Danielle When I was planning the Panama leg of my trip, I was torn between doing Bocas del Toro and the San Blas islands. They both have gorgeously blue water, pristine beaches, and a relaxed vibe. What ended up selling me on Bocas was the fact that it’s a bit more built up, so there would be more vegan restaurants to try. San Blas is protected land, so if you want a chance to escape the hustle and bustle, that’s a great choice.
Unlike other cities where there are so many vegan options that I can break them down into categories, there are only a handful of restaurants in Bocas del Toro that offer plant-based options. Therefore, I’ll just go down the list.
Falafel Bocas
I love Mediterranean food, especially in a warm climate like Bocas. The menu isn’t entirely plant-based, but they do feature hummus and falafel. You can either get the falafel as a pita or a plate. I went with the plate, and I was shocked at how much food comes with it.
The menu mentions that the plates are accompanied by homemade fries, house sides, salad, and pita. Y’all. There was so much food: hummus, falafel, pickles, tahini, baba ganoush, spicy peppers, and so much more. This meal easily could be split between two people.
Beyond it being a very generous portion, the food was good quality. Everything was fresh and well-seasoned. I will note that there were only 2 people working when I went at 7:30pm, so service was a bit slow. I didn’t begin getting food until around 8, and the last part of the meal (the pita) came around 8:10. But for that quantity of good food, I had no problem waiting.
Gimi Love
The first time I tried to go to Gimi Love, they were closed (even though the hours on Google said that they should be open). Luckily, Bocas is very small, so I was able to go somewhere else for dinner and then try Gimi Love for breakfast.
The breakfast options weren’t written on a menu, but my server verbally listed them. The day I went, they had a traditional Panamanian breakfast, a smoothie bowl, and a chorizo sandwich (the restaurant is entirely plant-based so it’s a vegan version of chorizo).
The daily menu is quite small: they only had 2 appetizers, 3 mains, and 3 desserts listed. Though that might feel a bit limiting, honestly, I would rather eat at a restaurant that does a few dishes very well than one that has a large menu of mediocre options.
All of the breakfast options sounded great, but I was more interested in trying the Banana Meat Plate, which was listed on the lunch/dinner menu board. I have seen videos of people making banana meat from cooked banana peels, but I had never tried it. I asked if I could order this lunch item for breakfast, and they were fine with that.
The banana peels are shredded, cooked down in vegetable stock, and then pan sautéed with peppers, garlic, and onions. It’s served with a small salad and sautéed bamboo shoots. I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful it was. Going in, I wasn’t 100% sure if I would like cooked banana peels, but it’s one of those ‘don’t knock it until you’ve tried it’ dishes.
It was well seasoned and well cooked. The portion isn’t gigantic, but it’s enough for a light, healthy meal.
It should be noted that when I went, they were cash only, so just be prepared.
Unfortunately, as of February 2024, Google lists the restaurant as temporarily closed, but hopefully that’s just for the season. It’s a great place in Bocas for vegans so fingers crossed, they reopen.
Boya de Vida
This isn’t a restaurant, but it’s a floating bar! You have to take a short boat ride to get there, but it’s worth the trip. The water looks stunning from this vantage point. There are slides off the side, so you can swim if you’re up for it.
I had two drinks, and enjoyed every sip. They do offer a few food items. When I went there wasn’t a vegan option, but there was a vegetarian choice.
It’s still absolutely worth a trip if your looking for a place to catch a sunset in Bocas.
Cat in the Cup
This is a café attached to the Cat in the Cup Bed and Breakfast. If you take the ferry into Bocas, this is directly across the street. It’s one of the first things you’ll see when you land.
After taking the overnight bus and the morning ferry, I was desperately in need for a cup of coffee and something to eat. They had a handful of vegan options (the hummus toast and a chia seed pudding) and several vegetarian options.
I’m more of a savory kind of girl, so I went with the hummus. It’s served with a local Caribbean bread, avocado, and a small diced vegetable salad.
This meal was extremely simple, but all of the components were delicious. I particularly loved the bread! It’s a bit denser and sweeter than other breads, but it worked really well as a vehicle for the hummus and vegetables.
Raw Fusion
Raw Fusion is a Japanese restaurant with handful of vegan and vegetarian options.
The location is right over the water, and they even have a happy hour, so if you’re looking for somewhere to just enjoy some drinks and appetizers around sunset, this is a great option.
There were a few combinations of menu items that I was interested in trying, but I ended up choosing the Miso soup and the Jungle roll.
It was a solid meal. I was obsessed with the mushrooms in the miso. I know that mushrooms aren’t a traditional ingredient in miso, but they added some textural and flavor variation, so I was there for it. The roll was nice. Not exceptional, but really good. I did love the sautéed kale in the roll—it was a nice change from a standard carrot, avocado, cucumber roll that is usually the vegan option at sushi restaurants.
BDT Vegan Eatery
I really wanted to love this restaurant. It’s one of the only fully vegan restaurants on the island, the décor is really charming, and the staff is friendly. BUT, everything I tried was just not that good.
There were a bunch of different things I wanted to try, but I ended up going with the Goodbye Sunset smoothie, an iced latte, and the breakfast burrito.
My biggest complaint was that everything was just a bit too bland for my taste. The smoothie tasted more like the coconut milk it was made with than the pineapple and papaya. The burrito needed more salt and acid, and the garlic potatoes that it was stuffed with didn’t have much garlic flavor. Also, the texture of all of the burrito ingredients was too soft and one note. My favorite thing on the plate was the swipe of the beet hummus. It was actually well seasoned, and I wished there was more of it.
I went in with high expectations, so I was just a little disappointed all around. I like strongly flavored foods that are bold and exciting, and this just didn’t do it for me. With just a few adjustments, it could be excellent though.
Honorable Mentions
There are two restaurants I didn’t have the opportunity to try because my trip was to the island was so short, but I still want to mention them.
Om Café
Om is an Indian restaurant that isn’t plant-based, but they do offer a handful of vegan and vegetarian options. I wanted to check it out, but they are only open in the evenings on Monday-Friday. I was there over the weekend, so I didn’t have the opportunity to give them a try.
Leaf Eaters Café
Leaf Eaters is across the water from Bocas, on Carenero Island. The islands are extremely close, and a very easy boat ride that only costs a few dollars. I just didn’t have the chance to get to the other island, but I would have loved to try it if I had more time.
The café isn’t plant-based, but they offer a selection of juices, smoothies, and vegan bowls and sandwiches. If you’re looking for something light and healthy, this looks like a great option.
Final Thoughts
My time in Bocas Del Toro was…interesting. I’ll talk about my full experience in another blog post. But as for the food, it was hit and miss. I had some delicious food and some mediocre food.
I will say, it’s not a very easy place to eat as a vegan. The town is really small, so there’s just less to choose from. On Saturday evening, I had to walk up and down the main stretch of town to find anywhere that was open that offered a good vegan option. It was definitely one of the tougher places to eat as a vegan.
