Shopaholic paradise
Panama is a great destination to buy electronics, apparel, and cosmetics, and with the country's fast expanding economy, everyone is shopping. Panama City is home to various American-style shopping malls where one can find any and all brands, from dollar shirts to fancy boutique boutiques. Swatch, Louis Vuitton, Buffalo, Levi's, Lacoste, Kenneth Cole, Adidas, Puma, and other high-end brands are available at Multiplaza, as well as a wide range of affordable clothing.
There are 47 restaurants and cafes, ranging from outdoor lounges to frozen yogurt stands on the go. Multiplaza even has a movie theater with a VIP experience that includes reclining seats and waiters who can bring you anything from sushi to margaritas. The experience cannot be beat for $6.50 for retirees.
Multicentro is another popular option, and it even has a Rossetta Stone stand. To branch out from established labels, visit Via Vai and Studio F for women's wear; Conway and La Onda offer $2.99 shirts and $5.99 dresses, as well as things for the whole family. Albrook Mall is well worth the trip for avid shoppers as well as a full-day visit: the mall is so large that exits are referred to by nearby animal statues, and guides dressed in safari-style attire are stationed around the mall to provide service.
Albrook, which has nearly 400 stores, restaurants, and even a bowling alley, also has a connecting bus station and nearby airport for all domestic travel, as well as popular low-cost trips to Costa Rica. Banana Republic, Gap, and Victoria's Secret are all 2011 arrivals to Albrook, as part of the brands' rapidly expanding expansion into Latin and South America. It's great for outlet shopping and a fun experience to explore.
El Dorado Mall has an open-air feel and is best suited for in-house expats rather than tourists. It has many small stores for cheap items, restaurants, Chinese-run electronics, clothing, and food stores, and Saks, a mid-level TJ Maxx/Ross that is definitely worth a visit for heavily discounted, department store clothing items. It's even rumored that tourists get a 5% discount if they show their passport.
