Panama is quickly becoming known for its very diverse mix of bars. In fact, it is considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Central America, and for good reason. Nightlife in Panama is second to none, and the bars in particular are varied in their crowds, music, and ambiance. When it comes to live rock and roll in Panama, there are really only two choice. El Pavo Real and Unplugged. Both offer a very distinctly rock bar feel, and both are known by locals and tourists alike as the best place to hear live rock at a bar in Panama.
El Pavo Real is a Panama staple. The dimly lit bar and distinctly British décor combine to create a truly authentic rock experience. For such a small and oddly shaped building, the acoustics are surprisingly good. The place isn’t really set up for live music, but the owners somehow manage to host a concert weekly and draw a good crowd. Most of the musicians favor a more heavy metal feel, but every now and then one can catch an acoustic set by local artists. Very good bar in Panama for rock, for sure.
Unplugged may be one of the best bars for Panama Music. Just this past Saturday, I stumbled in at about midnight and was immediately greeted with a familiar song: Sedated by The Ramones. Don’t get me wrong, there are a handful of radio stations down here that play rock and roll but their playlist is a bit limited. (Think top 40 and Classic Rock). That is all fine and good when you are trying to avoid salsa and reggaeton on the airwaves, but when I go out on a Saturday night I just cant rock out to Maroon 5 or Bob Seger. Most of the rock music cover bands are limited to Spanish Rock (Rock en Espanol), like Heroes de Silencio, Mana, or any number of popular groups. So to run into a band covering Green Day, Nirvana, Audioslave, and Offspring,- is truly a find. And these guys were dead on- going from Hendrix solos to driving riffs by American hard rockers like Tool and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Such range and depth is rare in the US, let alone Panama. These kids were on point, and the crowd knew it. By 2am the windows were rattling and the place had filled up.
Unplugged is becoming my favorite bar in Panama to hear music in Panama because they have a “no typico, no reggaeton” policy that has earned them the distinction of a true rock bar. Probably the only place that rivals Unplugged for live music is El Pavo Real, however the acoustics seem to be a bit better laid out in Unplugged. Maybe it’s the records hanging from the ceiling or distinct lack of tables other than around the walls, but this place definitely has the feel of a good old fashioned rock club, much like the old CBGB’s in New York. No cheesy memorabilia or drab decor at this Panama bar, just bare bones and music oriented. And for such a small bar area, you are never more than a few minutes away from a cold beer or a stiff drink.
If you are in to Panama music, then Unplugged is definitely worth a visit. Small couches and tables line the inside of the club, with billiards in one corner and the bar opposite. The patio is a great place to people watch and still enjoy the music from the inside. It tends to get a bit loud, but what do you expect from a rock club.
Kent Preiss-Davis is a self proclaimed Panama Bar expert. A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend.
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