When it opened in 2005, Istmo was well ahead of its time. Now Panama City's first microbrewery is at the forefront of the city's growing craft beer scene, which has its own annual festival. Istmo has four decent artisanal beers on tap at any given time, as well as another 20 or so varieties from around the world in bottle form. The crowd here is far from just beer geeks, with a nice mix of tourists, expats, and locals all looking for a fun night out. The interior feels like a rustic English pub, with wood beer barrels behind the bar. There are two levels of seating, including a patio, which is particularly pleasant in the evenings after the sun has gone down. A small menu of grilled meats and sandwiches provides sustenance.