collaboration between Mayor Mayer Mizrachi, the Minister of Tourism, and the executive branch.
Panama's global music ambassadors:
- Sech
- Boza
Both artists represent Panama's urban music genre internationally, closing stadiums worldwide. Picardi has worked with both since age 15, from small club promotions to carnival events with Paradise and Pescito.
Coming attraction: Picardi's father, a plastic surgeon and former president of the national and federation plastic surgery associations, is bringing 1,500 international plastic surgeons to Panama in March for a week-long congress—taking over 10 hotels and numerous restaurants and nightclubs.
Victoria Levitam: 21 Years of Panama Real Estate Development
Victoria Levitam brings deep development experience, having led the Ocean Reef Islands project for 11 years. Ocean Reef represents the first man-made islands created in the Pacific, constructed entirely with natural materials (rocks, sand).
Her market perspective: Panama is entering an "embryonic phase" of the next 5-10 year boom cycle, comparable to:
- Los Cabos 15 years ago
- Miami 20 years ago
What's driving the current momentum:
- 120 years of economic and political stability with a dollarized economy
- Connectivity: Panama is the biggest aviation hub of the Americas
- $30 billion infrastructure pipeline incoming
- Tourism growth: Doubled in the past year, boosted by Copa Airlines' stopover program
- Regional comparison: Security, friendliness, and quality of life exceed regional competitors
Panama City's Neighborhood Ecosystems
Victoria breaks down Panama City's distinct areas:
Punta Pacifica (where she lives):
- Ocean and skyline views
- Modern high-rises with balconies attracting hummingbirds
- Views of San Francisco, the Biomuseo, and Casco Viejo
Ocean Reef Islands:
- Man-made islands in the Pacific
- Natural construction materials create unique energy
- Feels like sailing away from the city while viewing the skyline
Casco Viejo (Old Town):
- Reflects Panama's origins
- Walkable neighborhood where everyone says hello
- Historic architecture and authentic character
- Reminds residents of how Panama felt 20-30 years ago
Other notable areas:
- Costa del Este (major growth zone)
- Avenida Balboa/Bay Vista
- San Francisco (features Parque Omar's preserved trees)
- Cangrejo (traditional walkable neighborhood)
The "Cornucopia" vs. "Melting Pot" Distinction
Luis Picardi reframes Panama's multicultural identity: rather than a "melting pot" (implying homogenization), Panama is a "cornucopia" or "Thanksgiving basket"—each culture maintains its distinct flavor while contributing to the whole.
Immigrants bring their talents, traditions, folklore, and histories, embedding this storytelling into restaurants, hotels, and businesses. The result: authentic experiences where you can feel transported to Little Italy or the streets of Okinawa without leaving Panama City.
Why Panama Captures Hearts
Victoria articulates what many expats experience: "Panama doesn't shout, but it calls you. And if you stop and if you listen closely, you really fall in love with it."
The geographic magic: Three million years ago, Panama didn't exist—only ocean. When the isthmus rose, it connected North and South America, allowing animals to meet and plants to mix, changing the entire Earth's ecosystem. Today, that same bridging function continues with cultures, energy, and people.
The nature-city duality: Panama offers a modern city comparable to New York in smaller scale, yet residents still see hummingbirds on their balconies, parrots in the trees, and jungle visible from most apartment buildings. This contrast—"where the concrete jungle meets the real natural jungle"—keeps people grounded and happy.
About the Pana'Gringo Podcast
Pana'Gringo delivers insights, stories, and real experiences of Panama living through conversations with expats, professionals, and entrepreneurs. New episodes release on the 15th and 30th of each month. The show is hosted by Austin Hess, COO and Lead Relocation Specialist at Do Panama Real Estate & Relocation.
Watch Episode 5: Available on Do Panama's YouTube channel (139,000+ views)
About Do Panama Real Estate & Relocation
Do Panama Real Estate & Relocation is a licensed (PJ-1430-2023) and bonded real estate company specializing in helping expats explore living, retiring, and investing in Panama.
Services include:
- Real estate sales and rentals across Panama
- End-to-end relocation assistance
- Visa and residency guidance
- Connections with vetted attorneys, contractors, and service providers
- Neighborhood tours and ecosystem matching
Office Locations:
- Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Panama City (Level P, in front of swimming pool)
- Hilton Hotel, Panama City (Information desk 10 feet inside front doors)
Contact:
- Website: dopanama.com
- Email: info@DoPanama.com
- Phone/WhatsApp: +507 6767-9710
Featured in This Episode
Luis Picardi - Hospitality Entrepreneur
- Venues: Furia, Piano Bar, Cielo Rooftop, Cello, Point, Brand Experience Center (Casco Viejo)
- Upcoming: Rooftops at Morgan & Morgan building (Costa del Este) and Oceania
- Background: Half American (Florida), half Panamanian (Penonomé roots)
- Industry connections: Sech, Boza, major hospitality groups
Victoria Levitam - Real Estate Developer
- Experience: 21 years in Panama real estate
- Notable project: Ocean Reef Islands (11 years as project lead)
- Specialty: Large-scale development projects
- Current residence: Punta Pacifica
Frequently Asked Questions About Panama City Lifestyle
What is Panama's nightlife scene like? Panama City offers diverse nightlife from rooftop lounges with skyline views to traditional nightclubs, piano bars, and waterfront restaurants. The scene operates year-round (not seasonal) and caters to all ages—younger crowds on weekdays, mixed demographics on weekends.
How does Panama's restaurant scene compare internationally? Panama City hosts authentic cuisine from dozens of countries, with Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, and German restaurants operated by immigrants who import authentic ingredients. Many expats rate Panama's international dining as competitive with or superior to origin countries.
What are the best neighborhoods in Panama City? Key areas include Punta Pacifica (ocean views, modern towers), Costa del Este (family-friendly, growing), Casco Viejo (historic, walkable), Ocean Reef Islands (exclusive, waterfront), San Francisco (parks, established), and Avenida Balboa (central, bay views).
Is Panama a good investment compared to other markets? Developers compare Panama's current position to Miami 20 years ago or Los Cabos 15 years ago—an early-stage growth cycle. A $30 billion infrastructure pipeline, doubled tourism, and 120 years of political/economic stability support the investment thesis.
Why do people say Panama "captures" them? The combination of modern city amenities, accessible nature (jungle, ocean, mountains), year-round warm weather, safety, multicultural community, and dollarized economy creates an environment that consistently converts visitors into residents.
What major events come to Panama? Recent examples include the Youth Awards (music), Latin Grammy precursor events, and international professional conferences (1,500 plastic surgeons arriving March 2026). Panama actively pursues major events through government-private sector collaboration.
Episode 5 Tags
panagringo-podcast do-panama expat-life-panama living-in-panama panama-city panama-nightlife panama-restaurants rooftop-bars-panama casco-viejo punta-pacifica ocean-reef-panama costa-del-este panama-real-estate-investment luis-picardi victoria-levitam panama-lifestyle panama-gastronomy invest-in-panama panama-tourism panama-entertainment
Published by Do Panama Real Estate & Relocation | Licensed (PJ-1430-2023) and Bonded
Episode originally aired: November 30, 2025
