Platea — Panama City’s Jazz and Salsa Club
In the historic district of Casco Viejo, located among some of the most beautiful examples of architecture found anywhere in Panama, Platea is one of the classier and more sophisticated bars and nightspots in the city. Platea is a dark, yet inviting bar that has a stage in front for live music and multiple lounging areas with plenty of tables and chairs so that you can listen comfortably. For an upscale locale, the bar serves reasonably priced drinks and has a varied wine list. On the ground floor, within the same building as ‘Scena Restaurant, Platea also serves some delectable appetizers to fight hunger as well as thirst.
One of the main draws to Platea is the live music housed weekly. Thursday night is Jazz Night, highlighting local and invited groups to play in one of Latin America’s most famous hotbeds for jazz music. Outside of all the jazz, you can often hear live salsa bands on Friday nights that keep the dance floor moving in addition to all the special events that choose Platea as the location of choice to hold concerts and gatherings any night of the week.
For reservations, contact eyeonpanama@gmail.com
Best Nights: Thrusdays Jazz night, Friday Night Salsa.
Crowd: More mature, wealth international mix of people
Cover: Sometimes
Dress: Upscale and classy, and bring your dancing shoes if you are going to dance Salsa
Music: Latin/Salsa and Jazz
Bottle Service:
From 1-10 how widely spoken is English: 5
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Popularity: 8% [?]
Frommer on Sat, 3rd Oct 2009 8:02 pm
Frommer’s Review
Jazz is alive and well at this new sophisticated bar/club, located on the ground floor of a colonial town house in Casco Viejo. The club shares the building with its partner S’cena restaurant. Platea is cozy and classy, and appeals to an older crowd more so than most of the city’s dance clubs. Doors open at 7pm, except on Mondays, and live music begins at 10pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Often, Platea hosts hot salsa bands.
Karla on Wed, 19th May 2010 9:25 pm
Good live music and great vibe! great mojitos too.
Sandra on Sun, 4th Jul 2010 8:06 pm
My husband and I visited Panama in March and were lookin for a Salsa club. We went to check out La Platea on a Friday night. We could here the great music from the street, but we were disappointed when we walked in only because the place was packed and there was no room to dance. We left and went to another club not far from there on the bay called Havana Panama. This place is great if you like Salsa music and love to dance. The crowd consisted of a mix of differnt ages but mostly older hip and friendly rumberos. There were quite a few luxury cars parked outside, so the crowd had to be well to do. When you first walk in, there is a large bar and plenty of tables just for lounging. Then you continue to the rear and go through heavy red drapes where you find yourself in a larger room. In this area you will find a bar, large dance floor with tables on either side and a stage for the live band. There is a large balcony upstairs with tables and bar…probably for private parties. The band that played that night was fantastic. I am used to great salsa clubs in the States and I give Havana Panama two thumbs up. I highly recommend this club for all the rumberos that live and visit Panama. My rating above is for Havana Panama. This website should profile the club.
I will have to visit La Platea when I return to Panama next year. It really looks like a good place to be.
Gary Ray on Mon, 5th Jul 2010 12:55 pm
Sounds like fun, What is the address? I will be in Panama in a couple weeks and I would like to see this.
Sandra on Fri, 9th Jul 2010 11:55 pm
Just take a taxi and tell the driver to take you to Havana Panama in Casco Viejo. I think it is down the hill from the famous fish market/restaurant. It is right on the bay. In Panama they do not go by addresses.
You will love the place…great salsa music you won’t be able to sit still.
GB on Thu, 15th Jul 2010 4:35 pm
What about Tango in Panama City? With all the Argentine’s around I thought it would be popular. Does anyone know?
Dancing Salsa – It’s About Damn Time! on Wed, 25th May 2011 6:19 pm
[...] Viejo has a couple Salsa venues. But, they are either too packed to dance (Platea) or overpriced entrance cover (Havana Panama). The average person in Panama is more likely to [...]