Manga

Local life and cheap food away from tourists, but you need Spanish and can't walk around at night. Better for experienced travelers who want authentic culture over convenience.

This is where locals actually live - old mansions on residential streets, corner stores selling arepas, families walking to school. It's on its own island connected by bridges, separate from the tourist areas. Some of the cheapest restaurants in the city are here with big portions of Caribbean food for way less than the Walled City. The seafront promenade up north has views of the bay and skyline, especially nice at sunset. During the day it feels safe with families around doing their thing. Very few people speak English though, so you need basic Spanish at minimum for restaurants and shops. At night the streets get empty and dark - locals will tell you not to walk around, take a taxi after sunset. It's also a 10-15 minute taxi from the Walled City or Getsemaní, so you're isolated. Works if you're on a budget, speak some Spanish, and want to see local life. Not great for first-timers or if you want convenience and English everywhere.