Furia: Panama City's Premier High-Energy Restaurant and Nightclub Experience

Furia isn't your typical restaurant that happens to have a bar. It's a carefully curated experience designed to evolve throughout the night. The concept started in 2019 with a bold vision: create a high-energy venue that could transition seamlessly from an intimate dinner setting into a full-blown nightclub. After closing during the pandemic, Furia reopened in 2022 and is now celebrating its third year anniversary with new menus and expanded catering services. Lewis Picard, the owner and operator, describes the vision as becoming a jewel and diamond in Panama's nightlife scene. The magic happens as the evening progresses. You start with a nice dinner and bottle of wine, transition to signature cocktails, and then feel the energy shift as the nightclub atmosphere emerges. Other guests arrive, the music intensifies, and you find yourself surrounded by positive energy and celebration. It's this unique progression that sets Furia apart from typical restaurants or typical nightclubs.

The food program at Furia is genuinely impressive. The menu has evolved significantly since opening, now featuring around 30 appetizers and 30 main course entrees. The standout feature is their 100% independent sushi bar, which sources imported protein including six to ten varieties of fresh fish and premium crustaceans. Beyond the Japanese offerings, you'll find signature dishes created with international techniques but infused with Panamanian influences. The menu is designed for sharing, which creates a communal dining experience perfect for couples, families, and groups celebrating special occasions. Desserts are one-of-a-kind creations that showcase the culinary creativity of the team. What really matters is that Furia approaches dining as an experience rather than just a transaction. They ask about allergies, acknowledge special occasions like birthdays, and create an atmosphere where you feel celebrated. This hospitality-first approach is why people come back repeatedly and recommend Furia to friends.

Furia operates Monday through Saturday, opening at 6:00 PM. Monday and Tuesday hours are 6:00 PM to midnight with restaurant focus. Wednesday through Saturday, the restaurant runs from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with the kitchen staying open for takeout, and the nightclub continues until 3:00 AM Wednesday through Friday and 4:00 AM on Saturday, when the party winds down naturally. The venue is located in Bayita, within walking distance of the W Hotel and a short Uber ride from the Hilton Meridian and other major hotels. There are six hotels within walking distance of Furia, making it incredibly convenient for tourists and hotel guests. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made through OpenTable, their website, via text message, or Instagram direct messages. The team has someone monitoring communications 24/7 to answer questions, note special occasions, and ensure you have all the information needed for a great experience. They also inquire about dietary restrictions and preferences to customize your visit.

For expats considering relocation to Panama, understanding the nightlife and dining scene is crucial to evaluating quality of life. Furia represents the caliber of culinary and social experiences available in Panama City that rival major international cities. Austin Hess, COO of DoPanama Real Estate and Relocation, features Furia in their Panal Life magazine series specifically because venues like this are where you'll actually spend your time once you relocate. The venue demonstrates that Panama City has evolved into a sophisticated destination with world-class dining, professional hospitality standards, and vibrant social scenes. For those considering retirement or long-term relocation, having access to high-quality restaurants with diverse cuisines, live music, and energetic atmospheres directly impacts your decision to commit to Panama. Furia also serves as a meeting spot for the expat community and visiting friends and family, making it essential social infrastructure for those relocating.

Furia recently expanded its offerings to include private event spaces perfect for larger groups, corporate events, and celebrations. If you're planning a birthday party, anniversary celebration, business dinner, or wedding reception, Furia's dedicated private rooms provide an intimate setting separate from the main dining area while maintaining the signature Furia energy. Lewis mentions they're actively developing catering services for events, meaning you can bring Furia's culinary excellence directly to your special occasion. For relocating expats who want to host clients or celebrate milestones with friends, Furia removes the logistics headache by handling food, beverages, atmosphere, and entertainment all in one sophisticated venue.

One element that elevates Furia beyond typical restaurant-nightclubs is the live music programming and the intentional curation of positive energy. As the night progresses and guests move from dining to dancing, live musicians set the tone. This creates an organic celebration where diners at one table might spontaneously greet someone celebrating a birthday at the next table. The energy is contagious and genuine, not manufactured. Lewis Picard emphasizes that this positive energy flows from the staff first. If the team operates with excellence and hospitality at the core, guests naturally feed off that energy and create an uplifting environment for everyone. Furia represents the evolution of Panama City's nightlife culture away from purely club-focused venues toward sophisticated entertainment destinations where dinner, drinks, and dancing happen in one extraordinary evening.

Furia's location in Bayita puts it in one of Panama City's most accessible neighborhoods for both residents and visitors. If you're staying at the W Hotel, it's literally walking distance. The Hilton Meridian, Gaidai, and other major hotels are all within a short Uber ride. Bayita has become the heart of Panama City's modern dining and entertainment scene, with restaurants, bars, and retail continuing to develop. The neighborhood is safe, well-lit in the evenings, and full of people enjoying dinner and nightlife. For expats relocating to Panama City, proximity to neighborhoods like Bayita with world-class dining and entertainment is a major quality-of-life factor. Unlike some expat communities that form isolated bubbles, Bayita draws a genuinely diverse crowd of locals, tourists, and internationals, creating authentic cultural exchange.