There is no better unifier of cultures than food, a reality that Juan Diego Navia and Valentina Suárez, a young expat couple from Colombia, know all too well. After all, their brainchild, Il Mulino Coffee Shop, was born to combine Italian and Colombian flavors in Panama –a country considered one of the fastest-growing destinations for global nomads nowadays.
In addition to sharing their expertise in the kitchen with their diverse clientele (Valentina is a baker by trade and Juan Diego, the manager, humorously confessed during our first visit that his only contribution to the project was his beautiful face) the couple’s decision to open shop in Panama is not very much different from what motivates northerners to move here in the first place.
“The idea to relocate was suggested by my father-in-law,” said Valentina, with whom Juan Diego agreed. He continued, “We were looking to establish a business that would yield a profit in U.S. dollars. Our first choice was the United States, but after scouting Florida for a while we soon realized it would take us well over $100,000 to get things started there. We then remembered that the only other prosperous, dollarized economy in the region where our native language is spoken is Panama. We gathered our saving, packed our bags, and here we are!”.
Although panini, presented in all forms, shapes, and sizes, is certainly the specialty of the house, the traditional baked goods of Colombia, especially the “masa madre” bread (sourdough), empanadas, and “almojábanas” simply cannot be missed. Home-made, sourdough pizza is also featured on the menu.
Breakfast aficionados will be treated as kings from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., except on Tuesdays (closed) with dishes accompanied by a variety of hot or cold infusions, teas, and fresh coffee from the highlands of Chiriquí.
Convenient location
Il Mulino Coffee Shop is conveniently located on the corner of Vía Argentina and Calle 49A, about a block away from Avenida Manuel Espinosa Batista in El Cangrejo, the well-established, eclectic, middle-class neighborhood that not a few expats call home.
The comfortable furniture and minimalistic décor of this quaint bistro are ideal for digital nomads looking for a relaxing atmosphere to work in, and for those expecting to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee in the company of friends.
For more information, call: +507-6870-6488. You can also follow them on Instagram: @ilmulinopty.