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Panama 66

3.7 (912 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Panama 66 Photos

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PANAMA 66 ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Live music
Good for dancing

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Recommended Reviews - Panama 66

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Turkey Club Sandwich
Ashley M.

My fiancée and I went to the zoo, left, and took a stroll through Balboa Park. We were hungry, and since it had been a few years since we ate at Panama 66, we decided to give it a try. My sandwich was amazing. I had the Turkey Club Sandwich, which came with sliced smoked turkey breast, brie cheese, bibb lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, bacon, chili aioli, and levain bread. Delicious! I had french fries on the side and they were cooked perfectly. The seating area is outdoors, which is great because you can enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather and catch a glimpse of the famous Balboa Park architecture. The staff are friendly and worked to bus tables and keep the place clean. It's definitely a place I will come back to, and maybe next time I'll try their burger.

Soba salad
Steve S.

Convenient option if you're around Balboa Park but not somewhere you'd go out of your way to try. Friendly staff. Awesome outdoor seating. Decent menu options.

Burger Time
Cheryl G.

Keep in mind when visiting that this is in a tourist area... So you're not gonna get a screaming deal or anything. But I didn't think that the prices were outrageous either. Maybe just slightly higher than restaurants in a regular area. Panama 66 has a great selection of craft beers from California. Maybe a few too many IPAs for my taste and definitely lacking a pale ale. I did try both of their wheat beers and thought they were excellent. I went for the burger, it didn't come out, looking all that impressive but the taste was popping. All of their bread products come from local bakery Bread & Cie and the bun was perfectly toasted. The french fries are always on point at Panama 66. I like to get them upgraded to Parmesan truffle. My man got a club sandwich and it was huge and he thought it was really good as well. On a previous visit I had the Tempe sandwich, I wasn't in the mood for meat on that visit and it is really nice and Hardy. Would definitely recommend that as an option as well. I especially like this restaurant because of the ambience. It's located outside, but there is some covered seating. Right next to the museum of art and there's a big beautiful courtyard with some art pieces as well as a nice water feature. While we were sitting there a few ducks flew into the water feature, it was quite entertaining. I thought the service was great starting right with the gentleman who greeted us at the door who informed us of all the new menu items. I also appreciated the guys at the counter that were patient with me and let me try a few of the craft beers. It's a fast casual type place, you order at the bar and then they bring your food out. They were doing a really good job of also busing and cleaning all the tables. This is definitely a place I will return.

M&M cookie
Sara C.

Jonathan, thanks for making our experience so fun! We eaves dropped and heard him telling another patron about the story of the restaurant where the museum it resides in opened in 66, and Balboa park hosted the celebration of the opening of Panama Canal..... The courtyard where the restaurant was in was very quiet and quaint. The beers cold and the curry fries were TDF! That curry sauce, I can see why there is a cult following for it. Highly recommend to give them a try, thr m&m cookie was divine. Definitely try the curry fries!

Panama 66: smashed vegan burger
Chiemi N.

After the Botanical Building tour, our group came to Panama 66. There was something for everyone in our group. Order at the counter, take a number, find a seat! Love it when you don't have to fuss over a bill after dining! I ordered the vegan smash burger and it was good! Service was great after being seated, with requests for mustard or ketchup brought out instantly!

IG @devouredwithlove
Clara T.

Visited on a weekend with my furkid. Pros: - Pet friendly! Seating is outside. - Decent sized portions of food. Price goes in line with portion and location of restaurant. - Ordering drinks were quick. Minimal wait. - Great ambience. Cons: - Line to order food was somewhat long. Quality of food itself was average. We ordered Mediterranean appetizer platter of sort and fish tacos with fries. Tacos were eh, but everything else was decent. - Service was nothing to rave about.

Fall evening
Lynn R.

Fabulous night on a beautiful fall evening with the tower lit up. A night of Latin jazz and delicious burgers with side of fries and salad and a dazzling pink lighted California Tower right in front of us!! Service with a smile and food ready in ten minutes. A simply delightful evening. Plenty of parking at the Oregon pavilion and it's still free! I was surprised, but it wasn't more crowded on a Friday evening. We arrived at 5:30 and the music started at 6 PM. The tables were getting full by the time the music started.

Yu S.

I got a chicken bahn mi. The baguette and veggies were not bad, but as usual i find the chicken to be bland and dry. On top of that, there was very little sauce too, not much pate or anything else. I did like the salad just because it's not a regular lettuce salad. This has a unique vibe where it feels classy, but also feels like a cafeteria. Like, you've got a live band and a nice looking bar. But we also had to stand in a line between stanchions to order food. There were still a lot of empty tables on a Saturday evening, but customers were backed up trying to order through a single register. I.....feel like they're not understaffed, but their management is really inefficient. We had at least 3-4 servers come to our table, and none of them were quite sure what the others are doing. At one point, one woman noticed we didn't have silverware yet, and she leaves for silverware, followed by a second dude going "you guys don't have silverware yet?", followed by a third woman bringing our silverware. Later, the server who brings our food forgets to take our numbers. About 15 minutes later, another server comes and asks if we got all our food. We said we did, so she says, "I'll take your numbers then." While I do think they were busier than usual, the way they operate feels questionable. I suspect that the real reason they force people to order upfront is due to dine and dashers. Unfortunate.

Mezze platter and fries
Rebecca C.

As a San Diego local, I sometimes go here because this is extremely conveniently located in the middle of Balboa Park. I think the food is just ok, but better than other options within walking distance so if I'm showing someone around Balboa Park it is convenient. The location is also quite nice and you can have a view of the SD Museum of Art sculpture garden. I went recently and the line was extremely slow (when I went only 1 person was at the register even though there were 2 registers), which was the biggest downside. The food came pretty quickly after ordering. I got the mezze platter as an entree because I was feeling like veggies, and it was a great choice. As an appetizer, I would probably want 3+ people to share this because I didn't finish it as an entree. I was pleasantly surprised with how filling it was! My friend got the tuna melt and also enjoyed it.

Gregg S.

The BF and I, we're spending the day in Balboa park, trying to see it all in one day And we needed respite, when we saw panama 99, we decided to have lunch Al fresco and ice cold beers. We dined on pork adobe and jasmine rice and fish tacos We sat and listened to the live jazz playing in the courtyard.

Marcie L.

A friend and I stopped in on a Wednesday around 9 pm to catch the live jazz in the back room, and it did not disappoint. They host jazz every Wednesday until 10 pm, and as someone from Louisiana, I don't say this lightly, it was phenomenal. The talent was seriously impressive, and it was refreshing to see a crowd that genuinely appreciates that kind of music. The setup is great too. There's plenty of seating with small tables so it's easy to relax and enjoy your drink without feeling cramped. It's also super casual, you can come and go as you please, which adds to the laid-back vibe. One thing to note: after 9 pm, the bar serves only wine and beer. The wine list is small (just a few reds), but the options are still solid. Overall, this place is a total vibe. Really glad we checked it out and would definitely come back for another Wednesday night.

$4, Lemonade & $18, The Pulled Pork Sandwich with side salad
Caitlin D.

This was my first time here at Panama 66 in Balboa Park. We came for a late lunch and I was surprised at how fast the service was. We stood in line at the bar and ordered from there. I even ordered a lemonade ($4) and they gave it to me as I got the number order stand as well. To eat, I ordered their $18, Pulled Pork Sandwich with the side salad (the other option was truffle fries). And as you finish ordering, as you may notice, they have a station to grab some nice ice cold water as well. After they give you a number, you find a seat on the patio. The area in the front of the restaurant has reserved signs on the tables, but apparently it's just reserved for larger groups (rather than solo eaters, 2-4 people) such as the one I was with. We were a table of 8-10. Like I said, I didn't even sit down for more than 5 minutes and they already brought out my plate of Pulled Pork Sandwich. I cut for sandwich in half for easier eating. The first half that I ate, didn't have as much flavor in the pulled pork as the second half did. I think it would be lovely to have a little more of that Seasonal IPA BBQ Sauce because you'd think that would be the star of the show right? The dijonnaise was light and not overwhelming. There were some tasty spicy dill pickles inside the sandwich. What I loved is that they used Bread & Cie pretzel bun, so beautifully toasted it didn't get soggy at all. I didn't taste a creamy veggie slaw, so I added my side salad into the sandwich and boy that was a great idea! Since the salad was lightly dressed and a bit difficult to stab with the fork-- being in a sandwich was the best for it. I'd rate this a 8.5/10! The lemonade was good, but a little thick. Reminding me of the ones you'd get premade in bottles at the store. Lots of simple syrup or sugar, I think a little more water was needed and maybe even some more lemon. It was refreshing, but unless it was made hand squeezed-- I'd say only worth $3! (I do not know if they make the lemonades themselves). My friends were happy with their Soup of the Day- which looked like it was Carrot, Cauliflower Ceviche ($16) , and Truffle Parm Fries ($10). A few of them have eaten here before and recommended the Tofu Banh Mi ($17) and the Smash Veg Burger ($17). Overall for lunch I paid ~23-$25.71 which is not bad for a restaurant within Balboa Park. The food was tasty and fulfilling after a long walk around the area. The workers were kind, place was clean, great atmosphere, and fast service. I'd recommend Panama 66 if you're in Balboa Park or even just Bankers Hill area.

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Reviews are mixed. Many praise the vibrant outdoor atmosphere, live music, and wide menu variety. The friendly staff and popular burgers are also highlights.

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Panama 66 Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Panama 66

What are the hours during December nights?

Friday will be in the evening till 900pm and saturday will be the hours of the 1100am till 1000pm sunday the hours of the closing day the hours will be the hours of 1200pm to 900pm.

Is the band viewable from the barstools?

The bar at the Panama 66 I had lunch there but the music has been a no show of the music.

Kid friendly? Thanks

Yes there were many children

What is the usual wait time to get seated on Sunday morning?

10 minutes

How busy does this place get on a Saturday evening?

Very busy, not worth it.

What are your gluten free options?

Lots of salads, main plates, and apps are

What's the closest parking to Panama 66?

625 Pan American Rd E, San Diego, CA 92101

I can't find anything about Happy Hour. Does that mean it doesn't exist?

Hi. They have informal HP. I had the chance to see a jazz jam for 2 hours with a good glass of wine.

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This was such a cool bar with very nice staff…read more It's easy to find, street parking was a nonissue, and they have a huge selection of cocktails with a decent selection of mocktails as well. I love their menu design. It gives a lot of attention to each drink with a clear description breakdown along with the level of alcohol meter. A lot of the drinks are STRONG and their presentations are magnificent.

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Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

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4.5(1.9k reviews)
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Drinks are hit and miss. No menu bar is more gimmicky than anything…read more I'm sure there's some set menu that the bartenders just play off of and quality of the drinks really really just depends on who's your bartender. First round was great, not exactly what we ordered but still quality cocoktail. Second round was not good at all. And especially not what we ordered lol The wait on off days can be 5-10 minutes. Busy days it can be 1-2 hours. Drinks: 5/10 Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Value: 4/10

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False Idol - Reserve Mai Tai

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My husband and I had been wanting to check out False Idol for quote some time. We finally went…read morerecently on a Thursday evening and had a 10PM reservation. We were going for drinks after my husband's birthday dinner. At first I was confused as I didn't realize it was inside of Craft and Commerce, but after asking a few people, we were able to join the check-in line. Anyway, there was a long line waiting to get into the speakeasy. I didn't mind, as we were about 20 minutes early, but it was a little chaotic and I wondered why the line was taking so long to just check in. Some of the parties in front of us didn't have reservations, as they were turned away at the door. We were greeted warmly and asked to wait a few minutes. We were then walked through the entrance. The decor was spectacular. We walk though a skull-lined hallway and found ourselves in an eclectic, tropical paradise. At first, we were offered to get drinks at the bar where we could wait until our table was ready. However, there was a cute little table with a couple of stools right by a waterfall, and they offered doe us to sit there instead if we preferred. It was a cute little setting, so we opted to stay there and forgo our reserved table. Unfortunately, we realized a bit too late that it was not a good place for a date night conversation, as the bar is really loud and the stools were too far apart to have a good conversation. We were greeted by our servers, one who was a trainee. They walked us through a very long menu that was a bit of a book. They asked our drink preferences, and made some recommendations. The drinks were good and beautifully decorated. Some of them came in fun glasses. I had both the Jet Pilot and the Mai Tai. My husband enjoyed both of his cocktails. He chose them because they were supposed to have banana. Unfortunately, he couldn't taste the banana in either, but he enjoyed them regardless. Service started off great. When our server came back to see if we wanted a second cocktail, we weren't quite ready, as the menu is large and we were still making selections. Unfortunately, it took her a really long time for her to return, so we almost asked for the check instead of the second cocktail. We did end up ordering the second one, but it would have been nice if we had been checked on more frequently. We saw a few tables with several people order large cocktails meant for a group. When they brought them out, there were thunderstorm special effects that were fun. All in all, I thought the decor was really great. The drinks were good and the service was friendly, but a little lacking. I thought the check in process was a bit of a zoo, and I also felt that the atmosphere inside was a bit chaotic. I might give it another chance on a quieter night, and request a table that creates for a better date night conversation spot.

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False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

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Books & Records - Table setting

Books & Records

4.3(435 reviews)
0.7 mi•Banker's Hill
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Really delicious food but the portions are so tiny! So just a fair warning. Quite busy on a Friday…read morenight but we luckily made reservations and got seated maybe ~10 minutes after checking in. Food: - Flat iron steak: delicious and super tendy with a nice crust. Came with an arugula salad - Fish of the day: today was rock fish with a creamy panang/thai sauce and it was DELICIOUS - Duck: my table's favorite dish. You can make your own tiny tacos and the macha chili was seriously the best thing ever - French fries: nice horsestring fries, cant go wrong - Tuna crudo: super light and citrusy and flavorful, but only like 5-6 pieces - Chicken skewers: this honestly fell really flat. Would not recommend, i'd say it's the worst thing on the menu and surprisingly fell short. Doesnt feel like it belongs on the menu. - Brussel Sprouts: really good and unique with a peanut butter sauce - Mac and cheese: yummy but nothing special Overall was a great experience but I'd probably only come here on special occasions. Their drinks were also fantastic - the cantaloupe was super tasty. Shoutout Ola for being the best waiter!

Overview: 3.5/5 food hit or miss, service phenomenal, atmosphere beautiful…read more ---- Wednesday is all day happy hour! We got a large variety of dishes at a fraction of their usual price. The happy hour stand outs for me were the: - lamb meatballs $12 - this was the unanimous favorite amongst us, the flavors and juiciness of the meat was great ($4 per ball) - pork belly bao buns 3 for $16 - succulent and tender meat that basically melts in your mouth bc the fat in the best way, and the buns were super soft as well I enjoyed the flavor "crispy" brussel sprouts $10 but the texture was no where near crispy, they were cooked thoroughly but kinda mushy. The steak $25 was ordered as medium rare and was a bit too rare for our liking. But the fries were nice and crispy. The worst thing about the meal was the mac and cheese $8. We all tried it and agreed that it had issues with it being bland and having no depth of flavor, and the cornflake crumble tasted like old oil and stale cereal. Everyone's least favorite item of the night. ---- Notes: - we sat inside and there's not much air flow, it got pretty stuffy and hot during our meal - service was very attentive and charismatic, Dalton did a great job helping with allergy concerns - They were kind enough to split the bill in 3 but unfortunately charged me for an extra beer and I didn't notice it until after we had left - parking was okay, able to find paid street parking around the area ---- Overall: I reallyyyy wanted to like this place more, and I will probably give it another chance in the future bc I see such great potential. The food was just inconsistent btwn dishes with some being amazing and others subpar. If you want to try this place out definitely go on a Wednesday for their all-day happy hour bc their food at their regular prices wouldn't be worth it in my opinion.

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Charade - In house artist during the jazz performance

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4.5(89 reviews)
0.8 mi•Banker's Hill

A hidden oasis located in Bankers Hill. This speakeasy curates everything from live jazz,…read moreburlesque, and a cultivation of all things off beat and different. Cass the head honcho of this outfit ensures all patrons are welcomed and topped off with their favorite beverage. Bask in the glow of the red lights and velvet curtains and vibe out for a while.

As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, I'm back at it with another one. After having dinner in…read morethe area, we stopped by Charade for some drinks on a Monday night. I parked on the street close to the dinner spot I went to and then walked over to Charade. Ambiance (5/5): Charade is a speakeasy so here's your clue. It's located inside Balboa. Look for the room with the arcade games and you're on the right track. Once you enter the speakeasy, you'll immediately be impressed with the old school charm. It seats roughly 20-30 people and there's a bar on one end and a stage on the other end. Old school red curtains add to the vibe. And here's the best part. On Mondays, it's jazz night. Local musicians will play which makes for a great time. Service (3/5): There was one bartender working when we were there. Overall, she provided pretty good service. There was one comment she made which rubbed me the wrong way but no biggie. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior so were on a liquid diet. I did notice that they have a few snacks available like popcorn. Drinks (4.5/5): When you think of speakeasies, you think of elevated cocktails. I look for creativity and an interesting blend of flavors and ingredients. The menu here, while not huge, has some interesting options. Outside of the menu itself, the prices are reasonable (especially for California). And they make you stiff drinks which is always appreciated. Taking into account the cocktails and the ambiance, Charade is an awesome laid-back speakeasy. Make sure to stop by on a Monday for jazz night. That takes things up a notch.

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Panama 66 - cocktailbars - Updated October 2026

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