Mandinga Rum Bar Casco Viejo: Where Panama’s National Spirit Finds Its Voice
There are places you walk past for years without ever stepping inside. Mandinga Rum Bar Casco Viejo was one of those places for me.
Some of that hesitation was personal. Drinking has never been the draw for me, despite a lifetime spent in hospitality. Another part was assumption. From the outside, a rum bar sounds like it should be about drinking serious drinking, loud drinking, the kind of place you either belong in or you do not.
“Mandinga is not that.”
That became clear over two visits, sitting quietly at the edge of the bar and watching how the room worked before paying attention to what was being poured. Rather than consumption, Mandinga is about understanding the room, the people in it, and the culture behind what ends up in the glass.
That difference matters in Casco Viejo.
Why Mandinga Rum Bar Matters in Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo does not need more bars. It needs places that mean something.
Mandinga Rum Bar Casco Viejo belongs to the same family as La Rana Dorada Brewpub, a name most people in Panama already associate with quality, consistency, and confidence that never feels forced. Mandinga itself was a passion project started by both Christiane Wassman and her husband, Berny Silberwasser, who opened the first location on Vía Argentina in 2010.
The decision to open a second Mandinga in Casco Viejo was not accidental. Casco is where stories land. It is where diplomats walk after meetings, where cruise passengers step into Panama for the first time, and where locals bring visiting friends when they want to explain the country without explaining too much.
Mandinga Rum Bar and Panama’s Cultural Identity
From a tourism standpoint, Mandinga gives Panama something solid to talk about. Not an invented narrative. Not a marketing slogan. Something rooted in national heritage – Panamanian rum.
I have written before about Geisha coffee and Panamanian chocolate. Together with rum, they form a quiet trifecta products born of climate, patience, and discipline. None of them benefits from being rushed. All of them benefit from being explained properly.
This is where Mandinga does its most important work.
A Brief History of Mandinga Rum Bar
Mandinga Rum Bar opened its first doors in 2010 on Vía Argentina in Panama City. Long before Casco Viejo became the polished destination it is today. From the beginning, the concept was never mass appeal. Education came first.
The bar is not designed to push volume. You will not find bottles stacked in liquor stores or lining duty-free shelves. Instead, the room itself becomes the showroom, and conversation becomes the sales pitch
That philosophy carried naturally into Casco Viejo. Instead of scaling outward, Mandinga scaled deeper. A smaller room. A more intentional audience. A setting where the story of Panamanian rum could be told to people who wanted to listen.
The result is a bar that feels settled. Confident. Comfortable with itself.
The People Behind Mandinga Rum Bar Casco Viejo
What stood out immediately was pride in the team.
Gabriele Acconciagioco, the general manager, speaks about Mandinga the way people speak about something they have grown up with, not something they are passing through. When he talks about the brand, his energy lifts. When he talks about his team, it lifts even more.
Roberto Saavedra, the host and tasting lead, sets the tone for how guests experience the bar. Calm. Attentive. Deeply knowledgeable without ever sounding rehearsed.
Francisco Rendón, the head bartender, carries the technical side of the room with quiet confidence. Drinks are consistent. Movements are precise. Nothing is rushed.
That consistency is not accidental. It is the product of a place that invests in people, not just product.
What a Mandinga Rum Tasting Is Actually Like
During my first visit, Gabriele mentioned that a rum tasting was about to begin and asked if I would like to sit nearby and listen. I stayed.
The group was small. Five people are staying at a neighboring hotel, part of a friendship reunion. They had spent the day touring the canal and decided to finish their afternoon at Mandinga. At first glance, it looked like any other tourist tasting setup.
“It was not”.
Inside a Guided Rum Tasting at Mandinga
Gabriele explained how the tasting would work. Four different rums. Light snacks served alongside. An invitation to taste slowly, to notice, to ask questions. Within minutes, the room shifted. People leaned in. Phones went down. Attention settled.
This was not a one-way presentation. He asked what they noticed. Spices. Texture. A hint of banana. He encouraged engagement because he knew the answers. Within two or three minutes, the group was fully focused. That is harder than it sounds to do.
Understanding Rum: The Three Traditions, Simply Explained
One of the most useful moments of the tasting came early.
Gabriele explained that rum follows three traditional paths:
- British tradition – fuller, heavier, more assertive
- French tradition – refined, aromatic, Agricole-influenced (fresh sugarcane juice)
- Spanish tradition – smooth, balanced, approachable
Mandinga deliberately chose a smoother profile, borrowing from French and British influences while maintaining a distinctly Panamanian character. The result is a rum that feels polished without feeling neutral.
This is also why Mandinga usually finishes tastings with their smoothest expression. It is the one people remember.
The Room: How Mandinga Rum Bar Casco Viejo Fills Up Without Trying
While the tasting continued, the bar filled organically. Solo travelers took seats at the counter. Small groups arrived early and waited for friends. A couple of guests came in with cabin bags, stopping to pick up gifts before heading to the airport.
This happened on both visits. Mandinga fills the way good rooms do. Not all at once. Not with noise. With ease.
There are many bars between Casco Viejo and the airport. There is only one rum bar like this.
And the diversity of guests matters. Locals. Tourists. Business travelers. Couples. Solo visitors. If you are alone, you can sit at the bar and talk. If you want space, the room gives it to you.
That balance is rare.
What to Drink at Mandinga (And Why Everyone Orders the Mojito)
Mandinga’s drink prices are reasonable, especially given the quality and age of the rums being poured.
You will find:
- 8-year rum
- 10-year rum
- Anniversary releases
- Select connoisseur bottles, including a 30-year rum from another distillery, were poured at 1.5 oz for around $55
Even the highest-end pours remain approachable. But if you want to know what nearly everyone orders, it is the Mojito.
It is Mandinga’s signature drink. A familiar structure, executed with their own rum and their own balance. You will notice that Mandinga makes all the classic cocktails, but each carries a subtle twist.
Why? Because this bar is the showroom for the brand.
Buying Rum at Mandinga: A Rare Privilege
One of the guests asked a simple question during the tasting.
“Can I buy this as a gift?” The answer caught them off guard. Yes.
Mandinga sells directly from the bar. Half bottles. Full bottles. Anniversary releases. Their classic eight-year rum. For most visitors from North America or Europe, this feels almost impossible. In many countries, you cannot buy alcohol from a bar and take it with you.
At Mandinga, you can.
And that detail matters. It turns a moment into a memory. Something you take home, open later, and immediately find yourself back in Panama.
Mandinga for Groups, Celebrations, and Private Tastings
I asked Gabriele a practical question. Tourism is growing. Groups are coming. Would Mandinga consider private tastings or buyouts? The answer was immediate.
“Yes”.
The bar opens at 4:00 PM, which means afternoons are available for private experiences. Tastings can be arranged for anywhere from two to forty people, with a minimum spend depending on group size.
You do not need forty people to buy out the bar.
This makes Mandinga ideal for:
- Corporate team building
- Incentive groups
- Reunions
- Pre-wedding or groom’s activities
It is refined, relaxed, and genuinely memorable. And yes, this is one of the rare places where enjoying a cigar during a private event is possible.
Celebrities, Privacy, and Why Mandinga Works
Mandinga is quietly known as a go-to spot when celebrities and athletes are in town.
If you are a Bravo fan, you may already know that the Real Housewives of Potomac spent time here, including a full rum tasting.
That said, Casco Viejo generally does not talk about celebrity sightings. Privacy is respected. And Mandinga’s layout supports that. There are corners where you can sit comfortably, undisturbed, and enjoy the room without becoming part of the room.
That balance is intentional.
Fast Facts: Mandinga Rum Bar
- Location: Casco Viejo (San Felipe), Panama City
- Founded: 2010 (first location, Vía Argentina)
- Ownership: Same family as La Rana Dorada
- Focus: Panamanian rum education and tasting
- Signature Drink: The Mojito
- Rum Styles: French and British influences, smooth profile
- Bottle Sales: Available directly from the bar
- Private Tastings: Available for 2–40 people
- Atmosphere: Refined, relaxed, conversational
Q&A: Visiting Mandinga Rum Bar in Casco Viejo
No for casual visits. Guests are welcome to walk in, sit at the bar, and enjoy the space at their own pace. Reservations are recommended for private tastings, group visits, or hosted events, particularly if you are visiting with a structured agenda or limited time.
Yes. Mandinga is well-suited for small group functions and incentive-style experiences. The bar can be fully bought out before 4:00 PM, which makes it an excellent option for conference breakaway groups, corporate tastings, or hosted afternoon experiences before evening programs begin.
There is no fixed group size requirement. Buyouts and private tastings are based on a minimum revenue threshold rather than headcount, allowing flexibility for groups ranging from as few as two guests up to forty, depending on the format.
No. Mandinga is designed for people who are curious rather than committed. Tastings focus on understanding flavor, process, and heritage, not on drinking heavily. Many guests come specifically to learn, even if rum is not usually their drink of choice.
Yes. One of Mandinga’s unique features is that guests can purchase rum directly from the bar. Half bottles, full bottles, anniversary releases, and core aged rums are available, making it easy to take a meaningful piece of Panama home with you.
No. Mandinga is a conversation-friendly room. The atmosphere is relaxed and refined, designed for discussion, tasting, and connection rather than volume or spectacle.
No. Mandinga attracts travelers, but it is not performative or staged. Locals return regularly, and visitors tend to discover it through recommendation rather than promotion. The experience feels grounded, not scripted.
My Reflection After Spending Time at Mandinga
I did not expect a rum bar to leave this kind of impression.
Mandinga is not about excess. It is about restraint. It lets the product speak without shouting, and it allows the room to find its own rhythm. That confidence only comes when a place knows exactly what it is and refuses to chase what it is not.
I have spent a lifetime in hospitality. You learn quickly to spot the difference between places that are performing and places that are practicing their craft. Mandinga practices. Every night. Every pour. Every conversation.
“That matters in Casco Viejo”.
Casco has its icons. The churches you step into quietly. The plazas that fill at dusk. The coffee you seek out because it comes from here and nowhere else. Mandinga belongs in that company. It is one of those places you point to when someone asks, “What is Panama really good at?”
For Panama, this matters even more. Rum is part of the country’s identity, and Mandinga treats it with respect. No shortcuts. No gimmicks. Just education, hospitality, and pride in what is being shared.
Mandinga Rum Bar is not trying to be everywhere. It is not trying to impress everyone.
It is trying to be right. And in Casco Viejo, that is exactly what it is.
🌟 Thanks for taking the time to read about Mandinga Rum Bar and the people behind it. Places like this don’t exist by accident, and they only make sense when you slow down enough to understand the room.
Whether you’re traveling solo and looking for a place where conversation comes easily, visiting as a couple and wanting to share something memorable, or in town with a leadership or incentive group needing a thoughtful breakaway experience, Mandinga fits naturally into the rhythm of Casco Viejo.
It’s not about how much you drink. It’s about what you learn, who you meet, and what you take home with you — sometimes in a bottle, sometimes just as a memory.
If you’d like to keep exploring Casco Viejo at the same pace, here are a few helpful places to continue:
- Return to the CascoViejo360.com homepage
- Casco Viejo history — the context behind every great place
- Best hotels in Casco Viejo
- Sightseeing in Casco Viejo — easy routes to explore more
If you ever have a question about Casco Viejo, Mandinga, or planning time here — whether for yourself or for a group — I’m always happy to share a local perspective.
🧭 Out and about with James.
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