Panamainfo.com

You can find just about anything you need in Panama- more than any other country in Latin America (even Mexico). Not only that, the stores are well organized and many seem copy cats of some American store. You'll fine stores for every need from furniture to electronics to food to clothes to health food. And the prices are right- the same or less than the United States and Europe.

Most stores will furniture and large appliances deliver anywhere in Panama. In Panama City, delivery is often free.

Furniture

If you can bring your furniture with you that may be best. There is no where near the selection of furniture here nor the great prices you can get in the States.
Tip: Upholsterers are inexpensive, so we instead of buying new sofas and chairs, just have them re-upholstered every few years.

Mid-range prices: Furniture City on Via Espana is a good place to start- There is a pretty good slection, American styles and you also have the option to order from some catalogs. There are showrooms in both Panama City and David.
Home Center on Via Espana also has mid-range prices and some very attractive pieces.

Upscale Furniture

BBK and Addison House in the business district have upscale brands like Thomasville.

Banyan Leaf: Oriental and modern furniture, English speaking staff and decorator support. Located on Calle 50
Phone:265.2335.

Inexpensive Furniture

Econoprecios on Via Espana and Conway and Costco and Conway in Albrook Mall are the cheapest. There are also furniture and appliance bargains at the Panamanian version of Price Costco, called Price Smart.

The Panamanian Equivalent of Home Depot

These are Novey stores and Do It Centers with locations throughout the city. Our favorites are in Albrook Mall. The Albrook Do-It Center is large and has the best selection, but Novey is convenient since it stands alone and you can park in front of it.

Patio Furniture

Do it Center, Novey.

Household Items

For medium range prices we love the big Arrocha and Collins at the Albrook Mall- Arrocha started out as a pharmacy but is now variety store with a very nice selection of household items including vases, photo frames,ceramic pots for plants etc.
Collins has a large home department, nice selection and medium range prices. Arrocha and Collins are next to each other they have an entrance from the parking lot- so you don't have to go into the mall.

Appliances

For large appliances Panafoto, Raenco and Rodelag have the best selections.
For small appliances, Arrocha, Collins , Novey and Do-it Center at the Albrook Mall.

Panafoto Their branch Calle 50 has the most complete selection in Panama of both large and small appliances

Raenco: On Transistimica Ave. Along with Rodelag, they have the largest selection.

Price Costco: Like Price Costco in the USA, they have a limited selection of popular appliances, electronics and furniture at good prices. Price Costco has 3 branches in Panama City: One just off Via Espana, one in Dorado and one in Los Pueblos shopping center. In Chiriqui province, there is a branch in David, a city near Boquete.

Electronics

The two biggest stores are Panafoto and Multimax, but Costco has a pretty good selection too.

Panafoto: On Calle 50 and also outside Albrook Mall.
Multimax: On Tumba Muerto and in Albrook Mall.
Price Costco: See above- in Panama City and David.

Shopping Malls

Multiplaza Mall: An upscale, mall freaturing 30 restaurants and cafes, 155 stores, in addition to 50 brand-name and 7 prestigious department stores as well as Courtyard by Mariott hotel. Items can be found by designers from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the U.S. and Latin American at the same competitive prices tourist finds in Miami! Fully air-conditioned, Multiplaza Mall also features eight Cinepolis cinemas and ample parking.
Open from 10:00am to 8:00pm from Monday to Saturday and 11:00am to 7:00pm on Sundays.

Multicentro Mall: This stylish, upper-scale mall is fully air-conditioned. Multicentro features 177 brand-name stores, a 26 restaurant food court overlooking the Pacific Bay, 7 outdoor restaurants, game rooms, movie theaters, a night club, the first Hard Rock Cafe in Central America, Majestic Casino, and even a Culture Plaza next to the city lights and the sea breeze. Very client friendly with 20 escalators, ample indoor parking as well as wheelchairs and baby carriages available for your convenience.
Open 10:00am to 8:00pm from Monday to Thursday and 10:00am to 9:00pm from Friday to Sunday.

Albrook Mall: A large mall built around the Albrook Bus Terminal, featuring a food court with a carousel, cinema, and many discount stores sure to delight the serious bargain shopper. You won't have to worry about getting lost as each section is marked by a zoo animal. Open from 10:00am to 9:00pm from Monday to Saturday, from 11:00am to 8:00pm on Sundays and 11:00am to 7:00pm on Holidays

Los Pueblos Shopping Center: Right near the International lAirport, this mall is series of around 150 stores set up in strip-mall fashion where you can get great deals on everything from cothing to electronics.

Metromall: Also close to the airport, only 10 minutes away, it is also the newest mall in Panama. Consisting of more than 260 stores, 40 restaurants, banks, a movie theatre and even a brand new Marriot Hotel. Catering to tourists, you can get there either by taking the free shuttle that goes to and from the Tocumen Airport, or they will even send a shuttle to pick you up from your hotel! Just call 222-8210 or 6613-4694.

Clothes

If possible we recommend you buy your clothes in the States. Clothes, especially for women are hard to find because clothes sizes in Panama seem to for the more petite woman and just don’t fit Americans.

You can find upscale American brands like Liz Claiborne at department store Felix B Maduro on the Multicentro Mall ( the largest mall) ,and in Dorado and on Via Espana. Their clothes selection at Multicentro including a Liz Claiborne store in Multicentro Mall is the best American clothing store in Panama.

Quality Discount Clothes: For American brands at discount prices, we recommend BMB in Albrook Mall- many well known American brands like Liz Claiborne and at 30-50% discounts. You can also try your luck at Dorians- a huge discount store, lots of cheap stuff but you can find some amazing bargains.

Teenagers and young professionals love Zara in both Multicentro and Albrook Mall. Prices are moderate and the styles very cool according to what the kids say.

Internet Shopping

If you can't find what you want, you can always order it from the States, Canada or Europe and have it sent to Panama. Aerocasillas and Mailboxes with their English speaking staff and branches in different parts of the city are good places to receive internet goods from. Factor in expensive air shipping and also a 10% Panamanian tax.

Warning- Don't Send or Receive Anything Except a Book via the Panamanian Post Office

Sorry to say, many items just "disappear" ie are stolen in the Panamanian mails.