Panama Supermarket Guide: Where to Buy Groceries in Panama City (2026)

Quick Answer

Panama City has enough supermarket options for most international buyers to keep their normal routine, but the best store depends on what you value: lowest weekly basket, imported brands, prepared food, organic products, wine, bulk shopping, or simple convenience near home.

For a familiar expat grocery run, start with Riba Smith, Supermercados Rey, Super 99, and PriceSmart. For budget shopping, compare Super Xtra, El Machetazo, and promotional weeks at Super 99. For premium or specialty items, add Foodie Market, Organica Store, and Felipe Motta to the rotation.

The bigger lifestyle question is not whether Panama City has groceries. It is whether your building or neighborhood makes grocery runs easy.

Budget and value supermarkets

Super Xtra

Super Xtra is a practical value option for pantry staples, household basics, cleaning products, local brands, and weekly grocery runs where price matters more than imported variety. It is usually a strong fit for buyers who are comfortable shopping like locals and comparing specials.

Expect a more functional experience than a premium expat-focused store. That is part of the appeal: the basket can be more efficient when you are buying basics, produce, rice, beans, snacks, and everyday household items.

El Machetazo

El Machetazo feels closer to a department-store grocery hybrid. It is useful when you want supermarket items plus home goods, electronics, appliances, school supplies, pharmacy-style categories, and seasonal promotions under one roof.

This is the place to consider when you are setting up an apartment and still need practical items beyond food. For a new condo owner, that can mean fewer errands in the first few weeks after closing or moving in.

Super 99

Super 99 sits between budget and mainstream. Some locations feel more basic, while others serve higher-income areas with broader imported and specialty selections. It is often a convenient everyday option because the chain has a visible online shopping presence and wide brand recognition.

For buyers, the main takeaway is location-specific: a Super 99 near a building can be excellent for convenience, but you still want to check the exact branch before assuming it will stock the products you prefer.

Everyday and premium supermarkets

Riba Smith

Riba Smith is one of the first names many expats learn in Panama because it carries a deep mix of local products, imported goods, prepared foods, bakery items, deli options, frozen products, and household categories. It is a strong option if you want a more North American-style supermarket experience.

Riba Smith is rarely the cheapest weekly basket, but it can save time because it solves more specialty needs in one trip. For many international residents, that tradeoff is worth it.

Supermercados Rey

Supermercados Rey is a mainstream Panama supermarket chain with strong city coverage, fresh departments, online/delivery infrastructure, and a product mix that works for both local families and international residents.

Rey is often a good middle lane: more familiar and polished than a deep-discount run, but not necessarily as premium-priced as a fully specialty shop. Grupo Rey also owns related formats, so you may see Rey, Romero, Mr. Precio, Metro Plus, and ZAZ in the broader group ecosystem.

Specialty stores and membership shopping

Foodie Market

Foodie Market is a premium specialty market with locations in areas such as Marbella, Paitilla, Costa del Este, Santa Maria, Punta Pacifica, and Ocean Reef, according to its official site. It is useful for produce, prepared foods, healthier options, gourmet items, and quick meals when you live in a high-end neighborhood.

Foodie is not trying to be the cheapest full-basket supermarket. It is more of a lifestyle convenience store for residents who care about quality, speed, and specialty selection.

Organica Store

Organica Store is worth checking if organic, natural, gluten-free, vegan, wellness, and specialty pantry products matter to your household. Inventory and branch details can change, so check its current site or social channels before planning around a specific location.

This is especially relevant for families with dietary restrictions or buyers coming from cities where organic specialty stores are part of the weekly routine.

PriceSmart

PriceSmart is Panama's closest equivalent to a warehouse club. It is membership-based and useful for bulk household products, frozen goods, imported items, electronics, furniture, tires, optical services, and larger pantry runs.

It may not replace a weekly fresh-food supermarket, especially for smaller households. It works best as a monthly or biweekly stock-up stop, particularly for families, furnished rental operators, or owners setting up a second home.

Felipe Motta

Felipe Motta is not a conventional supermarket, but it belongs in this guide because it solves a common expat and entertaining need: wine, spirits, cheeses, gourmet snacks, gift baskets, and delivery or pickup for hosted dinners.

If you plan to entertain in Panama City, Felipe Motta can become part of your practical grocery map even if you still buy produce and household goods elsewhere.

Delivery, apps, and practical shopping notes

Panama City grocery delivery has improved, but it is still branch- and coverage-dependent. Super 99, Riba Smith, Rey, Super Xtra, El Machetazo, Felipe Motta, and specialty retailers each maintain some form of online presence, app, delivery, or pickup flow. Always confirm current delivery zones, cut-off times, substitutions, fees, and building access rules before relying on delivery as your only grocery plan.

For condo buyers, we also recommend checking three things:

• Parking and drop-off: Some buildings make grocery unloading easier than others.
• Elevator and lobby rules: Delivery drivers may not always be allowed upstairs.
• Walking comfort: A store that is "nearby" on a map may still require crossing busy roads or walking without shade.

Best Panama City neighborhoods for grocery convenience

Punta Paitilla and Punta Pacifica are strong if you want dense urban convenience, quick errands, premium groceries, pharmacies, medical access, and easy rides to multiple supermarket options. Buyers looking at Sea Point or The Towers should pay close attention to how walkable their exact building is.

Costa del Este is one of the easiest neighborhoods for organized family living. Residents have access to malls, services, mainstream supermarkets, specialty markets, and quick drives to Santa Maria. It is a strong match for buyers comparing projects like BIOMA or Nogal Costa del Este.

Santa Maria is more private and car-oriented, but premium convenience is close by. Foodie Market has a Santa Maria presence, and Costa del Este is nearby for larger errands. This works well for buyers prioritizing privacy, golf-community living, and controlled access in projects like Celeste Santa Maria, Oceana Santa Maria, and The Ivy.

Marbella, Bella Vista, and El Cangrejo are practical for buyers who want central-city access with restaurants, services, pharmacies, and supermarket options nearby. These neighborhoods are especially relevant for furnished rental, digital nomad, and walkable lifestyle strategies.

How we use this when advising buyers

Grocery access is not just a lifestyle detail. It affects how a buyer will actually use an apartment after the excitement of the view, amenities, and floor plan wears off.

When we compare buildings, we look at:

• Whether residents need a car for every basic errand.
• Whether premium groceries are nearby enough for international buyers.
• Whether short-term or executive tenants can live comfortably without logistical friction.
• Whether the building supports deliveries, pickups, and everyday unloading.

That is why a supermarket guide belongs next to neighborhood and project research. It helps answer the practical question: "Could I live here easily?"

Bottom Line

If you are new to Panama City, do not choose one supermarket forever. Build a grocery routine:

• Value basket: Super Xtra, El Machetazo, or Super 99.
• Everyday polished run: Supermercados Rey or Riba Smith.
• Premium/specialty: Foodie Market, Organica Store, or Felipe Motta.
• Bulk stock-up: PriceSmart.

Then test that routine from the exact neighborhood you are considering. The right apartment is not only the one with the best view. It is the one that makes the weekly rhythm of life feel easy.

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Sources and official notes

• The legacy The Panama Link supermarket guide identified the original store categories and chains this article preserves for SEO continuity.
• Current store and service details were checked against official pages for Super 99, Riba Smith, Grupo Rey / Supermercados Rey, El Machetazo, Foodie Market, PriceSmart Panama, Felipe Motta, Super Xtra, and Organica Store.
• Store counts, delivery coverage, fees, hours, membership terms, and branch inventory can change. Verify current details before choosing a property or planning a move around a specific supermarket.