Amarla Launches Kaandela a Panamanian Restaurant in Casco Viejo Dishing Up Delicious Local Cuisine.
Amarla Casco Viejo is fast becoming a familiar name to the many who frequent Panama’s most historic UNESCO-designated region. The eight-key boutique hotel is known as the destination for a good time – where music, art, design, food and wellness play together. Following its opening in 2022, the hospitality and lifestyle group behind the Amarla brand introduced Kaandela. Driven by local Panamanian flavours, the restaurant features a menu of soul food, kicked up a notch and given new life, thanks to of-the-moment techniques.
Kaandela is created by the Amarla Founders and Chef Edy Acedo. The introduction of Kaandela marks Amarla’s commitment to place Panama’s rich culinary heritage at the centre of the gastronomic map by presenting dishes inspired by the local fiery flavours to a wider global audience.
Key to their approach is the notion of an actual community, and both Kaandela and Amarla manage an incredible balancing act: the spaces are beautifully designed and glisten with a new twist on local culture.
Since the beginning of time, humans have come together around fire to share stories, music, laughter and food. That is the essence of Kaandela. The restaurant, located on the ground floor is relaxed and the design is both bold and unique, seamlessly integrated within the centuries-old walls of this historic Casona yet contemporary and relevant. The space is an embodiment of the area—sexy, elegant, laid-back, and tropical.
Chef Edy Acedo and his team have worked hard to create a menu that reflects Panama’s bold flavours. The dishes have been developed after working closely with independent local producers and fiery local flavours await.
The bar has a spirited South American selection of mezcals and coffee (best sipped on the rooftop, overlooking the trendier-by-the-day Casco). Crafted cocktails and spirited tunes accompany the dining experience, while the restaurant team leads guests on a sensorial journey of explosive flavours.
Chef On Board
Chef Edy is a name in his own right, recently being a finalist on Top Chef Panama All Stars and he is very much driving the foodie revolution in Casco Viejo. Since Kaandela’s opening, Casco Viejo’s ecosystem has been exploding in sync with the islands’ culinary and mixology scene. A decade ago, nobody came to Panama. Today, Casco features a world-class culinary and bar scene, the country’s best nightlife, and some of Panamá’s most important historic buildings like the National Theatre and the Presidential Palace.
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