Cuban Cigars and a Muse with a Cow Design in Panama City

In your “things to do in the city” file please note that Panama City’s Via Argentina has two new attractions. The Rincon Habanero restaurant has added a boutique and cigar store next door and a new restaurant with lots of style and a cow mural has just opened across from the HSBC bank.  

The Rincon Habanero is a four year old restaurant across from El Trapiche, a block and a half off of Via España, serving Cuban fare. The owner, Jose Manual, opened an all Cuban product shop next door just three weeks ago. An entire corner is dedicated to Cuban cigars of the $30 variety. In addition you can find books by Cuban authors, CD’s of Cuban music, and a variety of beautifully handcrafted items. If you are looking for something unique for your home or for a gift Rincon Habanero’s boutique is worth a look. If you are a cigar fancier the Rincon Habanero boutique appears to be the place to go.

The other attraction is a brand new restaurant with a number of great cartoon murals. My favorite is the cow to the left of the bar. Charlene Riganty and her husband Abraham came from Puerto Rico after Charlene’s mother “found” Panama a couple of years ago and moved her graphic design business here. The restaurant is called la Muse de Chai named after the queen of the muses and it has an eclectic menu, well prepared and served. The prices are reasonable and it appears to be a good place to eat or just hang out. “Accessories” include the Spanish version of Trivial Pursuit on a corner table and a table set up just for dominoes.

La Muse de Chai is upstairs from the first floor internet shop so don’t be deterred. Go in and go up the stairs to the restaurant where wall art competes with good food for your attention. Also the menu is bilingual and the staff is fluent in English.