One of
the oldest eateries in town is Café Coca-Cola, which faces
Parque Santa Ana, near the terminus of the Avenida Central pedestrian
mall. Very few private-owned establishments of any kind in town can
claim a similar history of uninterrupted service.
Opened
in 1883 bearing a name now forgotten, the establishment became known
as "Coca-Cola" sometime after the turn of the 20th century,
when the famous carbonated beverage gained popularity on the Isthmus.
Café
Coca-Cola is an urban icon that defies definition. Frequented by prominent
intellectuals, government officials and celebrities, it is said that
the main attraction of this quaint colonial-style establishment is
its use as an impromptu news-sharing venue. Some say that many major
political events of the 20th century, ranging from military coups
to presidential campaign strategies, were planned on the tables of
Café Coca Cola, where it is sill not uncommon to find current
cabinet members and legislators chatting with gentlemen of all social
classes over a cup of coffee.
The list
of past and present "VIP" customers of the café includes
Panamanian laureate poet Ricardo Miró, former president Arnulfo
Arias, current president Martín Torrijos, and Mrs. Linda Watt,
the outspoken and popular former U.S. Ambassador to Panama.
