Serves fish, vegan options available. Cafe offering salads, burgers, tacos, juices, baked goods, and daily specials. Since Dec 2013 was at 1st St, Isla Colon, and moved to this location in early-2016. Breakfast served 7.30-11am and lunch served 11am-4.30pm. NOTE: Shares a dining space with a restaurant that serves fish but kitchen, fridges, prep space etc is separate. Reported to serve fish August 2023. Open Mon-Wed 11:30am-4:00pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-4:00pm. Closed Sun, Mon. Closed September month.
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Isla Carenero, Bocas Del Toro, Panama
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 21 Aug 2023 by suricatoavellana
Update business info -
Added by VeggieVisa on 24 May 2014
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24 Reviews
First Review by VeggieVisa
Saff
Points +1539
Adorable waterfront cafe - Edit
I loved the vibe of this place! Ocean front and very relaxing. The tacos, zucchini cake and ginger tea were so delicious. We met the owner who was a wonderful woman. She did share that the kitchens are no longer separate for cooking post COVID. However, they are still conscious when prepping to avoid cross contamination.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Great prices , Gorgeous location!
Guest
Andye
Points +96
Absolutely fantastic! - Edit
Beautiful location, really friendly staff, excellent food including plenty of vegan options. I had the tacos and my friend had the hummus plate - both were delicious 😋
Read morePros: Stunning location - great spot to swim!, Lovely staff , Delicious vegan food
Guest
suricatoavellana
Points +703
Nice view, nice food - Edit
This place (not longer vegetarian but with many options) offers nice food with a great view. We specially liked the vegan chocolate chip cookies (really really amazing) but everything was nice!
Read moreGuest
Davo35
Points +976
beautiful place - Edit
the hummus platter was really delicious and the place offers chilling. but unfortunately there are dairy products and fish on the menu.
Read moreGuest
Anouk5.0
Points +110
Another Isla Carenero Veg Gem! - Edit
Walking by a couple of happy chickens dust bathing, past an art shop, out to a restaurant on stilts, over the water with a beautiful view.. we were already sold… but then came the food…O..M…G. Three happy vegans were satiated by fresh guac and warm chips, a large “hippy bowl” filled with brown rice, beets, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, smothered in a delicious tahini sauce, a real veggie burger ( from before beyond meat and soy burgers became a thing) made from nuts, oats and delicately seasoned to perfection, fresh blended fruit smoothies and ginger ice tea.. add to that several local handmade art pieces… the entire bill came to $70 including tip. Maybe to some, that might seem slightly more expensive for a lunch, but the quality was top shelf, served on an island that has to get everything shipped over, supporting local artists and… supporting a restaurant that serves nutritious, filling vegan food …totally worth every cent!
Read morePros: Plenty of vegan options, Wholesome, nutrient dense, Location location location
Cons: None
Guest
Fiddlesticks
Points +330
Tacos were ok - Edit
Just got tacos and a smoothie here. Both were fine but nothing amazing. Coffee also passable.
Read morePros: Lovely setting
Cons: 3/5 food
Guest
Luderpierce
Points +54
Fish on the menu - Edit
My tacos were pretty good, and the view was great. But it was disappointing to find that their menu contained several fish dishes. And the place smelled fishy.
Read moreGuest
WebMceachern
Points +73
Island vegan eating - Edit
Such a nice place to relax and enjoy some vegan eats while on an island. The food was delicious and the owner/staff were very nice.
Read morePros: Great vegan options
Guest
steffi.loves.vegan
Points +806
Delicious food, friendly staff & nice view - Edit
Delicious food & friendly staff. It takes a while after ordering but everything was fresh prepared & yummy.
Read morePros: Good & tasty food, Friendly staff, Pay via Creditcard possible
Cons: Takes a while after ordering
Guest
whitesiroi
Points +1831
Great smoothie - Edit
Smoothie is delicious, vegan burger is delicious too
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-07-21
Guest
sweetlaurakay
Points +44
Great Vegan Food Waterfront Dining - Edit
I've been a fan of Leaf Eaters since they opened years ago as a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. Now they do serve fish which is sad to see that they had to go that route to make money. I have yoga clients who are Marine Scientists and they tell me their first hand research of the dwindling sea life population not just of this Caribbean archipelago, but of the world. Because of that I stayed away for a couple of years, but now I'm back because it is hands-down the best vegan food in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. I just stick to the vegan menu and smoothies/juices. The marvelous Caribbean view is a huge reason to visit. Nice chill island vibe. Family owned. Good wifi if you are a digital nomad. I'd rather stare off into the distance to the mainland mountains of Panama.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-01-12
Pros: Vegan Food, Ocean Front View, Independently owned
Cons: Fish, Alcohol
Guest
vögelan
Points +347
yummy food - Edit
friendly staff, good location and vibes, yummy food, cute little store. we had the veggreburger, hippie bowl, tacos and vegan chocolate zuchini cake. at first we were afraid we ordered too much but the tacos and the bowl are quite small. everything was delicious! i especially liked the burger and the salad sauces. would definitely come again!
Read morePros: good food, good vibes, friendly and helpful staff
Cons: rather small portions for the price
Guest
MariaAmêndoa
Points +110
Great vibe and food - Edit
The place has an amazing view (we saw a small ray just passing by) and a very nice vibe. Staff is friendly, doing their best to reduce plastic and food is also super good. I had a big salad (vegan) and my boyfriend a sandwich (vegetarian) and all was very tasty and filling.
Read moreGuest
Danielak
Points +67
Awesome food and vibes! - Edit
Yummy food, great view, good vibes only!
Read moreGuest
Purplemojooo
Points +94
Tasty, a little bit expensive and small portions - Edit
Pros :
Read more- Good vibes : staff very friendly and good music ( mostly reggae )
- Tasty vegan food
- Gluten free option for the tortillas
- Nice juices : you can make your own juice by choosing in a list of ingredients
- Beautiful view ( restaurant built over the carribean sea )
- Possibility to swim in the sea after the meal, next to the restaurant
- Boats can bring you directly to the restaurant
Cons :
- Expensive for small portions : 3 tortillas not that full for 9 $ for example
- Not organic
- The ingredients of the sauces are not written on the menu
- Burgers and sandwiches haven’t gluten free options
- The portions are small ( for ‘’ big eater ‘’ )
Updated from previous review on 2018-09-04
Pros: Possibility to make your own juice , Good vibes ( friendly staff and reggae music ) , 3.Tasty vegan food
Cons: Sauces ingredients aren’t written , 2. A little bit expensive , 3. Small portions ( for big eater )
Guest
christopherjboyce
Points +984
Very impressed - very recommended - Edit
After 6 months of rolling around on a bicycle in the Americas doing my best to eat well this was a gem of a place to come across. I ate the burger and that was extremely tasty with a very fresh and healthy salad on the side. I've not seen many restaurants of this quality in this part of the world and was very happy. They even had humous, which I haven't seen in months, and it was pretty good humous too. Beautiful chocolate cake. Great setting and very friendly people working there. We hung out here for the afternoon. I'd recommend.
Read moreThey have a shop selling various local handcrafted goods.
They were serving fish so not sure if this can be classed as a veggie restaurant. I didn't inquire about this but this would be a shame if this was they case.
Pros: Fresh, healthy, and tasty foods, Friendly and relaxed atmosphere , Yum food
Cons: They seem to serve fish so not fully vegetarian
Guest
gotashima
Points +224
food full of flavour! - Edit
I wish I could go back and try other things. I had the ‘special’, the mushroom dip sandwich - without cheese so it’s vegan. The hot sauce is so good too! Totally worth the watertaxi over plus a few extra dollar spent!
Read morePros: views, service
Guest
happyherbi
Points +29
don't go there in September 2017. it's closed - Edit
I was so excited when I read about this restaurant. But when I went there it was closed :(
Read morePros: beautiful & easy location
Cons: closed till October 2017. I went there for nothing
Guest
SophieFelicitas
Points +27
the burger!!! - Edit
I had a shiitake mushroom burger with a passion fruit smoothie and it was just fabulous. Extremely fresh and the location is just lovely.
Read moreGuest
Siup
Points +3246
Amazing - Edit
I am vegan and in Bocas I had hard time in finding something to eat. Leaf eaters was a real miracle. It's just amazing. Healthy delicious vegetarian food that can be made vegan, in a great, wonderful, breathtaking location. My husband and I took a taxi boat from Bocas town to Isla Carenero (1 minute) and enjoyed our lunch relaxing and tasting a perfect salad and a yummy vegan burger. The salad was what I was looking for... Something fresh and nutritious. The burger was very good, especially the combination dry tomatoes and quinoa in the patty. The owner is very kind and her presence makes the restaurant even more beautiful. I loved every single detail. I wish I had a place like this in every city I go. Only one suggestion for the owner: prepare a vegan cake next time! I am sure it will be delicious
Read morePros: amazing location , delicious food, reasonable price , nice staff
Cons: no vegan dessert
Guest
edwardbc
Points +1021
Awesome - Edit
Very nice restaurant to have lunch next to the sea. The nuts burger is just amazing!
Read moreGuest
xZagx
Points +355
interesting but expensive - Edit
We went there twice. The food was very tasty. They served to us nuts hamburgers, houmous sandwich, avocado sandwich...
Read moreAlmost all the dishes can be made as vegan.
But for 4 smoothies and 2 sandwiches, we paid 36 $ the first time, it seems to be excessive. Moreover, be careful, the indicated prices don't include the service (10 percent more).
The ice cream is unfortunately not vegan.
The location is practical
And you can eat above the water, seeing the passing boats. Really cool.
Pros: almost all can be vegan, location/atmosphere, super friendly staff
Cons: expensive
Guest
NikkiStitch
Points +225
Just what we needed - Edit
Leafeaters was a great find and if we had stayed in Bocas Del Toro longer, we would have had lunch here every day.
Read moreThe Hippie Bowl was fabulous. Besides including kale, almost non-existent in our travels in Panama, the dressing was amazing.
The view out into the water and the atmosphere in general were both perfect. Made me wish I had a cafe near my home with the same vibe. Everyone seemed happy to be there and happy to be eating their fantastic food.
I think we were accidentally overcharged but we didn't notice until we were a block away and felt it was too late to go fix it. But I would go back many times if I had stayed in that area. Leafeaters was like a shining beacon of light in a country of PB&J's for vegans.
Pros: vegan options!, the view out into the water
Guest
VeggieVisa
Points +494
Hidden Treasure - Edit
Tucked away behind Island Traders Artisan Market lies one of the best vegetarian restaurants I have had the pleasure of dining at in Central America. The mother-daughter team in the kitchen cook up delicious vegetarian delights like tofu tacos, three kinds of veggie burgers and a Hippie Bowl that includes kale, a very difficult product to find in Central America. Love, love, love this place.
Read moreIn addition to the delicious food, seating looks out onto the water. So, even on a rainy day, the view is a treat.
Pros: Delicious food, Great View, Lovely owners
Guest
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