Hato Pintado, Panama City

Many activities on offer in Hato Pintado are found along the 12 de Octubre. You can relax and enjoy a delicious meal in one of the many restaurants.

At La Doce Sports Center, you can watch your sport of choice on their huge screens while enjoying tasty grilled foods with fries. They also have a DJ and live boxing shows.

Another restaurant popular for its mouthwatering dishes is Casa Stizzioli on the top floor of Metro Plaza. If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience and a mental trip to Italy, then this is the place to be.

There’s a Greek restaurant at Liberty Plaza and other delicious food options on the 12 de Octubre strip. Momi Bakery has boastworthy pastries and is one of the top places in the city to buy birthday cakes.

In the mood to blow a few dollars? You can play the slot machines at the Fantastic Casino on the top level of Metro Plaza. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of their music shows at night with artists from different genres.

Within a few meters of everything is Parque Forestal where you can take your kids to play on the playground, or you can do a full workout on the hills. Many people take their furry friends, and it’s fun to watch them run around, happy to be loose in nature. It’s a far cry from the size of Parque Omar, but it’s a nice alternative if you don’t want to drive.

There are Rainbow Eucalyptus trees with dazzling, multicolored trunks that show different colors depending on the angle the sunlight hits. I’d never seen anything like it before, so whenever I go, I walk by these trees at the park entrance.

There are ballet classes for kids at the Academia de Ballet Raiza Gutierrez, which is next to Domino’s Pizza on the corner of 12 de Octubre and Vía España. If your kids aren’t interested in ballet, they can try Karate at Karate Do or Katana Sport/Dojo Benzai (there are several other studios along the 12 de Octubre strip, too). There’s also a dance academy at Liberty Plaza.

You’ll find a mini soccer field on the adjacent street where soccer fans both old and young can play a match or two with friends. It’s not uncommon for a few strangers to start a spontaneous game and end the match as friends.

If shopping is one of your hobbies, you’re in luck, because there’s an Arrocha on the 12 de Octubre. Arrocha is one of the biggest and most elegant department stores in Panama, known for selling household products, fine dining ware, and an assortment of other items. I love it for its homey atmosphere and the scented aisles of perfumes and makeup. At Christmastime, it’s one of the few stores to play my favorite Christmas carols.

Do It Center is a popular hardware store strategically placed on the strip, and if you live in the area, there’s no need to drive. It’s similar to Home Depot in the States and focuses on home improvement and construction materials. If you can brave the humidity, you can walk five minutes to Do It Center and find a wider supply of products than Arrocha offers.

One of the conveniences residents of Hato Pintado treasure is the accessibility to banks, including Banco General, Banesco, and Banco Nacional. These are found on the 12 de Octubre strip, and there are others on Vía España.

There are hospitals and major clinics on Vía España near Hato Pintado. Hospital San Fernando is about 2 kilometers away and offers high-quality medical services. There are other health centers for consultations and private laboratories for bloodwork and other services you might need.