Good
news for visiting Christmas shoppers. Virtually every mall in town
has extended its working hours, offering shoppers the opportunity
to enjoy late-night and sometimes, small-hour shopping sprees. Until
last year, most shopping centers closed around 10:00 p.m. and sometimes
11:00 p.m. during Christmas time, but this year, places like Los Pueblos
strip mall and Albrook Mall, are opening until 1:00 a.m and beyond.
Although
Panama’s famous Avenida Central still continues to attract thousands
of shoppers on a daily basis, the number of U.S.-style malls in the
capital has multiplied in recent years, giving shoppers a wide variety
of options, such as:
Albrook
Mall: Opened two years ago, this gigantic mall suits all
pockets, with large department stores, cinemas, boutiques and entertainment
centers for all ages.
Pros:
easy access: Adjacent to the Corredor Norte expressway, the Marcos
A. Gelabert regional airport and Gran Terminal de Transporte (international,
regional and city buses. Facility includes a large taxi terminal);
large parking lots and facilities for the handicapped, extended hours
(until approximately 1:00 a.m.), great variety of restaurants.
To
consider: Large crowds, heavy traffic at times.
El
Dorado: Panama City’s first U.S.-style mall is currently
undergoing a facelift to keep up with modern times. It is mainly a
family-oriented boutique mall, complemented by a system of adjacent
strip malls, such as Centro Comercial Alhambra, El Dorado Mall and
Camino de Cruces.
Pros:
Great prices. Not far away from the hotel district and close to expat
residential areas. The mall includes supermarkets, a casino, ethnic
shopping (a full-fledged China town and Hindu stores). Probably not
as crowded as other malls.
To
consider: The area’s main thoroughfare, Vía
Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto) is crowded most of the time. Not
as many activities for children or restaurant options as in other
malls.
Multicentro:
Situated in the exclusive neighborhood of Punta Paitilla, this up-scale
mall rivals some of the best shopping centers of Europe and North
America. Expect to find world-renowned designer clothing brands and
jewelry stores. The facility adjoins the Radisson Decapolis Hotel
and its large, Las Vegas-style casino.
Pros:
Entertainment centers for all ages featuring the latest technologies,
direct access to and from Tocumen International Airport (20 minutes)
via the Corredor Sur expressway, parking towers, large food court,
public concerts and activities.
To
consider: Heavy traffic along Avenida Balboa.
Multiplaza:
Also in the Paitilla area is Multiplaza Pacific. Although some of
the world’s most prestigious fashion houses have opened boutiques
there, the mall appeals to a middle-class market with an excellent
variety of department stores, supermerkets, banks and hardware stores.
It adjoins the by Courtyard Marriott Hotel.
Pros:
Direct access to Corredor Sur, leading to Tocumen Airport; ample parking,
great entertainment options: concerts, clowns, etc.
To
consider: Traffic congestion around the banking district,
Vía Brasil and Calle 50.
Los
Pueblos: This strip mall is extremely popular among Panamanians
of all social extractions, due to its low prices and great product
variety. It is populated by scores of department and electronic stores.
Located only 10 minutes from Tocumen International Airport, it is
a good place to watch a movie before your plane leaves.
Pros:
Great prices generally speaking. Casinos. Only 10 minutes from Tocumen
Airport, access from Via Tocumen, Via Jose Agustín Arango and
Corredor Sur expressway.
To
consider: Traffic is often heavy on Vía Tocumen
and on the mall’s inner streets and parking lots. Not many family
entertainment activities or restaurant options (mainly fast food).
The
Vía España shopping district: is a delight
for the majority of the city’s hotel guests, who only have to
walk a block or less to find a long string of boutiques offering top-quality
designer clothing, jewels, and high-tech gadgets. The area is also
close to Avenida Samuel Lewis, which has become an haute couture center
in recent years (Reprosa, the only jewelry store in Panama specializing
in reproductions of orchids and pre-Columbian and colonial pieces
using the "lost wax" technique, is situated along Avenida
Samuel Lewis).
Pros:
Not as crowded as other shopping venues; located within walking distance
from most hotels and banks in town. Good restaurant options, large
number of high-fashion boutiques.
To
consider: Traffic is often heavy on Vía España.
Parking facilities are somewhat limited.
Avenida
Central: A historic city icon and pedestrian mall, the bargains
of which attracted thousands of passenger-ship, in-transit travelers
decades ago, continues to be the No. 1 shopping district for most
Panamanians, who can find everything from pins and needles and toys
to the latest electronic gadgets and home appliances –all at
extremely low prices.
Pros:
hilariously-low prices, which can drop even more if you can practice
the art of "regatear" (bargaining) with the store clerks.
Tremendous variety of products from all parts of the globe.
To
consider: Extremely overcrowded during this time of
the year. Very limited parking space.
Not many
restaurant or family entertainment options.
Three
cooked, boneless chickens, five gallons of chicken consommé,
ten pounds of corn-on-the cob, 1 cup of chopped celery, 1 cups of
chopped onions, 15 tablespoons of chopped culantro, 15 cloves of garlic,
10 ounces of olives, 7 ounces of raisins, one cup of achiote oil,
10 ounces of tomato paste, 10 ounces of ají morron (pepper),
salt and pepper al gusto. 
